With most of us well into the acceptance phase of dealing with the reality that Penn State’s 2013 football team is mediocre, I thought I would revive Sudden Impact to take a look around the Internet for some decent articles on the Nittany Lions’ current status and future prospects. I have selected a couple of pretty rational assessments, with which you might or might not agree. You’ll also find some very good material in the comments to my previous post, where my six astute readers have posted some very keen observations and opinions.
The first point I want to hit upon is the idiotic undercurrent being bandied about by the less-than-cognoscenti, the St. Joe loyalists with blinders on: Bring Back Bradley. BBB is the stupidest, most misguided pie in the sky notion I’ve ever caught wind of in the sports world, even eclipsing the desire by desperate, misguided fans exhorting the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars to sign Tim Tebow at QB. They’re thinking with their hearts or other body parts, brains excepted. I enumerated reasons for my assessment that this is insanity in my comments to the previous post, but I’ll reproduce them here. Please curtail this lunacy!
- Why the hell would he ever want to return?
- Why the hell would O’Brien ever want him to return?
- People are, as usual, seeking a quick fix, a panacea — like going to Mexico in desperation for a non-FDA approved snake oil remedy for their terminal cancer. Scrap ain’t going to walk in, wave his staff, and make an awful defense anything better than the pile of offal it is.
- He wasn’t all that great a DC, IMHO. Never did produce a decent secondary. Was loaded with talent in the front seven, though, and we can’t say that about this team.
- Why bring back pieces of the contentious past? It won’t reincarnate St. Joe.
- The Sandusky/Bradley defensive schemes are antiquated in today’s game.
- Aside from all that, Scrap is a nice guy, the players love him, the alumni love him, and he deserves a warm spot in all of our hearts — but not on the sidelines.
The people who are seeking this nonsense are probably all conducting séances where they channel St. Joe and receive guidance from Him. “Hire Scrap. He’s a good kid. Good football player, too. Listen to me. You guys don’t know what you’re talking about, fer cryin’ out loud!” These are people who waste many hours fretting over how to get the Paterno statue restored to its former place of glory and his wins restored in the record book, people who would rather live in the past than to accept the penuriously personnelled present and the promise of the future, people who also think the Penn State Board of Trustees should be replaced by single-minded St. Joe loyalists who somehow know how to run a major university but whose major function will be the statue and the record.
My vitriol over the what Jethro Tull aptly titled Living in the Past notwithstanding (and not abating), I’ll move on.
******
I’ve selected two articles from the veritable plethora of post-mortems following the Indiana game. I’m avoiding the obvious jokers, Flounder and Jones, because I wanted some fresh thoughts that truly reflect the state of the 2013 Nittany Lions and the import of this past weekend.
“O’Brien will never say it, but this also leads into how he must make do with questionable skill at center, right tackle, fullback, defensive end, linebacker and cornerback.” —Frank Bodani, York Daily Record
The first is a relatively brief piece entitled “Reality has arrived for undermanned Nittany Lions” by long-time Penn State football beat reporter Frank Bodani of the York Daily Record. Bodani succinctly addresses leadership problems, lack of depth, and an overall shortage of decent talent.
If Bodani’s calm rationality doesn’t bring the Sanguinarians back down to Earth, perhaps they need to change their prescriptions for happy pills. On the other hand, our next author hits us between the eyes with a two-by-four.
******
Frequent contributor Joe Z. (who represents himself as just Joe in the comments, but I didn’t want you to think that I was holding séances where I sat around with a crystal ball channeling St. Joe) pointed me to a cogent piece in BSD by Cari Greene called “It’s Not the End of the World.” She offers not only a dose of reality, but also an admonishment to behave like Penn Staters, not assholes. Well, she doesn’t couch it in my profane style, so it is all the more effective. Apparently she sat next to some pro-PSU idiots in Bloomington who were hurling insults at our players and anyone else they could blame for their sorrows.
Green started out wanting to write about her experience at the game but changed her mind, writing a piece that puts the Indiana loss in perspective.
“This loss definitely sucks. But it’s nowhere near the end of the world; nor is it the worst loss in PSU history, of the 2013 season, or even, in my opinion, the worst loss in the still-fledgling Bill O’Brien era at Penn State (all arguments I’ve seen be made, whether hyperbolic or with true intentions).”
