B1G 2011 // Penn State Cocktail Party Preview: See You in the Gator Bowl?
by Graham Filler on May 16, 2011 4:00 AM CDT
in Penn State
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PrintTHE PENN STATE COCKTAIL PARTY PREVIEW
PSU at a glance...
First Season: 1881
Head Coach: Joe Paterno (45th Year, 401-135-3)
All-Time Record: 819-357-43 (.689%)
2010 Record: 7-6 (4-4 Conference)
Penn State was low-profile in 2010. Losses to OSU, Iowa, Alabama, and MSU came as expected and save for the amazing NW comeback, little unknown came of the Nittany Lions 7-6 season, including the Florida bowl loss. We knew the QB situation would be unstable...it was. We knew the defense could hold its own because PSU defenses always hold their own with toughness, great talent, and a tried and true scheme...and they did for periods. We knew Penn State might not be able to score enough to win big games...they weren't. If pressed, I'm sure many would have guessed the defense would give up a few more points than usual because of the offense's ineptitude...308 points given up (the most by a PSU defense since 1983) proved this point emphatically.
The Debate Rages in Happy Valley: Bolden, McGloin, or...?
Because the run game hasn't been DOMINANT dominant for awhile, PSU absolutely NEEDS a quarterback who can avoid mistakes and keep the offense on the field. But who's it going to be? Would you feel comfortable sitting Rob Bolden, someone who may be a year away and wanted to leave Happy Valley? Does that sound like someone you want to sit behind "game manager" (read: weak armed) Matt McGloin? Where do Kevin Newsome and Paul Jones fit? The quarterback position, arguably the most important on the field, has truly taken a front seat.
Some Broad Questions, Comments, Ideas
Joe Pa is still coaching. It is not his last year. You don't know when he'll retire...or if he'll retire. Shut up, please.
Tom Bradley is still coaching. Coaching stability.is.so.damn.important. As long as he roams sidelines at the Beav and patrols recruiting for PSU, JoePa's players are in good hands.
The finishing few weeks of the 2011 football schedule are a bitch for the Nittany Lions. In a row: Illinois, Nebraska, OSU, Wisconsin. Welcome to the New B1G, try to leave with 7 wins (maybe)!
Bama Hawkeye says a 7 win PSU team goes to the Gator Bowl. Is this disappointing or just about right?
So...about the injuries. Here is the BSD discussion, apologizing for injuring players limbs and tendons via a Sports Illustrated Cover Jinx-ish impact...
Ok, so BSD doesn't have such a good track record so far with this spring practice series. We've already taken out Brandon Ware and Curtis Drake directly, and even spooked poor Pete Massaro just by writing that Jack Crawford needs to step up, but this week we're narrowly avoiding the spiteful injury gods (knock on wood or anything else you do to dodge jinxes). So far, Justin Brown, Kevin Haplea and Garry Gilliam have ducked the wrath, so your intrepid authors push on, with .... RSJR Linebacker Michael Mauti.
Mauti will be a leader on the always tough as shit linebacking corps, a unit that surprisingly fell asleep during stretches in 2010.
...
In the cupboard...
Total returning starters: 16 (8 Offense, 8 Defense)
2011 Schedule:
| Date | Opponent |
| 09/03/11 | Indiana State |
| 09/10/11 | Bama |
| 09/17/11 | @Temple |
| 09/24/11 | EMU |
| 10/01/11 | @Indiana |
| 10/08/11 | Iowa |
| 10/15/11 | Purdue |
| 10/22/11 | @NW |
| 10/29/11 | Illinois |
| 11/12/11 | Nebraska |
| 11/19/11 | @OSU |
| 11/26/11 | @Wisconsin |
| 12/03/11 | Big Ten Championship |
|
This week... |
|
MONDAY | Penn State Cocktail Party Preview |
|
TUESDAY | Point/Counterpoint |
|
WEDNESDAY | 4th and 3 |
|
THURSDAY | OTE Potluck |
|
FRIDAY | Keeping the Enemy Close - Rival Blogger Interview |
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Comments
I like Bolden
but McGloin played better during the course of the season, imo.
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by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 16, 2011 5:43 AM CDT reply actions
It's been a source of much consternation during the off-season.
Bolden “looks” better, but he didn’t really know the playbook and nearly got killed because he couldn’t pick up the blitz. Mechanically, he’s light years ahead of McGloin and once he learns the playbook, he’ll be more composed.
He did play reasonably OK last year, but part of the reason people have a hard time defining/accepting McGloin is because he wasn’t a scholarship QB. The other is that he ended the season on such a sour note. Had he thrown only (!) 3 picks and we beat Florida in the Outback Bowl, there would still be plenty of good will. But now he’s made some statements that people perceive as cocky (“Bolden was a great backup to have”) and his guts clearly overrule his natural ability.
The bottom line is that neither Bolden (based on the off-season drama) nor McGloin is very likable, so everyone’s down on both of them. That issue will go away once one of them starts throwing touchdowns. This team has plenty of talent all over the field and is a threat to win 10+. On the other hand, if they don’t get the QB position squared away, they’re a threat to win seven or less. High ceiling, low floor.
