I was wandering around over at CNNSI.com when I came across a google maps application which allows you to view the recruiting progress of a school or conference in map form. For example, peep the PSU recruiting map.
View Larger Map
Or USC's:
View Larger Map
It is interesting to be able to get this sort of graphical comparison of recruiting classes. While college football is and always will be a regional sport, it is interesting to note how USC recruits on a national scale in comparison to PSU's very regional recruiting.
Which begs the question, should PSU be recruiting on a national scale or are the Lions getting what they need from the North East?
GO STATE! RECRUIT HARD!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Incidental Incapacitation
Things are crazy around the office right now. All apologies. The site will probably be dark until the end of the week. Unless, of course, the Brewer Patriot gets off his lazy ass and writes something.
For now, I slave away at a job I hate to buy shit I don't need.*
GO STATE!
*Always close with a reference to Fight Club.
For now, I slave away at a job I hate to buy shit I don't need.*
GO STATE!
*Always close with a reference to Fight Club.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Appreciating the 2008 Lions AND Jay Paterno!
The dust has settled on the 2008 college football season which gives us a great opportunity to take a look back at the past year. This is particularly critical as rumors are swirling about LJSR going to Illinois (a rumor which now has LJSR in Champagne yesterday).
The offense had a great year, some might even say a break-out year. The Lions had the 14th ranked team in total offense and averaged nearly 449 yds/game in 2008. Compare that to 2007 where the Lions averaged 400 yds/game and were the 55th ranked offense. In 2006, PSU had the 53d best offense in the country (really completely mediocre) and averaged just under 350 yds/game.
If you go all the way back to 2005, a team which everyone remembers with particular fondness, that offense averaged 421 yds/game and was the 33d ranked offense in the country. While the 2005 squad was extremely special to us all, the 2008 Lions squad was a more potent offensive force. What is also very interesting, is that I remember the 2005 defense as being a great squad, however, that team was the 12th best defense in the country and surrendered over 300 yds per game. The 2008 squad might be a little underrated as they were the 8th best defense in the country and surrendered just over 280 yds/game.
It is interesting to think that this Lion squad is easily the best statistical team the Lions have fielded in some time, however, I think of 2005 as being a better team. How odd. I'm sure it has something to do with how the season ended; a drubbing at the hands USC as opposed to a dramatic victory of FSU.
It is clear a lot of the credit for the Lions success over the last 4 years needs to be given to the architect of the Spread HD offense, Jay Paterno. When the Lions have truly run the spread (2005 & 2008) the Lions have been a truly potent offensive force. The Defense played well over the last several years leading us to desperately want to retain LJSR and the rest of the defensive staff, however, it is clear that we need to hang on to Jay Paterno. This is something nobody was saying over the last two years. Jay Paterno certainly seems to know what he is doing when it comes to the spread offense.
At the end of the day, the 2008 Nittany Lions should be remembered as one of the best Lion teams of the last decade.
GO STATE!
The offense had a great year, some might even say a break-out year. The Lions had the 14th ranked team in total offense and averaged nearly 449 yds/game in 2008. Compare that to 2007 where the Lions averaged 400 yds/game and were the 55th ranked offense. In 2006, PSU had the 53d best offense in the country (really completely mediocre) and averaged just under 350 yds/game.
If you go all the way back to 2005, a team which everyone remembers with particular fondness, that offense averaged 421 yds/game and was the 33d ranked offense in the country. While the 2005 squad was extremely special to us all, the 2008 Lions squad was a more potent offensive force. What is also very interesting, is that I remember the 2005 defense as being a great squad, however, that team was the 12th best defense in the country and surrendered over 300 yds per game. The 2008 squad might be a little underrated as they were the 8th best defense in the country and surrendered just over 280 yds/game.
It is interesting to think that this Lion squad is easily the best statistical team the Lions have fielded in some time, however, I think of 2005 as being a better team. How odd. I'm sure it has something to do with how the season ended; a drubbing at the hands USC as opposed to a dramatic victory of FSU.
It is clear a lot of the credit for the Lions success over the last 4 years needs to be given to the architect of the Spread HD offense, Jay Paterno. When the Lions have truly run the spread (2005 & 2008) the Lions have been a truly potent offensive force. The Defense played well over the last several years leading us to desperately want to retain LJSR and the rest of the defensive staff, however, it is clear that we need to hang on to Jay Paterno. This is something nobody was saying over the last two years. Jay Paterno certainly seems to know what he is doing when it comes to the spread offense.
At the end of the day, the 2008 Nittany Lions should be remembered as one of the best Lion teams of the last decade.
