Let's Talk Penn State Football (1 Viewer)

[Fat Nick]

Two days out from the Orange Bowl. Biggest game for us in decades. What are we expecting?

I don't know...but I will say that I'd almost rather lose Thursday than lose to OSU in the Championship...I can't deal with another OSU loss.

Sorry for the pessimism.

 

[Insein]

It's never going to happen with Franklin.

 

[-fish-]

Two days out from the Orange Bowl. Biggest game for us in decades. What are we expecting?

I don't know...but I will say that I'd almost rather lose Thursday than lose to OSU in the Championship...I can't deal with another OSU loss.

Sorry for the pessimism.

congratulations?

 

[Tin Cup]

Sigh. Good season, frustrating and disappointing ending.

 

[kupcho1]

It's never going to happen with Franklin.

That may be true, and while I'm about as far from a Franklin apologist as you can get, this loss wasn't about him. Drew Allar **** the bed. The box score says 1 INT, but absent some questionable calls that went PSU's way, that number would have been higher.

And it wasn't the play calling either. 42 rushes v 23 pass attempts. You have to be able to throw the ball at least a little. His throws were all over the place.

Allar may still turn out to be a good one, but he was terrible last night. Terrible.

 

[brettdj]

Amazing season. Beat some good teams and only losses were to 3 of the top 4 teams. That is a top 10 finish, maybe even top 5. If OSU blasts Texas, then probably the 4th best team in the country.

 

[ThaPenguin]

It's never going to happen with Franklin.

That may be true, and while I'm about as far from a Franklin apologist as you can get, this loss wasn't about him. Drew Allar **** the bed. The box score says 1 INT, but absent some questionable calls that went PSU's way, that number would have been higher.

And it wasn't the play calling either. 42 rushes v 23 pass attempts. You have to be able to throw the ball at least a little. His throws were all over the place.

Allar may still turn out to be a good one, but he was terrible last night. Terrible.

Yep, 0 receptions by WRs. This absolutely needs to be addressed via the portal.

Hard to blame Franklin, definitely a tough game for Allar, hopefully this lights a fire under his *** for next season. They dominated the first half and should have had a larger lead at half to withstand ND coming out of the locker room fired up.

 

[kupcho1]

Hard to blame Franklin, definitely a tough game for Allar, hopefully this lights a fire under his *** for next season. They dominated the first half and should have had a larger lead at half to withstand ND coming out of the locker room fired up.

I know it's not fair to boil it down to one play, but if Allar throws a catchable pass to Singleton he walks in for a TD and it's 7-0 instead of settling for a field goal. Hard not to think those 4 points weren't the difference (even though I know the rest of the game might have played out differently).

 

[ThaPenguin]

Just feel deflated this morning, I don't want to say I would have preferred to be blown out, but being so close and still coming up empty is equally as exhausting. Who knows when they will be this close again, it was right there for the taking.

At the end of the day, they exceeded my expectations. If you told me before the season they would be in the final 4 and leading in the 4th Q, I would have accepted the banker's offer. But taken into context, it stings.

 

[Fat Nick]

Echoing the comments - this one wasn't on Franklin or Kotelnicki. It was on Allar. On the negative, I don't see how he's a top QB right garnering all the praise he's gotten at times as of right now. I just don't. He can throw on lower-tier teams, but he is wildly inconsistent, and goes through spells where he can't hit the broad side of a barn. To Allar's credit, the 0 WR receptions also has to be put on the WR's to some extent. Let's face it - we didn't have WR's this year. We lost some good ones in the portal, and the ones we got were meh. We need to get him a legit WR1 to throw to next year or it's going to be more of the same (or worse without Warren).

I literally said when we got the ball back that Allar didn't need to be a hero...and he went and did exactly what I was afraid of. We should've just ran/short-passed our way down and hoped for a shot as time ran out. We had all the momentum at that point. Just a painful way to end the season because at a minimum, we were in that game - I think we played well enough to have won by more than a score.

 

[FairWarning]

Echoing the comments - this one wasn't on Franklin or Kotelnicki. It was on Allar. On the negative, I don't see how he's a top QB right garnering all the praise he's gotten at times as of right now. I just don't. He can throw on lower-tier teams, but he is wildly inconsistent, and goes through spells where he can't hit the broad side of a barn. To Allar's credit, the 0 WR receptions also has to be put on the WR's to some extent. Let's face it - we didn't have WR's this year. We lost some good ones in the portal, and the ones we got were meh. We need to get him a legit WR1 to throw to next year or it's going to be more of the same (or worse without Warren).

