December News and Notes

Although it’s technically the offseason for Penn State, that doesn't mean the off-field stories have to stop.  Case in point, today there is plenty of news to sift through, so let’s just get right to it!

Bowls:

First of all, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to join my Bowl Mania group on ESPN.com and try to beat me and the other challengers at picking the winner of all 35 bowl games.  This year it’s just for bragging rights, but if it’s successful, maybe I’ll raise the stakes next season.  Just go here, sign up and make your picks!

Update:

We’re still not exactly sure why Coaches Vanderlinden and Fisher left the staff a little while back.  However, my sources (yes, I actually have inside sources for this story; it’s like I’m a real journalist or something) tell me that Coach Vanderlinden and Coach O'Brien simply didn't mesh well together and that over time the relationship became strained.  Basically, Vandy was given a “quit or be fired” ultimatum and decided on the former.  Still, he was an incredible coach who served Penn State well for a very long time.  I wish him nothing but the best of luck and success where ever he ends up.

Recruiting News:

Thomas Holley became Penn State’s 17^th verbal commitment yesterday!  He is a 4-star prospect on Rivals and ESPN and a 5-star prospect on 247Sports.  Most people in the know believe he’ll be a 5 star kid on all the major recruiting services when all is said and done.  The massive 6’ 4” 303 lb DT had offers from basically every big time school in the country including Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.  Eventually, Penn State beat out Florida for Holley’s services.  He becomes the 3^rd defensive lineman in the 2014 class along with 3-star DT Antoine White and 4-star JUCO transfer Tarow Barney.

Speaking of Tarow Barney, since he is a JUCO (junior college) transfer, he doesn't have to wait until National Signing Day on February 5^th to sign his National Letter of Intent – the binding written agreement by a recruit to play for the school of their choice.  In fact, Barney decided to make his commitment official today by signing on to play for the Nittany Lions!  Welcome aboard Tarow!

Finally, LB Donte Raymond also made recruiting news this morning as the former Delaware commitment switched to Penn State.  Raymond is a relatively unknown recruit who only received offers from FCS schools prior to Penn State offering over the weekend.  He becomes the 3^rd LB in the 2014 class joining Troy Reeder and Jason Cabinda.

Awards:

The Lions may be done playing, but the awards are still being announced on a near daily basis.  Luckily for all you fine folks, I went ahead and compiled all of the awards given out to Penn State players thus far.  I think you’ll notice a trend towards the end as Penn State leads the conference in Big Ten All-Freshman Team winners with 5.  Enjoy!

Allen Robinson

- Howard-Richter Big Ten Receiver of the Year

- Sporting News 1^st Team All-American

- CBS Sports 1^st Team All-American

- Athlon Sports 2^nd Team All-American

- SI.com 2^nd Team All-American

- AP 3^rd Team All-American

- ESPN 1^st Team All-Big Ten

- BTN 1^st Team All-Big Ten

- Coaches 1^st Team All-Big Ten

Christian Hackenberg

- Thompson-Randel El Big Ten Freshman of the Year

- BTN Big Ten Freshman of the Year

- BTN All-Freshman Team

- ESPN All-Freshman Team (Captain)

- 247 Sports 1^st Team True Freshman All-American

John Urschel

- William V Campbell Trophy Winner

- AP 3^rd Team All-American

- BTN 1^st Team All-Big Ten

- Coaches 1^st Team All-Big Ten

- ESPN 2^nd Team All-Big Ten

- 2 time Academic All-American

Da’Quan Jones

- BTN 2^nd Team All-Big Ten

Austin Johnson

- BTN All-Freshman Team

- ESPN All-Freshman Team

Nyeem Wartman

- BTN All-Freshman Team

- ESPN All-Freshman Team

Brandon Bell

- BTN All-Freshman Team

Akeel Lynch

- BTN All-Freshman Team

Adam Breneman

- 247 Sports 2^nd Team True Freshman All-American

Congratulations!

With no bowl game to look forward to, the offseason becomes a time when we look away from the gridiron for stories, and as always I'm here to provide you with the latest news and notes regarding Penn State football.  Today is all about congratulations (except the first story) so let's get right to it!

We'll get the awkward stuff out of the way first.  There is still no REAL word on exactly why Ron Vanderlinden and Charlie Fisher decided to leave the coaching staff.  However, the good news is that it doesn't seem to have affected recruiting.  Here is what the 2 linebacker recruits from the 2014 class had to say.

After all the talk about John Urschel’s classroom accomplishments this year, he has finally hit the big time.  At a fancy dinner in New York, Urschel won the Campbell Trophy, considered to be the academic Heisman.  This is a BIG deal and was even televised on ESPN3.  Congratulations to John and good luck in the draft!  Watch his speech

Congratulations also go out to Da’Quan Jones for being invited to play in the Senior Bowl!  This is the premier end of the year all-star game in college football, and most of the players you see will be involved in the NFL draft in a few months.  Jones is just the latest in a long list of defensive linemen to play in this game.  See that list as well as game time information here.

