really, the game went as you would expect from a defensive perspective. With 3 DL, 2 LB and an all-american safety out (not to meeting the DC) we got mauled once Ark figured that out. Really, I sat there thinking "what took them so long?" Once done, it was just a matter of how many points Ark wanted to score.
Defense
Offense
Lots of work to be done. I don't expect us to do any better next year. The O has been horrible, just horrible. We wasted one of the best defenses we've ever had. Onto 2023 I guess.
Defense
- I was encouraged enough in the first half to think "just maybe..." but that all went away in the 3rd Q.
- The interior was just getting mauled by Ark's huge OL and some very nifty ball movement by their QB, whom I was REALLY impressed with. Kid is going to be a monster and Ark's program looks strong moving forward.
- One kid averaged 16.8 YPC on three carries. Top four rushers had YPC of 5.5, 7.7 6.1 and 16.8 YPC!
- I also was impressed with Ark's O. When converted a short-yardage first down, they got into a hurry up to play against PSU's jumbo package since we couldn't sub out. Smart
- I was impressed with PSU's defensive backfield and we played a lot of young guys back there.
- There were flashes of good play at DE but not much at DT or LB. Lots of development needed.
- Curtis Jacobs, Keaton Ellis and Ji'Ayir Brown all played well. Brown had two INTs.
- We gave up 451 total yards, 361 on the ground.
Offense
- SC is maddeningly inconsistent. One minute he is gliding around in the pocket making great plays. The next he isn't stepping into his throws and throwing really high
- Did he get hurt or did CJF just pull him?
- Anyone who didn't see K beat Iowa is dreaming if they feel Levis had a weak or poor game. He played really well to be honest.
- I wonder if SC is getting psyched out and bailing out on his throws due to the poor pass blocking.
- Speaking of poor pass blocking, we need a running game. Duh! Ark was open to blitzing, which they did almost every play, since we couldn't run the ball at all.
- And the TE's were horrific at blocking the screens. I had to stop looking after a while. Horrible. I believe we had two completions to TEs for a total of -1 yard.
- So SC's INT and the horribly overthrown ball to a wide open TE was all she wrote. We weren't going to win on D so we had to win with O and it just wasn't there.
- SC was 14/32 for 195 yards, one TD and two INTs. SC was our leading rusher with 47 yards. He looked much better running the ball than anytime this year.
- Parker Washington is going to fill for Dotson, with no problems.
- Johnny Dixon had a nice Punt return. Who? Johnny Freakin Dixon that's who!
- Stout had a bad game. 39.4 yard average for an all B1G punter. He also missed a throw on a fake punt
- FAKE PUNT?! Yep. Why did we wait until the defense settled to snap the ball? Isn't that the plan when coming out with a weird formation (catch them off guard)?
- FG game needs work. Really. We were 1 for 2. The made one was a chip shot. The other was missed really bad.
- Hard to blame the staff with so much disruption but is CJF too loyal? Not only with SC but also the OL which seemed to have young kids perform better than the upper classmen did this season.
- SC isn't and will never be the answer to a top-notch college team. But more importantly, the OL has to get fixed. Can't blame the QB too much when there is no RB all season and teams simply play the pass.
- Are we too dependent upon "chunk plays"? If I am playing PSU, I tell the CBs to not let you guy behind you and everyone else plays underneath. We didn't have a short passing game at all. And quick passes is a way to combat a pass rush.
- TE's were horrible all day. Perhaps this is the most disappointing aspect of the team all year. I expected much, much better from the TEs pass-catching and blocking.
- One of the worst missed calls of all time (bar stool pointed it out). Ark entire backfield started early on a critical play where they got a first down that led to a TD deep in PSU's territory
Lots of work to be done. I don't expect us to do any better next year. The O has been horrible, just horrible. We wasted one of the best defenses we've ever had. Onto 2023 I guess.