Parting Thoughts on the Cotton Bowl and the PSU Season
As you all know, Penn State went out like a Lion, beating their game, AAC champion opponent, Memphis, in an action packed Cotton Bowl Classic, 53-39. I’ll actually use tenses to recap the game.
What it came down to is for PSU to all but abandon the “explosive play” passing game in favor of the run against a deficient Memphis run defense. Once Journey Brown and Noah Cain got going, the party started, and even Ricky Slade and Devyn Ford joined in the fun. Brown had 202 yards on 16 carries, while Cain racked up 92 on 15, and both had two TDs. The Nittany Lions wound up with 396 yards on the ground, but only 133 through the air.
Meanwhile, the vaunted Penn State rushing defense shut down the toothless Tiger ground game, leaving them one avenue of attack. While the pass rush bothered Memphis, they still managed 479 yards passing against only 63 net yards running.
While the PSU defensive secondary was giving up yards playing the Ol’ Tickle Monster soft zone, the front seven were doing their job. Big shout-out to one-man wrecking crew All-America linebacker Micah Parsons, who recorded 14 total tackles, including seven solo, two sacks, three TFLs, and a QB hurry. Parsons was also instrumental in forcing turnovers, one of them a pick-six by Garrett Taylor.
What Gives with Hamler and Toney?
K.J. Hamler was to announce his decision regarding continuing his education at Penn State versus applying for admission to the NFL’s University of the Almighty Dollar “after the game”. So, after the game, he told the media that he didn’t say how long after the game. When they asked whether he had made up his mind, he said, “No. Y’all are gonna see it when y’all see it.” He can hone those elocution skills at NFL University, but he sure as hell has more than an inkling about where he’ll be same time next year.
Defensive end Shaka Toney was similarly elusive. “I don’t know yet, I don’t know yet,” he said. Bullshit! He knows and so does Hamler. They teasin’ we ass.
Speaking of Asses
We couldn’t help but notice the place kicker in the Iowa State vs. Notre Dame game at Camping World Stadium. Going through life with the surname Assalley must have made young Connor a tough man, indeed!
But I Digress…
My favorite catchphrase: “But I Digress…” But that’s what I do. Writing this stream of consciousness is my therapy, my recreation, my avenue of expression, my place to vent, and just a nice place to get together and argue with good friends without the benefit of alcohol. I write whatever I feel like writing, and I encourage comments of the same ilk. Yea, verily, it is you six wonderful readers who keep me going.
Back on track, what of the Penn State season? I think it is safe to say that at the beginning, most of us did not expect a two-loss performance and a pseudo New Year’s Six bowl. We all expected the tOSU loss, but no one said anything about Minnesota getting in our way. (The Golden Rodents have a way of doing that at the most inopportune times, creating turning points for PSU. They’re even responsible for launching (cue cello) THE DARK YEARS.). Some expected a Moo U. loss, and some expected that Iowa would be troublesome. Halfway through the season, we were all speculating on whether Penn State would score 100 points or more against Rutgers in the season finale, our Jim Delany pseudo-rivalry game. As it played out, the Nittany Lions saved their worst for last.
What we wound up seeing is a team that has some very strong talent in some areas and is weak in others. We saw a team that seemed to have trouble getting motivated to play at times. We saw some questionable coaching. This was a teaser of a year, where greatness was a carrot dangling just out of reach, without a catalyst to move the team to heights that exceeded their capabilities on paper. It was pretty much a typical year for expectations and let-downs.
We all hoped against hope that when Penn State was momentarily #4 on the CFP list, it would not be a fleeting thing. However, our gut instincts knew better. In no way did this year’s Penn State team merit that lofty rank.
Where We Goin’?
What does it take to get to that hackneyed sportswriter phrase of all hackneyed sportswriter phrases, “the next level”? Perhaps new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca holds a key. Maybe not. James Franklin seems to have cemented his role for several years to come and is bound to want to be a heavy influence. At my age, it is impractical to look past the Franklin Era for What Comes Next, so we have to hope that Franklin and the program will grow together.
If Brent Pry cannot construct a pass defense that doesn’t get beat by slants and crossing patterns, maybe Franklin should find someone who can. However, part of Franklin’s deal was more money for assistant coaches, so he probably won’t. Franklin is nothing if not loyal to his boys.
Anyhow, Penn State fans being what they are — never happy with anything short of a national championship — for some, the words of John Greenleaf Whittier ring true, “Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, ‘It might have been.'”
