Exactly.
and stupidity on Clifford’s part. Throwing into double coverage after again doing a good job of avoiding a sack.
Official PSU - Arkansas Outback Bowl game thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
You are comparing Bama’s talent with Penn State’s talent especially today with 6 defensive starters out. You need a serious reality check.
Lol. Ok. My intent was the breadth of the programs not the New Years Bowls. But thanks for the reply. I’ve been a fan of Franklin.... but if he calls out saying he wants us to be elite, then there can’t be awful play and coaching. My reality is fine thank you
Yet we, as a whole, blast the writers on this site for saying anything positive.
That offense stunk though. Red zone scoring was putrid. Yards were gained in catch up mode and vs the latter, weaker half of the schedule.
SC regressed badly and Levis didn't look good doing anything but his Tebow impression.
Yet it's not like Yurcich was the masterful upgrade. Very confusing.
I thought the kids played hard; just outmanned and got worn down, especially with Clifford stinking out the joint.
I agree about giving it time. That misdirection run by Cain went for 25 then he abandoned the run after that. I didn't see that play all season and have to wonder why? He ended up calling it again later in the game and it went for a couple of yards. Enough with the option runs trying to get Clifford killed as well. It's like no lessons were learned when he was hurt all season.
As you were saying...I’m watching that now. Since it’s Oklahoma State I’m kind of holding off on getting excited over that game yet.
Olu made better decisions than Walker. I don't think I'd move Olu. Walker can block down hill at G better than T.
I doubt Wallace leaves RT. Yurcich essentially said they have not considered such.
Scruggs needs to stay at C. Tengwall at either G with Walker perhaps. And don't forget Wormley.
Fans before the game: "with all our opt outs and injuries, Arkansas probably takes advantage and runs the ball, wearing us down."
Fans during the game: "why Can't WE STOP ARKANSAS, THEY ARE RUNNING ON US!?!?"
No creative use of tight ends unless you count throwing to them in traffic at the line of scrimmage.
He really overthrew a lot of passes . I had a nice seat on the 50 to watch .Clifford couldn't lead water down hill!
So where is that idiot at who challenged all the Clifford nay-sayers at?
What rock you hiding under?
Or so you claim.Lol. Ok. My intent was the breadth of the programs not the New Years Bowls. But thanks for the reply. I’ve been a fan of Franklin.... but if he calls out saying he wants us to be elite, then there can’t be awful play and coaching. My reality is fine thank you
I consider these kinds of sites to be ‘fan sites’ - not the same as national/local papers/magazines. They do good work, but their audience is mostly Penn State football fans.
I’m feeling better now…. But if I was an Okie light fan I’d want to beat the QB who fumbled twice- in the end zone and at the 10. The game would be a blowout win and over now if he held on to the ball.
The onside kick awaits.I’m feeling better now…. But if I was an Okie light fan I’d want to beat the QB who fumbled twice- in the end zone and at the 10. The game would be a blowout win and over now if he held on to the ball.
Normally I’d say not Jones or Geiger as they’d be too happy to fall asleep. That said, I could see Jones do it just so he could put it in his article at how pathetic the Penn St effort was that he fell asleep.
SC is what he is. He’s a tough kid who is inconsistent in accuracy and decision making. He’s not getting better than what you saw. The real issue for PSU is to get an OL line. If they can’t do that (and they haven’t for a few years) this is a perpetually 6 to 9 win team for the next ten years.
You still have to worry that Big Game James has a headset and microphone. That’s a big problem with no solution.
You still have to worry that Big Game James has a headset and microphone. That’s a big problem with no solution.
I am keeping an open mind. That said this is the second consecutive subpar season under CJF (aka- Big Game James by his adversaries). He continues to have my support although since that Cotton Bowl Classic win against Memphis he's sporting a sparkling 11-11 record. (It's amazing what will get you $75M these days!) If and I repeat If... There is no significant progress made by the end of the 2023 season (Ironically that is the year Barbour is slated to retire.) then, I would prefer a head coaching move be made. I am so tired of watching the "tomfoolery" of calling time out with under three minutes to go in the half... Then, calling a fake punt on 4th and 18 from near midfield. IMHO, James is not the guy to get us to the next level. I'd like to think that to the vast majority of us that is obvious. However, if this coming season is going to be as rough as expected and '23 does not at least propel us to an NY6 Bowl Game... Then, that would be four substandard seasons in a row. It would also mark ten seasons in this regime. That's been more than enough time to see what this coaching regime can (or can't) produce. Also, by then (unlike now) there should be a clear-cut head coaching candidate who can replace him.
