Defense Absent In Defeat of Illini

You all know the final score.  #9 Penn State (4-0, 1-0) woke up midway through the third quarter to defeat the Big Ten bottom-feeders from Illinois (2-2, 0-1) 63-24 after a lackluster first half and even surrendering the lead briefly in the second half. While Miles Sanders had another career day running for 200 yards, the porous PSU defense offset that accomplishment by surrendering 411 total yards, 245 of which were on the ground.

No One Got It Right

I’ll give the Mythical Nittany Turkey Premier Prognostication Award (MNTPPA) to Jackstand this week because he was the only one of you who had the balls to admit the crapitude of the front seven. His 48-21 prediction missed the top end, but hell… someone needed to make a statement about the defense, and Jackstand (Mike) did it.

Not Ready for Prime Time

Unless they’re sandbagging, this defense is in no way ready for the likes of Haskins, Dobbins, Campbell, & Co. Furthermore, the lack of disciplined play reflected by eight penalties for 72 yards plus two turnovers does not portend well for the upset over tOSU many of you assume is a possibility. I’ll be commenting more on this later in the week.

 

#10 Penn State (3-0, 0-0) at Illinois (2-1, 0-0)

The Game of the Century, Number 328, will be played at Memorial Stadium in Champaign (kept very cold). Just kidding about the game of the century. For most people, unless they forgot completely about watching it because of the weird day and time, it will be a yawner as they look across the horizon to next Saturday’s showdown with tOSU. Let us hope the Nittany Lions team at least shows up.

Nine PM on a Friday night, eh? What’s up wid dat? Are Jim Delany and the Big Ten now going into competition with high school football. I can picture Delany saying, “We want-um some Friday night lights for Heap Big Ten.” Or not. But last I recall, like last year, Franklin was saying WE WON’T PLAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT! So, Delany stuffed a pacifier in Franklin’s mouth and said, “Yes you will, because Daddy says so. Besides, it’s good for you.” [Read more…]