Thoughts from the couch….

[psuro]

Don't disagree with anything you said, but at this point I'd rather go back to the hard nipple thread. It was much better than yesterday's game.

Good answer. Circle gets the square.

 

[Bvillebaron]

1. Well, not much more that can be said than has probably not already been said. Really disappointing effort.
2. Losing on both sides of the LOS is really disheartening.
3. Michigan had the ball for 42 minutes and PSU 18. Can’t really expect an offense to do anything if they are on the sideline for 3/4 of the game.
4, Really put this on the feet of Diaz and Yurcich. And also the DL and OL coaches. It’s like they didn’t even prepare for the running game offensively or defensively.
5, Disagree with the decision on 4th and short- should have punted to try to pin them deep. But, the way Michigan was playing it would not have mattered - but it was still the best option, IMHO.
6. They played tight offensively. When they were actually on the field.
7, Not a whole lot to add - just disappointing.

FTG

Good post. My primary complaint is the team had 2 weeks to prepare and the offense came out with passive and predictable play calls on the first 2 series when the defense needed a rest after being on the field the whole first quarter but holding Michigan to 2 FGs.

 

[Arringtonian]

Okay perhaps it is just me but Singleton really did not look enthused out there especially after he dropped the pass. Again it could be just me...

I think he was just frustrated.

 

[MacNit]

We will see if it comes to fruition but at least JF seems to know they are not big enough in the trenches. Now he needs to go recruit and develop those players on both sides of the ball. Big 10 gets big boys for the trenches. Michigan does it but can also spread you out with it. The Dline especially on the interior needs to get bigger. They are just too small at DT. PJ is ok at his size but their first 2 teams on the Dline interior all need to be bigger and stronger to clog up the run.

Glad he figured this out…what revelation will happen in year 18?

Pathetic - time to move on!

 

[LB99]

So, here’s where I’m at. The loss is over. Dump it. The real test of this team is next week. We will find out the grit and resolve of this team’s coaches and it’s leaders. If they come out with fire and play hard, then we have something to work with. If they come out flat and disinterested, then we have big problems and Franklin has lost the team for a 2nd straight year. The game is at home, it’s a whiteout, and there’s still a chance to salvage a nice season and exceed the 7-5 or 8-4 expectations that most had. If they can’t get up for that, then the season is a total loss.

 

[baltimorened]

All good points and I think at the end of it, 10-2 is probably not out the realm of possibility. I know the naysayers will respond with

1. We will lose every game
2. We will lose all the recruits
3. So on.....and so on....and I get why they feel this way.

I did not really expect us to beat Michigan - I am disappointed in the way we lost.

I did not expect to beat Michigan either. Maybe not for the same reasons...history shows PSU doesn't win big games, I anticipated a boneheaded Franklin decision, PSU is more of a finese team and Michigan is an in your face program, our offense is just not successful against really good defenses.
If we had not had the Morehead years with the talent that fit his offense, Franklin would never had gotten the contract he did. His first two years were so so (remember donovan as offensive coordinator?), 2019 good year, then 2020 and 2021, average, middle of the pack (or worse) and 2022 yet to be seen.
We need to be honest with ourselves, we're an average, middle of the pack team. We need to expect records every year of 7-5, 8-4 through 10-2. As long as that's OK then OK. The days of competing for a national championship every 4 years or so are gone.

 

[Karl_Havok]

Like in baseball, those who constantly cite analytics to justify their decisions demonstrate they have very little feel for the game situation and their players.

This exactly it.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

I did not expect to beat Michigan either. Maybe not for the same reasons...history shows PSU doesn't win big games, I anticipated a boneheaded Franklin decision, PSU is more of a finese team and Michigan is an in your face program, our offense is just not successful against really good defenses.
If we had not had the Morehead years with the talent that fit his offense, Franklin would never had gotten the contract he did. His first two years were so so (remember donovan as offensive coordinator?), 2019 good year, then 2020 and 2021, average, middle of the pack (or worse) and 2022 yet to be seen.
We need to be honest with ourselves, we're an average, middle of the pack team. We need to expect records every year of 7-5, 8-4 through 10-2. As long as that's OK then OK. The days of competing for a national championship every 4 years or so are gone.