In addition, John Urschel and Glenn Carson will both take part in the East-West Shrine Game.  Similar to the Senior Bowl, the Shrine Game is actually the longest running of the college football all-star games.  It will be played on January 18^th at 4pm, most likely on ESPN.  More info can be found here.

And finally, congratulations again go out to Allen Robinson on winning the Big Ten Receiver of the Year Award for the second year in a row, and to Christian Hackenberg on winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award!  Both were flown to the Big Ten Championship Game this past weekend and were celebrated for their accomplishments.  Here is a video of their trip.  And here is a great letter by the folks over at Onward State asking Allen Robinson to stay for one more year.

Bowl Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No, not Christmas - Bowl Season!  The only time of the year when there’s college football on nearly every night, and none of it is bad.  Even the lower games feature teams that are at least .500, so no more of those Alabama vs East Nowhere State games.  Anyway, here’s the complete bowl schedule if you want to check out this year’s matchups.

Bowl Schedule

Now, did you spend most of the season reading this blog and thinking to yourself, “this guy has no clue what he’s talking about!”  Well, if so (or if you’re just a competitive person), it’s time to put up or shut up.  I’ve set up a Bowl Mania pick em group on ESPN.com.  It’s free to join (although you do have to sign up on the website) and you can compete against me!  Just make your picks for all 35 bowl games, it’s that easy.  The group is public, so anyone can join, and you can change your mind if you get picker’s remorse.  But once the first bowl game kicks off, all your picks are locked in.  Let’s see who really knows their college football!
Bowl Mania

Finally, if you don’t want to play along, but the Christmas season has you in a shopping mood, check out the annual list of bowl game swag… maybe you’ll get some ideas!

Bowl Swag

Week 14 Awards

There you have it folks, 12 games, no more, no less.  Thanks to the NCAA, Penn State will once again not be going bowling this holiday season, but that almost seems ok in light of Saturday’s incredible upset win.  I almost feel bad for Wisconsin, who has now lost their regular season finale to the Nittany Lions two years in a row despite fielding arguably better teams.  The awesomeness of the game was overshadowed by the events down in Alabama, but for Penn State fans, I think this game will serve as a perfectly serviceable ending to the 2013 season.  Now, without further adieu, it’s time to hand out awards one last time!

The final Beast Mode Award could have gone to any number of players who poured their heart out in the final game of the season, but one star shined brighter than the rest.  18 year old true freshman QB Christian Hackenberg walked into Camp Randall Stadium having yet to win a true road game.  All he did was throw for 339 yds and 4 TDs with no INTs against a defense that was only allowing an average of 179 passing yds/game this year.  He picked apart the Badger defense with ease and solidified the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award in the process.  Congratulations Christian, I think we’re all excited to see what you do as an encore next year!

For the final Transformer Award of the season, I've decided to go with Allen Robinson.  Possibly the best overall player on the entire team, Robinson caught 8 passes for 122 yds to wrap up yet another record setting season.  After beating his own records set one year ago, Penn State's new single-season receptions record now stands at 97 while the single-season receiving yds record now stands at 1,432.  Additionally, Robinson is now 2^nd on Penn State’s career receptions list and 3^rd on the career receiving yds list.  Breaking those records and completing his degree might just be enough to convince the junior to come back for one more year instead of bolting for the NFL.  He has said he’s currently 50/50 and he’ll make his decision over Christmas break.  Fingers crossed!

The breakout freshman of the game and Matrix Award winner is Eugene “Geno” Lewis.  Lewis is a fantastic athlete that is poised to break out as soon as next season.  He gave us a sneak peak on Saturday.  Although he only had 3 catches, he scored a TD on 2 of them.  Moreover, Lewis ran back a kick off for 36 yds, the longest return of the season.

I’m breaking away from the norm for my final In Disguise Award and giving it to the entire Penn State defense.  They were truly the unsung heroes of the game, giving their best performance of the season.  Wisconsin came into Saturday’s game averaging 297.3 yds/game rushing.  All the Penn State defense did was hold them to a meager 120 yds!  Add to that 3 interceptions and I think they more than deserve this award.

Last and possibly least, the final Megatron Award goes to false start penalties.  I don’t have time to look it up, but I think it’s safe to assume that the 8 false starts committed by the offensive line are a Penn State record.  Donovan Smith especially showed his youth by committing 4 of those 8.  Coach Mac was steaming on the sidelines, at one point throwing his headset on the ground and his hands in the air in a gesture that seemed to say, “are you f***ing kidding me?!”  Let’s just hope they get that worked out in the offseason.

