I'm feeling good about this FB season. Super pumped for N.Singleton in PSU Uniform and to see what he can do.
- Thread starter Mr. Potter
- Start date
What time do the gates open?
I disagree. We need the time to practice our negativity so that weāre in
Hoping for consistent OL performance so that Mr Singleton can truly showcase his capabilities.
His East-West game has improved dramatically since he arrived on campus.
I always start with low-end win-loss predictions, and most times I look really prescient. And on the rare occasions we outperform, I am happy we donāt totally suck
I am always excited and somewhat optimistic re each season. The last two seasons have had a lot of just amazingly bad luck had very significant impacts. I think that is why the pre-season mags had us rated nicely in both of those years before we collapsed. This year they seem to have us down - as they consider our record and player losses. Personally, I think a lot of players who are becoming starters and their backups are going to show better than most think. I do think OL is actually going to be good this year. I think the OFF is good for at least 10 PPG improvement. My concern is 1T DT (only really have PJ and we don't know his recovery) and LB - a lot of very new faces. Also the 4-2-5 with feels a little shaky without major run stuffing on from 6. I think EDGE rush is going to be very good and our DBs are solid - we will handle passing teams. Only the power running teams seem like a big problem for us.
I hate us. Fire Franklin. Yurcich needs to go. Itās like Diaz never called defense before. Clifford shouldāve left. Can Roberson come back? Witvoet and crew have us this week. Flag on Joey Porter. Trautwein is terrible! Herbie - enough said.
Not sure about you guys but clearly Iām in mid-season form!
Can we press coverage? Can we play prevent defense? Blitz 11 players. Zone block on offense. Bounce pass to OSU? Where the heck is the fullback? Just practicing my OTA's on Father's day.
The best part of football is the anticipation during the Summer. We always think we are better then we really are. The season comes, we start hot. Then we are slapped back to reality with a loss. Then another. We've had 2 down years. There are reasons for both. There are no reasons any more. The tools are there. Perhaps alittle seasoning is needed. But that's all. Patience is a virtue. I am running low on virtue.
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I expect underperforming and failure in all aspects of life, especially PSU football. Therefore Iām never disappointed in our limitless limitations. All we need are new coaches, players and fans to rectify the situation before another disastrous season reaffirms and exposes our inadequacies. Other than that Iām pumped up and ready.
With that kind of outlook on life young man, youāre gonna fit in perfect here.
It seems like my attitude about an upcoming PSU Football season has been dependent upon the quarterback and his playing experience. This year, I should be very optimistic. I'm not.
Nick Singleton will get the yards his OL gets him and maybe a few on his own. Not optimistic there either.
Too many questions on the DL and LB groups. Raw talent is there, but got to see it on the field.
Schedule doesn't give much opportunity to develop those unknowns. Like opening at IU a couple seasons back when IU had their best team in years.
Brings me to coaching. I like Franklin. I like Franklin. I like Franklin. .... but .....
Several seasons back, I score some tickets to homecoming against Northwestern. Get to the seats (NF, I think) in time to watch warm-ups. I watch Pat Fitzgerald engaged with his players, focused. I look at the other end and see Franklin taking selfies with recruits. (?????). Is he a coach or a recruiter?
NW won.
I see the number of PSU players going to NFL teams - from a team that hovers just above 0.500 by winning the OOC match ups and always dropping 1 or 2 against conference opponents that in prior years would have been victories.
The magic of 2016 seems like a century ago.
Maybe I'm just getting old (72) and tired.
Nick Singleton will get the yards his OL gets him and maybe a few on his own. Not optimistic there either.
Too many questions on the DL and LB groups. Raw talent is there, but got to see it on the field.
Schedule doesn't give much opportunity to develop those unknowns. Like opening at IU a couple seasons back when IU had their best team in years.
Brings me to coaching. I like Franklin. I like Franklin. I like Franklin. .... but .....
Several seasons back, I score some tickets to homecoming against Northwestern. Get to the seats (NF, I think) in time to watch warm-ups. I watch Pat Fitzgerald engaged with his players, focused. I look at the other end and see Franklin taking selfies with recruits. (?????). Is he a coach or a recruiter?
NW won.
I see the number of PSU players going to NFL teams - from a team that hovers just above 0.500 by winning the OOC match ups and always dropping 1 or 2 against conference opponents that in prior years would have been victories.
The magic of 2016 seems like a century ago.
Maybe I'm just getting old (72) and tired.
Back in the day, when we had a senior quarterback weād have a good-to-great season, you could take that to the bank. I havenāt written off Clifford yet.
I actually think Clifford was playing his best ball to start the season last year prior to the injury. Hanging in the pocket, getting to his 2nd and 3rd reads, etc. Once it become a full gone conclusion we simply could not run the ball, Clifford reverted back to "Franklin ball." Franklin ball involves a lot of 3rd and long situations, a QB making one read that is mostly covered, then just running around like a maniac in the hopes of picking up yards with his legs. The bowl game was the perfect example of it. Half way through the first quarter the offense just basically said "fug it" no more discipline, we can't run the ball, let's just have CLifford run around and try to make a play the rest of the game. If there is one thing I wanted from MY(and we did see it early in the season), it was; calm Clifford down, keep him in the pocket, let him go through his progressions, give him some easy reads/throws. Designed run for Clifford sprinkled in when the defense is on their heels because we have developed some rhythm in the passing game, sure. Minus the inexplicable early interception against Iowa, Clifford was having his best game of his career, carving that defense up. Clifford can be that QB, but this staff has spent so much time trying to make him Cam Newton(many quotes over the years from Franklin about increasing Clifford's foot speed). Franklin also said at halftime of a game two years ago against Rutgers that he would like to see Clifford "finish" a few more of his runs(I have never heard a coach ask that of his starting QB). Offensive line, a decent run game, keep Cliff in the pocket and make sure he settles down early in games(no more high throws on quick crossers) and severely limit the plays Clifford tries to extend with his legs/keep him healthy. No shot at being a top 30 offense with that operating plan, but definitely a competent enough offense to win the games we "should" win. The obsession with "explosive plays" has got to stop until we can win the simple short plays. We have some good WR's, some talented backs, but the team is not littered with explosive playmakers all over the offense. Play big ten football, win short yardage downs, get a little tough on the o-line, and big plays will pop. Explosive plays are a biproduct of winning the mundane plays over and over again until you can pop a big win. Predictability and ineffectiveness on the basic plays does not portend big plays. If I was Franklin I would be entirely more concerned with being a team that can win on 3rd and 2 then a team that can hit 5-6 explosives a game.
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Explosive plays are great, but with no run game and an injured QB who can't throw deep makes them almost unattainable. A passable OL, RBs and a healthy Cliffford puts them back on the menu.
Barring any major injuries, I fully expect a 10 win season at a minimum. If the OL can get back to the level we need at Penn State, then all bets are off. Quietly optimistic.
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