But I am happy with the Nittany Lions’ performance this year. They have an off-season to develop new talent and fix things. College football and its annual renewal always give us something to look forward to. (I’m waiting for the NCAA to propose 10-year contracts for players. LOL.)
Thanks and Happy New Year
I want to thank all six of you readers for taking the time to read my bullshit during the year. I rarely know what I’m talking about, so the only reason you would want to read my drivel is to see how crazy I really am. However, I hope I have provided some amusement and given you food for thought from time to time.
I don’t know when I’ll be be writing again, but if I get any bright ideas, I’m always inclined to want to blow off about them. In the meanwhile, I want to wish each of you a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2020!
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Jenny Nelms says
Food for thought is my second favorite type of food! Yes, 11-2 is better than “Not too bad”. I would call it “Pretty Good”, with a Finnish accent a la Lauri Vuohensilta of the Hydraulic Press Channel.
The Nittany Turkey says
Showoff! I never knew the name of the Finnish genius behind the Hydraulic Press Channel and Beyond the Press. His wife’s name is Ani, though.
—TNT
Upstart says
Thanks Turkey for another entertaining season, already looking forward to next year. Happy New Year!
The Nittany Turkey says
Same to you! Maybe Kirk Ciarrocca will bring a pro-style offense to the Nittany Lions as a New Year’s present. It’s always a great time of anticipation in the drought between the bowl game and the first cupcake! Beat the Golden Flashes!
—TNT
Big Al says
Well, I hope you’re not thinking about quitting this blog. Us old farts need a safe space to bitch about Franklin and take a break from the Sanguinarian hype machine (i.e. the future is bright – we’re going 15-0 or GTFO) on all the other Penn State blogs.
Your comment that “what we wound up seeing is a team that has some very strong talent in some areas and is weak in others” gets right to the heart of the matter. Wide receiver is the weakest talent area – which is a real problem when your head coach is obsessed with “explosive plays” and obstinately committed to running a spread offense. To put it bluntly, the offensive talent Penn State has on hand doesn’t match it’s offensive scheme. The OL is much better at run blocking than pass blocking and we have the best running back talent in the B1G. Our offensive scheme should be a lot more like Wisconsin’s and lot less like Oklahoma’s. And the lack of wide receiver talent adversely effects State’s pass defense as well. It’s hard to become a good defensive secondary when the guys you practice against during the week don’t execute nearly as well as the guys you play on Saturday.
Maybe the new offensive coordinator can adjust the offense to better match Penn State’s strengths. But that depends on how much Franklin is willing to deviate from his West Coast passing tree,spread offense scheme. To “get to the next level”, State will have to either (1) recruit and/or DEVELOP better wide receivers, or (2) change to a more run heavy offensive scheme. Failure to do either will result in 9 to 11 win seasons for rest of Franklin’s tenure at Happy Valley.
Best wishes for 2020.
The Nittany Turkey says
I’m certainly not thinking of closing up shop, Al. I’ve been writing about Penn State football since about 1990, first as a weekly email blast to a group of like-minded Lions fans, and then this blog (since 2004). I’ll probably be writing it until the day I die. It is excellent therapy for whatever needs therapized.
The wide receiver deficit is glaring. Gone are the days of Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin. Some of my homey friends were asking what happened to the passing game in the Cotton Bowl. Well, it didn’t exist before the Cotton Bowl, and Bowen (if indeed it was his decision) decided that he could make his mark with a sure thing. Four decent running backs and a halfway decent run blocking offensive line made it a safe bet that PSU could march downfield at will against the 80th-ranked FBS run defense. It was like taking candy from a baby. Kudos to Bowen for knowing what side his bread was buttered on and weathering the storm of probable bitching that abandoning the pass doubtless entailed.
Looking at the passes that were thrown and either dropped or off-target, abandoning the aerial game was a no-brainer.
As you wrote, it will require a drastic paradigm shift to make a playoff team out of PSU. Meanwhile, what we have this year is LSU and three pretenders, none of which had the defensive ability to hold that Bengal Tiger. In a battle of tigers, which cat wins? My money is on LSU all the way. Maybe it’s because I think Ed Orgeron could beat Dabo Swinney hands down in a pissing contest, but gut feel is all it is. LSU opened as a six-point favorite but has dropped down to five now.
Thanks for your kind comments about the old farts’ sanctuary from the Sanguinarian hype machine. That’s the best label that has ever been hung on this blog! Happy New Year to you and yours!
