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PSU - SMU Questions

PSU Soupy

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Aug 3, 2008
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The big questions to me are:
1) Can PSU run on SMU?..... I would think so, but the front 4 are supposed to be the strength of the SMU Defense. If SMU brings a lot of players up to stop the run can we beat them over the top? Singleton and Allen ran very well against Oregon and 14 days rest and playing at home seems like a great recipe for PSU.
2) Can PSU get pressure on Jennings with 4? Playing at home....loud stadium will be interesting. Not sure about SMU OTs, but Oregons played very well against our DEs (not going to bring up holding), does SMU have some dudes at OT or will the ends cause problems for SMU?
3) Can PSU keep Jennings in the pocket, and not escape?
4) Can PSU keep the very fast SMU WRs in check? Did not work against Oregon.....but this will be at Beaver Stadium probably 20 degrees.....with wind, maybe snow.....perhaps hard to throw in the weather.


I watched the first part of the SMU vs. Pitt Game....and SMU just jumped them from the get go....... I kept an eye on the SMU vs. Clemson and Clemson took advantage of mistakes made by SMU and tried to run out the clock...... SMU battled back and then lost due to a kick off return and a 56 yard FG.

Need to get on SMU early make them one dimensional so that our ends and rush can reak havoc......crowd needs to help this defense. We do play Defense much better at home.

SMU is no slouch, but it seems as if we match up favorably with them especially in cold Beaver Stadium............
 
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The SMU pass defense I believe is around 91. Haven't dived too deeply into them, but Manny's defense at Duke forced six turnovers against SMU. If this is a down to the wire game, I'd be surprised. Our roster is massively better, for what that is worth.
 
The big questions to me are:
1) Can PSU run on SMU?..... I would think so, but the front 4 are supposed to be the strength of the SMU Defense. If SMU brings a lot of players up to stop the run can we beat them over the top? Singleton and Allen ran very well against Oregon and 14 days rest and playing at home seems like a great recipe for PSU.
2) Can PSU get pressure on Jennings with 4? Playing at home....loud stadium will be interesting. Not sure about SMU OTs, but Oregons played very well against our DEs (not going to bring up holding), does SMU have some dudes at OT or will the ends cause problems for SMU?
3) Can PSU keep Jennings in the pocket, and not escape?
4) Can PSU keep the very fast SMU WRs in check? Did not work against Oregon.....but this will be at Beaver Stadium probably 20 degrees.....with wind, maybe snow.....perhaps hard to throw in the weather.


I watched the first part of the SMU vs. Pitt Game....and SMU just jumped them from the get go....... I kept an eye on the SMU vs. Clemson and Clemson took advantage of mistakes made by SMU and tried to run out the clock...... SMU battled back and then lost due to a kick off return and a 56 yard FG.

Need to get on SMU early make them one dimensional so that our ends and rush can reak havoc......crowd needs to help this defense. We do play Defense much better at home.

SMU is no slouch, but it seems as if we match up favorably with them especially in cold Beaver Stadium............

1--we better be able to run on them
2/3--that's the key--you have to keep Jennings in the pocket--pressure is secondary
4--that's the key but they aren't Oregon level

SMU is a great matchup for us--this is a game we have to win
 
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The big questions to me are:
1) Can PSU run on SMU?..... I would think so, but the front 4 are supposed to be the strength of the SMU Defense. If SMU brings a lot of players up to stop the run can we beat them over the top? Singleton and Allen ran very well against Oregon and 14 days rest and playing at home seems like a great recipe for PSU.
2) Can PSU get pressure on Jennings with 4? Playing at home....loud stadium will be interesting. Not sure about SMU OTs, but Oregons played very well against our DEs (not going to bring up holding), does SMU have some dudes at OT or will the ends cause problems for SMU?
3) Can PSU keep Jennings in the pocket, and not escape?
4) Can PSU keep the very fast SMU WRs in check? Did not work against Oregon.....but this will be at Beaver Stadium probably 20 degrees.....with wind, maybe snow.....perhaps hard to throw in the weather.


I watched the first part of the SMU vs. Pitt Game....and SMU just jumped them from the get go....... I kept an eye on the SMU vs. Clemson and Clemson took advantage of mistakes made by SMU and tried to run out the clock...... SMU battled back and then lost due to a kick off return and a 56 yard FG.

Need to get on SMU early make them one dimensional so that our ends and rush can reak havoc......crowd needs to help this defense. We do play Defense much better at home.

