1/1/25-1/2/25 CFB playoff game thread

[CDLionFL]

To win the national championship, we likely have to go through 2 of our 3 biggest all-time enemies. We know the 3rd will never see the CFP so won't have to worry about them.

ND's defense is good but I don't think they've played as complete an offense as they'll face with us. We'll get plenty of Al Golden stories this week. On offense, ND really doesn't do anything great but Leonard is a good ballhandler and makes very experienced decisions. If you keep him in the pocket and have Harris follow Faison all over the place, I think we'll be in good shape there. We can't let Leonard doing those designed runs and turning sacks into 3 & 4-yard gains.

 

[Alphalion75]

ND’s QB running picks up 50-60 yds a game and 5-6 first downs a game. That’s HUGE!

I hate ND but they’ve played as well as anyone in the country since they lost their first game.

Honestly would have preferred Georgia.

But I thought ND would win tonight.

You would feel differently if you lived here in Georgia. I'm so sick and tired of hearing how good the SEC is. It really can wear on ya.

 

[CDLionFL]

Only Texas left standing from SEC…. Poor Finebaum..NOT!

SEC in name only. The SEC as we truly know it is dead for this year. ESPN to go into mourning immediately.

 

[LionJim]

Kirby should have called one.

Excellent. (I didn’t think of this.)

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Bars in NEPA will be rocking for a week

It can get ugly too, no love lost. If you're not a PSU fan, it's ND, or an occasional pitt fan.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Excellent. (I didn’t think of this.)

His second of two coaching mistakes, the first was not running the clock out 1st half.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

It can get ugly too, no love lost. If you're not a PSU fan, it's ND, or an occasional pitt fan.

I'm guessing that's where @IrishHerb was indoctrinated.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

It can get ugly too, no love lost. If you're not a PSU fan, it's ND, or an occasional pitt fan.

Back in the 80’s when they played every year it was fun. Boylan’s bar in Swoyersville, MCCabes in WB, McCools Pub in WB, Patte’s Sports Bar… you could not beat it. I was in my 20’s… I indulged!

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

@PSUHarry **** it bro, let’s go to Miami

 

[Lionville]

It can get ugly too, no love lost. If you're not a PSU fan, it's ND, or an occasional pitt fan.

Family feud here. Wife and l are PSU grads. Son is ND grad.

 

[psuro]

now we get to watch Manny and that luscious hair.

Be right back.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Family feud here. Wife and l are PSU grads. Son is ND grad.

That's not good.

 

[pendal1]

Family feud here. Wife and l are PSU grads. Son is ND grad.

Threaten to cut him out of the will.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Excellent. (I didn’t think of this.)

That's most likely when the PSU coaches said , break out the ND films.

 

[Lionville]

Threaten to cut him out of the will.

That’s a given.

 

[LB99]

Family feud here. Wife and l are PSU grads. Son is ND grad.

That’s bad parenting.

JK. Have fun.

 

[LB99]

Did someone cut into Kiffin’s headset and tell him UGA is out too?

 

[Nittering Nabob]

This information from Wiki seems a bit awkward.

Al Golden was a three-year (1989–1991) letter winner and tight end for Penn State,[2]where he received the 1991 Ridge Riley Award, given annually to a player who displays excellence in scholarship, sportsmanship, friendship, and leadership. As a junior in 1990, Golden played a key role in Penn State's nationally televised 24–21 upset of #1-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend. His touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter tied the score at 21 as Penn State rallied from a 21–7 deficit.

 

[IrishHerb]

lol. He had a handful of jersey at the shoulder long before he turned around. You don’t know much clearly.

I think I do. I played for one of your former players back during my college days. Then was one of his grad assistants. Back in those days bump and run was legal.

 

[Georgia Peach]

ND did not fumble inside the red zone… ND did not give up a special teams TD. That’s why they are playing us next week. I hate ND, but they are really good. Please take this opportunity to tell me I am full of sh*t! It would disgust me to no end to lose to these guys

They put up the fewest yards on offense for any team that has won a college playoff game. Count me among the unimpressed. They are coached well in all 3 phases and will test any team but unlike Georgia, tOSU, and perhaps Texas this is upcoming game will not be a physical mismatch.

 

[Georgia Peach]

Georgia lost this game on the OL

Specifically, their left tackle, who kept giving up sacks and pressures.

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

They put up the fewest yards on offense for any team that has won a college playoff game. Count me among the unimpressed. They are coached well in all 3 phases and will test any team but unlike Georgia, tOSU, and perhaps Texas this is upcoming game will not be a physical mismatch.

If you are right… beers are on me next week!

 

[LB99]

Excellent. (I didn’t think of this.)

Kirby got outcoached. ND is a well coached, disciplined team. They aren’t the most talented, but they won’t beat themselves.

 

[Georgia Peach]

Kirby got outcoached. ND is a well coached, disciplined team. They aren’t the most talented, but they won’t beat themselves.

I'm no Georgia fan but he was playing with a back up QB who took about 80 snaps all year. They adjusted their D and O plans to account for a QB who was not adept at changing calls, making OL reads, and playing under pressure. Georgia's coaches don't lose strategy games. Sometimes the kids don't execute. That said, ND is extremely well coached and will be a handful next week.

 

[LB99]

C'mon. I'm no Georgia fan but he was playing with a back up QB who took about 80 snaps all year. They adjusted their D and O plans to account for a QB who was not adept at changing calls, making OL reads, and playing under pressure. Georgia's coaches don't lose strategy games. Sometimes the kids don't execute. That said, ND is extremely well coached and will be a handful next week.

