Every Summer I am overly optomistic about the season to come. Half way through, Ohio State and someone else dash my hopes and dreams. This year it's just the opposite. I am overly pessimistic. Everyone says this is the year. It's now or never. That word NEVER jumps out to me in that sentence. Can we win it all? It's not going to be easy. Are we our own worst enemy? Can we get over the hump? Can James get over the hump? He hasn't shown so far that he can. Our AD has pushed all the chips in to keep an experienced team on the field. Perhaps at the expense of future teams. Can we go 12-0? Probably not. Most likely not. No we can't. We have to go through our nemesis Ohio State. At Ohio State. Yes, they lost nearly 2 million players to the draft...and both coordinators. But they have the advantage. They know they can beat us. We don't know if we can beat them. Don't forget Oregon in the WhiteOut. Then there is Iowa away. They are always a hard out for us. Then there is Indiana, the surprise team last year. And that upstart team Nebraska. We don't play them ( until the conference title game) but don't sleep on Illinois. They will be the surprise team this year. Including returning starters and portal starters, they return 19 first teamers. Let's get this season going. Atleast keep my hopes up into October with a WhiteOut win. Or just put me out of my misery.
It's July....Let's talk the season.
- Thread starter MontereyLion
- Start date
I get putting your guard up....most reasonable and rational PSU fans do. The thing is this program right now today is a MNC or bust program so while you have some Richard Heads out there acting like this is a woe is me program to follow....it's really not even being behind a bit in $$$'s for recruiting.
In terms of this season, this OL with those 2 RB's will be dominate and wear most teams down in time. Drew has AK now for 2 years and while losing Warren will sting, Dinkins and Reynolds aren't exactly slouches. Dinkins is also a hell of a blocker. Hopefully Denmark, Howard, or another WR step up along with the 3 portal WR's to give this offense some balance. Injuries will occur, but I expect this offense to be a bit more consistent and will hit more deep balls this year in year 2 under AK. They were a top 30 offense last year and I expect that to creep into the top 20 range this year which is also partially due to a lighter schedule.
Defense will still be very stout, but you don't just replace a freak like Carter and not miss a beat. Hopefully Rojas stays healthy and the pieces they brought in like Waffle, White, and Campbell can also make an impact. I see the defense which was a legit top 10 defense possibly taking a slight step back, but good enough to compete with anyone. For any team to win a MNC you need some luck with health, bounces of some balls, and depth stepping up. Pressure is on a bit, but this program is in a good spot and maybe they finally do break through, but either way it's not an awful time to be a PSU fan. Enjoy it.
In terms of this season, this OL with those 2 RB's will be dominate and wear most teams down in time. Drew has AK now for 2 years and while losing Warren will sting, Dinkins and Reynolds aren't exactly slouches. Dinkins is also a hell of a blocker. Hopefully Denmark, Howard, or another WR step up along with the 3 portal WR's to give this offense some balance. Injuries will occur, but I expect this offense to be a bit more consistent and will hit more deep balls this year in year 2 under AK. They were a top 30 offense last year and I expect that to creep into the top 20 range this year which is also partially due to a lighter schedule.
Defense will still be very stout, but you don't just replace a freak like Carter and not miss a beat. Hopefully Rojas stays healthy and the pieces they brought in like Waffle, White, and Campbell can also make an impact. I see the defense which was a legit top 10 defense possibly taking a slight step back, but good enough to compete with anyone. For any team to win a MNC you need some luck with health, bounces of some balls, and depth stepping up. Pressure is on a bit, but this program is in a good spot and maybe they finally do break through, but either way it's not an awful time to be a PSU fan. Enjoy it.
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
Wait...are you a brat?PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
PENN STATE UBER ALLES!!!
Dead Kennedys reference?
I completely agree with you on the cautiously pessimistic attitude. The 2017 and 2018 losses to O$U tore my heart out. Growing up with the Calvinist angst and Catholic guilt so prevalent of New Englanders, it is generally my natural condition. The joke in my home was if you announced to the family you had won the lottery our mother would immediately point out all the taxes we would have to pay.