SMU is no slouch, but it seems as if we match up favorably with them especially in cold Beaver Stadium............
all good questions and they won't be answered until the 21st. I watched the SMU/Clemson game and here were my takeaways

  • Inexperienced team not used to playing in front of massive audiences causing them to want to "not fail" instead of winning. This leads to mistakes because you think instead of do.
  • Very talented QB and he reminds me of Oregon. In fact, they have a good RB, very good WRs and a good pass rush. Having said that, it was against Clemson, a team that isn't all that good, versus Oregon so the level of competition needs to be considered. SMU ran a great hurryup offense that gave Clemson fits in the second half. Clemson also played a very soft coverage scheme protecting a large lead.
  • SMU didn't have any WRs like Tez Johnson. That kid just killed us with 11 receptions for 185 yards. That kid was REALLY quick and we had problems adjusting to that until the second half.
  • Clemson contained their pass rush and moved the ball at will until they started to try and run out the clock where SMU stuffed their running game causing them to give SMU plenty of possessions.
  • Oregon's RB was 215. SMUs best RB, Brashard Smith, is 196. So we should be able to control their running game.
  • Will the refs allow SMU's OL to hold like they allowed Oregon?
  • Will PSU suffer 50 yards in penalties in the first half?
  • Will PSU throw two or more interceptions?
  • SMUs best defensive player was Kobe Wilson who is only 6' and 225. He had 15 tackles and half a sack. Their DE Elijah Roberts looked really good with 1.5 sacks. He is 6-4 280 which is a BIG DE. He is a Miami transfer.
Overall, I think our offenses team speed is going to give them some problems as I didn't think Clemson's were all that talented as a group. Clemson couldn't get a running game going but they aren't a very good rushing team. they only had 40 yards rushing for the RBs. not counting the QB. I don't think that Clemson team is very good on offense.

There aren't going to be any easy games. The key to SMU is limiting their very mobile and accurate QB. But I think we have much better talent up and down the roster.
 
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all good questions and they won't be answered until the 21st. I watched the SMU/Clemson game and here were my takeaways

  • Inexperienced team not used to playing in front of massive audiences causing them to want to "not fail" instead of winning. This leads to mistakes because you think instead of do.
  • Very talented QB and he reminds me of Oregon. In fact, they have a good RB, very good WRs and a good pass rush. Having said that, it was against Clemson, a team that isn't all that good, versus Oregon so the level of competition needs to be considered. SMU ran a great hurryup offense that gave Clemson fits in the second half. Clemson also played a very soft coverage scheme protecting a large lead.
  • SMU didn't have any WRs like Tez Johnson. That kid just killed us with 11 receptions for 185 yards. That kid was REALLY quick and we had problems adjusting to that until the second half.
  • Clemson contained their pass rush and moved the ball at will until they started to try and run out the clock where SMU stuffed their running game causing them to give SMU plenty of possessions.
  • Oregon's RB was 215. SMUs best RB, Brashard Smith, is 196. So we should be able to control their running game.
  • Will the refs allow SMU's OL to hold like they allowed Oregon?
  • Will PSU suffer 50 yards in penalties in the first half?
  • Will PSU throw two or more interceptions?
  • SMUs best defensive player was Kobe Wilson who is only 6' and 225. He had 15 tackles and half a sack. Their DE Elijah Roberts looked really good with 1.5 sacks. He is 6-4 280 which is a BIG DE. He is a Miami transfer.
Overall, I think our offenses team speed is going to give them some problems as I didn't think Clemson's were all that talented as a group. Clemson couldn't get a running game going but they aren't a very good rushing team. they only had 40 yards rushing for the RBs. not counting the QB. I don't think that Clemson team is very good on offense.

There aren't going to be any easy games. The key to SMU is limiting their very mobile and accurate QB. But I think we have much better talent up and down the roster.
No gimme in the CFP. It's now one & done. Foolish mistakes (penalties), untimely turnovers, and failure to play disciplined/assignment football can now mean the end of the season.
 
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The SMU pass defense I believe is around 91. Haven't dived too deeply into them, but Manny's defense at Duke forced six turnovers against SMU. If this is a down to the wire game, I'd be surprised. Our roster is massively better, for what that is worth.

Just watched Clemson/SMU and the SMU secondary had a lot of problems in that game -- either 2 or 3 Clemson TDs were total coverage busts.

SMU O-line did not match up well with Clemson D-line (though Clemson's D-line might be better than PSU's).

SMU quarterback is very dangerous running and scrambling. Against Clemson he seemed less dangerous throwing the balll but he was rarely able to set his feet because of all the pressure. It will be interesting to see how much PSU uses Carter as a pass rusher vs a spy.

SMU has a very quick tailback but their receivers did not stand out as super athletic (though again the Clemson pass rush had a lot to do with that)

SMU is an interesting team. If you look at the SMU depth chart at ourlads, I think 20 of their 22 O and D starters are transfers -- a lot from Miami and SEC teams. A lot of graduate transfers so it is an experienced and physically mature team but maybe without the top-end talent that the best power 5 teams have.

It's another one of those games where the best defense for PSU will be an offense that can run the ball and convert 3rd downs. But the opportunities to throw the ball should be there against that secondary. There should be nice opportunities for Tyler Warren.
 
