The Nittany Turkey

Primarily about Penn State football, this is a tale told by idiots, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

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I Was Wrong!

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My Official Turkey Poop Prediction for yesterday was so far off the mark that I felt I must own up to my epic fail. This is probably my worst prediction of all time.

As you know Penn State (1-2, 0-0) beat Navy (0-2) 34-7. Navy actually outgained the Lions by 50 yards and thoroughly dominated time of possession, but their four turnovers stick out like a sore thumb on the stat sheets. Navy shot themselves in the foot. The Nits didn’t fix their third down problems; they converted three out of eight. But Navy was far worse, at four for fifteen. Total Yards for the Midshipmen were 391 (17.8 chains) , for the Lions, 351 (1.6 furlongs).

Matt McGloin threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions. Allen Robinson became the first PSU player in three years to notch three touchdown passes in a single game.

Four turnovers by Navy. Gerald Hodges’ first quarter interception of a Trey Miller pass at the Penn State 10 saved a score and turned into six points for the Nittany Lions. I bet they’re kicking themselves all the way back to Annapolis. Penn State was able to convert only one of three recovered fumbles into points, that being on a Mike Hull run back 74 yards for a touchdown. Navy’s possessions came in fits and starts, and they couldn’t mount a decent drive until the fourth quarter when they scored their only points. They punted only once, because they were too busy handing the ball to Penn State to kill drives.

Sam Ficken, you ask? Whither of ol’ Samme? Well, no field goals attempted, so we don’t know if he improved there, but he sailed a no-excuses extra point attempt wide left to give us an indication that he’s still a work in progress, to be kind about it. And did you see the nose on that kid?

The running back situation was temporarily resolved by running Mike Zordich out of the tailback position instead of fullback, supplemented by Curtis Dukes. Together they ground out 97 terrestrial yards or 17.6 rods.

McGloin was 13-21, spreading the ball — sort of — among eight receivers. I say “sort of” because looking past the five catches by Allen Robinson and two by Zordich, the other six had one each. Converted quarterback Paul Jones was one of them, gaining seven yards on his catch.

There is still much reason to worry about the defensive secondary when Navy, a triple-option team, can beat them deep for receptions of 38, 28, and 21 yards.

All in all, this Turkey thinks the Lions are improving somewhat. They were turnover free, thank God. They’re beat up at running back and they have a ragtag receiving corps. It seemed clear to me that the defense was uncomfortable with the triple-option. Navy is a pretty mediocre team, so in meeting mediocrity with mediocrity, the better mediocrity won. Don’t be expecting any 34-7 routs of Ohio State or anything. If you’re about to put on the rose colored glasses (with blue and white trim), please wait until these guys have beaten someone good, which is still not likely to happen. But keep smiling at least until Saturday. Savor the win. Bill O’Brien sure did.

O’Brien got his first Gatorade shower, but he was smiling. It was also his first win with the New Nittany Lions. One down, 408 to go.

Announced attendance was 98,792.

Around the B1G, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Purdue, the #17 Mishiganers, and Iowa beat patsies. #12 Ohio State avoided an upset by Cal, 35-28; Northwestern scored late to cinch a win over Boston College, 22-13; #10 Moo U. was clobbered by the #20 Fighting Irish, 20-3; Wisconsin narrowly escaped a loss to Utah State, 16-14, as the Aggies missed a late field goal try; and Indiana dropped a close, high-scoring contest to Ball State, 41-39.

Expect a shake-up in the Top 25 in da morning, as the #21 Cardinal of Stanford shocked the #2 USC Trojans (ribbed and lubricated for her pleasure), 21-14. They shut down our boy Silas Redd, who had 13 carries for 17 yards (albeit with two touchdowns). But Alabama is a solid #1, having beaten the Razorbacks 52-0, and LSU should move into the #2 slot vacated by the Trojans after whipping Idaho by the slightly lopsided score of 63-14. Oregon will be sucked up to #3 with a 63-14 win over Tennessee Tech; #5 FSU beat Wake 52-0, so there’s your #4; and #5 Oklahoma was idle.

I’ll be back with a prediction for the tilt over across the state with Temple, now that I’m thoroughly confused.

 

 

Anchors Aweigh!

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I won’t have much time to write this week because of the impending 2012 Greater Orlando Heart Walk. I don’t think you’ll mind if I take a little time off of spewing drivel in favor of supporting a worthwhile charity. I’m a team captain with a great team that raised lots of money. The finale is tomorrow.

