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What Is Penn State's Identity?

Couple really good players on each side of the ball, offensive and defensive lines lack toughness and push. Poor tackling all levels of the field. Ineffective short yardage and 3rd down team. Over-reliance on big plays, consistently too many backwards plays. Poor game management, mediocre qb play and an offense that hasn't fit our QB and talent level in 5 years. In summary, a poor program and results that underscore that. I'd put penn state on the level of say a Mississippi state or a Tennessee, nothing more.
 
Couple really good players on each side of the ball, offensive and defensive lines lack toughness and push. Poor tackling all levels of the field. Ineffective short yardage and 3rd down team. Over-reliance on big plays, consistently too many backwards plays. Poor game management, mediocre qb play and an offense that hasn't fit our QB and talent level in 5 years. In summary, a poor program and results that underscore that. I'd put penn state on the level of say a Mississippi state or a Tennessee, nothing more.
And will remain that way going forward .
 
Couple really good players on each side of the ball, offensive and defensive lines lack toughness and push. Poor tackling all levels of the field. Ineffective short yardage and 3rd down team. Over-reliance on big plays, consistently too many backwards plays. Poor game management, mediocre qb play and an offense that hasn't fit our QB and talent level in 5 years. In summary, a poor program and results that underscore that. I'd put penn state on the level of say a Mississippi state or a Tennessee, nothing more.
180 degrees out of phase from Paterno Nittany Lions.

Currently in a death spiral.

Change needed.
 
Current identity is training ground for the NFL, and printing press for coach and players money. Penn State has about 38 players in NFL, at least 31 on active roster at start of season (no 10) and will likely add at least five more in next draft. We haven’t seen anything close to no 10 play last two years.
Dear Old State and fans have languished in mediocrity past two years. Coaching and player development have been good on defensive side and poor on offensive side except for the receivers. Another trend is for elite talent to take it easy at State and tear it up in the pros— mostly leaving early.
Recruiting has never been better and I hope the QBs of the future get some playing time next year and sets us up for an exciting run starting in 2023. Start next year will be brutal with at Purdue (coach seems to get max out of limited talent), at Auburn, home against OSU Oct 1 and at Michigan Oct8. The offense better figure it out between now and Sept and get a competent line, stop the QB option runs and play a coherent plan that sustains drives like the first half of Iowa with quick pitch and catch, and somehow slow game down for Clifford who seems panicked all the time.
 
Live in Texas so this is what my college football friends from here have to say:

1. Play in fun games, seems like a great atmosphere.
2. Have some really good players.
3. Have a little bit of A&M in them in t to hey lose a game or two per year they have no business losing.
4. Under no circumstance would any of them want Franklin. One summed it up yesterday laughing at the fake punt.
 
Couple really good players on each side of the ball, offensive and defensive lines lack toughness and push. Poor tackling all levels of the field. Ineffective short yardage and 3rd down team. Over-reliance on big plays, consistently too many backwards plays. Poor game management, mediocre qb play and an offense that hasn't fit our QB and talent level in 5 years. In summary, a poor program and results that underscore that. I'd put penn state on the level of say a Mississippi state or a Tennessee, nothing more.
Agree!
 
Couple really good players on each side of the ball, offensive and defensive lines lack toughness and push. Poor tackling all levels of the field. Ineffective short yardage and 3rd down team. Over-reliance on big plays, consistently too many backwards plays. Poor game management, mediocre qb play and an offense that hasn't fit our QB and talent level in 5 years. In summary, a poor program and results that underscore that. I'd put penn state on the level of say a Mississippi state or a Tennessee, nothing more.
Those five years include two eleven win seasons. I must have missed those seasons in Starkville and Knoxville.
 
Ignore the injuries and opt outs if you must. The only thing I see missing is a functional blocking OL includes the TEs.
They lack skills and toughness.
I really think the offensive philosophy and QB play are wrong. That shortfall becomes a burden on the defense which results in late game meltdowns. I think the OL talent is there but the blocking schemes seem confusing, causing multiple missed assignments. Too much dependence on "explosive plays" and lack of emphasis on consistent ball movement and toughness.
 
I really think the offensive philosophy and QB play are wrong. That shortfall becomes a burden on the defense which results in late game meltdowns. I think the OL talent is there but the blocking schemes seem confusing, causing multiple missed assignments. Too much dependence on "explosive plays" and lack of emphasis on consistent ball movement and toughness.
Not sure whether it’s blocking scheme, technique, or talent, but it’s a problem that has persisted through five OCs and three OL coaches.
 
Our identity is best defined by what we lack:
Hard-nosed football players
Coaching that is one step ahead of opponents
Interior line strength
Top level QB development

We have not had an identity in over a decade. We formerly were:

Tough, smart and fundamentally sound.
 
Our identity is best defined by what we lack:
Hard-nosed football players
Coaching that is one step ahead of opponents
Interior line strength
Top level QB development

We have not had an identity in over a decade. We formerly were:

Tough, smart and fundamentally sound.

Such BS. The only players I see that need toughened up ate on the OL and TEs.
My observation is many lazy critical fans need to look at the whole picture. There is much to criticize ... on fundamentals you hit the nail on the head..
But even then ...that is not everyone on the team...
 
