Film Study: Snow, no! PSU D vs. Sparty

[CaliLion79]

PSU D vs. MSU FILM STUDY

See Link. A lot of blame for lack of pass rush, run gap issues and coverage issues placed on the snow. To a degree, I get it. But to a different degree, feels like an excuse. For instance, on the 4th and 3 Thorne Zone Read keeper for a 1st, TCF throws a lazy shoulder into the QB instead of wrapping him and bringing him down a yard short of the line to gain...shades of Brandon Smith throwing a lazy shoulder into Haskins on that 3rd and Forever screen vs. Michigan on their first TD drive a few weeks ago. Just disappointing to see in Game 12 after the D had been stellar games 1 thru 11.

 

[rudedude]

We play in the Big 10 and most teams have gigantic OL and DL players. Watching some MSU replays, our D had no ability to penetrate at all. You can say it was “the weather” but our guys use speed to do their thing. The loss of Mustipher, IMO, was as large an issue as was Clifford’s injury. That being said, the pre season predictions for our record were accurate. We were lucky to escape with wins at Wisky due to a crappy QB in Mertz, as well as vs Auburn. The Villanova game really exposed us and eventually led to the Illinois massacre. We don’t have the “Jimmys and Joes” on both lines. All the coaching in the world can’t turn Joe Turnstile into Orlando Pace.

 

[Omar81]

We play in the Big 10 and most teams have gigantic OL and DL players. Watching some MSU replays, our D had no ability to penetrate at all. You can say it was “the weather” but our guys use speed to do their thing. The loss of Mustipher, IMO, was as large an issue as was Clifford’s injury. That being said, the pre season predictions for our record were accurate. We were lucky to escape with wins at Wisky due to a crappy QB in Mertz, as well as vs Auburn. The Villanova game really exposed us and eventually led to the Illinois massacre. We don’t have the “Jimmys and Joes” on both lines. All the coaching in the world can’t turn Joe Turnstile into Orlando Pace.

And yet, despite the lack of Jimmys and Joes, we win all but one game (and arguably that one too) if not for abysmal preparation and head scratching in-game moves by our deer in the headlights coach.

 

[rudedude]

And yet, despite the lack of Jimmys and Joes, we win all but one game (and arguably that one too) if not for abysmal preparation and head scratching in-game moves by our deer in the headlights coach.

Preparation has nothing to do with it if the player can’t execute the plan. Granted some play calls are puzzling but coaches aren’t missing field goals, tackles, or dropping passes. Don’t forget in the Iowa game Clifford threw a near fatal interception on our first play and the D bailed us out. Our offense has been pretty putrid all year with the exception of Dotson. Imagine if he wasn’t here!

 

[[email protected]]

Our coaches were responsible for preparing the back up quarterback

 

[Omar81]

You know what? Coaches don’t make field goals or tackles, and coaches don’t catch passes. So I guess you and I have just “proven” that coaches don’t matter — which makes one wonder why PSU just committed $85 million over ten years, LSU is paying $15 million a year, etc.

Sorry, but if the coach prepared a guy (any guy on the roster) to call the cadence properly the Iowa loss never happens. I don’t have time to go through all the idiotic coaching “moves” that caused all the other losses, but here’s one: How about getting the ball into the hands of your best player (and nobody else is even close) instead of virtually removing him from the game during long stretches of every loss?

 

[Ram20]

I typically really like this coaches insights, but he is way too easy on this defense. I will save everyone the time, basically no pass rush because of the snow, poor tackling because of the snow, bad coverage because of the snow.

 

[donaldfair71]

I typically really like this coaches insights, but he is way too easy on this defense. I will save everyone the time, basically no pass rush because of the snow, poor tackling because of the snow, bad coverage because of the snow.

Thanks, I'll probably skip it then.

Watching in real time it just felt like a "this is a close game and we don't really win those this year" feel to it. Almost like the Maryland game, except Maryland was so inept on offense that the team was able to pull away.

 

[donaldfair71]

Preparation has nothing to do with it if the player can’t execute the plan. Granted some play calls are puzzling but coaches aren’t missing field goals, tackles, or dropping passes. Don’t forget in the Iowa game Clifford threw a near fatal interception on our first play and the D bailed us out. Our offense has been pretty putrid all year with the exception of Dotson. Imagine if he wasn’t here!

This is the greatest argument I have seen against extending Franklin's, or any coach's, contract. Or having any coach at all, in fact.

 

[Quint526]

I typically really like this coaches insights, but he is way too easy on this defense. I will save everyone the time, basically no pass rush because of the snow, poor tackling because of the snow, bad coverage because of the snow.

Completely agree. That was an uncharacteristically poor analysis. I guess MSU wasn't told about the poor conditions.

 

[Quint526]

We play in the Big 10 and most teams have gigantic OL and DL players. Watching some MSU replays, our D had no ability to penetrate at all. You can say it was “the weather” but our guys use speed to do their thing. The loss of Mustipher, IMO, was as large an issue as was Clifford’s injury. That being said, the pre season predictions for our record were accurate. We were lucky to escape with wins at Wisky due to a crappy QB in Mertz, as well as vs Auburn. The Villanova game really exposed us and eventually led to the Illinois massacre. We don’t have the “Jimmys and Joes” on both lines. All the coaching in the world can’t turn Joe Turnstile into Orlando Pace.

Very good points, but that also means that Franklin doesn't understand how to recruit to win in the BIG. That's troubling.

 

[ManxomeLion]

Hard to fault the defense when they practically kept us in every game this season. And for their failings in this game, don't forget they also provided a pick 6.
Defense MAY have cost us MSU, but offense cost us the others, with the exception of Illinois which IMHO lies on the coaches.
Good and great teams (and coaches) can cover/compensate for poor performance or deficiencies with particular units.