I'd like to go ahead and take a look at what's really good with Penn State football after two games.
What I learned:
1) One and 0 and Derek Moye's a weapon. By halftime of the Akron game I knew, I knew that redshirt sophomore Derek Moye was a weapon at wide receiver for Penn State. Moye's tall (6'5") and has elite speed. He's quickly becoming quite the wideout as well.
2) Two and 0 and we need to find a way to run the ball. Penn State's inability to run the football has to get corrected if this team wants to find itself in another BCS bowl game come January. The problem here is the offensive line. Let's take a look at it.
LT Dennis Landolt
LG Matt Stankiewitch
C Stefen Wisniewski
RG Lou Eliades
RT DeOn'tae Pannell
More specifically, the issue is with the interior of the line. The coaching staff isn't sold on the starting guards. Johnnie Troutman and Quinn Barham are battling it out with the starters to see if they can shake up the depth chart.
It's not going to happen but I'd move Wisniewski over to guard and start junior Doug Klopacz at center. Klopacz is a pretty good center and that would allow us to pick the best one of four potential starting guards instead of the top two out of the four.
In all fairness, last season we had outstanding blocking wide receivers. I'm not saying our current receivers don't block, but if they could step it up a notch I believe that would also improve our rushing production.
3) I find it interesting and very clear cut how the Big Ten is unfolding. It is obvious to my now that our three toughest games are going to lie in the late-middle of the schedule, and in a row. I'm talking about week 8 (October 24) at Michigan, week 9 at Northwestern, and week 10 at home against Ohio State. Those are the three games we have any shot of losing on our schedule and all three will test our squad.
I look forward to the remainder of the season and without a doubt this Saturday against Temple. I want to see how we run the ball. Battling a groin injury, I want to see if Navorro Bowman plays. Remember, Bowman was our best player last season. I want to see if junior walk on kicker Colin Waggner loses his job to true freshman Anthony Fera.
Recruiting Update:
Penn State added #16 to their 2010 class this week as Maryland fullback Zach Zwinak announced for the Lions. Zwinak is rated as the nation's top fullback by both scout and rivals.com. Zwinak chose Penn State over Virginia Tech. Zwinak is described as a battling ram with the ball and an elite lead blocker as well. Zwinak will be another weapon for our offense and should be the best fullback we've had here since Aaron Harris. This is a huge get for an already impressive class. What an outstanding recruiting class this is shaping out to be.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Top 25
Here is my Top 25 after two weeks of this young college football season.
1. Florida
2. Alabama
3. USC
4. Texas
5. Penn State
6. Cal
7. Ole Miss
8. Boise State
9. LSU
10. BYU
11. Oklahoma
12. Virginia Tech
13. Ohio State
14. Georgia
15. Cincinnati
16. Miami
17. Houston
18. Oklahoma State
19. Kansas
20. Georgia Tech
21. Tulsa
22. Auburn
23. Nebraska
24. UCLA
25. Michigan
As far as big time matchups and dramatic story lines, this week sets up to be a lackluster one. What makes it worse is that some of the better matchups lose their shine as well with Michigan State losing last week to Central Michigan and Tennessee losing last week to UCLA. Add to that Florida State almost getting upset by Jacksonville State and this week's top games aren't exactly shaping up to be epic. On the other hand, nobody thought Ohio State would give USC a game so we won't know until we watch.
The top games:
20 Georgia Tech at 16 Miami (Thursday night)
I believe Miami will win this game, bring back Da U swagger, and show up in the Top 10 sooner than later. Georgia Tech is a good football team but look for Miami to look like a really good football team starting tonight.
21 Tulsa at 11 Oklahoma
Here is my big upset pick. I'll take Tulsa led by quarterback G.J. Kinne over Oklahoma and their new starter Landry Jones. This would be a huge upset even without Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford taking the snaps for OU and I think we might just see it happen.
23 Nebraska at 12 Virginia Tech
I'll take Virginia Tech in this one. I like Tech's rushing attack, led by redshirt freshman Ryan Williams who runs hard. I'm interested to see just how good Nebraska is.
Michigan State at Notre Dame
If you talked to me this time last week I would have laughed and said Michigan State. Now I'm not so sure. MSU losing to Central Michigan last week really throws a wrench in this one for me. I'm going to act like it didn't happen and pick Michigan State anyways.
14 Georgia at Arkansas
If you know me you know I'm picking Georgia. I'll pass. I'm not convinced that Joe Cox is the answer at quarterback for the Bulldogs. I'm going to roll the dice and take Arkansas in this one.
