Clifford

[Calabrin]

This has to be the end of Sean Clifford. There was barely any sane means of rationalizing his continued #1 status before today, and now there’s absolutely no way anyone with half a brain continues to play him.

Let’s consider some facts:

-6th year QB with a low ceiling
-Has played poorly this season, and somehow managed to save up his worst performance for Ohio State
-No future as a football player
-Done after 4 more regular season games against soft opponents + bowl game

I do not buy the excuse that he has “earned the right to play.” Nah. You earn your right to play by delivering results, not by being a super-super-senior. You earn your right to play by being better than the other guys at your position. Sean has played poorly this year, and he single handedly coughed up 4 turnovers against an opponent we had a chance to beat, which were converted into 21 points against us. That’s the OPPOSITE of “earning the right to play”. That’s earning a seat on the bench.

If the excuse is, “He gives us the best chance to win,” then that means his no-better-than-averageness (which has often been worse than that this season) is somehow superior to Drew Allar and Christian Veillieux…? Does anyone seriously want to make that argument? That D & C are below average?

But the most compelling reason to sit Clifford for the rest of the season is simply that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He is a sunken cost. Why waste valuable real-game reps on a guy that’s about to be done, and is going nowhere in football? Christian and Drew could tag-team the last four games and get invaluable experience for next season so that we’re not heading into 2023 with two greenhorns at QB.

The thing is: if Drew or Christian had coughed up four turnovers today, would anyone have been upset? No. Because we understand the process of coaching a young QB toward reaching his potential. We understand they’re not gonna be Brady out of the gate. But to sit there and watch a 6th year QB do it… who supposedly gives us our “best chance” of winning…? Inexcusable.

Also, why did JF continue to send Sean out there when the game was out of reach? My hope is that it was just to give him a chance to score that junk TD and become PSU’s all-time leader in TD passes because in the back of his mind, Franklin was thinking, “You’re done after today, buddy-boy.”

I don’t want to be too harsh on the young man, but the tough part about being a GOOD coach is knowing when to cut bait on an underachiever. You got two other guys back there with a future and higher talent ceilings. You got smoked by your two toughest opponents of the season (again!). It’s time to move on. It’s time to prepare this squad to be better, and perhaps even something special in a couple of years.

It’s time for the Drew Allar Show.

 

[GregPSU]

This has to be the end of Sean Clifford. There was barely any sane means of rationalizing his continued #1 status before today, and now there’s absolutely no way anyone with half a brain continues to play him.

Let’s consider some facts:

-6th year QB with a low ceiling
-Has played poorly this season, and somehow managed to save up his worst performance for Ohio State
-No future as a football player
-Done after 4 more regular season games against soft opponents + bowl game

I do not buy the excuse that he has “earned the right to play.” Nah. You earn your right to play by delivering results, not by being a super-super-senior. You earn your right to play by being better than the other guys at your position. Sean has played poorly this year, and he single handedly coughed up 4 turnovers against an opponent we had a chance to beat, which were converted into 21 points against us. That’s the OPPOSITE of “earning the right to play”. That’s earning a seat on the bench.

If the excuse is, “He gives us the best chance to win,” then that means his no-better-than-averageness (which has often been worse than that this season) is somehow superior to Drew Allar and Christian Veillieux…? Does anyone seriously want to make that argument? That D & C are below average?

But the most compelling reason to sit Clifford for the rest of the season is simply that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He is a sunken cost. Why waste valuable real-game reps on a guy that’s about to be done, and is going nowhere in football? Christian and Drew could tag-team the last four games and get invaluable experience for next season so that we’re not heading into 2023 with two greenhorns at QB.

The thing is: if Drew or Christian had coughed up four turnovers today, would anyone have been upset? No. Because we understand the process of coaching a young QB toward reaching his potential. We understand they’re not gonna be Brady out of the gate. But to sit there and watch a 6th year QB do it… who supposedly gives us our “best chance” of winning…? Inexcusable.

Also, why did JF continue to send Sean out there when the game was out of reach? My hope is that it was just to give him a chance to score that junk TD and become PSU’s all-time leader in TD passes because in the back of his mind, Franklin was thinking, “You’re done after today, buddy-boy.”

I don’t want to be too harsh on the young man, but the tough part about being a GOOD coach is knowing when to cut bait on an underachiever. You got two other guys back there with a future and higher talent ceilings. You got smoked by your two toughest opponents of the season (again!). It’s time to move on. It’s time to prepare this squad to be better, and perhaps even something special in a couple of years.

