1. BOYS II MEN. That would be an accurate comparison between the Penn State and Alabama programs after watching the two sides bang heads Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. Actually, one side did all the hittin' and the other did all the catchin' in the Crimson Tide's 24-3 win. Alabama backup tailback Trent Richardson ? is it really fair to call someone this talented a backup? ? pulverized Joe Paterno's 'D'. And PSU could not match up physically with the defending champs.
2. PULLING THE PLUG? What's up with JoePa sitting QB Rob Bolden (in favor of Kevin Newsome) for about half of the fourth quarter against 'Bama? The true freshman played better than his final numbers indicated (13 of 29, 144 yards, two interceptions) and very much appears to represent the future for the Lions' offense. We say let him endure some bumps in the road. He'll be better off in the long run.
3. COVER 2? Those Alabama wideouts ? Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, in particular ? are going to give every secondary problems this season. But we didn't like what we saw from a few of the Lions' defensive backs when they attempted to A: run with them and B: tackle them. Paterno believes in zone coverage because it is easier to prevent a big play when you align the free safety 15 yards deep. But in theory, the safeties should have the foot speed to close quickly on the receivers in front of them. In theory. Didn't see it Saturday.
4. A TOUGH CLIMB. The Lions were probably fortunate to drop only four spots in the AP rankings (from No. 18 to No. 22) and with murderous road dates looming against Iowa and Ohio State later in the season, you have to wonder if there is ANY chance of Paterno's team finishing in the top 15. Because you can forget about the top 10. Or as our friend Sheena likes to say (what a name-dropper …), Fuhgettaboutit.
5. LIGHTNING CRASHES. Has anyone seen Graham Zug? Penn State's senior wideout, a returning starter who led PSU in TD receptions last season with seven, has yet to catch a pass. The player we (affectionately) call “Amish Lightning” also had a key third-down drop in 'Bama territory in the third quarter with PSU down 17. The Zugger needs to get his act together Saturday against Kent State.
6. MISSING IN ACTION. Time to call out a couple of PSU defensive players who have not gotten the job done in the early stages of the season ? defensive ends Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore. Neither was credited with a solo tackle in the loss to the Tide (Crawford was tagged with a quarterback “hit”) and these guys have too many physical tools to be pulling an El-Zippo on the post-game stat sheet. Our question ? when 'Bama went to the 'empty' set with five receivers and just five linemen blocking, where were you guys?
7. INSTANT OFFENSE. Wouldn't hurt to get young wideout Shawney Kersey more involved Saturday. The 6-1, 197-pound redshirt freshman motored 24 yards with his only touch ? a reverse ? against 'Bama. And remember, he was the one who caught a pair of TD passes from quarterback Paul Jones in the Blue-White game.
8. CHANGING OF THE GUARD? Enough already with the left-guard rotation system. For continuity's sake, the Lions must settle on one guy. And that guy does not appear to be DeOn'tae Pannell. Tag, you're it, Johnnie Troutman.
9. ALMOST FAMOUS. Penn State sophomore outside linebacker Mike Mauti made his first career start against Alabama and was credited with three solo tackles and three assists. This dude can play and he looks close to 100 percent after tearing the ACL in his right knee two Augusts ago.
10. HERE'S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON. No one is more exciting and there may not be a better player in college football than Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, the dual-threat who has run-thrown Connecticut and Notre Dame (he hung 502 on the Fighting Irish) into defeat. If he stays healthy, he is a job-saver for Rich Rodriguez and he may be the one to beat for the Heisman Trophy. (Also on our radar: Alabama running back Trent Richardson, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and Mila Kunis … oops, Kunis is on another list of ours that would be inappropriate to talk about.).
Full Story
2. PULLING THE PLUG? What's up with JoePa sitting QB Rob Bolden (in favor of Kevin Newsome) for about half of the fourth quarter against 'Bama? The true freshman played better than his final numbers indicated (13 of 29, 144 yards, two interceptions) and very much appears to represent the future for the Lions' offense. We say let him endure some bumps in the road. He'll be better off in the long run.
3. COVER 2? Those Alabama wideouts ? Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, in particular ? are going to give every secondary problems this season. But we didn't like what we saw from a few of the Lions' defensive backs when they attempted to A: run with them and B: tackle them. Paterno believes in zone coverage because it is easier to prevent a big play when you align the free safety 15 yards deep. But in theory, the safeties should have the foot speed to close quickly on the receivers in front of them. In theory. Didn't see it Saturday.
4. A TOUGH CLIMB. The Lions were probably fortunate to drop only four spots in the AP rankings (from No. 18 to No. 22) and with murderous road dates looming against Iowa and Ohio State later in the season, you have to wonder if there is ANY chance of Paterno's team finishing in the top 15. Because you can forget about the top 10. Or as our friend Sheena likes to say (what a name-dropper …), Fuhgettaboutit.
5. LIGHTNING CRASHES. Has anyone seen Graham Zug? Penn State's senior wideout, a returning starter who led PSU in TD receptions last season with seven, has yet to catch a pass. The player we (affectionately) call “Amish Lightning” also had a key third-down drop in 'Bama territory in the third quarter with PSU down 17. The Zugger needs to get his act together Saturday against Kent State.
6. MISSING IN ACTION. Time to call out a couple of PSU defensive players who have not gotten the job done in the early stages of the season ? defensive ends Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore. Neither was credited with a solo tackle in the loss to the Tide (Crawford was tagged with a quarterback “hit”) and these guys have too many physical tools to be pulling an El-Zippo on the post-game stat sheet. Our question ? when 'Bama went to the 'empty' set with five receivers and just five linemen blocking, where were you guys?
7. INSTANT OFFENSE. Wouldn't hurt to get young wideout Shawney Kersey more involved Saturday. The 6-1, 197-pound redshirt freshman motored 24 yards with his only touch ? a reverse ? against 'Bama. And remember, he was the one who caught a pair of TD passes from quarterback Paul Jones in the Blue-White game.
8. CHANGING OF THE GUARD? Enough already with the left-guard rotation system. For continuity's sake, the Lions must settle on one guy. And that guy does not appear to be DeOn'tae Pannell. Tag, you're it, Johnnie Troutman.
9. ALMOST FAMOUS. Penn State sophomore outside linebacker Mike Mauti made his first career start against Alabama and was credited with three solo tackles and three assists. This dude can play and he looks close to 100 percent after tearing the ACL in his right knee two Augusts ago.
10. HERE'S TO YOU, MR. ROBINSON. No one is more exciting and there may not be a better player in college football than Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, the dual-threat who has run-thrown Connecticut and Notre Dame (he hung 502 on the Fighting Irish) into defeat. If he stays healthy, he is a job-saver for Rich Rodriguez and he may be the one to beat for the Heisman Trophy. (Also on our radar: Alabama running back Trent Richardson, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore, Ohio State defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and Mila Kunis … oops, Kunis is on another list of ours that would be inappropriate to talk about.).
Full Story