Official CFB Semifinal, PSU - Notre Dame, Orange Bowl, game thread

[Calabrin]

Only blame on James for this one is the malpractice that is the state of the WRs. They are absolutely horrible. But that’s about it for this one.

I think it goes a bit deeper.

Why is Drew Allar so poorly prepared to play against decent competition?

Why can't he stand and deliver throws consistently?

Why can't he pick up and respond to blitz pressure?

It's fair to say, "He's playing to the limit of his abilities, and he's just not that good," but then that also has several coaching components to it.

Why can't the coaches prepare him better? If he's uncoachable, if he can't improve, then why do they insist on sticking with him instead of giving someone else meaningful snaps?

I absolutely agree that this loss isn't entirely on the coaches, but they are making decisions throughout the season that ultimately lead to these results. So they do have a lot to answer for.

 

[Calabrin]

So it turns out that those missed 4 points in Q1 did matter. So frustrating given how PSU was pounding the ball at will on the ground.

Yep. You absolutely called that one.

When you said it at the time, I was like, "****. That could definitely be a problem."

No guts. 2 YL, they can't stop the run, your QB whiffs on a barn door from 5 yards away, and you chicken out and go for 3?

Bleh.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Allar is coming back. Does Franklin give Grunkemeyer a shot to win the starting job?

I dunno. Why do you so enjoy male flutes?

 

[Omar81]

Drew was the 3rd best QB that played tonight.

I texted that to a friend during the game. Then corrected myself in a follow up — Warren was better too, making Allar the 4th best QB.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

PSU had a couple of National Championships stolen from them years ago.

This one they gave away tonight!

 

[Alphalion75]

I dunno. Why do you so enjoy male flutes?

Lol

 

[Alphalion75]

Yep. You absolutely called that one.

When you said, I was like, "****. That could definitely be a problem."

No guts. 2 YL, they can't stop the run, your QB whiffs on a barn door from 5 yards away, and you chicken out and go for 3?

Bleh.

"Your QB"? Go troll the Buckeye board.

 

[Calabrin]

When Drew had good footwork tonight, he was playing just fine. But he reverted to throwing off his back foot about 75% of the time tonight, including the last throw.

Yyyyyyuup.

His footwork is appallingly bad for a 2nd year starter. And that's the kind of thing that suggests he can't be coached/doesn't have the head for this because in the grand scheme of things, teaching someone to set their feet and step into their throws should be an easy fix.

It's literally a little league skill that every 7 year old is taught.

And it's not like Drew doesn't have good protection. This O-line dominated for him tonight, and he just stands out there, deer in headlights, and throws off his back foot again and again.

Baffling.

 

[Omar81]

This is where having not one serviceable WR that can get separation hurts Allar. It was pretty evident that ND ran a similar style of defense to OSU and had the talent at corner to be able to lock up our wideouts. The fact that we've gone 2 seasons with terrible wideouts really stunts the growth of your QB.

We had a good wide receiver last year: Lambert-Smith. We (Allar) under utilized him late last year, though he was often open. I don’t know if that’s why he left, but his absence this year was a killer. he had a big year for Auburn, probably the production of our top 2-3 WRs combined. But yes, those on the PSU roster this year were very weak. And Allar is grossly overrated.

 

[Alphalion75]

I think it goes a bit deeper.

Why is Drew Allar so poorly prepared to play against decent competition?

Why can't he stand and deliver throws consistently?

Why can't he pick up and respond to blitz pressure?

It's fair to say, "He's playing to the limit of his abilities, and he's just not that good," but then that also has several coaching components to it.

Why can't the coaches prepare him better? If he's uncoachable, if he can't improve, then why do they insist on sticking with him instead of giving someone else meaningful snaps?

I absolutely agree that this loss isn't entirely on the coaches, but they are making decisions throughout the season that ultimately lead to these results. So they do have a lot to answer for.

I believe you are overreacting. Take a lude and sleep it off.

 

[BiochemPSU]

I think it goes a bit deeper.

Why is Drew Allar so poorly prepared to play against decent competition?

