In hindsight, the worst thing that happened . . .

[BCS PSU]

was that so many of these vets returned, because none of them except for Allen has been worth a damn and, after the Oregon loss, appears that they’ll just go through the motions to collect a paycheck.

After PSU lost to Navy in 1967, Paterno benched a bunch of starters and played young players, and the rest is history. I think that we’ve gotten to that point now, as most of these vets have appeared disinterested the whole season.

 

[PAgeologist]

After Oregon, they realized they are no better than last year. They've mailed it in. Look for a lot of tentative play or injuries from those with NFL aspirations.

 

[LilWashLion]

After Oregon, they realized they are no better than last year. They've mailed it in. Look for a lot of tentative play or injuries from those with NFL aspirations.

They are not better than last year. I don’t understand how bad the offensive line play has been. And the whole defense is horrible from wide open holes to run through and nobody can tackle.

 

[WestSideLion]

They are not better than last year. I don’t understand how bad the offensive line play has been. And the whole defense is horrible from wide open holes to run through and nobody can tackle.

A team doesn’t lose Abdul Carter and get better. There was nobody on D capable of becoming that type of impact player this year.

There was nobody out there capable of taking over the game and making big plays when needed yesterday.

When your HC runs a “talent” operation, you need a few played like that to win these games.

 

[KingLando]

was that so many of these vets returned, because none of them except for Allen has been worth a damn and, after the Oregon loss, appears that they’ll just go through the motions to collect a paycheck.

After PSU lost to Navy in 1967, Paterno benched a bunch of starters and played young players, and the rest is history. I think that we’ve gotten to that point now, as most of these vets have appeared disinterested the whole season.

Allar's literally lowering his head and taking on tacklers but he's going through the motions to collect a paycheck?
What are you talking about?
At this point, I think people just hate NIL so much that the bash kids unnecessarily.
If you want to complain they haven't improved that's a great argument but how do you not see effort?

 

[KingLando]

They are not better than last year. I don’t understand how bad the offensive line play has been. And the whole defense is horrible from wide open holes to run through and nobody can tackle.

Like this makes sense--there's no improvement for basically anyone--and the OL is infinitely worse.
It's not "effort"

 

[CDLionFL]

Certainly not effort. Somewhere, the scheme changed. What worked last year in the running game hasn’t been tried much this year. There’s too much emphasis on cute crap and explosive plays when simple blocking and straight-ahead running plays would set up those explosive plays.

 

[BCS PSU]

Allar's literally lowering his head and taking on tacklers but he's going through the motions to collect a paycheck?
What are you talking about?
At this point, I think people just hate NIL so much that the bash kids unnecessarily.
If you want to complain they haven't improved that's a great argument but how do you not see effort?

I should’ve included Allar with Allen, as I think that he also cares but just isn’t good enough. Dennis-Sutton also shows effort, but he’s obviously a complimentary d-end who needs another superior player at the other end to take pressure off of him.

As far as the other returnees, I stand by my statement, and that goes for all of the o-line, Singleton and Durant.

 

[KingLando]

I should’ve included Allar with Allen, as I think that he also cares but just isn’t good enough. Dennis-Sutton also shows effort, but he’s obviously a complimentary d-end who needs another superior player at the other end to take pressure off of him.

As far as the other returnees, I stand by my statement, and that goes for all of the o-line, Singleton and Durant.

Isn't good enough or can't be successful in a scheme that ran the play we did on 4th & 2? There's a huge difference.
I just don't think Singleton is that good--he lacks vision which is why he should have been made a slot receiver--he's be understanding in that role.
For me, I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm not sure if the OL and guys like Durant aren't trying or (what I'm leaning toward) they aren't being put in position to succeed.
DDS has been disappointing since the opener--he rarely finishes a play even when in position.

 

[Psurosco]

A team doesn’t lose Abdul Carter and get better. There was nobody on D capable of becoming that type of impact player this year.

There was nobody out there capable of taking over the game and making big plays when needed yesterday.

When your HC runs a “talent” operation, you need a few played like that to win these games.

That may explain the defense but how does the offense perform worse when they only lost Wormley and brought in 3 WR transfers?

 

[KingLando]

That may explain the defense but how does the offense perform worse when they only lost Wormley and brought in 3 WR transfers?

Scheme--there's more on tape now--UCLA knew that 4th down call

 

[BCS PSU]

Isn't good enough or can't be successful in a scheme that ran the play we did on 4th & 2? There's a huge difference.
I just don't think Singleton is that good--he lacks vision which is why he should have been made a slot receiver--he's be understanding in that role.
For me, I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm not sure if the OL and guys like Durant aren't trying or (what I'm leaning toward) they aren't being put in position to succeed.
DDS has been disappointing since the opener--he rarely finishes a play even when in position.

I’ve seen enough of Allar now to say that it’s probably both his true talent level and scheme. When I watch the multitude of college QBs every weekend, like the BYU kid on Friday night, Allar just doesn’t measure up, and I don’t care what his physical attributes are.

 

[KingLando]

I’ve seen enough of Allar now to say that it’s probably both his true talent level and scheme. When I watch the multitude of college QBs every weekend, like the BYU kid on Friday night, Allar just doesn’t measure up, and I don’t care what his physical attributes are.

Because he's not put in a position to succeed. Much like Arch since they don't even try to find a run game in Texas.
I wish Allar would have transferred after the year--Grunk needs to leave as well--it's best for everyone

 

[WestSideLion]

That may explain the defense but how does the offense perform worse when they only lost Wormley and brought in 3 WR transfers?

I’d say losing Tyler Warren was big. Do you agree? Watch the games last year.

 

[BCS PSU]

I’d say losing Tyler Warren was big. Do you agree? Watch the games last year.

