Week 5 has come and gone and the curse continues against this Iowa team for the Penn State Nittany Lions. At least this team, we didn't lose because of a letdown, we lost because we were actually the underdogs. More great news is that we now have some clarity in what we've got on our side of the ball and know what to expect the rest of the year.
As for the recap of the game, I almost want to go ahead and copy and paste our recap of the Alabama game because there were a lot of similarities but this game had a lot more to do with execution. Iowa started off the game hot before our defense got into it and jumped out on us scoring a quick ten points to grab a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. By then, it was looking to be a route, especially because Iowa had 10 points and 159 yards of total offense while holding us to 1 yard of total offense at the end of; the first quarter.
That was the story of the first, as for the rest of the game, Penn State finally started to show up. The defense was playing great, with the exception of giving up a TD drive late in the first half, swarming to the ball, and stalling Iowa's drives. They were getting to the RB in the backfield and even forced Stanzi to throw an interception and almost snagged another one. The problem once again lied with executing in the red zone and I would even question the game plan to a certain extent.
First, I'm going to address problems with execution because there were just way too many. The receivers were dropping passes all over the field, not helping out there young QB, and our young QB was trying to force a few ridiculous throws. Do I have a huge problem with this? No, I do not because it is all part of the game and I expect some growing pains with a young team, but I'm establishing the point that this young Penn State team can hang in there with the big boys as long as they execute.
For my second point, and I know Mark Willard is going to give me hell for this one, is the game plan that Penn State had coming into this game. Again, I cannot knock it too much because if Brackett scores before the half ends instead of being tackled at the two and Bolden converts that 4th and goal run that was stopped at the 1 inch this would've been a different game. My issue is with running the ball, how do you only give Evan Royster ten carries in a game as big as this one? I also philosophically believe that they best way to neutralize and aggressive defense is to attack the heart of that defense, and the best way to do that is to run it down their throats.
I also think that if they kept the play-calling balanced between the run and the pass, that Iowa's defense would not have had 7 men in coverage every play covering three receivers. The success from the few screen passes and running plays we had were also encouraging, so why not roll with the punches and help that young QB out. I would just like to see some sort of commitment to the run game with the weapons that we have out there.
In the end, the score does not indicate how close or how much of a grind it out game it actually was. The truth is that Penn State's red zone woes continued and they are beating themselves as much as other teams are beating them. As for the rest of the season, I would expect more of the same, but the mystery of this team is going to be intriguing as I believe that they are going to win some games they are not supposed to win, but also lose a game or two that they are suppose to win. It will be interesting to see where this team goes by the end of the year.
WE ARE...............................
My biggest gripe on this loss has to fall on the shoulders of the coaching staff. Too many avoidable mistakes that should have been avoided. The missed TO call at the end of the first half was just awful. You addressed the problems with the running game. One of the worst parts of the game, for me, was the decision to punt the ball away on 4th down with 5 minutes to go in the game. We were only down by 2 possessions! So much can happen in 5 minutes! granted we would have needed to move the ball much much better in those 5 minutes than what we would have been able to do up to that point, but it could have happened. I realize we almost certainly would not have been able to pull it off. I am ok with that. The biggest problem I have with that decision is the message I think that kind of call sends to your team. To not even try to make a last ditch effort tells the team it is not even worth it. What is the defense supposed to do when they take the field? The coaches did not care enough to believe that the offense could do something special so why even try on defense. I am all for being realistic and accepting when a game is out of reach and not going 100% when it doesn't matter, but 5 minutes on the game clock is way to much time to let your guys take that mentality. I hear all over the place that this is a young team, but has some special talent that could do some great things in the future. What are we losing from letting them try to do something special now? If we don't make the conversion what do we lose? 30yds of field position? Is their field position really that important at that point in the game?
ReplyDeleteI realize that this may seem like such a small detail and play in a whole game, but when you are trying to build a group of young talents into a good, possibly great, team it is the little things that can matter a great deal, like coaches always having faith in the team and not just throwing in the towel.
This game was not nearly as much of a blow out as the score reflected. We teetered on several big plays and just fell short on pretty much all of them. A bunch of dropped balls and too many coaching blunders held this team back on Saturday.
Going into this season most people had this game penciled in as a probable loss. That is fine. Iowa, just like Alabama, is a better team than we are right now and that is fine. It hurts a lot more, however, losing when you know you could have been so much better but shot yourself in the foot so many times.
Could not have said it better myself. I'm glad that I'm not the only one that shares that viewpoint. You just have to watch out for those who refuse to accept that JoePa the coach hurts this team more than JoePa the icon helps the university.
ReplyDeleteThe real PSU Fans are starting to show up this year. People that knew coming into this season that yeah it was going to be a struggle, its a young team loaded with talent but with no experience and being the first team in BCS history to play on the Road against 3 BCS bowl winners the previous years, it is ridiculous to think we would be better then 3-2 at this point. And for the people calling out Bolden, you really need to get a grip. Newsome isn't better, and this 18 year old, repeat, 18 years old has skills not seen together in a Penn State QB since... well maybe Collins, but I think he has the chance to be better. Bolden has a lot of things not seen in True Freshmen, no happy feet, a strong pocket sense and an above average arm. Let the kid learn to deal with school and be alone, let alone playing in front of 100,000 people each week. It's a rebuilding year and it's fun to think what the potential of team so young is going to be next year and beyond. And for real Penn State Fans, yea this isn't a winning season but its a great time watching these kids develop into something that can be really special.
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