And that will officially wrap up my regular season coverage.  Thank you sooooo much to everyone who has taken the time to read even just 1 of my posts this season!  I truly hope you have enjoyed this blog and that you’ll continue to read my random offseason musings.  I had a blast doing this and, as of right now, I plan to pick up right where I left off next September for the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland between Penn State and Central Florida.  Continue to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus for the latest news and notes.  Send your questions or suggestions for future posts to PSUOptimus@gmail.com.  And as always, GO STATE!!!

Newsflash: It was announced today that backup quarterback Tyler Ferguson has decided to transfer at the end of the semester.  This isn't very surprising in today’s football world where lack of playing time, especially for QBs, inevitably leads to unnecessary transfers.  3 walk on QBs, D.J. Crook, Austin Whipple, and Jack Seymour remain on the team.  4-star 2014 recruit Michael O’Connor will enroll in January, so this is just a temporary issue.  He will likely be Hackenberg’s backup come next season, unless one of the walk ons really steps up their game.

Week 14 Grades

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m still kind of coming down from Penn State’s epic upset win over Wisconsin on Saturday and actually the entire day of college football.  It was all just an incredible way to end the regular season.  This is one of the best times of the year, in my opinion, as Rivalry Week gives way to Championship Week (with a few Big 12 games sprinkled in) and eventually the Bowl Season.  Unfortunately, the NCAA has barred Penn State from competing in most of those festivities, but that won’t stop the fun here on the blog.  Let’s just get right into it and roll out some grades! 

*Note: there’s some important news items at the bottom of this post.  If you want to skip right to those, go ahead.

Offense

QB: (A+) Christian Hackenberg saved his best performance for last as he went an amazing 21/30 for 339 yds and 4 TDs.  Most importantly he didn't throw a single interception and to top it all off, he didn't even get sacked!  I cannot wait to see what a full offseason under O’Brien will turn this kid into come 2014.  It’s going to be ridiculous.

OL: (F) As you can tell by Hackenberg’s numbers, the line pass protected well enough on Saturday, but the running game never got going.  Moreover, the bigger reason for a failing grade was the 8 false starts, 4 by Donovan Smith alone.  Coach Mac was visibly frustrated on the sideline to the point that the announcers kept pointing him out.  You guys are going to give the old man a stroke playing like that!

RB: (D) If you take away Zwinak’s 61 yd dash in the 4^th quarter, he went a mere 54 yds on 21 rushes.  Belton didn't do much better only going 7 yds on 3 rushes.  Maybe it was the offensive line, maybe it was the cold weather, either way the running game failed to meet expectations.

WR: (A) With the running game seemingly out of commission, Penn State gladly took to the air.  Robinson continued to do what he does best, catching 8 passes for 122 yds but still no TDs.  Thankfully, Geno Lewis decided to show up.  He only caught 3 passes, but that translated into 91 yds and 2 TDs!  Richy Anderson also grabbed 2 passes for 16 yds.  I expect those two to breakout next year along with a slew of true and redshirt freshman waiting in the wings.

TE: (A+) Even better than the WR play was the TE play.  All 3 starters got into the action as they combined for 7 catches, 105 yds, and 2 TDs.  Breneman alone has now caught a TD pass in his last 3 games.  None of the TEs are graduating which means the Big Ten is on notice for next year… this trio is going to turn heads.

Defense

DL: (A) Wisconsin came into Saturday’s contest averaging just under 300 yds/game thanks to 2 running backs who each averaged over 100 yds/game.  All of that was made possible by the largest (by average weight) offensive line in the conference.  Yet none of that mattered as the Badgers were held to a season-low 120 yds on 30 attempts and no TDs.  You can thank an absolutely suffocating defensive line for those stats.  Kyle Baublitz lead the line with 4 tackles including 1 for a loss.  Anthony Zettel only had 2 tackles, but both were for a loss.  And then there was C.J. Olaniyan who may have been the best of all as he racked up 3 tackles (all quarterback hurrys) and even managed to “intercept” a tipped ball which he almost ran back for a TD.

LB: (A) It’s a pretty good sign when 3 of your top 4 tacklers are linebackers.  Mike Hull, Brandon Bell, and Glenn Carson combined for 18 tackles and were a big part of Penn State’s victory.  Brandon Bell has looked really good in recent weeks and was the player that tipped Joel Stave’s “pass” leading to C.J. Olaniyan’s interception.  He’s definitely a player to watch next season.

DB: (A+) The much maligned Penn State secondary has gotten noticeably better over the past few weeks and they may have had their best showing on Saturday.  Ryan Keiser had 5 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and his 2^nd game winning interception of the season.  Jordan Lucas, Trevor Williams, Malcolm Willis, and Malik Golden combined for 13 more tackles, 3 more pass breakups, and Williams also stole an interception.  Is this what we have to look forward to next year?  Because I'm down!