Random observations about the game...long post ahead. For the TL;DR crowd, the entire coaching staff sucks and the schemes today were beyond terrible.
--The players who got in the game played their asses off and the effort was certainly there, especially on the D-line. If Mustipher decides to come back, that unit should be ok.
--I really hope Allar/Pribula or even Veilleux can do enough in the spring and summer to push Clifford for the job. Today we saw a 23-year-old make throws that true freshmen wouldn't make. I know he's working with a vast lack of talent on the offensive line but when you're in the red zone, you can't be making careless throws to the end zone like the pick he threw in the 4th quarter. That and the miss of Theo Johnson on the FG drive plus the near overthrow that Washington snared one-handed in the 2nd quarter doesn't give me much confidence that there's going to be any more improvement from him.
--The offensive line was about what we expected in this game. The new guy at LT seemed to hold his own.
--Curtis Jacobs doesn't get dinged up if Joey Porter had any sort of fundamental tackling ability. Porter pulls the Smith move and whiffs and then Jacobs comes in to make the play and gets hurt. I hope that 4-5 games into next season, we're not wishing that Porter had decided to go pro after this year.
--Biggest observation is about coaching. This staff failed these players on all 3 sides today. Offensively, I've come to the conclusion that letting Ciarrocca go after one Covid-infested season was a pretty short-sighted idea. Yurcich may have been WORSE than Kirk C was last year. Yurcich's playcalling comes off as arrogant -- meaning that he thinks his stuff is so good that he can call a play and it's going to work. How many more times are you gonna run the shotgun dive up the middle for 2 yards? Yet, you go with the misdirection to the left on 2 plays in the 2nd Q and you get a total of 40 yards. Does he come back to that play the rest of the day? Hell no. They get the ball down to the 10 yard line in the 2nd quarter, do they try a running play? Nope. But let's try to run that TE slant at the line of scrimmage that goes nowhere. Again, a lot of the woes on offense stems from a pathetic offensive line but if you find plays that work, you might want to stick with those. Arkansas sure did in the 2nd half. Defensively, I guess it's too bad that Pondexter didn't get the Virginia job because he sure as hell can't scheme a defense. Hogs' best WR is gone and the QB isn't the greatest passer as it is but yet, let's not blitz on obvious passing downs, let's not stack the box to stop the run, let's just sit back and give him all the time in the world like we've done with Sam Darnold and other QBs of the past that have skewered this defense. There was zero aggressiveness out of that side of the ball and if not for Brown's 2 picks, we'd have been run out of the building by halftime. 2nd half, there was zero adjustments made and Arkansas took advantage. Special teams....well, Lorig must have had one foot on the plane to Eugene already. Hey, let's toss the kicker that has barely played all year to try a long FG after a productive first drive. Pinegar has never been the long kicker, it's always been Stout. Then, the laughingstock play of the entire weekend thus far -- the fake punt. That decision should have been an immediate fireable offense. Try Stout on the long FG or just go for it. But don't trot out this silly formation and expect it to work. Again, Brown's INT (on an equally stupid play call by ARK) saved their bacon (pun intended) on that one.
Bottom line -- PSU spent $75 million and signed up for potentially 10 more years of this mediocrity. And it's a guaranteed price, there's no escaping it. That entire coaching staff should be thoroughly embarrassed by the position they put their players in today. Sadly, I don't expect it to improve next year. Where's the offensive line improvement coming from? In turn, that will handcuff the offense again. Defensively, are we finally gonna teach fundamentals or just accept the fact that players will throw shoulders and hope it's enough to knock down ballcarriers? I hope Manny is aggressive and lights a fire under these returnees. For the money being spent on the CEO, 7-6 is beyond pathetic.
--The players who got in the game played their asses off and the effort was certainly there, especially on the D-line. If Mustipher decides to come back, that unit should be ok.