Texas Tech at 4 Texas
I think Texas is overrated, as I have them ranked 4th. I'd love to pick Texas Tech in this game but I'm not dumb. Texas wins but it will likely but ugly. It will be interesting to see if they slip in the polls a bit after this week.
Florida State at 10 BYU
I don't think Florida State is a very good team and it will take a very good team to walk into Edwards Stadium and walk out with a win over the BYU Cougars. BYU and it won't be close.
West Virginia at 22 Auburn
I like the numbers that Auburn's power running game is putting up out of the spread. I like SEC teams at home. I'm not feeling Big East teams not named Cincinnati in 2009. Auburn by 10.
Tennessee at 1 Florida
I like to see someone who runs their mouth back it up. I want to see Lane Kiffin roll into the SEC and roll into The Swamp and roll through Urban Meyer and the Gators. Tennessee lost at home last week to UCLA, there's no way it's even close this week at Florida. Meyer will run up the score and the coaches will be seen scowling at each other from the sidelines.
15 Cincinnati at Oregon State
It took one game and Cincinnati's already, at least to me, cemented themselves as the best team in the Big East for the third year in a row. The job that head coach Brian Kelly has done has been amazing. I sometimes get in trouble for saying this but it's my lock of the week.
1. Florida
2. Alabama
3. USC
4. Texas
5. Penn State
6. Cal
7. Ole Miss
8. Boise State
9. LSU
10. BYU
11. Oklahoma
12. Virginia Tech
13. Ohio State
14. Georgia
15. Cincinnati
16. Miami
17. Houston
18. Oklahoma State
19. Kansas
20. Georgia Tech
21. Tulsa
22. Auburn
23. Nebraska
24. UCLA
25. Michigan
As far as big time matchups and dramatic story lines, this week sets up to be a lackluster one. What makes it worse is that some of the better matchups lose their shine as well with Michigan State losing last week to Central Michigan and Tennessee losing last week to UCLA. Add to that Florida State almost getting upset by Jacksonville State and this week's top games aren't exactly shaping up to be epic. On the other hand, nobody thought Ohio State would give USC a game so we won't know until we watch.
The top games:
20 Georgia Tech at 16 Miami (Thursday night)
I believe Miami will win this game, bring back Da U swagger, and show up in the Top 10 sooner than later. Georgia Tech is a good football team but look for Miami to look like a really good football team starting tonight.
21 Tulsa at 11 Oklahoma
Here is my big upset pick. I'll take Tulsa led by quarterback G.J. Kinne over Oklahoma and their new starter Landry Jones. This would be a huge upset even without Heisman trophy winner Sam Bradford taking the snaps for OU and I think we might just see it happen.
23 Nebraska at 12 Virginia Tech
I'll take Virginia Tech in this one. I like Tech's rushing attack, led by redshirt freshman Ryan Williams who runs hard. I'm interested to see just how good Nebraska is.
Michigan State at Notre Dame
If you talked to me this time last week I would have laughed and said Michigan State. Now I'm not so sure. MSU losing to Central Michigan last week really throws a wrench in this one for me. I'm going to act like it didn't happen and pick Michigan State anyways.
14 Georgia at Arkansas
If you know me you know I'm picking Georgia. I'll pass. I'm not convinced that Joe Cox is the answer at quarterback for the Bulldogs. I'm going to roll the dice and take Arkansas in this one.
Texas Tech at 4 Texas
I think Texas is overrated, as I have them ranked 4th. I'd love to pick Texas Tech in this game but I'm not dumb. Texas wins but it will likely but ugly. It will be interesting to see if they slip in the polls a bit after this week.
Florida State at 10 BYU
I don't think Florida State is a very good team and it will take a very good team to walk into Edwards Stadium and walk out with a win over the BYU Cougars. BYU and it won't be close.
West Virginia at 22 Auburn
I like the numbers that Auburn's power running game is putting up out of the spread. I like SEC teams at home. I'm not feeling Big East teams not named Cincinnati in 2009. Auburn by 10.
Tennessee at 1 Florida
I like to see someone who runs their mouth back it up. I want to see Lane Kiffin roll into the SEC and roll into The Swamp and roll through Urban Meyer and the Gators. Tennessee lost at home last week to UCLA, there's no way it's even close this week at Florida. Meyer will run up the score and the coaches will be seen scowling at each other from the sidelines.