Take a shower, shine your shoes...
by Adam Collyer on May 16, 2011 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions
all i can think of is Jonathon Moxon
C’mon Mox, c’mon Mox
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by Graham Filler on May 16, 2011 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't want...your life.
Take a shower, shine your shoes...
by Adam Collyer on May 16, 2011 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
MOXIE?
If we dont get the 3 and out, well, when is the turnover coming?
by BuckeyeSki on May 16, 2011 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
TOTALLY DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING!
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by Graham Filler on May 16, 2011 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
I saw these coming halfway through the second quarter
and when McGloin obviously didn’t in the second half, I knew that he was never going to be the QB to take this team to the next level. Just my opinion.
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Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 18, 2011 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd generally agree
McGloin had streaks of awesome (NW, 1st half against OSU) and streaks of horrible (2nd half against OSU, Florida), but overall he was a decent, young QB.
Bolden could move the team well but made freshman mistakes and was downright awful in the red zone. Nothing illustrates this better than the Alabama game (where PSU only made 1 fewer red zone trip than Alabama, yet lost 24-3).
is there anyway i can redeem myself, i was not sure if i should say "we" at that moment
by Skins4ever on Feb 2, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
McGloin doesn't have a weak arm, really
I don’t know why everyone thinks this. His arm is more than adequate. It’s not Morelli-strong, but he’s got enough power to physically make all the throws.
What he does NOT possess, however, is the savvy to know the limitations of his arm or when he needs to play it safe as opposed to attempting to unleash the dragon. He’s over-confident, if anything. Plus, watching him in some games last year, I feel like he might be kind of a douche. Not that Bolden’s shenanigans are anything short of douche-esque, either.
#teamshanemcgregor4life
McGloin's eyes are bigger than his ability.
If you’re quickly rating each unit out of a 10:
QB 3/10
RB 7/10
TE 1/10
WR 8/10
OL 5/10
DT 7/10
DE 4/10
LB 9/10
CB 8/10
S 6/10
We have a pretty good punter, but probably a true freshman PK.
7-5 (4-4) is totally reasonable. They’ll actually benefit from the toughest games (except ‘Bama) being at the end of the year. I’m not discounting the possibility they get their stuff together and get hot in October, but it’s on the more unlikely end of the spectrum.
--
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by Run Up The Score on May 16, 2011 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions
yup
I love me some PSU defenders, always have. It’s like, if you play LB at PSU, you’re going to be exceptional. That’s why I never count them out, even during a year like 2011 where no one has faith in the offense…
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by Graham Filler on May 16, 2011 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions
The crazy part of this...
Is that PSU is replacing two graduating LB’s with guys who practically all PSU fans think will be significant upgrades. Chris Colasanti was rather bad as a MLB, and Bani Gbadyu was an athletic freak who athletically freaked himself out of position on a constant basis.
Mauti should start in the middle, and will likely be flanked by some combination of Khairi Fortt, Gerald Hodges, and Nate Stupar. Because PSU unusually bereft of talent at DE, they might move one of those guys to DE for passing situations. That’s what happened with Tim Shaw in ’07 or ’08, when (a) the team was similarly thin at DE and (b) the coaches had to get Sean Lee on the field regularly.
Cliff’s Notes on PSU problems:
Interior OL
QB
TE (there isn’t one, really)
DE (no difference makers; bad because PSU’s very basic defense thrives on the front four getting pressure)
And I hope our safeties don’t suck. If they’re healthy, they can be quite good.
--
A T-bone steak, cheese, eggs, and Welch's grape.
@scrappled
Slow States - Football, music, craft beer, and podcasts with an industrial slant.
by Run Up The Score on May 16, 2011 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions
yup
I saw some discussion of people flipping out over the lack of sacks/pressure from the front four last year. Same boat as Iowa – no pressure from the front four, the scheme doesn’t work.
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by Graham Filler on May 16, 2011 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Nailed this part on the head
Chris Colasanti was rather bad as a MLB, and Bani Gbadyu was an athletic freak who athletically freaked himself out of position on a constant basis.
I forget— are you an Astorino sympathizer, or are you more in the “please let Willis and Daily get more reps, please please please” camp?
I’m not a huge Astorino fan, though you can do MUCH worse at SS than Astorino.
Dailey's gone. Decided to graduate and move on.
Nothing against Astorino personally, he’s played hurt a lot. I think the debate over him is more a result of PSU underrecruiting the safety positions for a good 3-4 year period.
--
A T-bone steak, cheese, eggs, and Welch's grape.
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Slow States - Football, music, craft beer, and podcasts with an industrial slant.
by Run Up The Score on May 17, 2011 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions
My mistake about Dailey.
I also don’t have a problem with Astorino, either. Great guy, I just feel like if teams want to pick on him they can pick on him pretty easily. It can be frustrating.
