the biggest risk PSU has is the players believing that they have an "easy" path, like many people are saying. If they actually begin to believe it, they will lose!
This whole NIL stuff is not College Football. Getting paid to play is not what it was ever supposed to be. I see it as baseball, a minor league and college teams. Maybe different levels like Soccer. No longer is it about an Education.
You nailed it. Upsets happen because one team is told that they are unbeatable. On the other side of the ball, 19 and 20-year olds, full of piss and vinegar, get sick and tired of hearing they can't possibly win.
Penn State and the Ravens are in a similar wide receiver situation. Both are run heavy and recievers want to be the stars. The new vision of the perfect team is as a solid unit that takes whatever the opponent gives you whether it's run or pass. So you need both. Receivers need to embrace this reality to be important again. Do you want to win or pad your stats?
PSU beats Oregon if the refs throw 3 or 4 (out of the 12 dozen holding against Adbul) flags. Would have changed the game completely. We can win it all if we have refs that call a good game. It was ridiculous. I watched it again and it was game changing no calls. PSU O line completely over-performed. I like our chances.
Good teams know how to take advantage of opponent mistakes, which is why PSU lost to Oregon and Ohio State. If the Lions can avoid dumb mistakes and bad turnovers, they can play against any team in the playoffs. But they aren't playing USC and Minnesota. I'm reservedly optimistic, but PSU needs to play a clean game.
The way they can work their way through the playoff gauntlet is to avoid or fix the weaknesses (duh). Those are: limited WR separation, RBs getting stacked at the LOS, and slow LB play. Scheming and other adjustments can work for the first two, but the LB play is lack of personnel. Maybe rotate Carter at MLB and a Safety at OLB.
With the portal now operating in the open, there is potential for dissention and undermining throughout the playoffs. How would the Longhorn team, for example, play if they knew their starting QB had eyes elsewhere?
The only kids that should go into the draft should be seniors and kids who are bonafide 1st, maybe 2nd round picks. If you're not going to be a first rounder it makes more sense to work on going up in the draft.
Penn State's achilles heal is coach Franklin and his questionable decision making. I hate to say it but his decisions drives me crazy. I love him in every aspect of coaching for that one exception. Game time/real time decision making is his problem and that problem is that he always opts for the riskier option.
What do mean Penn State doesn't have WR's? Without the Touch down from Omari Evans and the receivers getting 1st down conversions they would have got blown out in the Championship game
I think he just means we don't have a DUDE at WR, which can really elevate a team with a good QB. Wallace has been solid and hes great but he's not a mismatch nightmare like most elite teams have somewhere on the outside.
I have to disagree. We need a number one wide receiver that has the ability to go deep and stretch the field. We have no deep threat and no, as good as he is, Tyler Warren is not it. We need a true deep threat. Imagine having a wide receiver that's a deep threat, Tyler Warren as the middle field threat, and great running backs as the short pass threat. Think of how potent that offense would be.
Maybe Oregon defensive line isn’t all that. Wisconsin pushed em around, Ohio State pushed them around & Penn state really pushed them around. They might of won if they never threw the ball at all in the 2nd 1/2
Sure, the DL was very ineffective. When you get held on every play and the refs are refusing to call it, the 85 Bears D would be ineffective. Never seen such a one-sided officiating in a major game such as this one.
It wasn't exactly an even game, which is why I pointed out lucky breaks. That was a 1-score game, despite every 50/50 outcome going against Penn State.
Tom Allen is a great DC. Manny Diaz was exceptional. But we would have seen similar results regardless because Oregon is just that efficient on offense.
Tom is doing fine as a first year coach. Sometimes hes a step behond in his adjustments but...His schemes would work a lot better with better LB personnel.
A lot of Allar haters out there. Mel Kiper just moved Him to QB four. He has moved him up a spot the last five weeks He realizes this guy is going number one better get him up there. So Allar haters let us know how things are going next year without him.
Personally, I would advise him to come back next year with a very good chance of going number one overall in the 2026 draft. Think about it. Another year in this offense, PSU is certain to bring in a couple of start WRs from the portal and at least one of the two RBs staying.
@@stevejohnson2108if they fall flat in the playoffs he should come back..but if he has stellar performances, even just in the first 2 games, he should prolly go...as much as id love to see him back
HC JF doesn't teach Discipline necessary for NC. Too much over celebrating one play in big games... e.g. OSU. and penalties, e.g., OR. "First down arrow" after 1st down needs to go.
No offensive touchdown vs. Ohio State. No offense at all really. PSU never "erased" the 18 point deficit; they cut into it, sure, but never had the lead.