Special Teams

K: (D) Sam Ficken had another rough day (although not nearly as bad as Alabama’s kicker) as he missed 2/3 FGs.  The only thing saving him from a failing grade was that he hit all 4 of his extra points.  Hopefully another offseason and maybe some more words of advice from Robbie Gould and he’ll be back to Mr. Automatic again by September.

P: (C) Not a great day for Alex Butterworth either.  Once again he had one of his punts blocked and none of the 4 punts he got off were exactly “booming.”  Butterworth is not only a senior, he’s the only punter on the roster.  I’m interested to see how the coaching staff figures this one out for next year.

Tomorrow’s Awards post will wrap up the regular season here at Prime Penn State Football.  I’m still deciding what I’m going to do in the offseason, but rest assured there will be more than enough news to post regularly.  Let me know what you want to read about by emailing me at PSUOptimus@gmail.com, whether it’s recruiting news, position battles, coaching changes, whatever.  I’ll be more than happy to look into it for you and break it down in my own special way!

Now as promised, here's some Penn State football news that's been floating around the interwebs.

Good News:

- Congratulations to Allen Robinson on winning his second consecutive Richter-Howard Big Ten Receiver of the Year Award!  This is just the 2^nd year of this award, so technically he’s the only player in history to ever win it.  Robinson’s 97 catches for 1,432 yds are both Penn State single-season records, although his measly 6 TDs is not.

- Congratulations to Christian Hackenberg on winning the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award!  Hackenberg also won Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sunday for the 5^th time this season.  He finished the year 231 of 392 (59%) with 20 TDs and 10 INTs.  He was second in the Big Ten in completions and one off the lead for TDs.  His 2,955 total yds puts him 3^rd on the Penn State single-season yardage list behind Matt McGloin (2012) and Daryll Clark (2009). 

- Finally, congratulations to John Urshel and Da’Quan Jones who, along with Robinson, were named 1^st-Team All Big Ten!  9 other Penn State players were honorable mentions.

Bad News:

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the retirement (at least, that’s the rumor) of Penn State linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden.  Coach Vanderlinden came to Penn State in 2001 from Maryland and is almost solely responsible for the resurgence of “Linebacker U.”  Since arriving he has produced some of the best linebackers in Penn State history – and that’s saying something!  Linebacker is by far the most well represented position group for former Penn State players in the NFL.  Sean Lee, Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor, Cameron Wake, Navarro Bowman, Mike Mauti, Gerald Hodges, Nate Stupar (as well as former players like LaVar Arrington) were all coached by Vanderlinden and are all impact players for their respective teams.  I think it’s safe to say that I speak for all of Nittany Nation when I say, we’ll miss you Coach Vanderlinden and we’re very sad to see you go!

Week 14 Wrap Up

If you can’t go to a bowl game, you might as well go out in style.  Penn State came into Camp Randall Stadium as 24.5 point underdogs, against the 5^th best defense in the country, having yet to win a road game this season.  They left in an epic final bow to the Penn State audience, beating the #15 Badgers 31 – 24.  It was a shocking display of superior execution and a little bit of luck.  In the end, the Nittany Lions rode off into the sunset of the 2013 season with a winning record and all the promise in the world in front of them.

No one – myself included – saw this coming, nor could they have predicted what happened on Saturday.  No one thought the Nittany Lions could accomplish anything more than a respectable showing against a team as talented as Wisconsin.  Frankly, those same Lions didn't exactly give anyone a reason to be optimistic, given how they had played on the road, and at times even at home, all season long.  Inconsistent was probably the nicest way of describing Penn State’s play this year.  Flashes of talent and brilliance were plentiful, but so were the mind-boggling mistakes and miscues exhibited by this still very young team.  Just how young are they?  23 freshmen (on a roster of approx 61 scholarship players) boarded the plane on Friday en route to Madison; among them, Christian Hackenberg, Adam Breneman, Geno Lewis, and Brandon Bell.  Each of them made an impact in this game, which took place ironically on Wisconsin’s Senior Day.

In the end, as it so often does, heart trumped talent.  It was obvious from the opening drive that the 24 point underdogs felt wildly disrespected by the prognosticators.  They had a chip on their collective shoulder and the entire team seemed hell bent on proving the doubters wrong.  On a frigid Wisconsin afternoon, Penn State’s fire burned so passionately that all the advantages enjoyed by the home-team Badgers seemingly melted away.  In less than 2 minutes, Christian Hackenberg would begin what was to become simultaneously his greatest performance to date and his coming out party.  He launched a 68-yd pass (the longest play Wisconsin had allowed all season) to fellow freshman Adam Breneman, who broke a tackle and took it all the way to the endzone… and that was just the start.  Opposing defenses will watch the tape from this game during the offseason and likely recoil in terror at the prospect of defending against Hackenberg in coming seasons.  Worse still will be the realization that Christian will be a year older, a year wiser, and will finally have been through a full winter and spring of indoctrination into O’Brien’s pass happy, pro-style system.  And they probably won’t feel any better when they realize that even if stud receiver Allen Robinson heads to the NFL, Geno Lewis, Richy Anderson, and a 3-headed monster at tight end (James, Breneman, and Carter) are all returning next year to catch the flurry of passes that are sure to come their way.  The entire Big Ten should be afraid, very afraid, of what may lay in store for them over the next 2-3 years.