—TNT
K. John says
Thanks for another good year TNT. I have spent the majority of my holiday vacation watching football. Mostly bowl games but I did speed watch whatever Golden Gopher, Directional Michigan film I could find. Like most middling schools, both offenses school use a take what is given approach to offense. The passing game is mostly pro-style which best fits Clifford’s skills, maybe or maybe not Levis and definitely not the other three to include the one that just signed. I would expect some portal announcements at some point soon and for the team to try to pull in another QB before signing day. Overall, I like the new hire and think we will see significant improvement next year. Hopefully the defense remains static. I don’t see potential for improvement there so I am hoping for the best. We’ll know more following the spring game. See you in a few months.
The Nittany Turkey says
K. John, thanks for your comments through the years and Happy New Year to you.
I would love to see Ciarrocca shake up the offense. I haven’t been a fan of our offense for quite a while. In recent years, we’ve needed a single standout to make us look good (c.f. Barkley, Hamler), but that ain’t enough. The defense could use a shot of anti-Sandusky, if you ask my impertinent ass. Having linebackers who can cover receivers wouldn’t hurt, either.
Nonetheless, I am not unhappy with the performance this year. They started out #17 in the pre-season, for whatever that is worth, and they wound up (just a guess) #9 or #10. They exceeded asshole sportswriters’ expectations even if the Sanguinarians are crying.
*** FLAME ON ***
Some of the whining is seriously annoying my curmudgeonly ass. One of my blogging peers is recommending that PSU fans boycott the Rose Bowl because “they” snubbed us. WTF is that all about? My thought is that the runner-up in the B10 championship was a good choice. What should they have picked PSU? Because WE ARE? Bullshit. After that Rutgers game performance and the dullard look half the time, sometimes WE AREN’T! Boycott the Rose Bowl? Hell, I’ll be watching and pulling for Wisconsin. My colleague should vent by sending a strongly worded letter to the CFP Selection Committee and call it quits at that.
I understand that there will always be sour grapes, particularly when things don’t go the Sanguinarians’ way. As Al and I bantered, PSU has superior talent in some places, inferior talent in others, and a lot of questions about coaching efficacy. In other words, they are a good team with some warts. (Shall we get into the “good vs. elite” pissing contest again? Oy vey!) To even suggest that we are better than everyone else is a nonsensical, head-up-the-ass assessment. I understand school spirit and all but this bullshit of ass-uming PSU is always superior and consequently making excuses when PSU loses while blaming shit on officiating and not acknowledging the breaks of the game sucks donkey dicks. They regularly overlook the lucky breaks in PSU’s favor. You can’t have it both ways, dorquiños! No, we are not the anointed ones. And they don’t know how to use adverbs properly. But I digress…
Sorry for the editorial rant. I just felt like blowing off and it didn’t merit a whole blog post.
Happy New Year to all (including you, Todd)!
—TNT
psudrozz says
Memphis was #5 in interceptions this year. They were also the #79 ranked run d.
Of course we came out passing. Doesn’t matter that late in the first quarter we had one rush attempt, resulting in 32 yards and a tuddy.
And calling that time out with 51 seconds left gave Memphis a chance to put points on the board before halftime.
They came out passing in the second half, resulting in a pick.
The offense finally put the ball in the rbs’ hands, and victory was secure. Those of us who took PSU and the points could finally relax.
I guess my point here is this game should have been over in the second quarter. But our offensive coaches had plans to attack the Memphis D with a shaky Clifford and green WRs, rather than hammer the Memphis d with our greatest strength where they are weak. It’s “Pete Carroll in the red zone” level frustrating.
Anyhoo, I’ll take 11 wins. As much as I gripe about franklin, he’s still my guy and I’d rather have him than a harbaugh or chip kelly. He recruits well and the kids play for him. I like the new OC hire and pray he adapts the offense to what he has: talented RBs, outstanding TE, meh wrs, mediocre qb with delusions of grandeur. I dare to hope one day to see our qb line up under center.
Have a happy new year, everyone! GO STATE
The Nittany Turkey says
Makes great sense that we came out passing! LOL. Makes even more sense that Franklin hasn’t yet learn clock management.
Seems like Occam’s Razor was busy shaving someone else.
Limegrover’s departure gives me some hope that we could be seeing an O-Line without their thumbs up their ass. Maybe. Maybe not.
Happy New Year to you, Drozz!
—TNT