Why can't he stand and deliver throws consistently?

Why can't he pick up and respond to blitz pressure?

It's fair to say, "He's playing to the limit of his abilities, and he's just not that good," but then that also has several coaching components to it.

Why can't the coaches prepare him better? If he's uncoachable, if he can't improve, then why do they insist on sticking with him instead of giving someone else meaningful snaps?

I absolutely agree that this loss isn't entirely on the coaches, but they are making decisions throughout the season that ultimately lead to these results. So they do have a lot to answer for.

Franklin really hasn’t developed any QB to be mr all world. Most coaches don’t though. I think it is such a hard position to play that all but the elite coaches can truelly develop someone; even the great ones who played it can’t teach others how to do it. You don’t see Montana or Brees or Marino coaching anybody. I really think all you can do is find an experienced guy (portal), surround them with as much elite talent as you can find, and hope they make good decisions when the chips are down. The odds of taking these guys from freshmen to #1 nfl pick is so ridiculously low that it’s a fools errand. Drew can’t legally drink yet, but Oregon QB has played 6 season at this level. It’s so mismatched that it’s damn near impossible to hit the perfect combo.

 

[CaliLion79]

Friday Column: Penn State Again Toes The Line Between 'Great and Elite' But Little Flaws Prevent Lions From Crossing it

At this level of football, where the talent is so evenly matched and the margins are so, so slim, the outcomes become less about the stellar plays and more about the mistakes. Penn State made the biggest error on a night both teams committed their fair share, Drew Allar’s inexplicable...

fortheblogy.com

 

[Calabrin]

II have this feeling that this loss is going to sting BGJ and PSU football more than just the final score. I think both BGJ and Allar are going to be major head cases in 2025.


Let's look at the schedule shall we....

April 26	Blue-White Game	Beaver Stadium
Aug. 30	vs. Nevada	Beaver Stadium
Sept. 6	vs. FIU	Beaver Stadium
Sept. 13	vs. Villanova	Beaver Stadium
Sept. 27	vs. Oregon	Beaver Stadium
Oct. 4	at UCLA	Rose Bowl
Oct. 11	vs. Northwestern	Beaver Stadium
Oct. 18	at Iowa	Kinnick Stadium
Nov. 1	at Ohio State	Ohio Stadium
Nov. 8	vs. Indiana	Beaver Stadium
Nov. 15	at Michigan State	Spartan Stadium
Nov. 22	vs. Nebraska	Beaver Stadium
Nov. 29	at Rutgers	SHI Stadium

This is a brutally tough schedule.

The OOC schedule is laughable, but then we open the B1G with Oregon (pencil that as an L), then we have Iowa and Ohio State as back to back road games? Both potential losses.

Then a not-pushover Indiana team.

Then we end with Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers -- all B-tier programs, but you can't sleep on any of them. All three of those teams are capable of engineering upsets.

Next season might be a grim 8-4, and 7-5 or even 6-6 is not out of the question.

 

[wbcbus]

This is a brutally tough schedule.

The OOC schedule is laughable, but then we open the B1G with Oregon (pencil that as an L), then we have Iowa and Ohio State as back to back road games? Both potential losses.

Then a not-pushover Indiana team.

Then we end with Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers -- all B-tier programs, but you can't sleep on any of them. All three of those teams are capable of engineering upsets.

Next season might be a grim 8-4, and 7-5 or even 6-6 is not out of the question.

Nah. That's a 10-2, 9-3 worst case.

 

[Calabrin]

Allar is coming back. Does Franklin give Grunkemeyer a shot to win the starting job?

Nope.

One of Franklin's biggest weaknesses as a HC is identical to Joe's: they believe loyalty and playing time are inextricable.

It doesn't matter how good Grunkmeyer plays, just like it didn't matter that Pribula totally bailed this program out against Wisconsin. Drew will get every meaningful snap just like Sean Clifford before him.

 

[Calabrin]

 

[Calabrin]

PSU had a couple of National Championships stolen from them years ago.

This one they gave away tonight!