It’s time for the Drew Allar Show.

Agree with everything you said, although brace yourself for those who will defend Clifford to a degree. We saw all this for 5 years and so knew it would continue this year in his 6th year. He makes some really good throws at times and has led the team to winning drives but....... The turnover machine that he has always been is the major reason for our losses the past 6 years. That side of him seems to get ignored when sending the QB the next game. Give Allar the starts now and let him get started now learning so he hits the ground better prepared next year

 

[PSUMichFan]

Not sure on the amount of playing time Drew Allar had this year! Does his still have the ability to be redshirted this year? Maybe this plays into it. I agree Drew should have more reps but we are not the coaches. If you look at the stats we were fairly even in total offensive yards yesterday. Four turnovers caused our loss and no PSU fan is happy about that. Too bad Chad Powers didn't have any eligibility left in his college career. I truly believe the team has improved from last year and the best days for this current team are forthcoming. Am I happy about yesterday's loss - Hell No!

 

[NittanyBuff]

Clifford is what he is and I've been saying it for yrs now, an above avg QB, nothing going to change. He's not an NFL QB, kid just wasn't ready for the work force, still has a shot at leading us to 10-2 and solid bowl gm. If Allar has appeared in 4 or more then he needs to get some work in every gm moving forward.

 

[marshall23]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

 

[dcf4psu]

Not sure on the amount of playing time Drew Allar had this year! Does his still have the ability to be redshirted this year? Maybe this plays into it. I agree Drew should have more reps but we are not the coaches. If you look at the stats we were fairly even in total offensive yards yesterday. Four turnovers caused our loss and no PSU fan is happy about that. Too bad Chad Powers didn't have any eligibility left in his college career. I truly believe the team has improved from last year and the best days for this current team are forthcoming. Am I happy about yesterday's loss - Hell No!

His red-shirt was burned.

 

[harjeff]

This has to be the end of Sean Clifford. There was barely any sane means of rationalizing his continued #1 status before today, and now there’s absolutely no way anyone with half a brain continues to play him.

Let’s consider some facts:

-6th year QB with a low ceiling
-Has played poorly this season, and somehow managed to save up his worst performance for Ohio State
-No future as a football player
-Done after 4 more regular season games against soft opponents + bowl game

I do not buy the excuse that he has “earned the right to play.” Nah. You earn your right to play by delivering results, not by being a super-super-senior. You earn your right to play by being better than the other guys at your position. Sean has played poorly this year, and he single handedly coughed up 4 turnovers against an opponent we had a chance to beat, which were converted into 21 points against us. That’s the OPPOSITE of “earning the right to play”. That’s earning a seat on the bench.

If the excuse is, “He gives us the best chance to win,” then that means his no-better-than-averageness (which has often been worse than that this season) is somehow superior to Drew Allar and Christian Veillieux…? Does anyone seriously want to make that argument? That D & C are below average?

But the most compelling reason to sit Clifford for the rest of the season is simply that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He is a sunken cost. Why waste valuable real-game reps on a guy that’s about to be done, and is going nowhere in football? Christian and Drew could tag-team the last four games and get invaluable experience for next season so that we’re not heading into 2023 with two greenhorns at QB.

The thing is: if Drew or Christian had coughed up four turnovers today, would anyone have been upset? No. Because we understand the process of coaching a young QB toward reaching his potential. We understand they’re not gonna be Brady out of the gate. But to sit there and watch a 6th year QB do it… who supposedly gives us our “best chance” of winning…? Inexcusable.

Also, why did JF continue to send Sean out there when the game was out of reach? My hope is that it was just to give him a chance to score that junk TD and become PSU’s all-time leader in TD passes because in the back of his mind, Franklin was thinking, “You’re done after today, buddy-boy.”

I don’t want to be too harsh on the young man, but the tough part about being a GOOD coach is knowing when to cut bait on an underachiever. You got two other guys back there with a future and higher talent ceilings. You got smoked by your two toughest opponents of the season (again!). It’s time to move on. It’s time to prepare this squad to be better, and perhaps even something special in a couple of years.

It’s time for the Drew Allar Show.

I completely agree...been saying thus since the Purdue game when Allar came in and looked the part. Sure there will be freshman growing pains....but he's a freshman and will get better with playing time. As you mentioned Clifford is done after this year and makes no sense to play him any longer.

 

[Wlawnlion]

Just a reminder he choose Clifford over Levi's.