She doesn’t sugar coat anything, recognizing that there are lots of problems, but she attempts to reel in those of us at the extremes.
“I’ve heard calls for BOB to step down, for Butler to be fired for perceived ineptitude in defensive play. Two names I haven’t seen on the “FIUR HIM!” list, though, are Larry Johnson Sr and Ron Vanderlinden—and I’d argue that their units on defense have been the most underperforming and surprising (in a bad way) squads on the field—but apparently, they’ve gotten more of a benefit of the doubt. It’s highly unlikely that they’ve forgotten all of a sudden how to coach, after all—but apparently it’s easy for us to say that everyone else has.”
Wow! She said a mouthful and the LJ/Vanderlinden part of it is something I’ve harped on. These guys aren’t necessarily as good as many think they are. Yeah, LJ is loved by the players, and Vanderlinden coached some pretty damn good LBs, but let’s face it — they’re there to appease alumni, to provide a bridge to the past. They have to be a compromise for a DC, even a bad DC, who is stuck with them. It can’t be easy for Butler to be told that two key assistants are untouchables, even if their ideas are not compatible with his. Know what I mean?
Too many St. Joe loyalists do exactly what Greene states — think all the new coaches are idiots but these two vestiges of the good old days (or bad old days) are geniuses. I stated at the beginning of the season that it was time to retire LJ, Sr. Although I didn’t say anything about Vanderlinden, he has served his function and it is probably time for him to get the résumés out there.
Greene exhorts us to face the reality that Hackenberg is a freshman, so he still plays like one, but his future potential is bright.
“I choose to look forward. To see that Christian Hackenberg is learning, to expect the team (and coaching staff) to learn from their mistakes, move past these growing pains and get better, even minutely, week by week and, more importantly, year by year.”
Now, look, guys. Don’t just write this off because Cari Greene is a babe. She happens to be right about much of this stuff. I know that many Sanguinarians are also male Chauvinist pigs. C’mon, guys, make me proud. I want your comments, except those that discredit Greene’s thoughts because she never wore a jockstrap.
While some of this stuff she writes about is pretty obvious, given a couple of days to shake off the humiliation of a blowout loss, it’s still worth reading. I hope that you’re all getting back to normal out there.
******
Potpourri: Colin Kaepernick has the top-selling jersey on NFLShop.com. Peyton Manning’s is second.
Also, in the NFL world, the Oakland Raiders have released demoted quarterback Matt Flynn. This solidifies former Nittany Lions Matt McGloin’s position as backup to almost Penn Stater Terrelle Pryor, who had a helluva good night last night against San Diego. Flynn started and bombed out in Week 3, after which he was demoted to third-string and McGloin moved up. I’m thinking that Buffalo, who have lost their starting and backup quarterbacks to injuries, might be a viable destination for Flynn.
******
I’ll be back later in the week with my preview and prediction for the big Homecoming game with the Wolverines.
Share this:
Discover more from The Nittany Turkey
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
BigAl says
I don’t completely agree with Cari
(1)“This loss definitely sucks. But it’s nowhere near the end of the world; nor is it the worst loss in PSU history, of the 2013 season.
Well, maybe she can see the future and predict the severity of State’s future losses to tOSU, Nebraska, and Wisky, but Indiana IS the worst loss SO FAR “of the 2013 season.”
(2) “To see that Christian Hackenberg is learning, to expect the team (and coaching staff) to learn from their mistakes, move past these growing pains and get better, even minutely, week by week and, more importantly, year by year.”
That gets to the crux of the matter. IS Hack getting better “week by week?” IF he is, it does appear to be “minutely”. And “minute” improvement “year by year”, isn’t going to cut it. Not for the fans and not for the team.
And maybe not even for Hack and Hack Daddy. I’m not convinced they chose Penn State just because they bleed Blue and White. Part of their expectations probably were that BoB turn him into a first round NFL draft choice. If the pace of Hack’s improvement doesn’t suit them, will Hack stay?? Particularly since the OL is really going to suck next year and Hack’s going to running for his life a lot of the time.
Personally, I think the next 3 games will decide Penn State’s football future for the next 3 years. Will the games against Michigan and Ohio State be competitive? Will they play well against Illinois after losing to Michigan and Ohio State?