I literally said when we got the ball back that Allar didn't need to be a hero...and he went and did exactly what I was afraid of. We should've just ran/short-passed our way down and hoped for a shot as time ran out. We had all the momentum at that point. Just a painful way to end the season because at a minimum, we were in that game - I think we played well enough to have won by more than a score.

The INT wasn't the best pass, but the WR didn't fight real hard for it either. I thought he ran a sloppy route.

 

[Tin Cup]

Having our only two DBs on that side of the field both inexplicably fall down on that late ND TD sure didn’t help. And, as @kupcho1 pointed out, That failed pass to Singleton at the goal line was the (point) difference in the game.


We were thisclose. Didn’t have much margin of error to begin with, and came up maddeningly and preventably short.

Season still exceeded expectations for me.

 

[Fat Nick]

Echoing the comments - this one wasn't on Franklin or Kotelnicki. It was on Allar. On the negative, I don't see how he's a top QB right garnering all the praise he's gotten at times as of right now. I just don't. He can throw on lower-tier teams, but he is wildly inconsistent, and goes through spells where he can't hit the broad side of a barn. To Allar's credit, the 0 WR receptions also has to be put on the WR's to some extent. Let's face it - we didn't have WR's this year. We lost some good ones in the portal, and the ones we got were meh. We need to get him a legit WR1 to throw to next year or it's going to be more of the same (or worse without Warren).

I literally said when we got the ball back that Allar didn't need to be a hero...and he went and did exactly what I was afraid of. We should've just ran/short-passed our way down and hoped for a shot as time ran out. We had all the momentum at that point. Just a painful way to end the season because at a minimum, we were in that game - I think we played well enough to have won by more than a score.

The INT wasn't the best pass, but the WR didn't fight real hard for it either. I thought he ran a sloppy route.

I don't disagree re. the route...and it wasn't a great pass. Given the combination of the two, to me, it's not a ball you throw in the first place. Kind of like the Tyler Warren pass into triple coverage by the goal line where the PI cancelled the interception. Allar's decision making isn't great at key moments - but he also doesn't always have wide open guys.

The announcers were doting over his TD to INT ratios, but I'd argue his INT's have all been in crucial moments against top teams, which isn't a good trend.

 

[Insein]

It's never going to happen with Franklin.

That may be true, and while I'm about as far from a Franklin apologist as you can get, this loss wasn't about him. Drew Allar **** the bed. The box score says 1 INT, but absent some questionable calls that went PSU's way, that number would have been higher.

And it wasn't the play calling either. 42 rushes v 23 pass attempts. You have to be able to throw the ball at least a little. His throws were all over the place.

Allar may still turn out to be a good one, but he was terrible last night. Terrible.

I agree. As a coach he needs to see his guy doesn't have it last night and not force him to throw at the end. We just ran for 13 yards. We had 2 more timeouts. Run it to FG range or be content with overtime. Don't put allar in a position to **** up.

 

[Schmeabs]

Amazing season. Beat some good teams and only losses were to 3 of the top 4 teams. That is a top 10 finish, maybe even top 5. If OSU blasts Texas, then probably the 4th best team in the country.

Serious question. What good teams did Penn State beat? Boise State? SMU?

 

[Tin Cup]

Amazing season. Beat some good teams and only losses were to 3 of the top 4 teams. That is a top 10 finish, maybe even top 5. If OSU blasts Texas, then probably the 4th best team in the country.

Serious question. What good teams did Penn State beat? Boise State? SMU?

What’s the definition of a “good team”?

Penn State beat 7 teams that made bowl games including the two you mentioned that made the playoffs. The three losses were all to playoff teams likely to finish in the top 5.

 

[Schmeabs]

Amazing season. Beat some good teams and only losses were to 3 of the top 4 teams. That is a top 10 finish, maybe even top 5. If OSU blasts Texas, then probably the 4th best team in the country.

Serious question. What good teams did Penn State beat? Boise State? SMU?

What’s the definition of a “good team”?

Penn State beat 7 teams that made bowl games including the two you mentioned that made the playoffs. The three losses were all to playoff teams likely to finish in the top 5.

Fair enough. I just saw a stat that James Franklin has a career record of 4-20 against AP top 10 teams. Top 10 teams more likely tilt towards great teams than good teams. Penn State had an incredibly lucky draw in the playoffs facing SMU and Boise State. Good year for sure but it sure would not give me confidence going forward with Franklin.

