My Issues are with:
- Thread starter ConcealedCarry
- Start date
This team is not physical. They haven't pushed anyone around.
Agreed, but I am not sure if it is a lack of motivation, desire, beliefs, or they are physically inferior to their opponents. I feel it is the former. The case I use is Cignetti turning a 3 - 9 Indiana team to a national contender inside of two years. He brought something more than a few people from James Madison. To me, he's the Cael Sanderson of football. He makes football fun. The players want to play. They want to execute not only for themselves, but for the other guy.
Yeah , our players may not be as talented as previously advertised
All too often coach Franklin relied on speed at the expense of strength. He also became infatuated with certain players who although gave their best for the team, did not possess the talent to play at this level. I think this was the main reason for his lack of success in "big" games.
I said Trautwein was a poor hire the day they hired him
At times like this everything and every coach is called into question as it should be.
Hasn't the weight room been an issue for 30yrs at PSU? lol
I feel like something changed though. The OL last year was pretty good. It’s largely the same group. What happened?
When you have no passing game and PSU hasn't in years outside of a freak at TE last year.....there is no reason to worry about it so teams load up to stop the ground game. The odd thing is PSU is still running the ball when Allen is getting the carries as he should have been all along, but using 2000-2005 tag line arguments about the OL seem to hit home with some.
Meanwhile the DL is getting carved up like they are pudding, there is no shot at stopping the run game....and people are talking about the OL. What's changed, the DL and LB play is below average, they cannot get off the field.....so we'll blame the OL. SMFH at some of the takes I see online. OL is not perfect, but this defense under Knowles has been an utter failure. AK has done nothing to address the passing game or scheme....so we'll just keep spinning those tires in the mud.
good analysis. Saw an NFL game this weekend and the analyst basically said that you rarely see a defense with good defensive stats on a team where the offense does not run the ball well. Keeping the ball on offense limits the yards that your defense gives up. PSU's inability to get off the field on 3rd down has obviously hurt the team, but also gives less chances to the offense. That combined with everyone lacking in any respect for our passing game makes running the ball a challenge.
That’s actually a national problem. Just read any other message board for any school around the country.
Watch the O Line in action. They are slow, and flawed fundamentally on run blocking technique. They do not display raw power and the ability to drive their defensive opponent downfield. They are a product of James Franklin's finesse football.
Ohhhhh, Ok....Maybe I should watch them? Maybe that is like" doing my research" in this country. I'm not 15 and I've seen bad PSU OL's so excuse me if I don't crap on them wholesale. Are they perfect...not at all, but when you have 2 RB's .....one cannot find a hole or shake anyone....and the other gets 6 YPC with no passing attack....maybe it's not just an OL issue. Nahhhh, it's the technique as the OL techniques being used elsewhere are super top secret.
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And our testing is off the charts at the combine. Our testing numbers on the wall are accurate. Our S&C program is the envy of most programs.
Our defense can't get off of the field. It's precisely why we're losing. Offense is bad, but we can't stop anyone. Who runs a 4-2-5 D against a run team? A team who beat us with an injured QB running the ball? Runs of 60 and 40+ yards! That is pure insanity.
Exactly until PSU has 2 stud DT this 4-2-5 defense will get carved up non stop. JK used the DT at OSU to keep the oline off the LB's and let them flow freely to the ball carrier. PSU has always been undersized and relied on quickness at DT. The olinemen are getting easily to the second level of the PSU defense and carving them up. To me the JK hire was never a good hire. He claims it takes 3 years to learn this defense. When JF is saying we are making a run at a natty this year??? Why hire this guy and his scheme then. Also you need 2 stud DT's... PSU doesn't have them. So the 4-2-5 defense is going to get carved up to good running teams. AK was another colossal failure hire by JF. His offense is based on a running qb and the RPO. Why JF hires a guy with that offensive scheme when you have 2 pro style qb pocket passers is beyond me. I don't care that AK said he will design a scheme to fit his players. That literally almost never works. 2 just really bad hires by JF. Don't get me started on the assistant coaches. Why this WR coach is still on the PSU staff is beyond bewilderment. Trautwein oline has been average at best in his years at PSU. Singleton at RB has regressed. The PSU QB mechanics are not very good at all. Where is the PSU dline? DDS has been a ghost this year? People question why JF was fired? Really?
The opposing defense is breaking the line of scrimmage before our O Line is getting out of their stance . They are SLOW, poor footwork and BAD RUN BLOCKING TECH. All you have to do is watch the line play.
Putting nonsense in bold doesn’t make it better. Allen carried for 145 yards with 2 TD's while getting 5 YPC. Take a long look at the passing stats...tough place to get your first start, but the passing game hasn't been good in both years under AK or a while under JF. AN overhaul is required there IMO. Traut is the least of our concerns when they spend most of the time on the sideline. Wrong line IMO and it’s more about the Jimmy and Joe’s there. Not to mention the non existent LB play and poor tackling. This defense can’t get off the field. Teams shorten the games by extending drives and the passing scheme isn’t exactly helping this one dimensional offense.
