The official game roster for the start of the season has been released. Sure, it tells you what players will play what position and what the coaches think of each player relative to one another at each position. However, it leaves you with a nagging question; what the fuck does this all mean? Honestly, Chaz Powell is a back-up WR and is returning kicks but not Punts (Astorino is)? A.J. Wallace is still backing up Timmons at DB? Newsome is the backup QB.
First, and easily the most interesting, is Chaz Powell. Chaz Powell is the heir apparent to Derrick Williams' title of "Mr. Versatility". Powell has literally taken the #2 now that Derrick used to wear, he lined up at WR, RB, last year. Now, with D-Will, gone, will he morph into the multi-purpose threat that Williams was? What does the Roster tell us? Powell is backing up Brett Brackett at WR and is also listed at returning kicks, however, Astorino, is returning punts.
Look, Powell is going to play. He is explosive, dynamic, and potentially game-changing but maybe he isn't the best decision maker. The answer seems clear: Chaz can make things happen but he probably doesn't make the best decisions. Decision making skills are particularly critical when returning punts. At one point last year it seemed like if D-Will were returning punts it was either going to be a fumble or a big play.
AJ Wallace is clearly still in Joe's Dog House for not having good grades and as soon as he gets himself together academically he will play.
What most of us assumed during the spring has been confirmed, Kevin Newsome is the #2 QB. This is good news for a number of reasons. First, Newsome can make things happen with his legs just like Clark can so the offense won't have to adjust philosophically if Newsome has to come into a game. Second, how exciting is it to have a true freshman QB who you are pumped to see get a little time on the field to prepare him for next year? If I could get Clark back for yet another year I would, however, I think Newsome will really benefit from getting to be behind Clark for a year while still getting a little playing time.
I am pumped for the season to begin!
GO STATE! BEAT AKRON!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
From Clark To Superman
photo. My man-crush on DC-17 is now confirmed!
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Lions
Penn State football is close. I can feel it in the water. I can feel it in the Earth.
The Lions will be good this year. Probably not great, however, I'm not willing to rule out unbridled excellence because of how the schedule starts. The first three games will be pushovers, this will give a young offensive line and secondary the opportunity to get a little experience and come together as units. With three games worth of experience it is entirely possible that the Lions come together just in time for the meatier part of their schedule.
Akron is going to get hosed. Penn State is going to beat Akron without mercy. The Zips may score 17 points, however, the Lions are putting up at least 55.
Greg Paulus is going to have to leave the game with internal bleeding after Sean Lee knocks bats him to the side like a kodiak bear knocking salmon out of the stream. It is possible he won't survive the game.
Temple will probably be ok. I like Golden as a coach but he won't have the talent to hang with PSU. However, it will be a great tuneup for Iowa the following week.
These first three games could get the Lions into fighting shape. Should that happen, watch the fuck out Big Ten.
GO STATE!
The Lions will be good this year. Probably not great, however, I'm not willing to rule out unbridled excellence because of how the schedule starts. The first three games will be pushovers, this will give a young offensive line and secondary the opportunity to get a little experience and come together as units. With three games worth of experience it is entirely possible that the Lions come together just in time for the meatier part of their schedule.
Akron is going to get hosed. Penn State is going to beat Akron without mercy. The Zips may score 17 points, however, the Lions are putting up at least 55.
Greg Paulus is going to have to leave the game with internal bleeding after Sean Lee knocks bats him to the side like a kodiak bear knocking salmon out of the stream. It is possible he won't survive the game.
Temple will probably be ok. I like Golden as a coach but he won't have the talent to hang with PSU. However, it will be a great tuneup for Iowa the following week.
These first three games could get the Lions into fighting shape. Should that happen, watch the fuck out Big Ten.
GO STATE!
Friday, August 21, 2009
PSU Has Most Forward Thinking Staff In Football
The PTR has an excellent article up about Joe's penchant for scouting for excellent football players instead of just kids who put together impressive workouts. After all, would you rather have a kick ass football player on your team or some douche who spends too much time polishing his guns instead of hitting people in the mouth?
What is really interesting is that Joe is really starting to look at kids who play multiple sports well. There has been a lot of talk about how Joe decided Jordan Norwood could be a good player when he saw him play basketball in high school. Similarly, there has been a lot of talk about what a good lacrosse player Royster is and how it has given him remarkable vision on the gridiron. It is this kind of outside the box thinking that has made PSU a huge success on the football field.
When you combine Joe's creative thinking in recruiting, Joe's ability to change with the times (please see Spread HD), and how the program has embraced twitter you come to the conclusion that stodgy, old PSU has the most forward thinking and creative football program in the world.
I love Joseph Vincent Paterno.
GO STATE! BEAT AKRON!
What is really interesting is that Joe is really starting to look at kids who play multiple sports well. There has been a lot of talk about how Joe decided Jordan Norwood could be a good player when he saw him play basketball in high school. Similarly, there has been a lot of talk about what a good lacrosse player Royster is and how it has given him remarkable vision on the gridiron. It is this kind of outside the box thinking that has made PSU a huge success on the football field.