 

[ThaPenguin]

Amazing season. Beat some good teams and only losses were to 3 of the top 4 teams. That is a top 10 finish, maybe even top 5. If OSU blasts Texas, then probably the 4th best team in the country.

Serious question. What good teams did Penn State beat? Boise State? SMU?

What’s the definition of a “good team”?

Penn State beat 7 teams that made bowl games including the two you mentioned that made the playoffs. The three losses were all to playoff teams likely to finish in the top 5.

Fair enough. I just saw a stat that James Franklin has a career record of 4-20 against AP top 10 teams. Top 10 teams more likely tilt towards great teams than good teams. Penn State had an incredibly lucky draw in the playoffs facing SMU and Boise State. Good year for sure but it sure would not give me confidence going forward with Franklin.

Was the Captain Obvious username taken? Would be very difficult to find anyone, much less a PSU fan, with confidence that Franklin can get us to the next level.

 

[-fish-]

Amazing season. Beat some good teams and only losses were to 3 of the top 4 teams. That is a top 10 finish, maybe even top 5. If OSU blasts Texas, then probably the 4th best team in the country.

Serious question. What good teams did Penn State beat? Boise State? SMU?

What’s the definition of a “good team”?

Penn State beat 7 teams that made bowl games including the two you mentioned that made the playoffs. The three losses were all to playoff teams likely to finish in the top 5.

Fair enough. I just saw a stat that James Franklin has a career record of 4-20 against AP top 10 teams. Top 10 teams more likely tilt towards great teams than good teams. Penn State had an incredibly lucky draw in the playoffs facing SMU and Boise State. Good year for sure but it sure would not give me confidence going forward with Franklin.

Was the Captain Obvious username taken? Would be very difficult to find anyone, much less a PSU fan, with confidence that Franklin can get us to the next level.

I have been critical of Franklin as a game coach for years, but as others have said, this one wasn't on him. I can't really point at anything he did to lose this game. I also think that the public has really underestimated how athletic this Notre Dame team is. They have speed everywhere.

Abdul Carter is an absolute beast.

 

[General Malaise]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

 

[BlackCrowes]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

WR is a bigger problem than QB. Allar had a good year, improved a lot. Unfortunately he #### the bed last night.

 

[General Malaise]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

WR is a bigger problem than QB. Allar had a good year, improved a lot. Unfortunately he #### the bed last night.

I guess I'm not understanding a team making it this far without ANY WRs to speak of. Was it injuries, lack of playmakers, scheme? How on earth does a team like Penn State fail to find WRs? It's not the hardest position to unearth.

Allar impressed me during the Ducks' game but after the OSU debacle, I'm beginning to think the Oregon defense was a sham all along.

 

[BlackCrowes]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

WR is a bigger problem than QB. Allar had a good year, improved a lot. Unfortunately he #### the bed last night.

I guess I'm not understanding a team making it this far without ANY WRs to speak of. Was it injuries, lack of playmakers, scheme? How on earth does a team like Penn State fail to find WRs? It's not the hardest position to unearth.

Allar impressed me during the Ducks' game but after the OSU debacle, I'm beginning to think the Oregon defense was a sham all along.

you got me. they haven't had a real good one since Jahan Dotson. no real injuries to speak of this year. recruits not panning out, transfer portal, etc. Trey Wallace is a dud. they seem to focus more energy on TEs.

 

[General Malaise]

Well.....Penn State got further than Oregon did, so hat tip on a fine season. That game last night was theirs' for the taking, but Allar picked a fine time to try out his Jameis Winston impersonation.

 

[FairWarning]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

The Penn St qb mold is John Shaffer. Kerry Collins was the best that I can remember.

 

[General Malaise]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

The Penn St qb mold is John Shaffer. Kerry Collins was the best that I can remember.

Look, Matt McGloin and his Scranton toughness ain't walking through that door any time soon!

 

[Insein]

For the life of me, I can't understand how a storied team like Penn State fails year after year to develop a QB that comes in with the potential some of these guys purportedly have. Imagine what this team looks like with a competent QB. The interceptions were atrocious but not hitting a WR once? WTF??

WR is a bigger problem than QB. Allar had a good year, improved a lot. Unfortunately he #### the bed last night.

I guess I'm not understanding a team making it this far without ANY WRs to speak of. Was it injuries, lack of playmakers, scheme? How on earth does a team like Penn State fail to find WRs? It's not the hardest position to unearth.

Allar impressed me during the Ducks' game but after the OSU debacle, I'm beginning to think the Oregon defense was a sham all along.

They left in the portal because PSU is not a pass first offense. So these are the only guys they could get.