PSU will NEVER win a national championship under Franklin. He has as much talent as any team in college football but, he can't win against an elite team
He doesn’t play the game he manages the coaching staff under him. It’s all about NIL what don’t y’all understand about that. Look at how much Oregon paid Dillion to play for them. 🎤 drop!!
@chrisw4192 and explain his ridiculous decisions. I know,IF they scored or IF they got that first down,well they didn't. Going for 2 early in the game. Last year, both losses were in large part due to going for it on 4th down in their own territory when they weren't able to move the ball. That was genius. Drop the mic on your foot, bubb. They probably won't beat SMU,will you blame NIL or where it will belong
2nd best odds to make??? Who are you watching? Between Franklin being a huge joke and useless and Drew Allar making absolute childish stupid decisions. They won't even beat SMU
Is this fanbase growing delusional. Reason the question keeps getting asked is b/c of all the doubts. Ya got beat by OSU and Oregon, both in the playoffs. You'd absolutely get thumped by GA and TX. Hell, Indiana may could put it on ya. Not contenders. Better focus on SMU
the biggest risk PSU has is the players believing that they have an "easy" path, like many people are saying. If they actually begin to believe it, they will lose!
Franklin always emphasizes how it's difficult to win in college football. SMU is not bad. Boise State is not bad. Penn State just matches up well.
This whole NIL stuff is not College Football. Getting paid to play is not what it was ever supposed to be. I see it as baseball, a minor league and college teams. Maybe different levels like Soccer. No longer is it about an Education.
You nailed it. Upsets happen because one team is told that they are unbeatable. On the other side of the ball, 19 and 20-year olds, full of piss and vinegar, get sick and tired of hearing they can't possibly win.
all year long, they over celebrate good plays as if they will win easily. e.g. OSU. HC JF needs to coach better discipline
Penn State and the Ravens are in a similar wide receiver situation. Both are run heavy and recievers want to be the stars. The new vision of the perfect team is as a solid unit that takes whatever the opponent gives you whether it's run or pass. So you need both. Receivers need to embrace this reality to be important again. Do you want to win or pad your stats?
Well said. I like this comment a lot.
Good analysis Zach. Yiu are one of my favorite podcasters
Im a 60/40 PSU pessimist and I've never been more confident about this team than i am right now. LET DREW BALL!
PSU beats Oregon if the refs throw 3 or 4 (out of the 12 dozen holding against Adbul) flags. Would have changed the game completely. We can win it all if we have refs that call a good game. It was ridiculous. I watched it again and it was game changing no calls. PSU O line completely over-performed. I like our chances.
Love your analysis as always, Zach. This is my favorite PSU football and wrestling source, hands down.
The key was that Dillon Gabriel could move in the pocket and throw with accuracy on the run.
They schemed him to get rid of the ball quickly. Something that needs to be done for Allar.
Good teams know how to take advantage of opponent mistakes, which is why PSU lost to Oregon and Ohio State. If the Lions can avoid dumb mistakes and bad turnovers, they can play against any team in the playoffs. But they aren't playing USC and Minnesota. I'm reservedly optimistic, but PSU needs to play a clean game.
They better get their shit together in the defensive backfield.
Easier said than done, but they can.
The way they can work their way through the playoff gauntlet is to avoid or fix the weaknesses (duh). Those are: limited WR separation, RBs getting stacked at the LOS, and slow LB play. Scheming and other adjustments can work for the first two, but the LB play is lack of personnel. Maybe rotate Carter at MLB and a Safety at OLB.
They'll get creative with Abdul Carter, for sure.
Weakest LB core i can remember in my 20+ years watching this team. They need to get back to using Carter as more of a hybrid tamba hali type
With the portal now operating in the open, there is potential for dissention and undermining throughout the playoffs. How would the Longhorn team, for example, play if they knew their starting QB had eyes elsewhere?
Thought of the same thing when I saw the Quinn Ewers rumors.
He is going this year to the nfl
The only kids that should go into the draft should be seniors and kids who are bonafide 1st, maybe 2nd round picks. If you're not going to be a first rounder it makes more sense to work on going up in the draft.
Penn State's achilles heal is coach Franklin and his questionable decision making. I hate to say it but his decisions drives me crazy. I love him in every aspect of coaching for that one exception. Game time/real time decision making is his problem and that problem is that he always opts for the riskier option.
None of the Playoff teams are making portal news. I think it's OK.
Penn State should have found a way to keep Lambert-Smith.
Should have but don't think Allar would have been hitting him on contested shots anyway.
KLS wanted to leave after Julian Fleming was brought in.
@@LockedOnNittanyLions probably due to NIL $ contention or shortage. Seems he also had some choice words about Allar
Dillon Gabriel had so much space to throw in that a High School quarterback could make those throws.