 

[Omar81]

No, I’ve never tried to throw a football through a forest. But our super experienced super senior tried repeatedly. Some might ask why . . .

 

[Calabrin]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

It’s weird that a 6th year QB doesn’t know how to pump fake in order to freeze an on-coming D-lineman.

Sean did ONE pump fake today, it worked, and for one fleeting moment I thought, “Oh my god—he figured it out!”

Then he never did it again, and went back to making bad pass attempts.

Let’s also not overstate his statistics: Parker Washington was bailing Clifford out all day making spectacular catches. Sean really wasn’t that good. His receivers did a LOT of the lifting.

But this is all beside the point which is this: there are 4 games remaining and playing Clifford brings zero value to Penn State. He isn’t going to get better, he isn’t appreciably superior to the other two QBs slotted behind him, and he has nothing left to play for. It’s time to pat him on the back, thank him for his service to the program, and sit him down so that someone else can begin preparations to lead this team next season.

 

[marshall23]

It’s weird that a 6th year QB doesn’t know how to pump fake in order to freeze an on-coming D-lineman.

Sean did ONE pump fake today, it worked, and for one fleeting moment I thought, “Oh my god—he figured it out!”

Then he never did it again, and went back to making bad pass attempts.

Let’s also not overstate his statistics: Parker Washington was bailing Clifford out all day making spectacular catches. Sean really wasn’t that good. His receivers did a LOT of the lifting.

But this is all beside the point which is this: there are 4 games remaining and playing Clifford brings zero value to Penn State. He isn’t going to get better, he isn’t appreciably superior to the other two QBs slotted behind him, and he has nothing left to play for. It’s time to pat him on the back, thank him for his service to the program, and sit him down so that someone else can begin preparations to lead this team next season.

You don't pump fake on a timing play.....LOL
How do you know he isn't superior? You are assuming the turnovers were 100% on Clifford and his replacement would have thrown for 370 yards
By the way, receivers everywhere in America are making great catches....have you ever seen another team play?
Let's play for next year! Call in PJ Mustipher and others who will not be back next year and tell them you've now shifted your focus to next season.
LOL
Do you think next year will be better than a shot at 10-2 and a trip to a NY6?
You might get good odds in Vegas

 

[CDLionFL]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

Do you need an oxygen tank at your altitude?

 

[marshall23]

Do you need an oxygen tank at your altitude?

Do you type with one hand on the keyboard?

 

[CDLionFL]

Do you type with one hand on the keyboard?

I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean. But we get it, you’re the high and mighty former coach expert that has ties to the inner workings of the program and that gives you carte blanche to talk down to all other observers of the program who have their own opinions of the game. Reasonable minds can differ. Stubborn minds point and ridicule others. Your act has long gone stale.

 

[MacNit]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

Fair assessment. Cliffy made mistakes but most were forced errors. And he did some very nice things as well.

Good effort by team but participation trophies are sad.

School is paying at a level that this should be seen as yet another in a string of 9 years of examples: A winnable game against a top opponent that ends again in failure.

If there where accountability, changes would be made. Maybe Krafty can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Or does he plan to coast for the next decade and allow this abject mediocrity to continue?

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Too many people are laying ALL the blame on Clifford for the loss yesterday.

I blame our RT #72…..and our coaching staff for not having a TE helping him out.

Anyone here honestly think PSU’s O would have scored 31 points with no D help re: field position and getting ZERO turnovers? Plus our staff gave away a couple scoring opportunities by passing up a FG attempt along with that dumb *** (every game has to have it) stupid fade call.

I have not seen a college DE ever have a better or more impactful game than tOSU’s #44.

 

[Bwifan]

Too many people are laying ALL the blame on Clifford for the loss yesterday.

I blame our RT #72…..and our coaching staff for not having a TE helping him out.

Anyone here honestly think PSU’s O would have scored 31 points with no D help re: field position and getting ZERO turnovers? Plus our staff gave away a couple scoring opportunities by passing up a FG attempt along with that dumb *** (every game has to have it) stupid fade call.

I have not seen a college DE ever have a better or more impactful game than tOSU’s #44.