Well, if that’s all true, why was he greedily pushing the inexperienced backup QB to try and score on a really short clock right before halftime when it was only a 3 point game? That was a big mistake. Take a knee. Go to the locker room down 6-3. Instead, they go to the locker room down 13-3 and give up a kick return out of the locker room. That’s all on Kirby and it didn’t help the new QB play with less pressure.

 

[Bones80]

ND’s offense only scored one TD and that was after a fumble gave them an extremely short field. They are missing their best d lineman. Their d line averages less than 270 lbs. They don’t have much of a passing game and their fastest rb came out of the game with a knee brace. Their offense was qb running the ball for 80. I would flood the box, play as much man as possible, and put a spy on the qb. Biggest concerns are their success at getting turnovers and whether or not Drew has learned how to see a blitz coming and dump the ball to a safety valve. PS should pound the running game and focus on short, quick passes. If we are healthy and don’t turn it over a bunch, I like our chances.

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

Kirby got outcoached. ND is a well coached, disciplined team. They aren’t the most talented, but they won’t beat themselves.

While we on the other hand...

 

[ILLINOISLION]

ND’s QB runs for 60-70 yards AND 5-6 first downs every game. Watch him AND their TE.

Avoid their constant blitzing with backs blocking and releasing out to the flats.

Avoid turnovers and cheap TDs.

Avoid any dumbass coaching decisions and playcalling.

 

[BobPSU92]

I’m torn with the upcoming game against nd. If we lose, we get rid of Franklin, and Golden comes home. If we win, we keep Franklin and don’t get Golden.

 

[SleepyLion]

Family feud here. Wife and l are PSU grads. Son is ND grad.

Does he still live with you? Time to start increasing the rent!

 

[Nittering Nabob]

I’m torn with the upcoming game against nd. If we lose, we get rid of Franklin, and Golden comes home. If we win, we keep Franklin and don’t get Golden.

I'm thinking Tom Allen enrolls at some school of Dentistry. Franklin needs a new DC but is strictly prohibited from pursuing anyone with connections to the JoePa era even if said person wanted to return to State College.

 

[Georgia Peach]

Well, if that’s all true, why was he greedily pushing the inexperienced backup QB to try and score on a really short clock right before halftime when it was only a 3 point game? That was a big mistake. Take a knee. Go to the locker room down 6-3. Instead, they go to the locker room down 13-3 and give up a kick return out of the locker room. That’s all on Kirby and it didn’t help the new QB play with less pressure.

I just think it's a little bit of hindsight being employed to criticize the coach. The Georgia QB was 20/32 for 234 and a TD for the game. ND was stacking the box and daring Georgia to throw. I think the QB showed he could throw with adequate protection. The passing game was all Georgia had going. The play call was a simple square pattern to a TE. Their lineman missed a block and a turnover happened. It was lack of execution, not a play call that resulted in the late TD. Regardless, the kickoff return to start the second half is what won the game.

 

[Georgia Peach]

ND’s QB runs for 60-70 yards AND 5-6 first downs every game. Watch him AND their TE.

Avoid their constant blitzing with backs blocking and releasing out to the flats.

Avoid turnovers and cheap TDs.

Avoid any dumbass coaching decisions and playcalling.

Your point about the blitzing is spot on. We showed little imagination with the Boise blitz, something they had done all year. ND blitzes because they are missing a few DL's due to injury and are undersized up front.

 

[Calabrin]

B-b-b-but... the SEC is still the best, right?

...

RIGHT??? Guys?? Anyone??????

 

[Calabrin]

Your point about the blitzing is spot on. We showed little imagination with the Boise blitz, something they had done all year. ND blitzes because they are missing a few DL's due to injury and are undersized up front.

I mentioned this in the big post I made after the game, and a bunch of people jumped on me, insisting that a QB that went 13-25 and ate 4 sacks while being totally unable to respond to the blitz somehow "played well".

JFC.

It's as though people think they're going to have their fan card revoked if they admit, "Yeah, we definitely have some problems."

 

[BobPSU92]

Your point about the blitzing is spot on. We showed little imagination with the Boise blitz, something they had done all year. ND blitzes because they are missing a few DL's due to injury and are undersized up front.

And the man at the back said, "Everyone, attack"
And it turned into a Boise blitz
And the girl in the corner said, "Boy, I wanna warn ya
It'll turn into a Boise blitz"

Boise blitz
Boise blitz
Boise blitz
Boise blitz

 

[Lionville]

Does he still live with you? Time to start increasing the rent!

I would if he did but he’s married.

 

[LB99]

I mentioned this in the big post I made after the game, and a bunch of people jumped on me, insisting that a QB that went 13-25 and ate 4 sacks while being totally unable to respond to the blitz somehow "played well".

JFC.

It's as though people think they're going to have their fan card revoked if they admit, "Yeah, we definitely have some problems."

Both points can be right. He both played well AND took some unnecessary sacks. Taking a bad sack doesn’t negate his spot on passes to Warren twice for TDs. He just has a weakness to his game that he has to work on. You also ignored several drops that hit his intended targets in the hands.

 

[PSUAVLNC]

Guys this Georgia team is a shadow of what they were just two or three years ago. I honestly believe that Notre Dame had a tougher game against Indiana. Styles make great games and the Nittany Lions will match up. Bring it!!!

You're right!!! Georgia had nothing on offense. I was hoping both teams would lose!!

 

[Ludd]

I would if he did but he’s married.

My son’s married too but he and his wife (and their dog and cat) are living with me right now, so that doesn’t always matter. Of course, it’s just until their house gets done being built (and just a secret between us, I kind of like having my son back for a while).