"EXPLOSIVE PLAYS".... lol....

"WITH LOVE"....

Remember, "the plays work better with better players....."

I heard this elsewhere.. This is the new reality. James Franklin is to Penn State as Pat Fitzgerald is to Northwestern. As long as he's running the program without issue, seven wins is just fine. Just stay in line and say the right things......
 
Such BS. The only players I see that need toughened up ate on the OL and TEs.
My observation is many lazy critical fans need to look at the whole picture. There is much to criticize ... on fundamentals you hit the nail on the head..
But even then ...that is not everyone on the team...
Bow down to Franklin again, clown.
 
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Identity positive
  • Strong fan support
  • White Out
  • Good defense
  • Does produce NFL players
  • Some very good receivers
  • Good, if not great, recruiting
Identity negative
  • Game management
  • Lack of run game
  • No short yardage ability
  • Toughness is erratic at best
  • Don't win the big games
11 losses in 2 years is a hell of a lot more than just losing the "big" games.
 
Such BS. The only players I see that need toughened up ate on the OL and TEs.
My observation is many lazy critical fans need to look at the whole picture. There is much to criticize ... on fundamentals you hit the nail on the head..
But even then ...that is not everyone on the team...
If you have a soft O line and tight ends you have serious problems.
 
Mullen had MSU number 2 in the country about 5 or 6 years ago no? Either way, that was an eternity ago. The fact that you think that still reflects our program must mean you work for Franklin, he references 2016 a lot too.
Mullen’s best season in Starkville was 10-3 in 2014. Strike one.

2017 and 2019 were both eleven win seasons with a major bowl win, and those weren’t 2016. Strike two.
 
Come up with an offensive game plan and commit to it. Get the placekicking squared away. It wouldn't be a bad thing if our identity was we wear you down and we don't brick extra points. Maybe that translates to 8-4. Ten year extension right there.
 
Live in Texas so this is what my college football friends from here have to say:

1. Play in fun games, seems like a great atmosphere.
2. Have some really good players.
3. Have a little bit of A&M in them in t to hey lose a game or two per year they have no business losing.
4. Under no circumstance would any of them want Franklin. One summed it up yesterday laughing at the fake punt.

Not one or two more like three or four.
 
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"EXPLOSIVE PLAYS".... lol....

"WITH LOVE"....

Remember, "the plays work better with better players....."
I heard this elsewhere.. This is the new reality. James Franklin is to Penn State as Pat Fitzgerald is to Northwestern. As long as he's running the program without issue, seven wins is just fine. Just stay in line and say the right things......

Fitz has never IN ANY YEAR ever had the talent PSU has had, not even close.
 
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Mullen’s best season in Starkville was 10-3 in 2014. Strike one.

2017 and 2019 were both eleven win seasons with a major bowl win, and those weren’t 2016. Strike two.
I hope when Mullen was fired from Florida he mentioned that 2014 year in Starkville. Either way TODAY we are comparable to Mississippi state or Tennessee as a program, feel free to disagree but don't reference 11 win seasons from the past. Tennessee won a championship in 1998 guys!!!
 
I hope when Mullen was fired from Florida he mentioned that 2014 year in Starkville. Either way TODAY we are comparable to Mississippi state or Tennessee as a program, feel free to disagree but don't reference 11 win seasons from the past. Tennessee won a championship in 1998 guys!!!
2019 was TWO years ago.
Strike three.
Buh-bye.
 
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Our identity right meow is be the 7-5 team on TV that they hope knocks off Ohio State for Playoff Rakings whereas we should be striving for the mosted hated again since Denny's Slamdusky Tuesday special made a comeback and Paul Fineblaum was muttermouthing like an out of shape lidda Forrest Hump in Vinnie Testaverde fatigues too.
 
2019 was TWO years ago.
Strike three.
Buh-bye.

Um...Bye? What has happened in the last 2 years? Better yet, what exactly are you defending? Are you saying you would compare us to better programs....cool, which ones? Happy to discuss that, in the meantime I will stick with my original point, we are comparable to the MSU and Tennessee's of the world. Full count or some other baseball analogy.
 
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I hope when Mullen was fired from Florida he mentioned that 2014 year in Starkville. Either way TODAY we are comparable to Mississippi state or Tennessee as a program, feel free to disagree but don't reference 11 win seasons from the past. Tennessee won a championship in 1998 guys!!!
True. After your post I took a look at Tennessee. Are we at a position now that Tennessee was at in 2009?

Tennessee-

2003- 10-3
2004- 10-3
2005- 5-6
2006- 9-4
2007- 10-4
2008- 5-7
2009- 7-6. Similar run as Penn St. ending this year.

2010- 6-7
2011- 5-7
2012- 5-7
2013- 5-7
2014- 7-6
2015- 9-4
2016- 9-4
2017- 4-8
2018- 5-7
2019- 8-5
2020- 3-7
2021- 7-6

Once you get into that downward spiral the recruits start drying up and the task becomes tougher. Tennessee won a title in 1998, now they can’t right the ship going on 14 years.
 
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