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Not sure why Donovan didn't run tempo, but I think JoMo was of the belief that if he knew what the defense was going to do he could call the "perfect" play every time. So rather than try to catch the defense off guard with tempo, they would adjust and adjust again to try to get that "perfect" play.Before the retired coaches come after me about knowing nothing about football, let me preface this by saying...Franklin has forgotten more football than I will ever know.....Cool? cool
The fact that we have never ever used tempo on offense has been one of the more perplexing things in our offense since Franklin has been here. Always, without any doubt, we get to the line, we get in position, we kind of give window dressing that we may snap the ball quickly.....then our QB looks to the sideline. Every single play without fail. At different points when our offense has been totally bogged down, I have been amazed we don't just have 2 plays called, get to the line once, and just go before looking to the sideline. I get the concept of "check-with me" and determining what the defense is in and where we have numbers, but if you never snap it before the sideline check, the defense will absolutely line up in some alignment then shift after the check with me. If Mike Y does nothing else besides increase tempo, I think we can be a way better offense. I am encouraged by Franklins comment here:
“Tempo is a weapon,” Franklin said. “If you don’t have a true tempo in your offense, it’s hard to get your defense ready for it. And to be honest with you, we’ve never been tempo.”
OTOH as much as tempo wears down the defense, it also wears your defense down, especially if your offense goes 3 and out too many times. Ask the Eagles of the Chip Kelly years.Not sure why Donovan didn't run tempo, but I think JoMo was of the belief that if he knew what the defense was going to do he could call the "perfect" play every time. So rather than try to catch the defense off guard with tempo, they would adjust and adjust again to try to get that "perfect" play.
However, I agree that tempo can just wear down a defense. Imagine trying to tackle Lee/Cain/Holmes 3 times in less than a minute. Pain.....
I'm not saying you should run only tempo. But remember what BOB did with "NASCAR" (hated that name, BTW)? You get on a little bit of a roll and you go fast. You don't go fast all the time. This lessens the toll on the defense (although I'd argue if your defense is good and forces three and outs, this isn't a problem).OTOH as much as tempo wears down the defense, it also wears your defense down, especially if your offense goes 3 and out too many times. Ask the Eagles of the Chip Kelly years.
Article on Smith's move to Will LB...
Happy Valley Insider - With positional tweak, Brandon Smith senses opportunity
Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith has revealed he will slide over to Will linebacker for the upcoming season.bwi.rivals.com
B. Smith has moved over the Will LB spot.
It's been discussed a bunch since the end of last season, wondering what other shakeups could happen to LB lineup to help mitigate some major weaknesses.
Fisher has been moved to DE this spring. Last I read, he is around 250 lb. Being a RS Fr, he will probably have the time adapt well there.I think the hope is that with B Smith sliding over, Jacobs is primed for a breakout at the OLB spot. He flashed a bit last season in limited opportunities and his speed/athleticism is what is needed in the open field. Luketa/Ellis can't be on the field at the same time, and outside of any huge improvements from either of them, I'm not sure either of them should get a majority of snaps at their respective spots. It will be really interesting to see who steps up from the group not mentioned above: Elsdon, King, Fisher, etc.
I think it's a guarantee that the PSU coaches spend a lot of time here, learning from the 2 dozen or more accomplished posters....to say nothing about the wealth of wisdom displayed here by folks that have never played the game. I'll bet surgeons would visit here to learn if we had more medical related threads.Looks like the coaches read this board....JK, but sometimes there are some informative posts and suggestions on here and they shouldn’t be insulted when they’re suggested cause “we’re not coaches.”
Fisher has been moved to DE this spring. Last I read, he is around 250 lb. Being a RS Fr, he will probably have the time adapt well there.
Buddin should arrive in June and looks to be a SLB.
Sounds like Kobe King came to PSU ready to go, and may get on the field this coming season along with his brother.
The article says that the team came into Spring with just 5 healthy scholarship LB's, but didn't say who was injured, and implied that King was not counted in the 5, i.e. returning scholarship LB's. Smith, Luketa Brooks, Jacobs, Elsdon. ?? Is Katshir hurt again, or still hurt?