Nebraska knew who the #1 team in the country was 30 years ago.

The AP knew it, too.

But: politics!

 

[Calabrin]

I believe you are overreacting. Take a lude and sleep it off.

No, I know how to analyze.

 

[Calabrin]

Franklin really hasn’t developed any QB to be mr all world. Most coaches don’t though. I think it is such a hard position to play that all but the elite coaches can truelly develop someone; even the great ones who played it can’t teach others how to do it. You don’t see Montana or Brees or Marino coaching anybody. I really think all you can do is find an experienced guy (portal), surround them with as much elite talent as you can find, and hope they make good decisions when the chips are down. The odds of taking these guys from freshmen to #1 nfl pick is so ridiculously low that it’s a fools errand. Drew can’t legally drink yet, but Oregon QB has played 6 season at this level. It’s so mismatched that it’s damn near impossible to hit the perfect combo.

I think a lot of it is just an individual's ability. I think you're right that it's a hard position to play, but at some point, you can either respond to coaching (improve), or you can't, and you never will.

I hate to use this as an example, but Tom Brady was obviously someone who was capable of being coached, but he also had the ability to play the position. Thus, he went from being "meh" at Michigan to the greatest ever NFL quarterback.

MAYBE Drew takes the field next year and gives us a '94 Kerry Collins season. But at what point do we shrug and say, "He's giving us his best, and he's just no good,"?

 

[ILLINOISLION]

This is a brutally tough schedule.

The OOC schedule is laughable, but then we open the B1G with Oregon (pencil that as an L), then we have Iowa and Ohio State as back to back road games? Both potential losses.

Then a not-pushover Indiana team.

Then we end with Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers -- all B-tier programs, but you can't sleep on any of them. All three of those teams are capable of engineering upsets.

Next season might be a grim 8-4, and 7-5 or even 6-6 is not out of the question.

I agree, I think next year’s schedule is brutally more difficult than this year’s by far.

Getting into the playoff would be a major miracle, hoping 9-3 would possibly make it.

 

[Calabrin]

Nah. That's a 10-2, 9-3 worst case.

Dude. Where is that optimism coming from?

It's definitely POSSIBLE to go 10-2 (again). But we went 11-1 THIS SEASON and our schedule was a joke.

Next year's schedule is way tougher, IMO. Pretty sure Nebraska was named the program that got the most out of the portal this year.

I guess what I'm saying is: watch out, because we could be in for a very rude awakening.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

Nebraska knew who the #1 team in the country was 30 years ago.

The AP knew it, too.

But: politics!

You just exposed yourself.... all Pitt fans do so eventually

How did the Panthers finish their season?

 

[BobPSU92]

I agree, I think next year’s schedule is brutally more difficult than this year’s by far.

Getting into the playoff would be a major miracle, hoping 9-3 would possibly make it.

This would be a good time shut it down.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

This would be a good time shut it down.

Karen,

Have you considered running for the Penn State Board of Trustees?

 

[Calabrin]

You just exposed yourself.... all Pitt fans do so eventually

How did the Panthers finish their season?

Huh?

What I'm saying is: Nebraska knew full well they were the 2nd best team in '94. That PSU team was the greatest college football team, ever.

Tommy Frazier still goes to bed every night and says, "...and thank you god for not making me play the Nittany Lions in '94!"

I'm an '07 PSU grad. Pitt fan?? Psh. Unless we're talking NHL... forget it!

 

[BobPSU92]

Figure Tosu will beat ut. Then Tosu will wipe their a$$es with nd. So, there’s that.

 

[MacNit]

I think it goes a bit deeper.

Why is Drew Allar so poorly prepared to play against decent competition?

Why can't he stand and deliver throws consistently?

Why can't he pick up and respond to blitz pressure?

It's fair to say, "He's playing to the limit of his abilities, and he's just not that good," but then that also has several coaching components to it.

Why can't the coaches prepare him better? If he's uncoachable, if he can't improve, then why do they insist on sticking with him instead of giving someone else meaningful snaps?

