spartan2785

Alright, redeemed himself a bit there. We're close, we're very close to breaking through, D has to keep up their performance. Would be big to get a 3 and out and then TD before the half.

Yeah, it's looking like a game that might finish with both teams under 20 points.

I see we don't have a great kicker as usual. Have to make those kicks in this sort of game.

Very early, but the D looks locked in. Love the play recognition on the screen pass.

Not doing a great job in pass protect. Going to be an intense game.

They want to start the second half with the ball. Classic attempt to score at the end of the half and then score on the first possession of the second half. Most teams do this now. I prefer this approach as well, Lanning usually defers to the second half.

The white out record is more because they have almost always been against Michigan or Ohio St. which have had much better teams most years compared to Penn St. It will be a very intimidating place to play. We really don't need to call it overrated.

I really think this is the entire game. We will score some points, I don't think we'll score like we did in the Championship game, but we'll score enough to win. It will be if we can hold the PSU run game to under 175 yards or so. The closer we've come to game time the more optimistic I've gotten. Allar is just not a great QB, he's fine, but I believe our secondary is better than last year, and I don't think Penn St. has upgraded enough at the WR positions to overcome losing Warren in the pass game. I also have become more positive over generating a pass rush with Tuioti and Matayo U. I am a little worried that our scheme is not designed well to counter the heavy rush approach of Penn St. We very rarely focus on the run, the Mint scheme is more about holding in check the passing game than it is loading the box and stopping heavy rushing attacks, our lines will need to buck up and set the edge well. Reading this week it seems Penn St. is rushing more to the outside which would mirror what they did to us in the Championship game, can our edges hold up is the question?

From all accounts it's a more difficult place to play compared to those that you mentioned. Michigan is not a difficult place to play, it's too spread out, no roof, the fans are not exactly known for noise. Ohio St. is better, but it is also not known for huge amounts of noise. UW is probably the only place we've played where noise is definitely a factor, they have good fans when the team is good, the renovations have moved the fans closer, you have the huge roofs keeping the sound in, and from what I've heard the water also helps some. Great environment there when the Huskies are good.

No, the wrong team is not favored. Oregon has shown some small flaws, PSU has shown about the same amount of small flaws. If you look at the game last year Penn St. ran all over Oregon, we couldn't stop it, they couldn't stop us, but that was with a different QB who had the most experience ever by a college QB, this year while I really like the look Dante Moore, he is unproven in this sort of game. Penn St. returns two NFL RBs, we have not looked like a top 5 team against the run, we haven't looked bad, but it hasn't been as dominant as you might like. Ultimately the game is in Happy Valley, that means the home team should be favored in what I would say is a tossup.

Arkansas is probably capable of making a surprise run at getting into the SEC title game, I probably would say they would struggle to maintain any amount of success over a long period. They have good facilities, that isn't an issue, but it seems to be difficult to recruit there. It's probably the closest to being a basketball school as anyone outside of Kentucky. When I think about Arkansas sports it's more Nolan Richardson than Houston Nutt or Petrino.

It all comes down to how our two lines play, if they step up their game we can play with just about anyone, if they don't improve we'll struggle against the elite teams. They have to start throwing their weight around and get better with their technique, too many mistakes to survive against the teams that are in the top 15. I'll also be interested to see how our game calling evolves.

Indiana is going to be a very tough game if we don't step up our game, I'm very glad that one is after a bye.

A lot of great catches on that drive by the receiver/TE units.

Line play is pants on both sides, we just don't have lines that are top 5 quality. Had a lot of misses in recruiting on the O-line, and it shows with how they have had to import talent from other teams.

Have to be honest I don't hate Notre Dame like I used to, I really like Freeman as a coach, it helps a lot when they don't have a jerk for a coach.

Out of that list I would say Lynn, Aranda, Rees, and Lupoi would be the best candidates. Lupoi would be interesting, he's been a name for a long time without getting a chance as a head coach, so I have no idea how he would operate as a CEO.

As an aside, does anybody else absolutely love watching Georgia Tech and its QB Haynes King? I love watching this team play, probably the team I'm most rooting for outside of Oregon right now. Just love the toughness they exude.

Overall I would give us a C, we only out gained Northwestern by about 60 yards, which is not a top 5 performance. Line play was very average. You can tell Lanning is PISSED at the performance, we didn't play even close to our potential. We have to bow up on the line, we will get demolished against PSU if we play like that in the trenches, it was kind of pathetic at times how much they getting pushed around. We were opportunistic, caused some turnovers which was good to see, but it should be a major wake up call that B1G football is going to be a lot tougher than beating up on a BAD Okie St. team. Secondary can improve, LBs were okay, just need more consistency. RBs were decent, WR the same, not a lot to digest there I think. I thought Dante was very good until that last throw, I really don't understand pulling him after that play, I don't get it, I especially don't get putting a 4th string QB in for a series, Moga should be getting those reps.

I don't think it was an awful decision, a perfect throw probably gets you a touchdown, but it wasn't really needed considering the circumstances. I would be curious to hear from Dante to see if he LB dropping back that far into coverage. I suspect he saw all the defenders but he just thought he could drop into Dak's hands.

Been a weird game on defense, we've caused a few turnovers, we've had some sacks, but we also have been pushed around, and have gotten lucky by Northwestern messing up all on their own on more than a couple occasions. Lot's for the coaches to review, I also hope the players realize that they need to play better in order to beat the top teams. There's nothing that is super concerning, but it's a nice wake up call that we will need to play better in order to truly dominate. It really has been a great game in terms of results since it gives us just enough to go back and clean up without diminishing our standing in the eyes of the nation.

Sediq He's much more Brock Bowers than he is Gronk. It's an extremely lazy comparison, and most likely because Gronk is a commentator on FOX now.

Eh, I wasn't upset, I think it's extremely tough for a west coast team to play at 9:00, not surprised to see us start a little slow for our standards, even then it wasn't like Northwestern had an explosive play. Really nice drive after the int.

Nice job, completely changes the feel of that drive for Northwestern.

D-line needs to wake up and realize they can't just coast today, confident they will!