GO STATE!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Evans is Going Pro
FOS's front page (not to give away "pay material") is reporting that Maurice Evans is going to leave for the Pros this year. This comes right on the heels of Project Mayhem declaring his eligibility for the draft. The Lions are officially out of known quantities at Defensive End.
It is surprising that big Mo is leaving the Lions as his well publicized tryst with sweet Mary Jane kept him off the field for 1/4 of the year and in Joe's doghouse for the entire season. Logic would tell you that Evans would want to come back and have a dominant senior year. This would not only allow him to maximize his draft potential but also avoid the dreaded "character issues" which have plagued so many other talented players.
If the rumors are true, so long Maurice. Thanks for the great play and the hard work. Good luck to you sir.
GO STATE!
It is surprising that big Mo is leaving the Lions as his well publicized tryst with sweet Mary Jane kept him off the field for 1/4 of the year and in Joe's doghouse for the entire season. Logic would tell you that Evans would want to come back and have a dominant senior year. This would not only allow him to maximize his draft potential but also avoid the dreaded "character issues" which have plagued so many other talented players.
If the rumors are true, so long Maurice. Thanks for the great play and the hard work. Good luck to you sir.
GO STATE!
Panic Time
Now that the regular season is over is it time to start panicking about the 2009 season? Maybe.
Larry Johnson, one of PSU's premier recruiters and the head of PSU's most consistently excellent unit (defensive line), is being lured away by the Zooker. David Jones is reporting that LJSR is being offered not only a pay bump but also a title increase to defensive coordinator/asst. head coach. Does it mean that LJSR is definitely leaving just because he is being pursued by another program? Of course not, however, why wouldn't he leave?
The way things are going at PSU, it seems highly unlikely that Johnson would be offered the head coaching position of the Lions. So maybe we should ask ourselves: "would you leave your job for a more prestigious position with more responsibilities and double your current salary?" Hell yes you would leave!
So let's assume for a second that LJSR is out, PSU is now down its best recruiter and probably the program's best unit coach. That is a blow. We also must consider that Aaron Maybin, one of PSU's best defensive players in 2008, is expected to declare himself eligible for the NFL draft today. This deals a double blow to what could have been a dominant defensive unit.
I'm pretty sure the Lions also lose a significant amount of its defensive secondary (Sargeant, Scirrotto, Rubin, Davis YIKES!) leaving only the LBs as a known quantity on defense for the fall. If you want to see another sites preposterously early assessment of PSU's depth chart you can find it here.
On offense the Lions are going to lose three of the best WRs the program has ever had. Gulp. The Lions will only return two starters from last year's offensive line. I know many people have criticized the Lions for a very weak OOC schedule, however, with this much youth on the line it may be exactly what the young players need to get on the same page. While the RB position looks strong with Royster and Green it will take some time for the Lions to get on the same page as Darryl Clark will have to adjust to a revamped line and a completely new WR corps.
One thing is sure, 2009 will be a very important year for the Nittany Lions. If you are sick, as I am, of hearing about PSU's "resurgence" then it is critical for the Lions to have another 9-10 win season to establish some long term continuity to the program.
GO STATE!
Larry Johnson, one of PSU's premier recruiters and the head of PSU's most consistently excellent unit (defensive line), is being lured away by the Zooker. David Jones is reporting that LJSR is being offered not only a pay bump but also a title increase to defensive coordinator/asst. head coach. Does it mean that LJSR is definitely leaving just because he is being pursued by another program? Of course not, however, why wouldn't he leave?
The way things are going at PSU, it seems highly unlikely that Johnson would be offered the head coaching position of the Lions. So maybe we should ask ourselves: "would you leave your job for a more prestigious position with more responsibilities and double your current salary?" Hell yes you would leave!
So let's assume for a second that LJSR is out, PSU is now down its best recruiter and probably the program's best unit coach. That is a blow. We also must consider that Aaron Maybin, one of PSU's best defensive players in 2008, is expected to declare himself eligible for the NFL draft today. This deals a double blow to what could have been a dominant defensive unit.
I'm pretty sure the Lions also lose a significant amount of its defensive secondary (Sargeant, Scirrotto, Rubin, Davis YIKES!) leaving only the LBs as a known quantity on defense for the fall. If you want to see another sites preposterously early assessment of PSU's depth chart you can find it here.
On offense the Lions are going to lose three of the best WRs the program has ever had. Gulp. The Lions will only return two starters from last year's offensive line. I know many people have criticized the Lions for a very weak OOC schedule, however, with this much youth on the line it may be exactly what the young players need to get on the same page. While the RB position looks strong with Royster and Green it will take some time for the Lions to get on the same page as Darryl Clark will have to adjust to a revamped line and a completely new WR corps.
One thing is sure, 2009 will be a very important year for the Nittany Lions. If you are sick, as I am, of hearing about PSU's "resurgence" then it is critical for the Lions to have another 9-10 win season to establish some long term continuity to the program.