For those who were too captivated by an admittedly crazier game over on ABC between Alabama and Auburn, you missed a great one that almost equaled last year’s season finale.  Both teams went back and forth, with Penn State tying it up at 14 just before halftime.  However, the 3^rd quarter, and the start of the 4^th, were all Nittany Lions as they jumped out to a commanding 31 – 14 lead on 2 more Hackenberg TDs and a Sam Ficken FG.  The lead forced Wisconsin to prematurely abandon their prized running game and instead turn to their mediocre passing game.  QB Joel Stave threw a season-high 53 pass attempts, compared to just 30 rush attempts.  Those kind of numbers are anything but Wisconsin football.  Although Stave ended the night with an impressive 339 yds - exactly equaling Hackenberg’s total for the day - he did it on 23 more attempts than the 18 yr old freshman.  Thankfully, the Penn State secondary did something most fans have waited all season to see… they buckled up their chin straps and went to work.  Tipped passes, blocked passes, constant pressure, and 3 interceptions (2 of which lead to TDs) eventually spelled doom for Wisconsin and in spite of a desperate attempt to come back, it was all for naught.  On their last possession, O’Brien simply gave the ball to Zach Zwinak, who, after having difficulty all day, broke free late in the 4^th quarter with a 61 yd run, effectively sealing the deal.  The home crowd was stunned and sent home in near silence, wondering what in the world just happened.

Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn't a perfect game by any stretch of the imagination.  Most notably, the offensive line committed what I can only assume was a record 8 false start penalties, 4 by Donovan Smith alone.  The special teams also continued to struggle as Alex Butterworth had a punt blocked for the 2^nd week in a row and Sam Ficken missed 2 of his 3 FGs.  Normally, mistakes like that would cost a team the game, yet somehow, Penn State won anyway.  It seemed like destiny.  In the face of overwhelming sanctions, the Lions have now managed 2 winning seasons and sent 2 of the most beloved senior classes in school history out with the wins they so proudly earned and deserved.

As for my prediction, who really cares?  I got basically nothing about this game right, and I couldn't imagine being more happy to be wrong.  Christmas came early and all Penn State fans got a present on Saturday: a victory that has never tasted so sweet. 

Go State!

Week 14 Prediction

As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end.  Since I can’t think of anything better than Penn State football, that must mean that the 2013 season has come to its inevitable conclusion.  According to their Facebook page, the Nittany Lions have already boarded their plane and are on their way to Madison, WI to take on last year’s end-of-season foe, the Wisconsin Badgers.  At the end of 2012, Penn State beat the eventual Big Ten Champions thanks to an overtime FG by Sam Ficken.  Don’t expect a repeat of those heroics, though, as this year's Penn State team is markedly worse and this year's Wisconsin team is noticeably better.  The game is set to kick off tomorrow at 3:30 on ESPN.  While we wait, let’s get to the breakdown.

The Good

Not much here.  After a nice catered Thanksgiving dinner in Pollock Commons, the team seems well rested and focused on the task at hand, so that’s good I guess.  Thanks to the jerks over at the NCAA, Penn State won’t be going bowling, so this will definitely be the last game of the season.  The seniors will want to end their careers one a high note, and they know full well after last season that it’s possible to pull the upset, but I also think they're realistic about their chances.  O’Brien may have some intriguing trick plays or packages he hasn't used yet this year.  After all, at the end of the day the team really doesn't have much else to play for until next September, so they might as well throw the kitchen sink at Wisconsin and hope something catches them off guard.  Crazier things have happened, but if I were the average Penn State fan, I wouldn't hold my breath.

The Bad

Wisconsin is trying to get one of three BCS at-large births so they can play in one of the “big boy” bowl games.  It’s also Senior Day for the Badgers, so expect them to play hard for their seniors.  They are lead by a very capable “game manager” in QB Joel Stave.  He’ll be throwing to possibly the 2^nd best receiver in the Big Ten (behind Allen Robinson, of course), Jared Abbrederis.  And he’ll be handing it off to Wisconsin’s potent 1-2 punch of RBs Melvin Gordon III and James White who average nearly 300 yds rushing per game this season.  If all that wasn't enough, Wisconsin also boasts the largest offensive line in the conference and they love to push around smaller teams like Penn State.  Even if the Lions can get Wisconsin’s offense off the field, they still have to tangle with the 5th best defense in the nation lead by standout senior LB Chris Borland.  No aspect of this game will be easy for Penn State, so make no mistake, this may quickly turn into a nightmare.  In fact, Vegas has set the point spread at 24.5, which seems like a lot given Wisconsin’s generally conservative style of play.  Still, even if PSU can keep it close and the end score doesn't reflect it, this game will most likely end up feeling like a worse beat down than the Ohio State game.  The only good news is we all saw it coming.