Luketa has been in a sling all winter/spring. He also has put on 15lbs while being out.
My guess is that he'll eventually land at DE, because after last season's performance, the last thing he needed was to add that amount of weight.
I think it's a guarantee that the PSU coaches spend a lot of time here, learning from the 2 dozen or more accomplished posters....to say nothing about the wealth of wisdom displayed here by folks that have never played the game. I'll bet surgeons would visit here to learn if we had more medical related threads.
I'll bet they have time budgeted for staff study of your suggestions.Give it a rest.
Sounds like Kobe King came to PSU ready to go, and may get on the field this coming season along with his brother.
The article says that the team came into Spring with just 5 healthy scholarship LB's, but didn't say who was injured, and implied that King was not counted in the 5, i.e. returning scholarship LB's.
Smith, Luketa Brooks, Jacobs, Elsdon. ?? Is Katshir hurt again, or still hurt?
Luketa has been in a sling all winter/spring. He also has put on 15lbs while being out.
My guess is that he'll eventually land at DE, because after last season's performance, the last thing he needed was to add that amount of weight.
I think it's a guarantee that the PSU coaches spend a lot of time here, learning from the 2 dozen or more accomplished posters....to say nothing about the wealth of wisdom displayed here by folks that have never played the game. I'll bet surgeons would visit here to learn if we had more medical related threads.
You experts take care of the rest.That's really all you have to "think" about?
But aren't you the self proclaimed "expert"....?You experts take care of the rest.
I'm just a piker compared to the more than 2 dozen accomplished coaches who brandish their wisdom here....be it player evaluations or coaching critiques.But aren't you the self proclaimed "expert"....?
That's what your condescending comments seem to imply.
You might be a better fit on the actual PSU coaches idea board.
Rewatched the Michigan and MSU games. Luketa was definitely not the player he was in 2019. Perhaps he was already dealing with an injury. He didn’t tackle well. He also appeared out of position at times.Apparently Luketa has been hurt and limited in participation - probably why he packed on pounds. Not a good thing either, as I can't see added weight boosting his play from last year.
Really interested to see what happens at LB because both Ellis/Luketa were pretty terrible. I'm hoping Smith/Jacobs lock down two spots and one of Katshir, Elsdon, King surprise this spring/fall and can be key contributors.
Any of the football experts on the board have insights/opinions on Smith playing in the middle? Does that make sense, or is he more suited on the outside? Ellis/Luketa struggle in traffic, but they also lack speed/quickness to keep up/wrap up in the open field...I'm not sure I can watch another season of those two.
JF has a decision to make, but it looks like he already wants more ability on the field, which seems to mean Smith and Jacobs at the same time.. The middle looks like Brooks, Luketa and Elsdorf.
Do they still have a middle linebacker? I have not actually seen anything about who may play the position or if the position is still an actual position?
Updates by Rasheed Walker on some of the OL starters, and potential for success under Coach Trautwein.
Penn State Football’s best line under James Franklin? Rasheed Walker thinks so
Aided by return of guard Juice Scruggs, Penn State Football tackle Rasheed Walker believes this could be the Nittany Lions' best line under James Franklin.victorybellrings.com
DL Coach Scott had a really good PC yesterday, worth watching for everyone here. Couple of worthy notes IMO:
DTs Brevard and Mulbah are trending in the right direction.
The transfers have fit in nicely, both seem like quiet guys. Let their play/work speak loudly.
Tarburton is healthy and taking on a leadership role.
Coach is most excited about DE Vilbert, taking his game to another level this spring.
I think many regular posters on this board could have written a better article on the 2021 TE’s. Strange and Johnson will probably be the best TE duo we have had at PSU since Tony Stewart and John Gilmore. I just hope Yurcich can figure out a way to utilize their abilities both in the pass and run games.Nice review of the TE players, although a little proof reading for sentence structure and spelling would help Clay look more like a legit PSU grad.......
BSD 2021 Spring Position Preview: Tight Ends
Despite the departure of Pat Freiermuth, Penn State is in good hands at the tight end position.www.blackshoediaries.com