I don't put it all on SC lap, but I do put a load of it. I expect more out of a 6th year qb. I will always appreciate his efforts and his time at PSU. I have always given him the benefit of the doubt but yesterday I finally hit my ceiling with him. OSU and Michigan are gone on the schedule, we lost that games Michigan I wouldn't even call a game. It's time to build towards the future. Use Allar and Singleton/Allen while building towards next year. Franklin will defend Clifford to the end, that is why Franklin will always be in 3rd place in the Big10. His in game decisions as well as loyalty to players will always get him 8-4/9-3 seasons. I agree with you we should have had TE's/RBs chipping with our RT. Sorry for me 6 years is enough with not much progression, its time to move on for me.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

I don't put it all on SC lap, but I do put a load of it. I expect more out of a 6th year qb. I will always appreciate his efforts and his time at PSU. I have always given him the benefit of the doubt but yesterday I finally hit my ceiling with him. OSU and Michigan are gone on the schedule, we lost that games Michigan I wouldn't even call a game. It's time to build towards the future. Use Allar and Singleton/Allen while building towards next year. Franklin will defend Clifford to the end, that is why Franklin will always be in 3rd place in the Big10. His in game decisions as well as loyalty to players will always get him 8-4/9-3 seasons. I agree with you we should have had TE's/RBs chipping with our RT. Sorry for me 6 years is enough with not much progression, its time to move on for me.

I certainly understand and share your frustration. But I also honestly think he’s gotten very little help with our coaching decisions over the years re: game planning, play calling, scheming, etc.

Nothing under center until this year, no misdirection, 2 yd crossing routes, fly patterns down the sidelines, nothing between the hash marks, extremely limited hurry-up O and of course our end zone fade calls.

I’ve said it several times here…..the easiest coaching job in CFB is being the Defensive Coordinator prepping for PSU.

 

[BobPSU92]

Do you type with one hand on the keyboard?

You have him confused with me.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

You have him confused with me.

Bob, your typing uses four fingers more than I use! ‍

 

[PSUJam]

I don't put it all on SC lap, but I do put a load of it. I expect more out of a 6th year qb. I will always appreciate his efforts and his time at PSU. I have always given him the benefit of the doubt but yesterday I finally hit my ceiling with him. OSU and Michigan are gone on the schedule, we lost that games Michigan I wouldn't even call a game. It's time to build towards the future. Use Allar and Singleton/Allen while building towards next year. Franklin will defend Clifford to the end, that is why Franklin will always be in 3rd place in the Big10. His in game decisions as well as loyalty to players will always get him 8-4/9-3 seasons. I agree with you we should have had TE's/RBs chipping with our RT. Sorry for me 6 years is enough with not much progression, its time to move on for me.

I agree. It wasn't all Clifford. If I read correctly we were down to 2 starters on the offensive line yesterday so I'm sure that a ton to do with it. That being said, we're out of the B1G title chase, and going 10-2 will get an invite to a bowl only to have our best players opt out.

So the way I see it:

Play Clifford and have a really good shot at going 4-0 the rest of the season. Get invited to a NY 6 bowl and best players opt out and we probably lose.

Play Allar and win at least 2 but maybe 4. Get invited to a bowl and best players opt out and we probably lose.

I realize the bowl money is different but does that really offset the value of the playing time Allar gets to learn the rest of this season and in a bowl?

We're in the top of the eighth inning and it's time to bring the reliever in. Its time for CJF to head to the mound and take the ball from Clifford while thanking him for pitching a pretty good game.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

Absolutely fair points. Clifford’s turnovers were just plain fantastic plays by #44…not much else he could do when 44 was making the kinds of plays he made…he was phenomenal!! That said (and I’ve posted this in the past), Clifford is holding the team back now (and probably has been all season). I get why he came back and he really is an easy kid to root for, but his game is limited and they have a thoroughbred waiting behind him. There’s a special season ahead for this crop of freshmen, and every rep the kid isn’t getting this year is likely pushing that season back a year.

 

[LionsAndBears]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

This

 

[Bwifan]

I certainly understand and share your frustration. But I also honestly think he’s gotten very little help with our coaching decisions over the years re: game planning, play calling, scheming, etc.

Nothing under center until this year, no misdirection, 2 yd crossing routes, fly patterns down the sidelines, nothing between the hash marks, extremely limited hurry-up O and of course our end zone fade calls.

I’ve said it several times here…..the easiest coaching job in CFB is being the Defensive Coordinator prepping for PSU.

Yup I do agree with you on that as well. Not easy having a new OC every year no doubt.

 

[Bwifan]

Absolutely fair points. Clifford’s turnovers were just plain fantastic plays by #44…not much else he could do when 44 was making the kinds of plays he made…he was phenomenal!! That said (and I’ve posted this in the past), Clifford is holding the team back now (and probably has been all season). I get why he came back and he really is an easy kid to root for, but his game is limited and they have a thoroughbred waiting behind him. There’s a special season ahead for this crop of freshmen, and every rep the kid isn’t getting this year is likely pushing that season back a year.