The Story

This year’s version of the Badgers is under the watchful eye of new head coach Gary Anderson by way of Utah State.  Anderson has his team sitting pretty at #15 in the BCS poll with only two losses: one to Leaders Division Champion Ohio State and the other on a referee screw job to potential Pac-12 South Division Champion Arizona State.  They’re playing for a better bowl game while Penn State knows it can’t go to one.  The Lions may be looking to play spoiler and notch their 7^th victory to finish 2013 with a winning record.  These two old school smash-mouth style teams have had some epic games in the past few years; hopefully this one will be equally entertaining, and hey, miracles happen.

The Prediction

In case you didn't get the memo, Penn State is going to get kicked in the teeth in this one.  Then again, I expect most of the disappointment to come on defense.  Christian Hackenberg will throw for a solid 200+ yds and a score, but he'll probably also throw at least 1 interception.  Allen Robinson and Zach Zwinak will each gain 100+ yds and each score a well earned TD.  The ever-improving defense will keep it close at first, but get dominated by the time the second half rolls around.  Maybe something cool like an interception or a fumble will happen, but in the end it’s just not enough.  The Lions take the long plane ride home to State College with a 6-6 final record.  They lose 42 – 21.

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, because I know I did.  Although the Raiders eventually lost, I had a wonderful time watching Matt McGloin look like a bonafide NFL starting QB against the Cowboys!  Follow me throughout the game tomorrow on Twitter @PSUOptimus for live updates.  Don't forget to check back on Sunday for the weekly wrap up, and as always, go State! 

Week 13 Awards

Welcome to Thanksgiving Eve here on the Prime Penn State Football Blog!  Tomorrow is Turkey Day but this whole week might as well be Football Week.  There is football (pro or college) on TV every single day this week and Friday’s schedule is nearly as jam packed as Saturday’s.  To top it off, it’s rivalry week.  Now unfortunately Penn State no longer plays Pitt (that’s changing soon!) so we don’t have a designated rival, but there are still plenty of other hate-fueled matchups occurring around the country, most notably Ohio State – Michigan in the Big Ten and Alabama – Auburn in the SEC.  However, getting back to Thanksgiving, this is the time of year when we all take a moment to reflect on what we’re thankful for.  I’m personally thankful for Energon, laser cannons, and of course, Penn State football.  I would've been thankful for a win this past Saturday, but that didn't happen and we haven’t invented a time machine… yet.  Luckily, win or lose, there’s always awards, so let’s roll them out!

For the 3^rd week in a row the Beast Mode Award goes to Zach Zwinak.  Over these past 3 weeks he has rushed for 149 yds, 150 yds, and 149 yds.  That’s about as consistently awesome as you can get.  It’s not just the yardage, it’s the number of carries he’s been asked to handle – 35 this week alone!  He’s become a true workhorse back and we love it!

The Transformer Award this week goes to Jesse James.  The sophomore tight end had 3 catches for 56 yds including a magnificent sideline-hugging touchdown reception in which he transformed into a freight train and easily shed a would be tackler with an epic stiff arm.  It was glorious.

For the 3^rd time this season, the Matrix Award goes to Christian Hackenberg.  The freshmen was ironically outstanding on Senior Day as he threw for 217yds and 2 TDs before running in a 3^rd.  His play earned him his 4^th Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors.  Not bad for a self-proclaimed “game manager.”

This week’s unsung hero and In Disguise Award winner is Malcolm Willis.  A senior safety, Willis was 1 tackle away from leading the team against Nebraska with 9 total.  But the reason he gets this award is because of his 2^nd quarter forced fumble on the goal line preventing the Huskers from gaining any points on a promising drive.  It wasn't enough to win the game, but it was still pretty awesome.

Finally, the Megatron Award for biggest headache goes to Nebraska WR Kenny Bell.  The afro-aficionado had a solid game with 5 catches for 33 yards, but it was his 99 yd kick off return for a touchdown in which he leaped over poor Sam Ficken’s attempted tackle that earns him this award.  He made it look too easy.

That will do it for Senior Day coverage.  Be sure to come back after you've awoken from your turkey coma and braved the crowds on Black Friday to check out my prediction for Saturday’s game against Wisconsin.  There will be plenty of football to keep you entertained in the meantime, including Matt McGloin’s 3^rd start for the Raiders on Thanksgiving day against the Cowboys.  Don’t worry, Sean Lee is injured, so we don’t have to worry about him trying to sack McGloin.  Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone, and as always, go State!