BTW, sorry to hear about your cat. Has happened in our neighborhood outside Dallas as well. Crazy how coyotes have prevailed in the urban landscape
You know what I mean. A brat is the son or daughter of military. You saying Penn State Uber Alles is a hint that at sometime you may have lived in Germany. I am a brat.No....I have never run for office.....
12-0. Take it to the bank and don't forget to tell em Karl sent ya.
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I disagree that it's MNC or bust.
I think there's a 10% chance we miss the playoffs. I think there's a 20% chance we make the playoffs but lose in the first round. In either of those cases Franklin would be on the hot seat so I'd say we have to make it to the second round or bust.
I think we have a 5% chance to win it all but a lot of things have to go right.
Nein. Ich habe nie in Deutschland gelebt. Aber ich hatte Deutsch in der Schule
Ich habe das Urban Dictionary für „Brat“ verwendet.
Wenn Sie die Definition im Urban Dictionary lesen, werden Sie es verstehen.
Oh right, I forgot. It's Nevada, Nevada, Nevada, Nevada, Nevada, Nevada, Nevada, Nevada.
The big question: Who is Drew Allar going to throw to?
(Legitimate answers include, a fan in the third row, the opposing team’s safety, and a hash mark.)
(Legitimate answers include, a fan in the third row, the opposing team’s safety, and a hash mark.)
The big question: Who is Drew Allar going to throw to?
(Legitimate answers include, a fan in the third row, the opposing team’s safety, and a hash mark.)
I seem to be more relaxed about the upcoming season. FWIW, as I've gotten older, that seems to be my philosophy with all of the college (PSU) and pro (Eagles, Phillies, and Sixers) teams about whom I'm fanatical. I'd love for each of them to dominate, and crush all of their opponents. But I've also come to realize that those type of teams are really rare, and that even those teams are not assured of success in the playoffs.
For this coming season with PSU football, I think optimism is warranted. A very good OL returns, two stud RBs return, a very good starting QB returns. There are some questions at WR, but since the top players there are newcomers from the portal, it's as possible that the questions will be answered in the positive as they will be answered in the negative. Offensively, the WR situation is the biggest unknown.
On D, it's impossible to minimize the loss of Carter. He was a difference maker. There are also questions at DE, in part due to Glanville's injury. The pieces are in place, but the early games will be important to get some of the younger guys the necessary experience. LBer has some unknowns, between Rojas returning from an injury and a key addition from the portal. The pieces are certainly there, and the expectations are that they'll be fine. The secondary has been a strength for several years, and the talent that Terry Smith and Anthony Poindexter have at their disposal is pretty amazing. Is there a difference maker on D? We don't know, and if the O clicks the way we think it could, the D may not need such a freak.
Both Oregon and tOSU graduated A LOT. And both will have new QBs. In that context, PSU probably matches up better against them than they did last season.
Every game scares me, to some degree, as there are a slew of variables, and strength on paper doesn't always mean a W. If we get through the early games without any serious injuries, and with the younger guys showing marked improvement, then PSU could be positioned to attain everything that they have been striving for. @Iowa is no picnic, and @tOSU is always a challenge. But we've won on the road @Iowa, and we've been in position to win @tOSU a few times, and just didn't finish cleanly. The players and the coaches all are from backgrounds where they've been very successful. As such, I don't worry about their heads when they are on the road, or up against elite teams. They'll battle with everything they have -- we get to sit back and ride the highs, or suffer the lows. Only time will tell how things play out.
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Tom, very minor correction for you. You indicated Oregon St instead of Oregon.
Solid overview.
The loss to Ohio State two years ago led to me walking home from my brother’s house, into my garage, grabbing my handsaw and sawing down a damn branch on the tree in front of the house that had been annoying me for years. Picture Clark Griswald cutting down the new tree in Christmas Vacation. Neighbor after neighbor walked by/over and offered their chainsaw but I refused, explaining to them that I needed to work some anger out. Took me hours to take that whole thing apart, into the darkness. Wasn’t feeling any pain due to the beer and rage. Next day, I could barely move because of my back and my hands had open blisters all over them.