I agree, SC came back PSU took a swing at beating OSU and Michigan so Allar could learn and watch without getting him killed. Now those games have passed, it's Allar time now. IMHO he should be getting half the reps in practice and games going forward.

 

[MacNit]

This has to be the end of Sean Clifford. There was barely any sane means of rationalizing his continued #1 status before today, and now there’s absolutely no way anyone with half a brain continues to play him.

Let’s consider some facts:

-6th year QB with a low ceiling
-Has played poorly this season, and somehow managed to save up his worst performance for Ohio State
-No future as a football player
-Done after 4 more regular season games against soft opponents + bowl game

I do not buy the excuse that he has “earned the right to play.” Nah. You earn your right to play by delivering results, not by being a super-super-senior. You earn your right to play by being better than the other guys at your position. Sean has played poorly this year, and he single handedly coughed up 4 turnovers against an opponent we had a chance to beat, which were converted into 21 points against us. That’s the OPPOSITE of “earning the right to play”. That’s earning a seat on the bench.

If the excuse is, “He gives us the best chance to win,” then that means his no-better-than-averageness (which has often been worse than that this season) is somehow superior to Drew Allar and Christian Veillieux…? Does anyone seriously want to make that argument? That D & C are below average?

But the most compelling reason to sit Clifford for the rest of the season is simply that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He is a sunken cost. Why waste valuable real-game reps on a guy that’s about to be done, and is going nowhere in football? Christian and Drew could tag-team the last four games and get invaluable experience for next season so that we’re not heading into 2023 with two greenhorns at QB.

The thing is: if Drew or Christian had coughed up four turnovers today, would anyone have been upset? No. Because we understand the process of coaching a young QB toward reaching his potential. We understand they’re not gonna be Brady out of the gate. But to sit there and watch a 6th year QB do it… who supposedly gives us our “best chance” of winning…? Inexcusable.

Also, why did JF continue to send Sean out there when the game was out of reach? My hope is that it was just to give him a chance to score that junk TD and become PSU’s all-time leader in TD passes because in the back of his mind, Franklin was thinking, “You’re done after today, buddy-boy.”

I don’t want to be too harsh on the young man, but the tough part about being a GOOD coach is knowing when to cut bait on an underachiever. You got two other guys back there with a future and higher talent ceilings. You got smoked by your two toughest opponents of the season (again!). It’s time to move on. It’s time to prepare this squad to be better, and perhaps even something special in a couple of years.

It’s time for the Drew Allar Show.

Very fair.

Love Cliffy’s spunk (to quote Lou Grant). But it is time to move on.

 

[Stephen Light]

This has to be the end of Sean Clifford. There was barely any sane means of rationalizing his continued #1 status before today, and now there’s absolutely no way anyone with half a brain continues to play him.

Let’s consider some facts:

-6th year QB with a low ceiling
-Has played poorly this season, and somehow managed to save up his worst performance for Ohio State
-No future as a football player
-Done after 4 more regular season games against soft opponents + bowl game

I do not buy the excuse that he has “earned the right to play.” Nah. You earn your right to play by delivering results, not by being a super-super-senior. You earn your right to play by being better than the other guys at your position. Sean has played poorly this year, and he single handedly coughed up 4 turnovers against an opponent we had a chance to beat, which were converted into 21 points against us. That’s the OPPOSITE of “earning the right to play”. That’s earning a seat on the bench.

If the excuse is, “He gives us the best chance to win,” then that means his no-better-than-averageness (which has often been worse than that this season) is somehow superior to Drew Allar and Christian Veillieux…? Does anyone seriously want to make that argument? That D & C are below average?

But the most compelling reason to sit Clifford for the rest of the season is simply that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He is a sunken cost. Why waste valuable real-game reps on a guy that’s about to be done, and is going nowhere in football? Christian and Drew could tag-team the last four games and get invaluable experience for next season so that we’re not heading into 2023 with two greenhorns at QB.

The thing is: if Drew or Christian had coughed up four turnovers today, would anyone have been upset? No. Because we understand the process of coaching a young QB toward reaching his potential. We understand they’re not gonna be Brady out of the gate. But to sit there and watch a 6th year QB do it… who supposedly gives us our “best chance” of winning…? Inexcusable.