--I really hope Allar/Pribula or even Veilleux can do enough in the spring and summer to push Clifford for the job. Today we saw a 23-year-old make throws that true freshmen wouldn't make. I know he's working with a vast lack of talent on the offensive line but when you're in the red zone, you can't be making careless throws to the end zone like the pick he threw in the 4th quarter. That and the miss of Theo Johnson on the FG drive plus the near overthrow that Washington snared one-handed in the 2nd quarter doesn't give me much confidence that there's going to be any more improvement from him.
--The offensive line was about what we expected in this game. The new guy at LT seemed to hold his own.
--Curtis Jacobs doesn't get dinged up if Joey Porter had any sort of fundamental tackling ability. Porter pulls the Smith move and whiffs and then Jacobs comes in to make the play and gets hurt. I hope that 4-5 games into next season, we're not wishing that Porter had decided to go pro after this year.
--Biggest observation is about coaching. This staff failed these players on all 3 sides today. Offensively, I've come to the conclusion that letting Ciarrocca go after one Covid-infested season was a pretty short-sighted idea. Yurcich may have been WORSE than Kirk C was last year. Yurcich's playcalling comes off as arrogant -- meaning that he thinks his stuff is so good that he can call a play and it's going to work. How many more times are you gonna run the shotgun dive up the middle for 2 yards? Yet, you go with the misdirection to the left on 2 plays in the 2nd Q and you get a total of 40 yards. Does he come back to that play the rest of the day? Hell no. They get the ball down to the 10 yard line in the 2nd quarter, do they try a running play? Nope. But let's try to run that TE slant at the line of scrimmage that goes nowhere. Again, a lot of the woes on offense stems from a pathetic offensive line but if you find plays that work, you might want to stick with those. Arkansas sure did in the 2nd half. Defensively, I guess it's too bad that Pondexter didn't get the Virginia job because he sure as hell can't scheme a defense. Hogs' best WR is gone and the QB isn't the greatest passer as it is but yet, let's not blitz on obvious passing downs, let's not stack the box to stop the run, let's just sit back and give him all the time in the world like we've done with Sam Darnold and other QBs of the past that have skewered this defense. There was zero aggressiveness out of that side of the ball and if not for Brown's 2 picks, we'd have been run out of the building by halftime. 2nd half, there was zero adjustments made and Arkansas took advantage. Special teams....well, Lorig must have had one foot on the plane to Eugene already. Hey, let's toss the kicker that has barely played all year to try a long FG after a productive first drive. Pinegar has never been the long kicker, it's always been Stout. Then, the laughingstock play of the entire weekend thus far -- the fake punt. That decision should have been an immediate fireable offense. Try Stout on the long FG or just go for it. But don't trot out this silly formation and expect it to work. Again, Brown's INT (on an equally stupid play call by ARK) saved their bacon (pun intended) on that one.
Bottom line -- PSU spent $75 million and signed up for potentially 10 more years of this mediocrity. And it's a guaranteed price, there's no escaping it. That entire coaching staff should be thoroughly embarrassed by the position they put their players in today. Sadly, I don't expect it to improve next year. Where's the offensive line improvement coming from? In turn, that will handcuff the offense again. Defensively, are we finally gonna teach fundamentals or just accept the fact that players will throw shoulders and hope it's enough to knock down ballcarriers? I hope Manny is aggressive and lights a fire under these returnees. For the money being spent on the CEO, 7-6 is beyond pathetic.
I had to listen to part of the game on the radio since we were driving to my parents for dinner. I'm guessing Ham didn't make the trip down there since he sounded like he was announcing from his phone. Any reason given? Not that it was a big deal, just curious.
And on one of the Arkansas blitzes took a shot directly to SC's ribs , maybe he injured them again.
Well because he’s been made aware I’m sure that he’s considered a cog next year.
I survived the challenge... Cats beat Seton Hall, so ended on a high note. Now we'll see how the Birds handle WTF today!I heard that Villanova did some type of presentation/acknowledgement for him at the game. Appears you have a challenge today, with the PSU football game starting at noon, and the Nova hoops game against Seton Hall starting at 2.
Happy New Year!
I heard that Villanova did some type of presentation/acknowledgement for him at the game. Appears you have a challenge today, with the PSU football game starting at noon, and the Nova hoops game against Seton Hall starting at 2.
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