If they lose the next 3 games, you’re probably looking at a 4-8 record and a semi permanent spot on the Big Ten Network. Can BoB recruit enough talented linebackers and linemen if the season crashes and burns? I suppose he could try the same recruiting pitch that his New England predecessor uses – “these guys are so bad you’ll be able to play right away” -, but that approach hasn’t worked out too well for Cholly.
Joe says
Were you at the Illinois game? Sure sounds like it.
Seriously, does it really matter if their record is 4-8 this year? What the hell does 12-0 or 9-3 buy you this season? Does it change your lifestyle in any way, make you healthier have 20 something babes want to dance with you all night long? No even if they won a national championship it changes nothing in our personal lives other than maybe allowing us to thump our chests and tell everyone what a great football team we have over the winter.
Who the hell knows what BOB told the Hacks. Yeah, I’m sure they want to see the kid in the NFL-who wouldn’t if we had a son with that kind of raw talent. But BOB didn’t take me on the recruiting trips or invite me to his office when he was sealing the deal so I (and you) have no clue what if any promises were made. And if the kid thinks he’s going nowhere, he’s got every right to bail and go somewhere else. But from everything I’ve read about this kid, his roots and his family, he’ll stick it out and turn in to one hell of a QB before he graduates (in my humble opinion). Right or wrong whatever happens will happen.
Look, BOB and this team are still wading through an unimaginable shit swamp. He’s got 17 games under his belt with a group of guys that he has given his total support because they come to work everyday, hit the classroom and GRADUATE, knowing full well that the talent and depth are not there to get them to the level that the fan base demands. With the exception of Robinson the friggen cupboard is bare! If the Win/Loss record is that important even under the current circumstances, maybe we do have a culture issue.
Regarding LJ and Vandy. Both have said this is their last hurrah-retirement being their next frontier. I expect their wish to come true sooner rather than later. BOB will make the break, he just couldn’t do it in the current environment. And where are all the 5 star recruits that want to play for these two. Don’t see a lot of primo DL/LB talent rushing to PS to play under “two of the best position coaches in the country”.
Nope, I’m going to watch the acts to this play unfold, and when we have a full roster and the bullshit with IT is finally over, then I’ll either applaud or boo, but for now, I’m going to enjoy watching a football program that was a PoS for the last 10-12 years get rebuilt.
And if any of the “fans” think they can bring Hack along quicker than O’Brien or do some better play calling, maybe they should volunteer to go up to the football complex and give BOB and Charlie some pointers (I believe that is okay in the eyes of the NCAA). Cripes man, this kid has had a month of organized practice and has played 5 games in six weeks trying to pick up a pro-style offense right out of high school. Cut everyone some slack here will ya!
And yes it will get (much?) worse before it gets better.
BigAl says
Personally, It doesn’t matter to me if they go 4-8 this year and 3 and 9 next year. They were that bad in JoePa’s dark years and the program survived (although I suspect the Beav will have a LOT of empty seats.) And I’m not calling for any coaches to be fired. BOB deserves 4 more years, if he wants them, to turn the ship around.
BUT, I am effing tired of hearing the ” don’t worry, everything will be fine once Hackenberg learns the offense” message that BSD and other blogs parrot. Both BoB and Hackenberg have shown great promise, but there’s no guarantee that their potential will be realized.
And I am really concerned about the OL. This is final year for 3 (Gress, Howle, and Urschel) of the 5 starters. And only two returning back ups have seen significant playing time. (e.g. State played the starting 5 for the entire Indiana game) So, next year, State will have only 4 starters with significant experience. And one starter and all backups will have virtually no experience.
As an old high school lineman, I admit some bias, but, if your OL sucks, I don’t think it matters how good your quarterback is.
Joe says
Left Guard, how about you? We were famous for running the Green Bay power sweep in my time. Yeah and you’re right about the OL-QB relationship today, but we probably threw the ball 6 times during the entire season! All our coaches were interested in was could you trap block and knock somebody on their ass!
BigAl says
Weakside Tackle. Since the starting quarterback was left handed that usually meant lining up on the right. But we would switch sides if the back up came in.
Our coaches had gone to a Rip Engle seminar and used Penn State’s version of the Wing T. Sounds like yours did, too.
