The title above represents my impression of the Wisconsin game: a comfortable win in comfortable environs, played with a high comfort level among comfortable players. The coaching even seemed more comfortable than usual. I suppose that a blowout win gives the appearance of comfort at all levels, but this Turkey thinks there’s more to it than just its superficial aspect. This team has indeed somehow become more comfortable. And before we leave this ad nauseum abuse of the comfort theme behind, let me just say that the 109,000+ fans no doubt consumed great quantities of liquid comfort on Saturday night in State College.
OK, the facts. State beat #19 Wisconsin 38-7 to bring both schools’ records to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin’s vaunted running game was effectively curtailed by the Nittany Lions, with P.J. Hill held to a season low 70 yards. Penn State consistently won the battle of the trenches. The PSU Blogosphere’s favorite whipping boy, Anthony Morelli, looked more like a real quarterback, going 16-28 for 216 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. And Rodney Kinlaw, the mid-season replacement for the deposed Austin Scott, had another fine day, as did his backup, Evan Royster, with 115 and 68 yards, respectively, a touchdown each, and no fumbles.
Morelli kept hitting Terrell Golden—primarily because Terrell Golden was consistently wide open, a forgotten man in Wisconsin’s game plan. With the defense busy covering Butler, Norwood, and Williams, Golden got a bunch of easy throws early in the game until Wisconsin reacted—slowly. Morelli looked much more poised in his stationary pocket presence (which moves about as much as a concrete bunker). ??? ????? He seemed—what’s the word I abused above? ????? ????????? ???????? —comfortable out there.
Of course, the Nittany Lions’ defense seemed to have forgotten about true freshman Kyle Jefferson because, I suppose, they were too worried about Travis Beckum. Jefferson wound up with six receptions for 124 yards, whereas Beckum caught five for 70 yards.
It was good to see both offensive and defensive lines performing well. This Turkey had previously thought that the offensive line was a bust from Day One this year, and that they would never come together. Well, wonder of wonders, they played like men out there against Wisconsin, not like the McCabe Sisters.
The game plan was significantly more wide-open than what we’re accustomed to. The Offensive Brain Trust (OBT) felt that they could throw on Wisconsin’s much-maligned secondary. So that’s what they did. Even on first down. It was refreshing to watch this brand of football, and I hope that it gives the OBT enough confidence to employ it in the future. (Yeah, I know—next week we are on the road in Indiana and we’ll come out running up the gut…)
Both teams had issues that held them back. Wisconsin’s P.J. Hill had a nagging groin injury, and the Badgers’ best wide receiver, Luke Swan, is out for the season. The Nittany Lions had off-field issues too numerous to mention here, but covered well elsewhere. Interestingly enough, Chris Baker and Knowledge Timmons, both rumored by the usual on-line wonks to be suspended, actually played in this game, while Chris Bell and Phil Taylor did not. However, Baker and Timmons usually are starters, and both sat for the first half. Bell and Taylor practiced on Wednesday, but Baker and Timmons were there in street clothes. ??? ?????? ??? ???????? Paterno would only sat that Bell and Taylor were in his doghouse. These four are all rumored to be complicit in the Sunday morning rumble at the HUB following the Iowa game.
All in all, it was a satisfying and refreshing win in the wake of the continual negative publicity the program has received of late. If this is a harbinger of things to come, the Nittany Lions could win all of their remaing games but one, that one being Ohio State the week after next. Still, combined with the well-played Wisconsin game, a successful road trip to Indiana could prove inspirational enough to give the Lions the confidence needed to fight the Buckeyes to the death. After all, undefeated teams are being knocked off right and left this year, so OSU’s number might well be up in a fortnight. But I digress. The road trip to Indiana comes first and if there’s too much looking past it to the Ohio State game, then it will become a trap game. So, cuidado, hombres! I’ll be back with a look at that game on Wednesday.
More Turmoil in the Top 10
Does anyone want to win the Still Somewhat Mythical National Championship (SSMNC) this year? Yesterday saw yet a couple more high-profile losses by heretofore undefeated teams. LSU, formerly #1, went down to #17 Kentucky in triple-overtime. Unranked Oregon State beat #2 Cal. So who’s left undefeated? Ohio State, Boston College, South Florida, and Hawaii. I would expect that the rankings this week will be OSU #1, BC #2, and USF #3, followed by one or more one-loss teams, and then Hawaii (because they’re a more lightly regarded WAC team). However, if Ohio State should happen to lose to either Penn State, Wisconsin, or Michigan, let’s say, and BC loses to Virginia Tech, FSU, or Miami, we might be looking at a SSMNC game involving USF and Hawaii. That would be retarded.
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Corey says
Nice writeup as always.
This performance shocked me. But I think I’ve got this team figured out now. We simply have a much more pronounced home-road “split” than is normal. We’re top-10 at home but not top-40 on the road. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize this.
The Nittany Turkey says
I agree with your assessment, Corey. Too bad the coaches cannot make that same connection.
My opinion is that the poor road record relates to the game plan, which in big games on the road is just slightly more conservative than Attila the Hun. One of the writers on the Penn State beat describes it as “full sphincter mode.” Joe & Company seem to think that the best strategy for winning road games is “three yards and a cloud of dust,” play a field position game, rely on your defense, and, by god, absolutely no throwing the ball on first down. This leads to low-scoring games that are decided by who has the fewest turnovers and penalties (and sometimes by incompetent officiating), games that are not very satisfying to watch. Just one coverage error on a passing play or a punt return can—and often does—cost us games played in this manner.
Thanks for your comments!
—TNT
JED says
Not being one to sit quietly by, I’ll kick in a few cents on the matter. For once the ball bounced our way and with an excellent defense gave Morelli some breathing room. The play calling didn’t come from Joe as someone out there had watched the films and gave us plays that worked to our strong points and their weakness. Let’s give Morelli a hand , as we sure kick the shit out of him when he plays poorly. Austin Scott being lost has played out well and shows that you need to play your talent, not your upper class-men. I’m still on the “I hate all things Paterno” bandwagon, as I wish he would just go quietly and with dignity…….let’s make this about PSU not Joe-Pa. For Christ sake Joe, you don’t own the University, and scolding ass-hole drivers is out of your job description. Is the Woody Hayes moment far away? So here we are , set up well for a bowl, and looking at the CBS rankings, all but OSU are ranked 10 or more places below us. Just what we needed to pull a for shit season out of the crapper.
The Nittany Turkey says
So, Jed. Let’s also give the offensive line a hand. Morelli wound up with only one sack and the running game worked. I’ve been on their ass all year, so it is appropriate that I give credit where due.
So, the AP poll is out. OSU is #1, USF #2, and BC #3. Michigan is at #24, just below Cincinnati 😀 and PSU is as yet unranked. I don’t hold out any great hopes for a decent bowl this year (meaning the Capital One or better). After all, even if we beat OSU, we’ll have two Big Ten losses. And that’s counting our chickens before they hatch, because we still have to beat Indiana, Purdue, and Moo U. (I’ll give you Temple.)
I’m really interested in seeing what kind of offensive game plan the brain-trust concocts for the Indiana game. Will it be the usual sphincter mode stuff or will it be more like what we saw this weekend?
—TNT