I absolutely agree that this loss isn't entirely on the coaches, but they are making decisions throughout the season that ultimately lead to these results. So they do have a lot to answer for.

100%. Just add in that we do not have one serviceable WR on a $13 million roster.

ZERO catches and we still rushed for over 200 yards?? With 9 men in box. That is your ballgame.

 

[MacNit]

PSU had a couple of National Championships stolen from them years ago.

This one they gave away tonight!

Newsflash: this was the semi final. They gave it away by having zero wideouts on the roster….that goes back a few Februaries ago.

 

[MacNit]

Yyyyyyuup.

His footwork is appallingly bad for a 2nd year starter. And that's the kind of thing that suggests he can't be coached/doesn't have the head for this because in the grand scheme of things, teaching someone to set their feet and step into their throws should be an easy fix.

It's literally a little league skill that every 7 year old is taught.

And it's not like Drew doesn't have good protection. This O-line dominated for him tonight, and he just stands out there, deer in headlights, and throws off his back foot again and again.

Baffling.

No fundamentals no discipline. 2 CJF calling cards.

 

[MacNit]

We had a good wide receiver last year: Lambert-Smith. We (Allar) under utilized him late last year, though he was often open. I don’t know if that’s why he left, but his absence this year was a killer. he had a big year for Auburn, probably the production of our top 2-3 WRs combined. But yes, those on the PSU roster this year were very weak. And Allar is grossly overrated.

Lambert Smith is slightly above average…we need much better than that…but, yeah - would have taken anything tonite.

Don’t worry - we’ll learn and clean it up? WHEN? What decade? So I can preorder my tickets!

 

[MacNit]

Franklin really hasn’t developed any QB to be mr all world. Most coaches don’t though. I think it is such a hard position to play that all but the elite coaches can truelly develop someone; even the great ones who played it can’t teach others how to do it. You don’t see Montana or Brees or Marino coaching anybody. I really think all you can do is find an experienced guy (portal), surround them with as much elite talent as you can find, and hope they make good decisions when the chips are down. The odds of taking these guys from freshmen to #1 nfl pick is so ridiculously low that it’s a fools errand. Drew can’t legally drink yet, but Oregon QB has played 6 season at this level. It’s so mismatched that it’s damn near impossible to hit the perfect combo.

Nope.

One of Franklin's biggest weaknesses as a HC is identical to Joe's: they believe loyalty and playing time are inextricable.

It doesn't matter how good Grunkmeyer plays, just like it didn't matter that Pribula totally bailed this program out against Wisconsin. Drew will get every meaningful snap just like Sean Clifford before him.

Joe won these types of games…all the time. So there’s that.

 

[BiochemPSU]

Newsflash: this was the semi final. They gave it away by having zero wideouts on the roster….that goes back a few Februaries ago.

Everyone on this board had as many catches as our leading WR: 0.

it’s a small miracle that our RBs and Warren did what they did all year.

the somewhat good news is that the o-line looks like it got solved. And there is even better depth coming behind it.

 

[MacNit]

I agree, I think next year’s schedule is brutally more difficult than this year’s by far.

Getting into the playoff would be a major miracle, hoping 9-3 would possibly make it.

We had every break possible this year.

No conference championship, lost CCG.

Got a (much) better draw than Oregon.

Played MAC level teams in first two rounds. Then drew a banged up and not particularly good ND team who lost on their home field to a middling MAC team

And still lost!

Primary reason. ZERO CATCHES BY WRs and not a serviceable one in the roster.

Result. Another big game loss.

WE will NEVER get such an easy draw again.

Will Florida take him? If we retain some salary?

Franklin is not a Pope! Time for someone else to get a chance.

 

[CDLionFL]

And then we can turn into Nebraska and get even more ridicule for dumping a coach that wins double digits every year and turning in barely bowl-eligible teams with a series of coaches that are in over their heads. No thanks. I'd rather keep continuing to bang on that glass ceiling and it'll eventually break over barely scraping into the Bluebonnet Bowl and being irrelevant.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Lambert Smith is slightly above average…we need much better than that…but, yeah - would have taken anything tonite.