When you combine Joe's creative thinking in recruiting, Joe's ability to change with the times (please see Spread HD), and how the program has embraced twitter you come to the conclusion that stodgy, old PSU has the most forward thinking and creative football program in the world.
I love Joseph Vincent Paterno.
GO STATE! BEAT AKRON!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Rebuild or Reload?
I think I just power-charged my Passion Bucket. My good friend, Juleser, just sent me a link to Stewart Mandel's new column where he predictably poo-poos Penn State's chances because the Lions have only eight returning starters from the 2008 Campaign.
The coaches are also high on Penn State, which they voted No. 8 -- the same spot where the 11-2 Nittany Lions finished last season. This, too, seems puzzling considering Penn State returns just eight -- repeat, eight -- starters.
Of course, he then goes an openly admits that this count of only 8 returning starters doesn't include Sean Lee.
Mind you, that number does not include star LB Sean Lee, who missed last season to injury, but still, one would think JoePa's team has some rebuilding to do as well.
Ok, so we are already up to 9 starters. That was quick. On offense it is clear that the returning starters are:
1. Clark
2. Royster
3. Wisnewski
4. Landolt
5. Shuler
I would think Shuler will start for the Lions this year, however, would anyone be uncomfortable with Quarless winning the starting role? Especially as Quarless is a guy who has played a fair amount but simply has had a hard time getting out of the doghouse?
On Defense:
6. Odrick
7. Ogbu
8. Hull
9. Bowman
10. Lee
Maybe Mandel was assuming that Mike Mauti would start this year (before the knee injury) which would mean that Hull would sit so PSU would be down another "Starting" player? Regardless, I count at least 10 players who either started last year or who have been starters in the past. Plus, Brackett and Zug have both gotten playing time in the past and the only reason they didn't start is because they were behind three of the top four WRs to ever play at Penn State.
Mr. Mandel clearly got some of his facts wrong, however, perhaps the true question he hamfistedly-butchered was: Whether Penn State has gotten to the point where they can reload as opposed to rebuild? This is the central theme of this year. Has the recruiting and excitement since 2005 put Penn State back in a position where they can lose 10 starters and still be a legitimate contender for the National Title? Or, has PSU risen to a level where they will become lost in the white noise of 7-9 win seasons and only rise up every three or four years to bid for the title? 2009 will be the answer to that question. If the Lions win the Big Ten for a second straight year (and 3 out of the last 5) and are in the hunt for a national title, we can stop talking about "a resurgent" PSU rising from the dead and start talking about the Lions consistently being on the prowl for National Titles.
GO STATE! BEAT EXPECTATIONS!
The coaches are also high on Penn State, which they voted No. 8 -- the same spot where the 11-2 Nittany Lions finished last season. This, too, seems puzzling considering Penn State returns just eight -- repeat, eight -- starters.
Of course, he then goes an openly admits that this count of only 8 returning starters doesn't include Sean Lee.
Mind you, that number does not include star LB Sean Lee, who missed last season to injury, but still, one would think JoePa's team has some rebuilding to do as well.
Ok, so we are already up to 9 starters. That was quick. On offense it is clear that the returning starters are:
1. Clark
2. Royster
3. Wisnewski
4. Landolt
5. Shuler
I would think Shuler will start for the Lions this year, however, would anyone be uncomfortable with Quarless winning the starting role? Especially as Quarless is a guy who has played a fair amount but simply has had a hard time getting out of the doghouse?
On Defense:
6. Odrick
7. Ogbu
8. Hull
9. Bowman
10. Lee
Maybe Mandel was assuming that Mike Mauti would start this year (before the knee injury) which would mean that Hull would sit so PSU would be down another "Starting" player? Regardless, I count at least 10 players who either started last year or who have been starters in the past. Plus, Brackett and Zug have both gotten playing time in the past and the only reason they didn't start is because they were behind three of the top four WRs to ever play at Penn State.
Mr. Mandel clearly got some of his facts wrong, however, perhaps the true question he hamfistedly-butchered was: Whether Penn State has gotten to the point where they can reload as opposed to rebuild? This is the central theme of this year. Has the recruiting and excitement since 2005 put Penn State back in a position where they can lose 10 starters and still be a legitimate contender for the National Title? Or, has PSU risen to a level where they will become lost in the white noise of 7-9 win seasons and only rise up every three or four years to bid for the title? 2009 will be the answer to that question. If the Lions win the Big Ten for a second straight year (and 3 out of the last 5) and are in the hunt for a national title, we can stop talking about "a resurgent" PSU rising from the dead and start talking about the Lions consistently being on the prowl for National Titles.
GO STATE! BEAT EXPECTATIONS!
Monday, August 17, 2009
I have also found myself using Twitter quite a bit to blurt out quick thoughts about PSU instead of taking the time to be a grown-up and write something. If you would like to follow me you can do so. My user name is JablesB. This is just a taste of what you can expect to hear from me on twitter:
Sean Lee is part field general, part bear, part warrior king, but 100% bad ass for #PSU.