Just watched Clemson/SMU and the SMU secondary had a lot of problems in that game -- either 2 or 3 Clemson TDs were total coverage busts.

SMU O-line did not match up well with Clemson D-line (though Clemson's D-line might be better than PSU's).

SMU quarterback is very dangerous running and scrambling. Against Clemson he seemed less dangerous throwing the balll but he was rarely able to set his feet because of all the pressure. It will be interesting to see how much PSU uses Carter as a pass rusher vs a spy.

SMU has a very quick tailback but their receivers did not stand out as super athletic (though again the Clemson pass rush had a lot to do with that)

It's another one of those games where the best defense for PSU will be an offense that can run the ball and convert 3rd downs. But the opportunities to throw the ball should be there against that secondary. There should be nice opportunities for Tyler Warren.
agreed. if PSU can run the ball (Clemson could not) that controls the game. To me, that it the #1 key to the game.
 
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Just watched Clemson/SMU and the SMU secondary had a lot of problems in that game -- either 2 or 3 Clemson TDs were total coverage busts.

SMU O-line did not match up well with Clemson D-line (though Clemson's D-line might be better than PSU's).

SMU quarterback is very dangerous running and scrambling. Against Clemson he seemed less dangerous throwing the balll but he was rarely able to set his feet because of all the pressure. It will be interesting to see how much PSU uses Carter as a pass rusher vs a spy.

SMU has a very quick tailback but their receivers did not stand out as super athletic (though again the Clemson pass rush had a lot to do with that)

SMU is an interesting team. If you look at the SMU depth chart at ourlads, I think 20 of their 22 O and D starters are transfers -- a lot from Miami and SEC teams. A lot of graduate transfers so it is an experienced and physically mature team but maybe without the top-end talent that the best power 5 teams have.

It's another one of those games where the best defense for PSU will be an offense that can run the ball and convert 3rd downs. But the opportunities to throw the ball should be there against that secondary. There should be nice opportunities for Tyler Warren.
Great breakdown, thx. Good stuff. SMU seems similar in roster construct as to what Cignetti has done at IU -- multiple impact players out of the portal. I'm guessing the depth behind both teams 'portal starters' isn't great. But, the utilization of the portal speaks to your point about being experienced and physically mature. Lashlee brought multiple players with him from his time at Miami as well.
 
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The big questions to me are:
1) Can PSU run on SMU?..... I would think so, but the front 4 are supposed to be the strength of the SMU Defense. If SMU brings a lot of players up to stop the run can we beat them over the top? Singleton and Allen ran very well against Oregon and 14 days rest and playing at home seems like a great recipe for PSU.
2) Can PSU get pressure on Jennings with 4? Playing at home....loud stadium will be interesting. Not sure about SMU OTs, but Oregons played very well against our DEs (not going to bring up holding), does SMU have some dudes at OT or will the ends cause problems for SMU?
3) Can PSU keep Jennings in the pocket, and not escape?
4) Can PSU keep the very fast SMU WRs in check? Did not work against Oregon.....but this will be at Beaver Stadium probably 20 degrees.....with wind, maybe snow.....perhaps hard to throw in the weather.


I watched the first part of the SMU vs. Pitt Game....and SMU just jumped them from the get go....... I kept an eye on the SMU vs. Clemson and Clemson took advantage of mistakes made by SMU and tried to run out the clock...... SMU battled back and then lost due to a kick off return and a 56 yard FG.

Need to get on SMU early make them one dimensional so that our ends and rush can reak havoc......crowd needs to help this defense. We do play Defense much better at home.

SMU is no slouch, but it seems as if we match up favorably with them especially in cold Beaver Stadium............
I wonder how much the home field advantage will help PSU. Will SMU travel north early and practice at some high school to help them prepare for the weather conditions?
 
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The big questions to me are:
1) Can PSU run on SMU?..... I would think so, but the front 4 are supposed to be the strength of the SMU Defense. If SMU brings a lot of players up to stop the run can we beat them over the top? Singleton and Allen ran very well against Oregon and 14 days rest and playing at home seems like a great recipe for PSU.
Two thoughts on SMU's run defense:

A) Of our opponents SMU's run defense is most statistically similar to UCLA. Allen ran for 78 yards. Singleton didn't play. I'd imagine with both of them playing at near 100%, PSU would run for over 150 yards.
B) When SMU played BC (BC has the 50th best rush offense in the country), BC ran for 140 yards.
 
I wonder how much the home field advantage will help PSU. Will SMU travel north early and practice at some high school to help them prepare for the weather conditions?
I looked up the home state of SMU's players. The have only seven players from what I would consider "cold weather" states (and I used that somewhat liberally, i.e. counting the DC suburbs as "cold weather")
 
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