Also, why did JF continue to send Sean out there when the game was out of reach? My hope is that it was just to give him a chance to score that junk TD and become PSU’s all-time leader in TD passes because in the back of his mind, Franklin was thinking, “You’re done after today, buddy-boy.”

I don’t want to be too harsh on the young man, but the tough part about being a GOOD coach is knowing when to cut bait on an underachiever. You got two other guys back there with a future and higher talent ceilings. You got smoked by your two toughest opponents of the season (again!). It’s time to move on. It’s time to prepare this squad to be better, and perhaps even something special in a couple of years.

It’s time for the Drew Allar Show.

Absolutely not! It’s Clifford Ride or Die Time! We can’t get Allar out there too early. What’s better? 4 Big Ten starts or a chance to hone your skills in the Blue/White game? And THEN he can have his Big Ten start at an AWAY Illinois game. And, as we know, Bret Bielema sucks as a defensive coach!

No sir, I’m not taking THAT chance. Let Allar get all the game simulated practice reps we can get him!

 

[Stephen Light]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

Jesus has not used up any of his eligibility, just saying…

 

[EPC FAN]

Let's consider some facts: The biggest difference in the game was #44 of OSU.... tough to win when one of the guys in your backfield every play is from the opposition. Ever try to throw a ball thru a forest?
Fact: over 7 games OSU gave up 140 yards per game passing. Clifford threw for 371....yes the loss was all on Cliff. LOL
Fanboys
I hope Allar gets some reps moving forward, but PSU wasn't winning this game without someone blocking #44....unless Jesus was the QB.
Team competed, I thought overall it was a positive.

By the way, any other coaching geniuses want to tell me why we should have kept Will Levis?
Or how much we missed the boat with Julian Fleming?

Go back and watch that 4th quarter. The right tackle #72 got destroyed by #44 of OSU. Caedan Wallace has been the starter all season. Was Caedan injured in the OSU game? Could that have been when #44 became a Gus “every game I have an agenda” Johnson super star?

 

[Lion84]

It’s weird that a 6th year QB doesn’t know how to pump fake in order to freeze an on-coming D-lineman.

Sean did ONE pump fake today, it worked, and for one fleeting moment I thought, “Oh my god—he figured it out!”

Then he never did it again, and went back to making bad pass attempts.

Let’s also not overstate his statistics: Parker Washington was bailing Clifford out all day making spectacular catches. Sean really wasn’t that good. His receivers did a LOT of the lifting.

But this is all beside the point which is this: there are 4 games remaining and playing Clifford brings zero value to Penn State. He isn’t going to get better, he isn’t appreciably superior to the other two QBs slotted behind him, and he has nothing left to play for. It’s time to pat him on the back, thank him for his service to the program, and sit him down so that someone else can begin preparations to lead this team next season.

Completely agree 4 turnovers on our side of the field is why we lost the game and he was responsible for all of them - time to play Allar and get him more reps

 

[marshall23]

I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean. But we get it, you’re the high and mighty former coach expert that has ties to the inner workings of the program and that gives you carte blanche to talk down to all other observers of the program who have their own opinions of the game. Reasonable minds can differ. Stubborn minds point and ridicule others. Your act has long gone stale.

So ignore me.

 

[marshall23]

Jesus has not used up any of his eligibility, just saying…

and he better not plan to stick around 6 years and block the Holy Ghost (as a freshman).

 

[marshall23]

Absolutely fair points. Clifford’s turnovers were just plain fantastic plays by #44…not much else he could do when 44 was making the kinds of plays he made…he was phenomenal!! That said (and I’ve posted this in the past), Clifford is holding the team back now (and probably has been all season). I get why he came back and he really is an easy kid to root for, but his game is limited and they have a thoroughbred waiting behind him. There’s a special season ahead for this crop of freshmen, and every rep the kid isn’t getting this year is likely pushing that season back a year.

I want to disagree in this way. Like never before, next year never comes in college football. We sometimes fail to grasp the magnitude of the portal added to NIL. Let me pose a scenario. A team....any team....I'll use Texas needs a proven RB to put the cherry on the sundae ( or so their high rolling boosters think) they offer Kaytron Allen 3 million to come to Texas.
I'm being told there are D1 coaches living in fear that virtually all their difference makers are jumping to the portal in December.
A coach owes it to his departing players....like PJ Mustipher to win as much as they can now and at the same time build depth (which usually translates to playing younger guys). It's delicate and the terrain is pretty treacherous and unchartered.
Coaching was always a tough job.....this is madness.
I'll state again that Clifford was offered a 6th year....he was not entitled to it.....for a reason.
If Allar becomes the best qb they will start him.
If not, I expect moving forward, to see a more concerted effort to find him some snaps during the competitive parts of the remaining games.
Whatever happens I'll rely on the coaches.
If for no other reason than, in all my years, I've never seen a fan hired as a division one coach.