You're being too hard on the DEs, RBs, and QBs
I’d add one or two to each of those. Other than that, sounds about right.
is there anyway i can redeem myself, i was not sure if i should say "we" at that moment
by Skins4ever on Feb 2, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
something seems off
ahhh, you forgot to put the BC on the first season.
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
BC?
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by Graham Filler on May 16, 2011 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions
what was used before BCE
I guess I was trying to over think the JoePa is old and has been at Penn State forever joke.
In the name of the Woody, the Bo, and the Mustache Ride. Amen.
by Pariahwulfen on May 16, 2011 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions
Go with Bolden
He’s a much better athlete, and that athletic ability will be needed over McGloin’s noodle arm.
"Lord I pray for the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a lion and the balls of a combat helicopter pilot."
Now you're just insulting soft, delicious noodles.
--
A T-bone steak, cheese, eggs, and Welch's grape.
@scrappled
Slow States - Football, music, craft beer, and podcasts with an industrial slant.
by Run Up The Score on May 16, 2011 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Also, we were lied to.
Bolden did not look like such a great athlete when scrambling last year. McGloin actually moves much better in the pocket.
--
A T-bone steak, cheese, eggs, and Welch's grape.
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Slow States - Football, music, craft beer, and podcasts with an industrial slant.
by Run Up The Score on May 16, 2011 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions
But much worse, you know
throwing the ball…
"Lord I pray for the eyes of an eagle, the heart of a lion and the balls of a combat helicopter pilot."
He was great at throwing the ball
to the other team…
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved.
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 19, 2011 7:05 AM CDT up reply actions
FTFY
Mauti will be a leader on thealwaysusually tough as shit linebacking corps, a unit that surprisinglyfell asleep during stretcheswas MIA for mostinof 2010.
Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 16, 2011 6:26 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
Truth. They were terrible.
--
A T-bone steak, cheese, eggs, and Welch's grape.
@scrappled
Slow States - Football, music, craft beer, and podcasts with an industrial slant.
by Run Up The Score on May 17, 2011 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions
7 wins
Boy, I wish it didn’t feel that reasonable, but it does. I have zero confidence our O-line will improve over last year. And I doubt the QB situation will be improved enough to overcome that.
But on the other hand, the LB corps should be better than last year. I have a feeling that the DL will be improved, despite injuries (In LJ, Sr. We Trust). I don’t think one can overestimate how much an improved front 7 on defense helps a team, particularly in this year’s Big Ten where there is a serious lack of competent traditional passing offenses. I still believe our safeties are suspect and nonathletic (OMG I’M BEING A RACISTS), but not too worried because, well, see previously presented position RE: Front Seven.
tldr; who the fuck knows? It’s May, so let’s get drunk.
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Throw out the Illinois game
which was a comedy of errors made by Penn State’s mostly 2nd and 3rd stringers.
Other than that, Penn State:
—made 1 fewer red zone trips than Alabama, on the road, with a true freshman QB
—had a double digit lead in the second half, on the road, at OSU
—was a 4th and goal on the 1 and dropped ball by the typically sure handed Moye away from being down 17-10, 1st and 10, ball on the Iowa 30ish, with 3ish min to go, on the road at Iowa. And it’s not like Iowa collapsed a lot in the last 5 mins of games or anything.
—had more yards, fewer turnovers, and only 2 fewer first downs at home against Michigan State and somehow lost.
—threw something like 10000 interceptions against Florida and still nearly won
What I’m saying is this: Penn State was not a bad team last year. They were a young team with a tough schedule and a whole lot of inopportune mistakes. They are a year older and healthier. Don’t be surprised when PSU is at or very near the top of the Big Ten next year.
is there anyway i can redeem myself, i was not sure if i should say "we" at that moment
by Skins4ever on Feb 2, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
-- Looked great in Iowa City
until kick off.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on May 16, 2011 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, didn't go well
In spite of that, it was two what-should-have-been-and-even-for-that-team-were routine plays away from being very, very interesting
is there anyway i can redeem myself, i was not sure if i should say "we" at that moment
by Skins4ever on Feb 2, 2010 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Iowa always plays close games.
That’s just their style. I see your point but KF will never put a Paterno-led team away, he has too much respect for JoePa. Dantonio & Sparty? different story
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by BentNotBroken on May 17, 2011 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions
I think he would have called off the dogs on MSU a lot earlier
if not for Dantonio’s shameless decision to play Rucker.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Shameless, indeed.
Thanks for the big upset Spartay!!! Season needed a silver lining.
"GO HAWKS!" - only cure for Hawkeye Envy
by BentNotBroken on May 17, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Only somewhat related, but..
.. it looks like when PSU (under Paterno) half-asses their way to 17 wins in next two seasons, JoePa will have accounted for one half of the University’s wins. Wow.
"I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research." - Sherlock Holmes
That is absolutely amazing!
I’ll personally be very sad on the day when Joe Pa quits coaching.
by HawkeyeRecon on May 17, 2011 8:12 PM CDT up reply actions
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