#12 Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0) 35, Purdue (1-4, 0-2) 7
The expected win over Purdue played out, but with an unexpected twist of the nooner script. The mighty Nittany Lions came out strong, scoring 21 first-quarter points, then fizzled. With my viewing pleasure in mind, I would have to rate the final three periods of this one a snoozer.
In fact, I was more engrossed in the Iowa-Michigan game on the soundless alternate screen, which was contested until the end. Not that it was any kind of a masterpiece of fine play or anything, which it wasn’t. But it had the appropriate elements to maintain my attention, while the Penn State game didn’t.
Am I complaining? Yes and no. You don’t say!
Defense, Defense Über Alles
We
Go with the Hot Hand
James Franklin and Ricky Rahne must have learned something about sticking with the productive guy on the running back committee when one emerges. Keep the rhythm, men! Noah Cain once again looked like a go-to feature back, but this time, they gave him the ball. The result: 105 yards on an average of 8.8 yards per carry.
Turnovers’ll Killya
Purdue came into this game with the worst net turnover rate in the Big Ten, a minus-two, while Penn State was up toward the top with a positive stat. Those roles were reversed on Saturday, as
Special Teams Not So Special
Yeah, the general post-first-quarter malaise or delayed nooner effect — whatever the hell it was — seemed to have a deleterious effect on the damn special teams, too. Start with Jonathan Sutherland playing soccer with a punt that should have been left to die on the field, kneeing it right to a perfect spot for the Boilermakers to recover it. Then consider an easy, 25-yard field goal missed by Jake Pinegar. Finally, Mr. Jordan “Touchback” Stout not only kicked a returnable ball, but also launched one that went out of bounds. What were these guys smoking on the bench?
SDR Definitely Will Wait
So, once again we learned nothing. We had hoped to see a 60-minute effort on both sides of the ball, but we didn’t. In fact, the offensive erraticism and the special teams’ distractability at this stage of the season is rather disconcerting. We’ll have to wait for the Iowa game to glean anything gleanful.
Meanwhile, as we watched this frustrating effort, our next two opponents were battling it out in da Big House, with Michigan ultimately beating Iowa 10-3. The Wolverines shut down the Hawkeyes’ running game, while exhibiting balance on offense. The Michigan defense forced four turnovers, while Iowa shot itself in the foot by incurring eight penalties for 60 yards in a game where offense was at a premium.
Wisconsin and the Schmuckeyes took care of business.
I’ll be back!
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Jenny says
I think you made up a few words. But I agree with them. Still, it’s fun to be WINNING! as Charlie Sheen might say.
The Nittany Turkey says
Much better than being luuuuuuuuuusahs!
—TNT
Big Al says
I watched the game via SkyCam (which is vastly improved now that Espin appears to have fired the chimp and hired an actual human being to operate the camera). It really showed just how perimeter oriented Franklin’s offense is. Part of the reason why the offense sucked most of the last 3 quarters was that Purdue moved their front seven out wider toward the sidelines and dared Penn State to attack between the tackles – which the Kitties appear unable to do unless Cain is in the game.
Non fun fact. Penn State generated 225 yards of total offense on its first four drives and only 240 yards on its last nine drives. And those 9 drives included a 58 yard drive that ended in the missed field goal and an 87 yard drive for the 4th quarter touchdown – which means 7 of the 13 drives generated a total 95 yards. If the 6 successful drives had been spread out more evenly throughout the game, we fans probably wouldn’t be complaining as much about the offense.
However, the feast or famine aspect of this offense isn’t going away any time soon. We can expect long stretches of futility against competent defenses that are hopefully punctuated by occasional 6 play or fewer touchdown drives. We can also expected some nail biting 4th quarters due to the lack of a 4 minute offense and a tired defense that has played a lot of snaps. Nothing much really changes with the Kitties’ offense.
The Nittany Turkey says
That period of non-performance sticks in my mind as I recall the sheer frustration I experienced watching it. It was as if they were powerless to counter the defensive coaching moves made by the opposition. They stood out there scratching their asses until someone decided to start running Cain up the middle.
But we sho kin play DEE-fense! — Until they encounter someone with an offense, that is. Having seen none thus far, I cringe.) Hold that thought. We might have to wait until November 23 to see how they do against a real offense. (We worried about Maryland, but they cast an absentee ballot).
It is quite possible that the Nits limp through the schedule between now and tOSU, pretending to be pretenders and rising in the national rankings. Then again, it is quite possible that they screw up on the road with Iowa, Moo U., or Minnesota. But if not, SDR II comes on November 23 in the Horseshoe, as #3 Ohio State hosts #6 Penn State in the 1,382nd Game of the Century, ending in an embarrassing loss for the Kitties.
They got their third-down performance up to 41.4%. Maybe I can stop harping on that aspect of their game. But this offense is sometimes very hard to watch.
—TNT