GO STATE!
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Tonight's Game is To Be Savored!
We have reached the very end of the college football season. After tonight, we will only have the NFL upon which to cling. The NFL, however, is merely a bandage on a massive wound. All the more reason to savor what will be a great college football game.
The last two Heisman Trophy winners will be on the field tonight. Both are great players. Both are polar opposites in how they play the quarterback position. Tebow paints in broad strokes as he smashes through defenses and then launches the ball down the field. Bradford paints with a very detailed water color brush. It will be fascinating to watch.
Also, the week leading up to this game has been surprisingly chippy. Both teams feel slighted and disrespected and will be really fired up for tonight's game. Needless to say, all the refs should be on the field for warm-ups to stop a free for all during stretches.
The difference in the game will be that I believe that Florida is simply a more physical football team on both sides of the ball. Tebow is a punishing runner and the Florida defense is a very physical hard-hitting defense. I just don't know if the Sooners will be able to stand up to the toughness of the gators. To reduce this to a shitty metaphor: Florida is an armored Humvee and Oklahoma is a Ferrari. It will all depend on whether the two vehicles will compete in a 1/4 mile sprint or in a demolition derby. I just happen to think tonight's game will be a demolition derby and therefor the Gators will win.
Regardless, this game is going to be great.
HOORAY FOR FOOTBALL!
The last two Heisman Trophy winners will be on the field tonight. Both are great players. Both are polar opposites in how they play the quarterback position. Tebow paints in broad strokes as he smashes through defenses and then launches the ball down the field. Bradford paints with a very detailed water color brush. It will be fascinating to watch.
Also, the week leading up to this game has been surprisingly chippy. Both teams feel slighted and disrespected and will be really fired up for tonight's game. Needless to say, all the refs should be on the field for warm-ups to stop a free for all during stretches.
The difference in the game will be that I believe that Florida is simply a more physical football team on both sides of the ball. Tebow is a punishing runner and the Florida defense is a very physical hard-hitting defense. I just don't know if the Sooners will be able to stand up to the toughness of the gators. To reduce this to a shitty metaphor: Florida is an armored Humvee and Oklahoma is a Ferrari. It will all depend on whether the two vehicles will compete in a 1/4 mile sprint or in a demolition derby. I just happen to think tonight's game will be a demolition derby and therefor the Gators will win.
Regardless, this game is going to be great.
HOORAY FOR FOOTBALL!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
PSU Basketball Gets a Great WIN!
I shall break in for just a little bit of PSU Basketball this morning because the Lions played and beat a good Purdue team (14th in the nation) last night.
The Lions squeezed out a 67-64 victory over the Boilermakers. Penn State's guards lifted them to victory as Battle poured in 21 (including 9 dimes and 5 boards), Pringle 18, and Morrissey contributed 10 off the bench. This win puts the Lions at 13-3 overall and 2-1 in conference. Which means, this might just be a year to be excited about Penn State basketball!
Batten down the hatches in Beaver Canyon! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
GO STATE!
The Lions squeezed out a 67-64 victory over the Boilermakers. Penn State's guards lifted them to victory as Battle poured in 21 (including 9 dimes and 5 boards), Pringle 18, and Morrissey contributed 10 off the bench. This win puts the Lions at 13-3 overall and 2-1 in conference. Which means, this might just be a year to be excited about Penn State basketball!
Batten down the hatches in Beaver Canyon! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
GO STATE!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
The Thin Yellow Line
My Condolences to Ohio State
Welcome back to the fold. You suck just like the rest of us.
You put up an excellent fight only to be bested in the final seconds by a very good Texas team. I'm glad I stayed up to watch the whole game. This also has me really pumped up for OU vs. UF.
If it taught us nothing else, Monday's game showed that the elite teams in each conference are generally evenly matched. Is Texas vastly better than Ohio State? No. Did Texas prove that it deserved to be in the National title game ahead of Oklahoma by beating a 2-loss Buckeye squad on a last second play? No.
I will concede that the Big 12 south was chock full of great football teams this year. The Southern division was the best division in college football hands down. However, does that mean that Big 12 teams are light years ahead of the rest of college football? No. Might they be better? Sure. But they aren't light years ahead.
HOORAY FOR COLLEGE FOO'BAW'!
You put up an excellent fight only to be bested in the final seconds by a very good Texas team. I'm glad I stayed up to watch the whole game. This also has me really pumped up for OU vs. UF.
If it taught us nothing else, Monday's game showed that the elite teams in each conference are generally evenly matched. Is Texas vastly better than Ohio State? No. Did Texas prove that it deserved to be in the National title game ahead of Oklahoma by beating a 2-loss Buckeye squad on a last second play? No.
