I’m sorry guys but it was very obvious that we could not run up the middle, or to the sidelines, against them. We did absolutely nothing in the first half to adjust to that. Nothing whatsoever. And we didn’t adjust on defense until the last series or two of the first half.
Adjust how?
Our receivers couldn’t get off the press coverage. There wasn’t time for downfield plays to develop and the wind was definitely a factor with a relatively weak armed QB.
I though about this all night. Just how do we adjust?
bringing in Sitkowski is a recipe for disaster. PSU is going to jump the bubble screens and Sit has very little escapability from the rush. Our line can’t give him time to run.
Bring in Langan? We already showed we can’t run against their base D. How is he going to make a difference?
This was a day for Tight Ends. Quick slants and pick plays. Notice how PSU used their TE.
it’s really killing us not having effective TEs.
Now, all that being said, we played a much better and tougher game in the second half. We won the second half 7-6. We made good adjustments and had much better discipline in our pursuit angles on D. We got torched a few times because we went for broke and packed the box and sent everyone.
It’s amazing to me that despite the fact that we got manhandled severely in the first half on both sides of the line, five to six plays really determined this game.
the two 4th and 1s that will get second guessed a lot. But in reality I’m going for those both times if I am the coaches. All season long we’ve made those with Langan running the ball. This offense needs rythym to get going and clicking. Your D is beat up. Fogg, CJ & White are out. You have to get rolling and keep PSU off the field.
Vedral’s fumble when he had a huge cut lane to the left he didn’t see.
Melton’a drop (although the TD was miraculous and unlikely so that sort of balances out)
Take your pick from 4-5 other offensive plays (face shielding in the end zone, poorly delivered swing pass, late in Washington square out...).
I hated this loss. On the other hand we fought our asses off in the second half and showed the grittiness I’m looking for.
this wasn’t New Hampshire or anything like it. This was Mano on Mano in bad weather and we didn’t have the players to play smash mouth football or the speed to razzle dazzle.
the 2006-2007 teams or the 2012-14 teams win this game. We will get back there to lines, depth and speed that will
Compete.
We are going to beat PSU at our field in 2 years.