 

[marshall23]

His red-shirt was burned.

Once again, his redshirt never existed. How in God's name can anyone think he's spending 5 years at PSU?
If he did come back for a 5th year....everyone here would want the backup QB.

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

I want to disagree in this way. Like never before, next year never comes in college football. We sometimes fail to grasp the magnitude of the portal added to NIL. Let me pose a scenario. A team....any team....I'll use Texas needs a proven RB to put the cherry on the sundae ( or so their high rolling boosters think) they offer Kaytron Allen 3 million to come to Texas.
I'm being told there are D1 coaches living in fear that virtually all their difference makers are jumping to the portal in December.
A coach owes it to his departing players....like PJ Mustipher to win as much as they can now and at the same time build depth (which usually translates to playing younger guys). It's delicate and the terrain is pretty treacherous and unchartered.
Coaching was always a tough job.....this is madness.
I'll state again that Clifford was offered a 6th year....he was not entitled to it.....for a reason.
If Allar becomes the best qb they will start him.
If not, I expect moving forward, to see a more concerted effort to find him some snaps during the competitive parts of the remaining games.
Whatever happens I'll rely on the coaches.
If for no other reason than, in all my years, I've never seen a fan hired as a division one coach.

Again, fair points. My response simply then would be, you already know SC isn’t good enough, so why not see what you have with the phenom?

 

[leinbacker]

Cut Clifford a break, he only got 7 pass attempts the year he backed up Trace.

Trace only got 20 attempts his first year and I bet most came in that bowl game against UGa when Hackenberg was hurt.

Franklin has Allan flinging it all over the field with 31 attempts.

 

[marshall23]

Fair assessment. Cliffy made mistakes but most were forced errors. And he did some very nice things as well.

Good effort by team but participation trophies are sad.

School is paying at a level that this should be seen as yet another in a string of 9 years of examples: A winnable game against a top opponent that ends again in failure.

If there where accountability, changes would be made. Maybe Krafty can pull a rabbit out of his hat. Or does he plan to coast for the next decade and allow this abject mediocrity to continue?

Question....if the last 7 minutes are the coaches fault, should he be praised for the first 53 minutes?
Remember, this is all revisionist history. I didn't see anyone here saying PSU was going to win.
PSU loses a game that they were 15.5 underdogs and call it a failure.
"Krafty" doesn't need a Rabbit he needs 63 million plus whatever the staff contracts are to fire CJF.and then
The "Krafty" needs more than that to h

I want to disagree in this way. Like never before, next year never comes in college football. We sometimes fail to grasp the magnitude of the portal added to NIL. Let me pose a scenario. A team....any team....I'll use Texas needs a proven RB to put the cherry on the sundae ( or so their high rolling boosters think) they offer Kaytron Allen 3 million to come to Texas.
I'm being told there are D1 coaches living in fear that virtually all their difference makers are jumping to the portal in December.
A coach owes it to his departing players....like PJ Mustipher to win as much as they can now and at the same time build depth (which usually translates to playing younger guys). It's delicate and the terrain is pretty treacherous and unchartered.
Coaching was always a tough job.....this is madness.
I'll state again that Clifford was offered a 6th year....he was not entitled to it.....for a reason.
If Allar becomes the best qb they will start him.
If not, I expect moving forward, to see a more concerted effort to find him some snaps during the competitive parts of the remaining games.
Whatever happens I'll rely on the coaches.
If for no other reason than, in all my years, I've never seen a fan hired as a division one coach.

ire the guy who makes PSU into OSU.
That's some "Krafty" rabbit to pull out.
I'm not paying CJF....but he's not exactly the Lone Ranger. Hello Jimbo Fisher, Mel Tucker, Mario Cristobal, David Shaw, If you want to pay a coach about 5 million per year, you would get a Pat Narduzzi.

Again, fair points. My response simply then would be, you already know SC isn’t good enough, so why not see what you have with the phenom?