Joe says
Started with the Wing T and ended up moving to the Power I my senior year, which would have been ’68.
jd says
i do not agree with the assertion that vanderloin and lj still have jobs as an appeasement.
they have consistently recruited well and produced nfl level talent. it just appears to me that they are good coaches who deserve their position, although i do understand your point about them not being fireable.
anyhoo, the rest the writeup is spot-on.
i spent 3 of my 4 years at PSU with losing seasons. it can get worse than this.
The Nittany Turkey says
I fixed your newborn-inspired creative homonym.
I do feel that LJ and Vandy have done more than enough to prove their worth. BUT they’re legacies of the St. Joe Administration. If it weren’t for the special needs of 2012, I don’t believe they would have been O’Brien’s choices for the jobs. He’s stuck with them now because it would be bad PR with the loyal to a fault alumni base who view these things with monocular vision (i.e., no depth perception) to do otherwise. Firing them is out of the question for that reason coupled with the fact that they haven’t been derelict in their duties and they’re not engaging in any blatant misconduct.
I’m not saying that they should be fired. A lot of people are saying that all the defensive coaches should get the ax, which is ridiculous nonsense pulled straight out of their ass. First of all, it’s not all the coaches’ fault — PSU is stuck with some pretty marginal players, especially in view of the scholarship reduction. But I digress. I do believe that the defensive coaching needs to be looked at and the time for that is after the season. O’Brien and whoever his chosen DC might be have to take control and restructure it. It can never be there if LJ and Vandy are forced upon them. It’s arguable whether they are more or less suitable than other candidates, but the major point is that a cohesive coaching staff must be loyal to the head coach, and accordingly, must have been hired by the head coach because he really wants them on the team, not because he’s told he has to. (I have no proof that he was told to, but just sayin’.) Therefore, I think both guys should retire or go elsewhere, and give BoB a chance to make the whole thing his own.
We all lived through “The Dark Years” — a drama queen characterization if ever there was one. Hell, this team has been sucking big time since the late 1990s. We just have occasional flashes of brilliance to get us through the rough patches and make it seem like they’re perennial contenders. However, when is the last time they really were contenders? 2005? I think not. They looked like crap in a mistake-prone Orange Bowl against a half-assed ACC team that backed into a BCS bowl. Nahhh, these guys haven’t been a top-tier team since 1995.
That’s why I’m anxious to get rid of all vestiges of the old regime and give O’Brien free rein to rebuild the program, NCAA crapola notwithstanding. I hope it is reasonable to place that burden on his shoulders. If we do so, it should be without conditions like keeping a couple of guys whose coaching styles don’t necessarily comport with O’Brien’s ideas.
It seems to me that with lowered expectations for the team for the first few years of his tenure (assuming he’s a long-termer), he can afford to make some alumni relations oriented compromises. However, if he’s to succeed in the long run, he’s got to make the whole thing his own and sink or swim with his own team.
As you can tell, the St. Joe loyalists are really getting on my nerves. We need to put the past in the past and do what is best for the future.
—TNT
jd says
excellent points, all.
My last thoughts:
-last year’s d was pretty solid. There was to be an expected drop off this year.
-BOB has already changed the uniform, the “holiest of holys” for our beloved program. If he were to hold onto LJ and Vanderlinden, I think it’s more of his doing than appeasement of the St. Joe crowd. But I could be wrong.
The Nittany Turkey says
Yes, O’Brien is pretty much manhandling the reins. He stepped into a situation that required balls of brass and proved that he was up to the task. Only he knows the real story behind retaining Vandy and LJ, and he ain’t talking.
I’m thinking that the team will get worse before it gets better, which will piss a lot of people off. The honeymoon is definitely over at this point. As long as he’s stuck with a recruiting nightmare for a couple of years and the anemic teams that result, he might as well damn the torpedoes completely and do it his way. I think he holds all the cards at this point.
Still, he works for Joyner, who isn’t exactly a popular figure among the alumni base, particularly the St. Joe loyalist PS2RS types. (I divided PS4RS by two unwittingly via typo, but I decided that I liked it. It conveys such meaning, such je ne sais quoi… But I digress.) That’s bad enough, but we’re facing the unknown — who knows what happens when the new president is chosen.
We saw what happened to the country when we chose the wrong president. Jimmy Carter must be smiling somewhere knowing that he’ll no longer be regarded as the worst president of the postwar era.
Oops. Another digression.
—TNT