Week 13 Grades

There’s only one game left in the season.  I can’t believe it flew by so quickly.  We've had the privilege of watching some of the younger Nittany Lions like Christian Hackenberg and Adam Breneman make an immediate impact and grow as the season went on.  Unfortunately, we’re also charged with the task of saying goodbye to an incredible group of seniors who lead Penn State during its darkest hour.  Although they were unable to get a victory that they more than deserved against Nebraska on Senior Day, they fought hard to the very end and showed the determination that has come to characterize this entire season.  I think I speak for all Penn Staters when I say thank you and you will all be missed!  With that said, it’s time for this week’s grades!

Offense

QB: (B+) Hackenberg surpassed my expectations throwing for an impressive 16/33 for 217 yds and 2 TDs.  He also ran for a third TD on a QB sweep for the second week in a row, showing off his surprising running skills.  However, he continues to make mental errors that lead to interceptions, and once again this week he threw a pass to the wrong color jersey.  So far this season he has 16 TDs to 10 INTs.  Not bad for a true freshman, but if he keeps that up next year I’m going to want to see what Tyler Ferguson can do.

OL: (A) Hackenberg routinely had all day to throw and as you’ll see in a second, Zach Zwinak had yet another great day running the ball.  They got a decent push when they needed it and were definitely not the reason for the loss.  A number of starting linemen are seniors, so it was good to see them perform well in their last home game.

RB: (A-) It wasn't exactly their fault, but despite Zwinak’s very impressive 149 yds on 35 carries, he never made it to the endzone.  This was especially disappointing considering it was Zwinak’s Senior Day and at times he was asked to drive the entire length of the field just to watch Hackenberg throw it in the red zone.  Not cool playcalling O’Brien!  Oh, Belton was suffering from strep throat all week and didn't even suit up for the game.  He should be back for this week's game against Wisonconsin though.

WR: (B+) Robinson gets an A here as he collected 106 yds on 8 catches, but, like Zwinak, he was held scoreless.  That makes 4 games in a row that Robinson hasn't scored a TD and I personally think it’s a big reason why he didn't make the finalist list for the Belitnikoff Award.  As for the other receivers, they continue to be absent.  Geno Lewis and Brandon Felder each caught 1 pass, and that’s it.  Hopefully with Robinson most likely headed to the NFL, the other receivers will step it up in the off season.

TE: (A+) Um, more of this please!  Everyone got involved in this game as 2/3 of the TE corps scored a TD and together they caught 6 passes for 83 yds.  This is what I was expecting out of O’Brien and his talented TE group.  But here’s the best part, all 3 of the starters are coming back next year!  Let’s hope we see more games like this!

Defense

DL: (A) Not a lot of stats, although Da’Quan Jones recorded 7 tackles and C.J. Olaniyan added 5 of his own including a sack.  Still, this group consistently brought pressure and held the run game in check for the most part.  Ameer Abdullah’s 147 yds may seem like a lot, but for one of the best running backs in the game, that’s actually a fairly good day for the D-line.

LB: (A) I really hoped that Mike Hull would get an interception on Senior Day.  Alas, he did not, but at least the linebackers played well as a whole.  Carson and Hull were the teams leading tacklers combining for 19 in the game.  It was also nice to see Brandon Bell and Nyeem Wartman step up as they’ll be needed next year to fill in the gaps left by the seniors.

DB: (B-) They weren't terrible as Malcolm Willis and Jordan Lucas were the number 3 and 4 tacklers combing for 17 against the Huskers.  On the other hand, most of Nebraska’s big plays seemed to come through the air and at times the secondary looked a little lost.  I’m holding out hope that this will be the most improved part of the defense come next season.

Special Teams

K: (F) Sorry Ficken, you know we all love you, but that was unacceptable.  In arguably his 2^nd worst game ever Ficken missed an extra point that would have changed the entire course of the game and eventually missed a FG in overtime that allowed Nebraska to win.  He topped it off by allowing a kickoff return for a touchdown for the 2^nd week in a row.  Not good.

P: (C) Alex Butterworth had plenty of chances to show off on his Senior Day as Penn State punted 10 times.  One of those was essentially blocked, which is why he gets a C, but otherwise not much really stood out.  He did OK.

That about wraps up Senior Day 2013.  Again, it wasn't what we wanted, but at least the fans were treated to one heck of a game.  Check back tomorrow for your pre-Thanksgiving Awards, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus for all the latest Penn State football news and notes, and as always, go State!

Week 13 Wrap Up

Senior Day 2013 didn't quite go exactly as planned, and the 2013 senior class didn't get the same magical sendoff that the 2012 group received.  Still, on a cold, windy, and at times even snowy night, the few fans who braved the elements were treated to one of the better games played in Beaver Stadium this season – a good ol’ fashioned Big Ten slugfest full of lead changes and suspense all the way to the very end.  Although Nebraska made plenty of mistakes throughout the game, Penn State seemed to make just a few more, especially on special teams.  In the end, the Cornhuskers walked out of Happy Valley as the only team in three tries this season to beat Penn State in Overtime.  Final score: 23-20.