I will concede that the Big 12 south was chock full of great football teams this year. The Southern division was the best division in college football hands down. However, does that mean that Big 12 teams are light years ahead of the rest of college football? No. Might they be better? Sure. But they aren't light years ahead.
HOORAY FOR COLLEGE FOO'BAW'!
Monday, January 05, 2009
Terrelle Pryor....
Will eventually be very good at the game of football. Right now, TP remains merely mortal having thrown for only 50 yards (on 4/8 passing) BUT he rushed for 42 yards in the first half against Texas.
Should Mr. Pryor be able to raise his completion percentage a little bit he could be a bad man.
At least we all know that will never, ever, ever happen. Whew!
GO STATE! GO BIG TEN!
Should Mr. Pryor be able to raise his completion percentage a little bit he could be a bad man.
At least we all know that will never, ever, ever happen. Whew!
GO STATE! GO BIG TEN!
Joepa Statue Defiled
Sons of bitches! Somebody stole the glasses off of the statue of Joe outside of Beaver Stadium. This is just low.
What sort of sick bastards would do such a thing?
GO STATE!
What sort of sick bastards would do such a thing?
GO STATE!
Rooting For Ohio State Is Like Jury Duty
Ohio State is playing Texas tonight and you need to root for the Buckeyes. Why? Because the Big Ten desperately needs another team to win a bowl game. Last I saw, the Big Ten was 1-4 in this year's bowl season. Big East-esque and generally disgraceful. For the good of the conference Ohio State has to win a big game against Texas.
I know, I know. The Buckeyes are the worst! But look at it this way, rooting for the Buckeyes is like Jury Duty. Both are incredibly distasteful and require you to gaze into the underbelly of criminal society. However, when you are a part of a community it is your civic responsibility to, once a year, suck it up and do what you have to do.
Believe me, nobody wants to serve on a jury yet we need people to do it. So take a deep breath and pretend, for one evening only, the Buckeye pride-stickers aren't the most odious thing you have ever seen.
GO STATE! GO BIG TEN!
I know, I know. The Buckeyes are the worst! But look at it this way, rooting for the Buckeyes is like Jury Duty. Both are incredibly distasteful and require you to gaze into the underbelly of criminal society. However, when you are a part of a community it is your civic responsibility to, once a year, suck it up and do what you have to do.
Believe me, nobody wants to serve on a jury yet we need people to do it. So take a deep breath and pretend, for one evening only, the Buckeye pride-stickers aren't the most odious thing you have ever seen.
GO STATE! GO BIG TEN!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Coming to Terms
Penn State got beaten. The Lions got handled and we should all be
thankful the team came out and played much better in the second half
or the outcome could have been devastating rather than disappointing.
thankful the team came out and played much better in the second half
or the outcome could have been devastating rather than disappointing.
The simple fact of the matter is that USC was clearly the better team
yesterday evening. In most aspects of the game, I thought the teams
were fairly even, however, it became painfully obvious that USC's WRs
just outclassed PSU's entire secondary. Combine that with the
mistakes PSU made during the entire first half and it was clearly the
undoing of a very good Nittany Lion team.
I thought Royster and Green both played very well until both were hurt
(i haven't been able to find an update on how both are doing yet).
Oddly, both averaged exactly 5.7 yds/carry.
I thought Clark played well and he should have an excellent year
next year.
Bowman and Maybin played well. There has been a lot of chatter about
Project Mayhem declaring himself elligible for the draft. I hope when
he sees the game tape he realizes that he needs to improve his size/
speed/overall game before he goes pro. Don't get me wrong, Maybin
played well, however, he was far from dominant. He had four total
tackles and only one tackle for a loss. Stay for another year, big man!
Bowman had a great day with 8 tackles five of which were for a
loss. He and Lee should give teams fits in 2009.
Thanks for a great year Lions! I am already excited for 2009!
Go State!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
An Ass Kicking
We might as well call the first half exactly what it was; it was an ass-kicking. in the first quarter PSU held their own only to have USC explode in the second quarter.
USC had 340 yards in the first half and Sanchez is on pace to throw for 552 yds. The PSU secondary looks genuinely terrible.
I am shocked and appalled.
GO STATE!
USC had 340 yards in the first half and Sanchez is on pace to throw for 552 yds. The PSU secondary looks genuinely terrible.
I am shocked and appalled.
GO STATE!
The Fired Up Open Thread
This thread is not only open but also it is fired the fuck up for college football!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I'll be watching football, cooking, and eating pretty much all day. It doesn't get any better than this.
GO STATE!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I'll be watching football, cooking, and eating pretty much all day. It doesn't get any better than this.
GO STATE!
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