It's why Oregon's offense is so dangerous.
What do mean Penn State doesn't have WR's? Without the Touch down from Omari Evans and the receivers getting 1st down conversions they would have got blown out in the Championship game
I think he just means we don't have a DUDE at WR, which can really elevate a team with a good QB. Wallace has been solid and hes great but he's not a mismatch nightmare like most elite teams have somewhere on the outside.
I have to disagree. We need a number one wide receiver that has the ability to go deep and stretch the field. We have no deep threat and no, as good as he is, Tyler Warren is not it. We need a true deep threat. Imagine having a wide receiver that's a deep threat, Tyler Warren as the middle field threat, and great running backs as the short pass threat. Think of how potent that offense would be.
Maybe Oregon defensive line isn’t all that. Wisconsin pushed em around, Ohio State pushed them around & Penn state really pushed them around. They might of won if they never threw the ball at all in the 2nd 1/2
Stats and analytics say otherwise. I do think Penn State's OL is coming together and that performance against Oregon will boost their confidence.
Sure, the DL was very ineffective. When you get held on every play and the refs are refusing to call it, the 85 Bears D would be ineffective. Never seen such a one-sided officiating in a major game such as this one.
PSU defense line was held a lot & than when you have lineman down field illegally
It wasn't exactly an even game, which is why I pointed out lucky breaks. That was a 1-score game, despite every 50/50 outcome going against Penn State.
Where's Manny? Come baaaaack!
Tom Allen is a great DC. Manny Diaz was exceptional. But we would have seen similar results regardless because Oregon is just that efficient on offense.
He’s at Duke Tom is doing a good job.
Tom is doing fine as a first year coach. Sometimes hes a step behond in his adjustments but...His schemes would work a lot better with better LB personnel.
@@caseyschoenleber1760 Ah sorry. He's been coachng college players and his defenses for decades.
@@LockedOnNittanyLions You may be right, but it is unknowable how Manny would have done vs. Oregon this year.
A lot of Allar haters out there. Mel Kiper just moved Him to QB four. He has moved him up a spot the last five weeks He realizes this guy is going number one better get him up there. So Allar haters let us know how things are going next year without him.
He is a first round QB. Anyone who says otherwise is just acting dumb on purpose.
Personally, I would advise him to come back next year with a very good chance of going number one overall in the 2026 draft. Think about it. Another year in this offense, PSU is certain to bring in a couple of start WRs from the portal and at least one of the two RBs staying.
He could really improve his value with great games during the CFP. I am hearing Steelers would draft him if he's still there.
@@stevejohnson2108if they fall flat in the playoffs he should come back..but if he has stellar performances, even just in the first 2 games, he should prolly go...as much as id love to see him back
These guys have not been watching PSU games for the last 10 years....
Why does a Penn State game from 2017 impact a playoff game in 2024?
HC JF doesn't teach Discipline necessary for NC. Too much over celebrating one play in big games... e.g. OSU. and penalties, e.g., OR. "First down arrow" after 1st down needs to go.
Probably not since Crybaby franklin is coaching.
Pshhhhhh
No offensive touchdown vs. Ohio State. No offense at all really. PSU never "erased" the 18 point deficit; they cut into it, sure, but never had the lead.
They were right on the door step multiple times against a top 3 defense. What happened, happened. But the offense is doing well and holding its own.
Shhh...don't talk about that😝
0-11..1-14..really?
Not concerned with records that included different teams, players, coaches, and opponents.
PSU will NEVER win a national championship under Franklin. He has as much talent as any team in college football but, he can't win against an elite team
He doesn’t play the game he manages the coaching staff under him. It’s all about NIL what don’t y’all understand about that. Look at how much Oregon paid Dillion to play for them. 🎤 drop!!
@chrisw4192 and explain his ridiculous decisions. I know,IF they scored or IF they got that first down,well they didn't. Going for 2 early in the game. Last year, both losses were in large part due to going for it on 4th down in their own territory when they weren't able to move the ball. That was genius. Drop the mic on your foot, bubb. They probably won't beat SMU,will you blame NIL or where it will belong
2nd best odds to make??? Who are you watching? Between Franklin being a huge joke and useless and Drew Allar making absolute childish stupid decisions. They won't even beat SMU
2nd best odds to * make * it. 5th best odds to * win *. The oddsmakers clearly disagree.
vegas odds 5th best #5
Is this fanbase growing delusional. Reason the question keeps getting asked is b/c of all the doubts. Ya got beat by OSU and Oregon, both in the playoffs. You'd absolutely get thumped by GA and TX. Hell, Indiana may could put it on ya. Not contenders. Better focus on SMU
This guy is a tool podcast nobody even watches.
Okay, but you watched it...?