Dispensing Thoughts and Opinions: PSU-Rutgers

FTB’s Rapid Reaction/Stream of Consciousness Following the 900th Win in Penn State History 

• Know how I know life is slowly, SLOWLY getting back to normal? Penn State won, yet I – and I’m gonna guess a lot of you reading this – am/are ticked off. While it warmed the cockles of my heart to watch Penn State play “Neanderball” the entire 4th Quarter , it didn’t completely cover up the annoying reality that we all had to pay full attention to a Penn State-Rutgers game in the 4th Quarter.

• In defense of Sean Clifford, these receivers need to help the dude out a little bit.  Parker Washington dropped two catchable – not perfect, but catchable — balls inside the 10. The INT that bounced off Lutz’s hands wasn’t pinpoint accurate, but could’ve (should’ve?) been caught. And yes, the wind knocked down the deep pass to Dotson, and he definitely got held, but the ball still dropped right through his hands. As spectacular as this group has performed during garbage time, the wide receivers don’t seem to make a lot of plays when the game is competitive– sans the last two drives of the Nebraska game.

• Best audible of the game goes to Matt Millen. Did you catch this? Oh man, our boy Matt came THHHIISSSSSS close to saying Rutgers QB Noah Vedral “runs like a girl” after he ran like a girl on Rutgers’  stupefying 4th and 6 QB draw late in the 4th Quarter. But like a true pro, Millen reeled back in all but the G in Girl and then said, “How should I say this?” Probably the best stop-start move of the entire day.  Millen concluded this Great Escape by saying, Vedral “is not a running…guy.”

• How badass is PJ Mustipher’s Neck Roll/Shield? Answer: Completely badass. IDK why but I automatically assume defensive players with extra accessories – neck roll, tinted eye shield, those cool Master Shredder facemasks  — are better than those who aren’t accessorized. Sure enough, Transformer-looking PJ split a double team and stuffed Rutgers’ initial 4th down attempt. Credit him. But also, credit the Neck Roll.

• Speaking of Neck Rolls, why did the mid-80s Neck Rolls that ringed the entire collar like a horseshoe – think Pete Giftopoulos – ever go out of style, and never become chic again?

• What’s the point of replay if you’re just going to keep a wrong call wrong? The rapid rise of legal sports gambling requires ALL leagues to be more transparent with their officiating and replay process. It’s time to adopt the XFL replay system, which mic’d the Head Official and the Replay Official and let the audience hear their discussion. Because I ‘d love to hear how they justified letting that first-half fumble call stand…and so quickly.

• What’s with the offside penalties?!?!?!? In our Thursday Defense HINDSIGHT blog, we begged Penn State to buy a football-on-a-stick teaching tool. Apparently, such luxuries aren’t earmarked in Sandy’s budget.  

• Other than a handful of missed tackles (which is gonna happen) and allowing that ‘500’ ball touchdown on 4th down, Penn State’s defense DOMINATED Rutgers from start to finish, especially at the line of scrimmage.  That’ll be a fun scout in a season full of unfun scouts for us.

• Look, it’s time to un-child-proof the offense. The lack of imagination and urgency when Penn State inherited the ball with less than 3 minutes left in the first half was SOOOO discouraging. The Nits had the wind at their back and three timeouts.  Didn’t matter. Two Levis runs, a pass, and a punt. Yes, winning is important. But so is growth and development.

• A quick glimpse inside the mind of a fan: (Watches Devyn Ford bumble the opening kickoff) “Oh, so THAT’S why they always fair catch it.” (Watches Parker Washington call a fair catch on a line-drive kickoff at the 24.) “Why is he fair catching it?!?!?!”

• Are we really not going to score 30+ points in regulation this season?

• Early State College weather forecast next weekend calls for snow. Tell me why the Big Ten started the season so late, again?