He already was one of best players ever to play for this program, and he actually keeps getting better even after he’s gone.

 

[MacNit]

I’ve seen enough of Allar now to say that it’s probably both his true talent level and scheme. When I watch the multitude of college QBs every weekend, like the BYU kid on Friday night, Allar just doesn’t measure up, and I don’t care what his physical attributes are.

It’s not scheme…it’s lack of toughness. The entire team - starting with the HFC - is soft. And that includes mentally well as physically.

 

[An Old Pair of Asics]

A team doesn’t lose Abdul Carter and get better. There was nobody on D capable of becoming that type of impact player this year.

There was nobody out there capable of taking over the game and making big plays when needed yesterday.

When your HC runs a “talent” operation, you need a few played like that to win these games.

Tennessee won the NC the year after Manning left for the NFL. The team can be better without its star player, this one is not and there’s something to the notion of a “talent operation”.

 

[BCS PSU]

It’s not scheme…it’s lack of toughness. The entire team - starting with the HFC - is soft. And that includes mentally well as physically.

Whatever you think about Harbaugh, he transformed a program that also had become soft into a physical.and brutal team, just like Cristobal has done with Miami. Those teams play football like really good Paterno teams did.

 

[Psurosco]

I’d say losing Tyler Warren was big. Do you agree? Watch the games last year.

Yes he was a big part of the offense but shouldn't the 3 new WR help make up for that. How do you explain the running game this year? I guess that was all Warren as well.

With 5 players on OL returning who started games in 2024 and they look like they regressed this year.

 

[WestSideLion]

Yes he was a big part of the offense but shouldn't the 3 new WR help make up for that. How do you explain the running game this year? I guess that was all Warren as well.

With 5 players on OL returning who started games in 2024 and they look like they regressed this year.

The entire offense ran through Warren last year. He did everything. Allar always looked for him on 3rd down and they had him run how many wildcats in short yardage.

They should have had a plan for replacing him, but as usual they didn’t.

 

[KingLando]

Watching Warren with Danny Dimes has to make one think Warren is simply a game changer

 

[The real m.knox]

It’s not scheme…it’s lack of toughness. The entire team - starting with the HFC - is soft. And that includes mentally well as physically.

All one needed to do was observe the UCLA RB's.... They didn't want to go down. That's toughness. That's effort. That's enthusiasm. And it is not abundant on the PSU squad. They simply do not assert themselves at a high level.

 

[thoss]

After Oregon, they realized they are no better than last year. They've mailed it in. Look for a lot of tentative play or injuries from those with NFL aspirations.

It's more complicated than that. Of course Oregon was a crushing loss. Plus the D was physically exhausted having to be on the field for just about the whole game against a physical Oregon team. When players are physically worn out they don't tackle. And then you combine it with a quick and elusive backfield for UCLA, you have the worst tackling I've seen out of a PSU defense in a really long time.

But I don't think the team mailed it in. Maybe the coaches mailed it in but the players were giving it all I thought.

NOW the season is over, the playoff is essentially out of the picture. Now is when you might see the team mail it in. Even if they don't mail it in, they are blood in the water for 2nd tier B1G teams now. Losses against Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, M State and Maryland are very possible now.

 

[MacNit]

Yes he was a big part of the offense but shouldn't the 3 new WR help make up for that. How do you explain the running game this year? I guess that was all Warren as well.

With 5 players on OL returning who started games in 2024 and they look like they regressed this year.

Allen is better than ever. Interestingly not a captain…telling.

 

[Calabrin]

Allen is better than ever. Interestingly not a captain…telling.

Agreed. Kaytron Allen looked like an OK college RB for the first three years, but he has taken a considerable step up this season into being a quality option in the backfield.

It boggles my mind that he's not the featured back. But as I said elsewhere: this is an example of poor coaching. When you're not playing the best available guys, when you're giving playing time to an inferior player while a superior option stands on the sideline... what the hell else do you call that besides "incompetence"?

 

[rudedude]

Hey gang, Occam’s Razor: our offensive plays appear to be telegraphed and easy to figure out what is going on. Our OL also is weak so stacking the box, random blitzes, etc detail continuity.

 

[84lion]

The entire offense ran through Warren last year. He did everything. Allar always looked for him on 3rd down and they had him run how many wildcats in short yardage.

They should have had a plan for replacing him, but as usual they didn’t.

I remember the USC game last year where the announcers were drooling all over Warren and pointing out time and again how many different positions he lined up at, and made great plays. Warren was a generational talent that could and did carry the team. His performance covered up deficiencies on offense that we're seeing now.
Take away Warren and Abdul Carter last year, and that team would've likely missed the playoff. I am also compelled to point out that PSU got SMU and Boise State as the first two opponents in the playoff - that made them look better than they were as well.
It just seems to me that there is a huge lack of self-awareness from the coaching staff on down to the players of what this team really is and has. Some of the guys that stayed (e.g. - Allar) should've either bailed for the NFL or transferred.

 

[Ram20]

Of his 12 years here, I've heard him say a few things, in a declarative manner....that just prove to be so untrue as the season plays out and it always makes me question if James even has a good feel for his personnel at all. There have been countless years where he says they "finally" have a big 10 offensive line only to not be able to run the ball at all. Last year, after the WVU game, he sort of stuck the fans and media in the eye and said "Guess you all didn't think we had receivers." Any time James complements a group pre-season or in the early parts of a season, what all of us assumed was a glaring weakness becomes one. This O-line is trash and minus 4 games last year, has always been trash. How they don't just get the 5 toughest, meanest, guys on that line and just go hat for a hat is beside me. Franklin always cares about "stars" and body makeup more than football players.