T1B

I certainly cannot compare the speed of the two squads until after kick.

I will say that PSU has a terrific amount of "football speed" on defense. Shaw, Poz, Lee and Connor are very fast...and if Bradley sticks with various iterations of the 3-4, they will be on the field quite a bit together.

PSU has, of late, been a read and react type of defense. I expect they will try to pressure Quinn in this game, because he will beat the zone defense if they hold back. I'm not worried about the short passing game, it's the deep stuff that has me worried. If they can disrupt Quinn in the pocket, they will be successful in forcing mistakes.

In recent years, PSU's opponents have loaded the box and asked the Lions to beat them through the air. AM makes that a possibility. Robinson was capable of beating people with his arm, but he didn't seem to get hot until the 4th quarter of games.

I think the units that have a lot to prove are PSU's offensive line and ND's pass defense. Both are probably not as shaky as many people assume...but that has yet to be proven.

I still think this one gets down to basic execution, and to special teams. A.J. Wallace and Derrick Williams are big-time returners. I expect their play to be a big factor in this game.

I think we'll see some different stuff from PSU as well, maybe a little QB option from DWill, definitely some zone blitzing.

PSUFAN wrote:I'm not worried about the short passing game, it's the deep stuff that has me worried.

Oh, I'm worried about the short passing game, PSU. If the are completing many short passes, PSU is done. PSU will have to defend it to a degree which loosens up the run game for ND. That could spell disaster seeing as how PSU has been a bit susceptible to giving up the short-medium crossing routes. Some say that's their philosophy (and it may be), but it still scares me.

Color me weird, but I'd almost rather see ND complete a long ball or two than PSU cosistently give up short-medium passes all game... which would mean a good running day for ND.

Killian, I don't know your secondary well other than them being young. I'll take your word that they are fast. If I were ND, I'd still be plenty worried. Some of PSU's WR's are VERY fast. In addition, they are very crafty. So, while ND's d-backs may also be fast, are they so young that they will be exposed by PSU's speed coupled w/craftiness? I would think that ND's safties will play a considerable role in this game.

Ken wrote:Killian, I don't know your secondary well other than them being young. I'll take your word that they are fast. If I were ND, I'd still be plenty worried. Some of PSU's WR's are VERY fast. In addition, they are very crafty. So, while ND's d-backs may also be fast, are they so young that they will be exposed by PSU's speed coupled w/craftiness? I would think that ND's safties will play a considerable role in this game.

Actually, we don't have a young secondary. Our two-deep depth chart, in the secondary, consists of four seniors (all starters), one junior, two sophomores and one freshman. All of our starters are returning starters from last season.

I expect that we'll try to put some pressure on Morelli, so that could put some pressure in terms of coverage. I would expect a nickel package on most obvious passing downs.

Look, NO ONE in the media is giving PSU a shot in this one.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

WWBD

What Will Beano DO? These are his two favorites...will he slice is turkey fat hanging off his neck right down the middle? His head might explode...(which wouldn't be a bad thing)...

Nice drive by the domers at the end of the half. Then again was Paslowski the only one attempting to play any defense?

Joe Pas kids dont look like they want to win this game

WTF was that up-for-grabs pass? Do they plan on teaching this Morelli kid how to read a defense?

I was absolutely befuddled by PSU's defensive gameplan. Completely at a loss.

GaTech laid the blueprint. Get some pressure on Quinn and your defense will have some success. PSU did nothing to tget pressure on Quinn and they paid dearly for it. Hey, Joe. Pssssssst.... Quinn's a Heisman candidate. I don't care if you drop 10 back in coverage, if he's got time to sit in the pocket and gauge the field, he will find someone open. Every time. And he did.

Like I said in an earlier post, I was afraid Quinn would pick PSU apart on the short to medium routes... he did just that.

I'm completely befuddled.

Did I say I was completey befuddled by PSU pass rush scheme?

If not, I am. Completely befuddled.

It's amazing to me, but it appears that PSU's staff learned absolutely nothing from the ND/GTech game, or the ND/OSU bowl game. I have to wonder if they even watched any ND film.

I'm fairly certain that Paterno didn't watch any film...and it seems to me that he got heavily involved in the gameplan again.

I watched the first half on the tv in my garage, as I washed my car. Kids running around with the hose and such. Good times.

PSU buttfucked themselves in the mouth on two possessions - the bad snap and the fumble. I fully expected them to recover, but didn't. Then I watch the second half on the big set and I was disappointed that there wasn't a game to be had.

I didn't have a horse in this one, but thought PSU would win. Damn. My email to some friends was: "how the fuck does PSU shit the bed like this".

My condolences PSU.

think I got some of those same emails

Given the way that it went down, this looked like a loss that they needed to undergo. I feel like my expectations were a little bloated. I don't think PSU is all the way back yet...and I'm realizing again that it will probably take a coaching shakeup to get there.

PSU - regarding the Pitt game WTF was up with Palko the other night screaming at his WR on the sidelines? Did you see that???

"Calm the FUCK down".

No bleeps, ESPN carried that shit live.

As it happens, I missed that. I went to a HS football game with my kids, got back to watch a few minutes of the Pitt game.

It's funny, that kid has been FCC-hunting for a while now. Mybe Greg Lloyd has been advising him?

It looked like he and his WR were pretty much not down with each other at all. They'd just hooked up for a TD and Palko was showing some meltage.

After the savage and rude beating PSU suffered today, I have no smack for Pitt. Right now, they're 2-0...last year, they were losing to Ohio U at this point in the season.

Well then, I'll pick up here w/the Pitt smack.

I can't stand Palko. Can't stand 'im. He's a mouthy sonofabitch. He does play with a lot of heart, and the meltdown w/his receiver was most likely a function of that.

Still, he's a mouthy a-hole. Too bad Getsy transferred. Pitt would be better off with him rather than motor mouth.