I think it was Joel Klatt who said that 5 programs get 80% of the 5 star players. You can probably name who those programs are and we're not one of them. Until that changes you're right about being a middle of the pack program with an occasional high mid level finish.

 

[MacNit]

I think it was Joel Klatt who said that 5 programs get 80% of the 5 star players. You can probably name who those programs are and we're not one of them. Until that changes you're right about being a middle of the pack program with an occasional high mid level finish.

College football is broke.

 

[artsandletters]

It’s much simpler than that. Penn State, under Franklin, is not physically or mentally tough enough.

New Head Coach is needed asap.

PS -$72 million.
That’s LIV money for nothing but at least LIVers have to show up.

 

[91Joe95]

#5, I don't think you go wrong with either opinion you have. It seemed like a bit of a desperate play to go for it when we're only down 7 and halfway thru the 3rd quarter. But at the same time, it's on the 39 and if Amor doesn't get the right bounce or some special teamer drops the ball in the end zone, you're only netting 19 yards of field position so why not take a shot and jumpstart your team. In the end, if you can't fill gaps and can't tackle, it doesn't make much of a difference.

Before that 4th down attempt they had 1st and five. The defense is gassed, they desperately need a break, so PSU passes instead of running the ball. Sigh.

BTW, it was nice to see Allar check down to underneath receivers. I sure hope he doesn't lose that trait.

 

[PSUAXE70]

The Penn State defense works very well against spread offenses which many colleges run. It is not nearly as good against a run heavy offense and Michigan runs that better than almost any other team. In retrospect, the result was not surprising but I don’t remember anyone, anywhere saying that Michigan would run all over us.

 

[CDLionFL]

Before that 4th down attempt they had 1st and five. The defense is gassed, they desperately need a break, so PSU passes instead of running the ball. Sigh.

BTW, it was nice to see Allar check down to underneath receivers. I sure hope he doesn't lose that trait.

Exactly. This is what I mean when I say to keep it basic with the play calling at times. But Franklin is so obsessed with splash plays and that arrogance carries over to Yurcich, who has really not shown us anything in 18 games that he showed in other places.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Exactly. This is what I mean when I say to keep it basic with the play calling at times. But Franklin is so obsessed with splash plays and that arrogance carries over to Yurcich, who has really not shown us anything in 18 games that he showed in other places.

So who's driving the offense , Yurcich or Franklin.

 

[Bwifan]

The Penn State defense works very well against spread offenses which many colleges run. It is not nearly as good against a run heavy offense and Michigan runs that better than almost any other team. In retrospect, the result was not surprising but I don’t remember anyone, anywhere saying that Michigan would run all over us.

Yup and I expect Minnesota and OSU to do the same... there is an OC at Minnesota that this game is very special to him and wants to beat PSU bad.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Yup and I expect Minnesota and OSU to do the same... there is an OC at Minnesota that this game is very special to him and wants to beat PSU bad.

Who cares?

 

[Bwifan]

Who cares?

He does as well as their coaching staff, players, alumni, fans ... Yeesh

 

[Bvillebaron]

He does as well as their coaching staff, players, alumni, fans ... Yeesh

Well since he’s coaching at Minnesota I would hope the hell he would. My point is why should any PSU give a royal’s rats you know what?

 

[DaytonRickster]

Personally I've come to the conclusion that if certain fundamentals don't contribute to explosive plays, Franklin doesn't emphasize them. The poor tackling technique for one isn't an aberration, it's a perennial trademark of PSU defenses under Franklin (with multiple defensive coordinators)

Took much emphasis on jarring ball loose instead of wrapping up and tackling. During camp you heard player and coach speak about emphasizing turnovers it wasn't on fundamentals. That is Franklin's idea of defensive "explosive plays". The best teams gang tackle, multiple players pursue. You don't see that much from PSU because they are too often going for the strip.

 

[Bvillebaron]

Took much emphasis on jarring ball loose instead of wrapping up and tackling. During camp you heard player and coach speak about emphasizing turnovers it wasn't on fundamentals. That is Franklin's idea of defensive "explosive plays". The best teams gang tackle, multiple players pursue. You don't see that much from PSU because they are too often going for the strip.

Never heard Franklin talk about explosive plays on defense. My god.