In retrospect, I was as much mad at myself for believing that was the year as I was at the result.
That said, I’m all in on this year!!!!
How about, “The eligible receiver closest to the line of scrimmage”?The big question: Who is Drew Allar going to throw to?
(Legitimate answers include, a fan in the third row, the opposing team’s safety, and a hash mark.)
I am the same way... I don't get all worked up like I used to when younger. The Eagles beatdown delivered to the Chiefs in the Superbowl are rare and to be enjoyed when they happen. Excited to see our WRs. Ross I think can be a real difference maker in taking the top off a defense and should open up more space underneath for TE and possession WRs.
Edit: I should have also put in that if Ross returns KO and punts that can be a difference maker as well on special teams. He reminds of DeSean Jackson for the Eagles.
Sounds like my responce to our loss to Minnesota in 99. I got in my car and just drove. Not knowing where I was going. Probably not a good thing to drive angry. That Minnesota loss and the next two loses in a row after that showed me we were over rated that year. Never deserved to be ranked #1. Much respect for conquering that branch.
I took German in school too but remember **** of what I learned.
good catch. I took a break from finishing off a speech I'm writing (to give at a wedding this weekend). So despite my best efforts, I fear my mind was still working on elements of the speech.
He suffered an injury in May. PSU being PSU, there are very few details on what happened. (And even if I knew, I wouldn't post the details.)
The expectations are that he'll be fine for the season. I don't know if he'll be a full-go for training camp, or will be out for the start/all of that.
I’ve told this story before, but that loss was 3 months into my marriage and my Minnesotan in-laws were in town. So, we were out and about doing things during the game and ended up back at their hotel as that kick was made. Father in-law seemed to know better but my mother in-law said, “Oh wow, look at that. Did Minnesota just win? That’s exciting!” I had nowhere to go so I just stood there in their hotel room, turning colors like Violet in Willy Wonka. My wife just kept shooting glances at me.
Ahh that is right I do remember hearing something to that extent and you are right probably why I forgot since there was so little information on it. A number of news stories postedon him the last few days, not sure when they interviewed him but none spoke of any injury. Fingers crossed, I really expect a good year from him this year.
Tom’s post in this thread was at 4:09. Hmmmm. Maybe it is our year. My other team is back in the PL, so I’m playing with house $$.
I believe the biggest question mark on this team is Allar. If he doesn’t make major strides (slight pun intended, as he too rarely steps into his throws) this year, I just don’t expect him to be a big time player in big time games — and his stats so far in such games sadly support that theory. Yes, the WR talent has been underwhelming but he has had GREAT tight ends and GREAT running backs. Plus, I’ve always thought great QBs elevate the play of their WRs. If he plays like last year, no NC. If he plays like a guy who DESERVES to be a first round pick (and not just a guy with the size and arm strength), then yes. Strong possibility.
Disagree....it's still the WR room. Drew has the biggest spotlight on him as he is a 3 year starter on a MNC contender, but this team needs something out side. They have a QB who is mostly sound with the ball and has his OC back for year 2 which is huge for Drew and this offense. He has an OL that should be one of the better ones around along with a top 3 RB room in the country if not the best. The defense lost the best defensive player in the country last year and a 3 year starter at MLB so there are some holes there. I get the spotlight being on Drew, but the frosh, RS frosh, and portal transfers at WR need to make an impact this year....if not it is more of the same.
The coaching staff needs to develop pass patterns that free WRs up and then Drew has to target them. If he remains fixated on only one receiving target he is helping the defense. He has to spread the ball around. That is not too much to ask of a QB who will be a three year starter.
No doubt but it would be nice to see a WR or two develop as a go to guy as the TE's will still catch some balls. Some separation or contested catches would also be a welcome addition. Drew isn't going to be in an offense that chucks it 40 times a game, but he does have to take another step this year....just hoping the WR play is a plus this year.