So, here we are this week, with Penn State sporting an 0-2 record going into the well rested Midshipmen of Navy, who lost big to Notre Dame in Ireland for their opener.

When you think of famous alumni of the USNA, you have to think of lots of astronauts and one former president, Jimmy Carter. I don’t want to think about Jimmy too much, so let us move on.

Navy runs the triple option, which has typically given the Nittany Lions’ defense fits. You have to believe that Bill O’Brien will feel nostalgic Georgia Tech pangs, and that he will call upon distant memories to implement an option stopping plan. Having guys like Mauti helps, of course. Swarm, Front Seven, Swarm! Contain! All those fancy words. Get ’em.

If the Lions are successful in keeping the option at bay, forcing the Midshipmen to pass, we’ve got our undermanned secondary to be concerned about.

But you know all of that, don’t you? ??? ???? ?????

On offense, the Lions are all banged up, and the prognosis is uncertain. Belton and Day both practiced, but as I write this it is not known whether either, both, or neither will play. With or without them, I believe that it will be a stretch to expect any significant offense, either aerial or terrestrial. ???? ????? ???? Curtis Dukes will no doubt get many of the carries, and if Akeel Lynch has to play, there goes his redshirt. On the other hand, Navy sucked defending the Irish run (which is what you get when you mix too much Irish stew with Irish brew), allowing almost 300 yards.

Ethereally, the latest departure, Shawney Kersey, a starting wide receiver, makes a huge dent in the passing game. McGloin’s elbow might be an issue, too. With Paul Jones washing out, freshman Steven Bench might see significant duty if all McGloin can throw are wounded ducks. Navy’s secondary sucked against the Irish, but we don’t even know who’ll be throwing what to whom. Allen Robinson and Kyle Carter seem to be the “givens” in the aerial assault force, but beyond them, who? Will whoever plays quarterback have any rhythm with guys who haven’t been playing all that much? ???? ??? I mean, what’s the deal here?

Since Penn State’s  kicking game sucks, it will be hard to give us the edge in that area. In fact, the PSU return game sucks, too, so Navy has to have the advantage in special teams, even if O’Brien runs another fake punt. I like the fact that O’Brien is giving Ficken a confidence-builder of a game here. The students living in the tent colony formerly known as Paternoville will be flying a banner in support of Ficken. That’s the way it should be. This is not Scott “Wide Right” Norwood screwing up Super Bowls. This is a kid who deserves to play. Unlike Fera, he didn’t give up the ship. Nevertheless, until Ficken proves that he can make field goals and extra points, I can’t attribute very many points to him when making my fearless predictions.

It is expected that the Nittany Lions would be a little down — at least — after dropping two games, particularly the eminently winnable Virginia game. So, the coaching staff has to understand that it is dealing with fragile young egos and motivate the players appropriately. It might be tough to get them up for this game. At least it’s not a noon start. The football culture hating ESPN thought it would be good to give this game a 3:30 slot, for some reason, perhaps because it is Military Appreciation Day.

We are honored to have the same damn announcing team that we had last week for Virginia: Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, and Jeanine “Sweet Baby” Edwards. It’s a reverse mirror ESPN2/ABC thingie, which means somewhere it is on ESPN2 and otherwhere it is on ABC. Check the coverage map to see on which channel to find it in your area.

So, what’s with the weather? Absolutely poifect! The forecast calls for sunny with a high of 70ºF (21ºC). Not a thing to complain about. Just a wonderful early fall day. It’s still technically summer, but who cares?

OK, so you’ve waded through my drivel; now you get to the good part, where you scorn my selection and my score prediction. Yes, friends, this is the World Famous Official Turkey Poop Prediction for the Week! Ah, the Turkey sucks at predictions this year, being 1-1. I’d say I know how O’Brien feels, but at least I have one win. This week, the Nittany Lions are favored by seven points on their home turf, and the over/under is 47.5, suggesting that the gamblers think this will end up 27-20, in favor of Penn State. I just don’t see how the Lions are going to put that many points on the scoreboard. In an “I don’t think we know how bad it really is” upset special, Navy 20, Penn State 9 — and take the “under”.

I’ll be back in a day or two with a recap of what I hope doesn’t go the way of my prediction. Enjoy it, one way or the other.