Don’t worry - we’ll learn and clean it up? WHEN? What decade? So I can preorder my tickets!

Actually Lambert Smith had a surprisingly good year:

50 catches / 981 yds / 19.6 ave / 8 TDs

 

[Calabrin]

Joe won these types of games…all the time. So there’s that.

Absolutely true. But one of the things I faulted Joe for big time, especially in the agonizing late-90s, was his commitment to players that had "paid their dues".

Bruh. I don't give two phux who has been riding the bench for 3 seasons. Put the best 11 guys on the field! End of story.

And if someone walks through the door that's better than the current starter, guess what? That guy should immediately be the new starter.

This drove me to the brink of insanity when Joe insisted on playing 5th year senior and team captain Derrick Wake at linebacker when he had true freshman Dan Connor on the bench.

Connor did eventually become the starter that season, but Joe weened Wake off the number of snaps he was seeing, instead of just benching his ***. It was infuriating!

Franklin plays the same stupid game. "Oh, but this guy's been here! He's been waiting for his chance! He's worked hard!"

Don't care, buddy. All that matters is if he's getting the job done.

Sean Clifford had no business seeing all the meaningful snaps in his 6th year. It was evident he had hit his ceiling, and that shouldn've been the year they cultivated Drew Allar to take over the program.

Instead, they blew Drew's redshirt on nothing, and he gained a whooping ZERO experience that season because Franklin was out there playing Buddy System.

 

[MacNit]

And then we can turn into Nebraska and get even more ridicule for dumping a coach that wins double digits every year and turning in barely bowl-eligible teams with a series of coaches that are in over their heads. No thanks. I'd rather keep continuing to bang on that glass ceiling and it'll eventually break over barely scraping into the Bluebonnet Bowl and being irrelevant.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.

So how long does he get?

Forever?

Even his best team lost 3 games.

We are just about at minor league football. Frankin will do even worse in that environment.

 

[Calabrin]

Actually Lambert Smith had a surprisingly good year:

50 catches / 981 yds / 19.6 ave / 8 TDs

I'll say this for L-S:

I agree that he's slightly above average. But that would've been enough to make a HUGE difference this year.

Think about it.

If it's Warren, L-S, and W3, how much more efficient is this offense?

I think quite a bit. I think a competent receiver like L-S opens up more opportunities for W3, and he prevents Warren from drawing double coverage because now you've got two guys out there who, while they're definitely not MHJ, they are kind of like... 2x Freddie Scott. They're serviceable. They can get the job done.

 

[MacNit]

Actually Lambert Smith had a surprisingly good year:

50 catches / 981 yds / 19.6 ave / 8 TDs

Would take it in a heartbeat.

 

[MacNit]

Absolutely true. But one of the things I faulted Joe for big time, especially in the agonizing late-90s, was his commitment to players that had "paid their dues".

Bruh. I don't give two phux who has been riding the bench for 3 seasons. Put the best 11 guys on the field! End of story.

And if someone walks through the door that's better than the current starter, guess what? That guy should immediately be the new starter.

This drove me to the brink of insanity when Joe insisted on playing 5th year senior and team captain Derrick Wake at linebacker when he had true freshman Dan Connor on the bench.

Connor did eventually become the starter that season, but Joe weened Wake off the number of snaps he was seeing, instead of just benching his ***. It was infuriating!

Franklin plays the same stupid game. "Oh, but this guy's been here! He's been waiting for his chance! He's worked hard!"

Don't care, buddy. All that matters is if he's getting the job done.

Sean Clifford had no business seeing all the meaningful snaps in his 6th year. It was evident he had hit his ceiling, and that shouldn've been the year they cultivated Drew Allar to take over the program.

Instead, they blew Drew's redshirt on nothing, and he gained a whooping ZERO experience that season because Franklin was out there playing Buddy System.

Joe has a record of unprecedented success in the biggest games in the biggest stage. So while we can quibble on the margins, the results speak for them self.

Franklin has no such record . In fact, it may be the one if tne worst ever.

Give someone else a chance.