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I love to go on the message boards when a new S&C coach is hired and how things are going to be so much better, never fails.That’s actually a national problem. Just read any other message board for any school around the country.
Agree. I don’t think the strength and conditioning program is the issue. PSU guys are front and center at the combine and have been since JF arrived with Galt.
Pick your poison. Either way we suck so he just plays the defense he knows better. I agree with you though. Apparently we don’t have any big bodies waiting on the sidelines so we might as well use the young LBs like Tasch and Lavar II. We’re going to get slaughtered either way but at least they’ll get valuable PT.
O line is ineffective. That is on display for all to see. Bold is Better
It's all part of the equation.
Stupid and loud is still stupid
But it shows confidence....LOL.
As I have said many times....yes the game should be fun...but being fun alone creates a soft team. The players need to be pushed and only way to motivate them is thru the team captains and fear of losing playing time. To often a player would make an egregious mistake and no emotion or reaction from CJF....most OL Players don't reach full ability till their 3rd year....and the truly great guys that can start their freshman year do not come to PSU.
This is why I felt Pat Fitzgerald should be considered. A no nonsense coach. Don't start with the he was hazing stuff...Urban did much worse. ..yet everyone wants him.
I like Fitzgerald. Not sure why no one has brought him up before. Good fit. Tough. One would think he'd have an appreciation for education coming from Northwestern. I'm somewhat of an older guy who believes education still matters.
Edit: Googled "Pat Fitzgerald"
Good article: https://www.si.com/college-football...aker-james-franklin-pat-fitzgerald-mike-gundy
Has Fitz linked potentially to Stanford (academics), and Wisconsin (returning to their roots).
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Anyone see the Hack interview from the other day?
What Went Wrong?
Two points. Kraft saying the next coach needs to fit Penn State, and Hack's assessment of "no identity." I think many of have said the same thing. He just adds a little perspective. CEO Franklin didn't impart an identity to this squad. Seems like he may have left that to the coordinators.
He also took a subtle shot at Franklin's recruiting. He was good at recruiting athletes who can run, jump, lift... but what about the old school attribute of playing angry football?
What Went Wrong?
Two points. Kraft saying the next coach needs to fit Penn State, and Hack's assessment of "no identity." I think many of have said the same thing. He just adds a little perspective. CEO Franklin didn't impart an identity to this squad. Seems like he may have left that to the coordinators.
He also took a subtle shot at Franklin's recruiting. He was good at recruiting athletes who can run, jump, lift... but what about the old school attribute of playing angry football?
I found Hack's take very insightful. Definitely worth a listen
OL has been a problem since Franklin started coaching PSU. First it was the sanctions and the reduced scholarships that he inherited so I give him a pass the first few years. However, OL blocking since then has always been suspect. We have OL that are in the pros on some pretty good teams which tells me it is the blocking schemes or offensive philosophy that is the problem under Franklin. Was the line really that good last season of did the talent around the offense hide it? I saw more pulling last year vs this year. Where are the fold blocks, switches, combos? It just looks like they slide/zone block every play and someone misses someone and there is constantly a defender in the backfield. I did here that a long time assistant OL coach retired after last season. Is Trautwein to blame for the blocking schemes or Franklin philosophy? I am not sure if we can blame the OC for blocking schemes because they change every year or couple years.
Yes, everything starts with the OL because they set the tempo/rhythm for the offense to work efficiently. Even if you have talented skill players, if the OL misses an assignment it throws of the offense and if you don't skill players that can overcome that(Like Trace and Saquon seasons) it is going to be 3 and out a lot which puts the defense on the field longer which eventually tires the defense out that won't be able to make a stop in the 4 qtr when they need to. Its a lot of little things that need fixin'
Yes, everything starts with the OL because they set the tempo/rhythm for the offense to work efficiently. Even if you have talented skill players, if the OL misses an assignment it throws of the offense and if you don't skill players that can overcome that(Like Trace and Saquon seasons) it is going to be 3 and out a lot which puts the defense on the field longer which eventually tires the defense out that won't be able to make a stop in the 4 qtr when they need to. Its a lot of little things that need fixin'
We actually ran some 4-3 and should have disguised running the 4-4. It is criminal for any coordinator to force his pet scheme on players not well suited to play it.
If Kraft fired Franklin and hired Fitzgerald, he should be given his pink slip the day after the hire. C’mon guys. Geez.
I don't think thats it, well maybe on the DL. IMO it's more Andy K, influenced. Our OL could be physical and have been, at times, its more this flukey, gimmicky scheme that AK runs.
A few things. We lost the best player since Barkley on offense and I think the final few games of last year were a little over hyped, in regards to how good the OL actually was/is.