My response is simple. Because the coaches see Allar each and every day. You don't throw players out there to see what you have. In an overwhelming percentage of cases, a coach has a pretty good idea what a player can and cannot do. It's why we have practices.
Again, before you make a change like that, it would be most prudent that the veterans on the team have seen the reason for the "youth" movement.
The other "once phenoms" aren't nearly as impressed with press clippings as the fans are.
Again, as difficult as it may be, fans should be assured that when Allar is everything they contend he will be.....the coaches will put him in. I heard a rumor they would like to win too.

 

[marshall23]

Cut Clifford a break, he only got 7 pass attempts the year he backed up Trace.

Trace only got 20 attempts his first year and I bet most came in that bowl game against UGa when Hackenberg was hurt.

Franklin has Allan flinging it all over the field with 31 attempts.

You forgot.....with 5 more games to play. But who is counting?

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Question....if the last 7 minutes are the coaches fault, should he be praised for the first 53 minutes?
Remember, this is all revisionist history. I didn't see anyone here saying PSU was going to win.
PSU loses a game that they were 15.5 underdogs and call it a failure.
"Krafty" doesn't need a Rabbit he needs 63 million plus whatever the staff contracts are to fire CJF.and then
The "Krafty" needs more than that to h


ire the guy who makes PSU into OSU.
That's some "Krafty" rabbit to pull out.
I'm not paying CJF....but he's not exactly the Lone Ranger. Hello Jimbo Fisher, Mel Tucker, Mario Cristobal, David Shaw, If you want to pay a coach about 5 million per year, you would get a Pat Narduzzi.

My response is simple. Because the coaches see Allar each and every day. You don't throw players out there to see what you have. In an overwhelming percentage of cases, a coach has a pretty good idea what a player can and cannot do. It's why we have practices.
Again, before you make a change like that, it would be most prudent that the veterans on the team have seen the reason for the "youth" movement.
The other "once phenoms" aren't nearly as impressed with press clippings as the fans are.
Again, as difficult as it may be, fans should be assured that when Allar is everything they contend he will be.....the coaches will put him in. I heard a rumor they would like to win too.

Can’t argue with what we don’t see in practice. My ultimate take on SC is he reached his ceiling a long time ago, and we already know it’s not enough. Great kid/leader, but probably has played too long.

 

[Auxgym]

This has to be the end of Sean Clifford. There was barely any sane means of rationalizing his continued #1 status before today, and now there’s absolutely no way anyone with half a brain continues to play him.

Let’s consider some facts:

-6th year QB with a low ceiling
-Has played poorly this season, and somehow managed to save up his worst performance for Ohio State
-No future as a football player
-Done after 4 more regular season games against soft opponents + bowl game

I do not buy the excuse that he has “earned the right to play.” Nah. You earn your right to play by delivering results, not by being a super-super-senior. You earn your right to play by being better than the other guys at your position. Sean has played poorly this year, and he single handedly coughed up 4 turnovers against an opponent we had a chance to beat, which were converted into 21 points against us. That’s the OPPOSITE of “earning the right to play”. That’s earning a seat on the bench.

If the excuse is, “He gives us the best chance to win,” then that means his no-better-than-averageness (which has often been worse than that this season) is somehow superior to Drew Allar and Christian Veillieux…? Does anyone seriously want to make that argument? That D & C are below average?

But the most compelling reason to sit Clifford for the rest of the season is simply that he doesn’t bring anything to the table. He is a sunken cost. Why waste valuable real-game reps on a guy that’s about to be done, and is going nowhere in football? Christian and Drew could tag-team the last four games and get invaluable experience for next season so that we’re not heading into 2023 with two greenhorns at QB.

The thing is: if Drew or Christian had coughed up four turnovers today, would anyone have been upset? No. Because we understand the process of coaching a young QB toward reaching his potential. We understand they’re not gonna be Brady out of the gate. But to sit there and watch a 6th year QB do it… who supposedly gives us our “best chance” of winning…? Inexcusable.

Also, why did JF continue to send Sean out there when the game was out of reach? My hope is that it was just to give him a chance to score that junk TD and become PSU’s all-time leader in TD passes because in the back of his mind, Franklin was thinking, “You’re done after today, buddy-boy.”

I don’t want to be too harsh on the young man, but the tough part about being a GOOD coach is knowing when to cut bait on an underachiever. You got two other guys back there with a future and higher talent ceilings. You got smoked by your two toughest opponents of the season (again!). It’s time to move on. It’s time to prepare this squad to be better, and perhaps even something special in a couple of years.

It’s time for the Drew Allar Show.

Up at 5 A.M. to write out what has been said a 100,000 times by other people? Good for you.