It is just another good way to get news about the Nittany Lions and waste a little time 140 characters at a time.
GO STATE!
Sean Lee is part field general, part bear, part warrior king, but 100% bad ass for #PSU.
It is just another good way to get news about the Nittany Lions and waste a little time 140 characters at a time.
GO STATE!
Filling Up the Passion Bucket
There haven't been very many postings as of late, for this, I apologize.
It isn't that my Passion Bucket is empty, in fact, I'm incredibly excited about the season. For example, I found my happy place this weekend while watching Penn State practice on the BTN. I watched a practice and found myself pausing, rewinding, and re-watching certain plays. It was awesome.
The problem is that there isn't a lot of mystery to this year's team. You don't have to look very hard to figure out what Penn State's strengths and weaknesses will be for the '09 season. There are only so many times one can opine about what will happen if the offensive line comes together, or young WRs step up, or the secondary plays well. For the Nittany Lions to be a good football team this year all of those positions will need to play well. There isn't a mystery. The real question is which of these squads will step up and when? Sadly, we won't get any real sense of that until after the first game.
Until then. We wait and dream of a Blue/White Season.
GO STATE! BEAT AKRON!
It isn't that my Passion Bucket is empty, in fact, I'm incredibly excited about the season. For example, I found my happy place this weekend while watching Penn State practice on the BTN. I watched a practice and found myself pausing, rewinding, and re-watching certain plays. It was awesome.
The problem is that there isn't a lot of mystery to this year's team. You don't have to look very hard to figure out what Penn State's strengths and weaknesses will be for the '09 season. There are only so many times one can opine about what will happen if the offensive line comes together, or young WRs step up, or the secondary plays well. For the Nittany Lions to be a good football team this year all of those positions will need to play well. There isn't a mystery. The real question is which of these squads will step up and when? Sadly, we won't get any real sense of that until after the first game.
Until then. We wait and dream of a Blue/White Season.
GO STATE! BEAT AKRON!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Mauti Tore ACL
Rumor on Twitter is that Mike Mauti has torn his ACL.
I have no confirmation right now.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
PSU Gorilla Prank
You know the students are back and it's almost football season when someone dresses like a Gorilla to wake sleeping students in the middle of the night.
It looks like Eric Shrive was about to destroy the Gorilla.
Good Times!
GO State!
It looks like Eric Shrive was about to destroy the Gorilla.
Good Times!
GO State!
Monday, August 10, 2009
PSU Gets Social
GOPSF.com got a new face today. It still has the same great videos and behind the scenes access, however, now the site has a Twitter interface.
PSU has made a concerted effort to make members of the staff more accessible through Twitter. Everybody has seen or at least has heard of Jay's sorties into the world of Twitter and, as far as I'm concerned, Jay's tweets are great. Now it seems a lot more of the staff is tweeting, we don't just have to limit ourselves to Jay's insights we can also follow:
Kermit Buggs: KBuggsGoPSF
Larry Johnson: rushmengopsf
Tom Bradley: TomBradleyGOPSF
Not all the coaches are as active on Twitter as Jay, however, it is just interesting to see such a concerted effort to get the coaches out there. Twitter is a great way to communicate to fans, and even to recruits, without having to rely upon the media. I think it is great if the coaches are actually going to tweet somewhat regularly and will provide some interesting insight.
I would love to get a hold of any Players' Twitter accounts. If anybody has those please send them along.
I could not be more excited to get news about practice and how Sean Lee has been crowned the Warrior-King!
GO STATE!
PSU has made a concerted effort to make members of the staff more accessible through Twitter. Everybody has seen or at least has heard of Jay's sorties into the world of Twitter and, as far as I'm concerned, Jay's tweets are great. Now it seems a lot more of the staff is tweeting, we don't just have to limit ourselves to Jay's insights we can also follow:
Kermit Buggs: KBuggsGoPSF
Larry Johnson: rushmengopsf
Tom Bradley: TomBradleyGOPSF
Not all the coaches are as active on Twitter as Jay, however, it is just interesting to see such a concerted effort to get the coaches out there. Twitter is a great way to communicate to fans, and even to recruits, without having to rely upon the media. I think it is great if the coaches are actually going to tweet somewhat regularly and will provide some interesting insight.
I would love to get a hold of any Players' Twitter accounts. If anybody has those please send them along.
I could not be more excited to get news about practice and how Sean Lee has been crowned the Warrior-King!
GO STATE!
Saturday, August 08, 2009
GOPSF.com gets social update
On Monday PSF.com is getting a social networking component. The site
itself was a great idea to please fans and entice recruits. This
addition will hopefully let the site grow in a new and exciting way to
connect past, present, and future players with fans.
itself was a great idea to please fans and entice recruits. This
addition will hopefully let the site grow in a new and exciting way to
connect past, present, and future players with fans.
http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080709aah.html
I'm fired up to see it!
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