15 Cincinnati at Oregon State
It took one game and Cincinnati's already, at least to me, cemented themselves as the best team in the Big East for the third year in a row. The job that head coach Brian Kelly has done has been amazing. I sometimes get in trouble for saying this but it's my lock of the week.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Mailbag!
SickOLBs,
What do you think the Big Ten will look like at the end of this year? PSU on top? And how do you see us fairing this season? Another possible close to undefeated season?
Justin from Los Angeles
Justin,
Here is my tiered breakdown of how I think the conference will perform this season:
Tier 1:
Ohio State
Penn State
Tier 2a:
Illinois
Michigan State
Northwestern
Tier 2b:
Iowa
Minnesota
Tier 3a:
Michigan
Wisconsin
Tier 3b:
Indiana
Purdue
I think we have a shot of going undefeated. I think our toughest games are @Illinois, @Northwestern, and the home showdown with Ohio State. We could lose any one of those three games. Plus, @Michigan isn't a given. Also, if we go into our season finale @Michigan State with more than a couple losses under our belt we'll lose that game. If we head into the Michigan State game with something big to play for we'll leave with a win. The national media wants to point to our game against Iowa as a big time match up but I feel as though there is no chance we lose that game.
I have the winner of the Penn State - Ohio State game as the Big Ten champs. If Ohio State beats USC in week two then the Big Ten champ, if undefeated, will go to the national championship game. If not then not.
SickOLBs,
Who do you got on opening night?
Mike from Dallas
Mike,
I assume you're referring to the two games on ESPN Thursday night. In the opener I'll take North Carolina State over South Carolina. This is a match up of two teams headed in different directions. NC State is on the upswing and I think the Wolfpack will bite USC on their way up. Personally, I think USC is in trouble in the opener, this season, and as a program moving forward.
The nightcap which sees Oregon go to Boise is the ultimate toss up. I'm a decisive guy and so I'm going to make the call...Oregon. I like Oregon running back LaGarrette Blount. In fact, despite the return of Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy, I think Blount has a puncher's chance of winning this year's Heisman.
SickOLBs,
Are you like me and have Virginia Tech coming away with a big win over Alabama week one in Atlanta?
Jamaal from Virginia
Jamaal,
Absolutely not. Not only do I think VaTech will lose, I think they're going to get rolled by Alabama. I think Virginia Tech is painfully overrated and I'm glad I won't have to wait long to see them get exposed. This is not the game of the week, Georgia at Oklahoma State is.
What do you think the Big Ten will look like at the end of this year? PSU on top? And how do you see us fairing this season? Another possible close to undefeated season?
Justin from Los Angeles
Justin,
Here is my tiered breakdown of how I think the conference will perform this season:
Tier 1:
Ohio State
Penn State
Tier 2a:
Illinois
Michigan State
Northwestern
Tier 2b:
Iowa
Minnesota
Tier 3a:
Michigan
Wisconsin
Tier 3b:
Indiana
Purdue
I think we have a shot of going undefeated. I think our toughest games are @Illinois, @Northwestern, and the home showdown with Ohio State. We could lose any one of those three games. Plus, @Michigan isn't a given. Also, if we go into our season finale @Michigan State with more than a couple losses under our belt we'll lose that game. If we head into the Michigan State game with something big to play for we'll leave with a win. The national media wants to point to our game against Iowa as a big time match up but I feel as though there is no chance we lose that game.
I have the winner of the Penn State - Ohio State game as the Big Ten champs. If Ohio State beats USC in week two then the Big Ten champ, if undefeated, will go to the national championship game. If not then not.
SickOLBs,
Who do you got on opening night?
Mike from Dallas
Mike,
I assume you're referring to the two games on ESPN Thursday night. In the opener I'll take North Carolina State over South Carolina. This is a match up of two teams headed in different directions. NC State is on the upswing and I think the Wolfpack will bite USC on their way up. Personally, I think USC is in trouble in the opener, this season, and as a program moving forward.
The nightcap which sees Oregon go to Boise is the ultimate toss up. I'm a decisive guy and so I'm going to make the call...Oregon. I like Oregon running back LaGarrette Blount. In fact, despite the return of Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy, I think Blount has a puncher's chance of winning this year's Heisman.
SickOLBs,
Are you like me and have Virginia Tech coming away with a big win over Alabama week one in Atlanta?
Jamaal from Virginia
Jamaal,
Absolutely not. Not only do I think VaTech will lose, I think they're going to get rolled by Alabama. I think Virginia Tech is painfully overrated and I'm glad I won't have to wait long to see them get exposed. This is not the game of the week, Georgia at Oklahoma State is.
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