Overall, the senior-laden defense played fairly well, holding Nebraska to only 1 offensive TD and 2 FGs in regulation.  Three and outs were plentiful for both teams as the frigid conditions seemed to affect more than a few plays.  It probably didn't help the Huskers that 2^nd string QB Tommy Armstrong went down in the first quarter with an injury.  His backup Ron Kellogg III, who looked more like a fullback than a quarterback, took over and made the most of his opportunity.  Kellogg went a respectable 20/34 for 191 yds and a TD, but that paled in comparison to Christian Hackenberg, who despite the cold weather completed 16/33 for 217 yds and 2 TDs.  He also scored his 3^rd rushing TD of the year on a similar play to his TD run in the Purdue game.  Hack’s performance earned him his 4^th Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors this season.  Also of note, with 2,616 yds, Hackenberg is now #5 on the all time Penn State single-season passing yds list.  Remember, this kid is 18!  I can’t wait to see how good he’ll be the next 2 years.

Hackenberg’s top target, Allen Robinson, had yet another outstanding day hauling in 8 catches for 106 yds, but again failed to score a TD.  Senior Zach Zwinak also had himself quite a sendoff rushing 35 times for 149 yds, however, he too did not score.  Instead, on Senior Day, it was the underclassmen tight ends who shined brightest, at least on the scoreboard.  Sophomore Jesse James had 3 receptions for 56 yds including a 46 yd TD pass where he tiptoed down the sideline while stiff arming a defender in the face.  To quote a friend of mine, “How do you stop a 6’ 7” tight end who runs a 4.5 40?  You don’t!”  Fellow sophomore Kyle Carter added 2 catches for 25 yds to the tight end total, and freshman Adam Breneman made his only catch of the night count as he scored his second TD of the season.  Speaking of the tight ends, Bill O’Brien unfortunately revealed during his post-game press conference that he thinks it is very unlikely that Matt Lehman will be granted an additional year of eligibility.  I guess now he’ll have plenty of time to heal up and focus on impressing NFL scouts during the upcoming combine.  Good luck Matt!

But the big story of the night was special teams mistakes.  The usually reliable, if not automatic, Sam Ficken missed the extra point after Penn State’s first TD.  That 1 point would prove to be the difference between a win and overtime.  Then, in overtime, Ficken sent his 37 yd FG wide right.  Nebraska’s Pat Smith would go on to nail his 42 yd FG right down the middle to win the game.  Smith's overtime heroics would also lead to Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors.  Of course, as if all the kicking woes weren't enough, for the second week in a row, Penn State inexplicably allowed a kickoff to be returned for a 99 yd TD.  This time, when Ficken attempted to save the day, Nebraska’s Kenny Bell simply leaped over him.  It looked a little something like this.  If O’Brien can’t fix the special teams by next season, we’re all going to be in for another loooong season.

Anyway, let’s recap my prediction.  I severely underestimated Hackenberg who threw for way more than the 150 yds I foresaw.  Although Allen Robinson surpassed the 100 yds I predicted, he didn't score a TD.  Zwinak missed the 150 yd mark by 1 measly yd and also didn't score a TD, let alone the 2 I thought he would get in his final home game.  Bill Belton did not play due to strep throat.  Neither Jordan Lucas, nor anyone else on the defense for that matter was able to grab an interception and Da’Quan Jones did not record a sack.  Finally, and obviously, Penn State did not win.  Oh well, I got one more game to hopefully do a little better at this whole prognostication thing.

Before I finish up, a quick recruiting note: Today, Penn State picked up a commitment from 4-star Juco DT Tarow Barney.  Barney is only the 2^nd defensive lineman in the 2014 class thus far, joining Antoine White.  The Lions are still waiting on a decision from highly rated DT Thomas Holley.  In the meantime, Juco OT Kareem Are walked away from his visit during the Nebraska game very impressed with Penn State.  Here’s hoping we see his commitment soon! 

Week 13 Prediction

Well folks, it’s finally here, the last home game of the 2013 season.  This week’s contest is against the Nebraska Cornhuskers and is set to kick off at 3:30 on the Big Ten Network.  Being the last home game means that it’s also Senior Day (if I hadn't made that point crystal clear already).  The celebration begins approximately 30 minutes before kickoff when each senior will get their 15 seconds of fame, running onto the field solo as their name is announced.  Little known fact, the Blue Band also celebrates their seniors on Senior Day.  Look closely at the “PSU” formation during pregame and you’ll notice that only the seniors remain standing.  Here at Prime Penn State Football, we like to acknowledge everyone that helps make PSU football games so special, and that includes the Blue Band.  So congratulations to all the seniors, and thank you for everything you've done!  With all of that said, there’s still a football game happening, so let’s get to the breakdown.

The Good

Nebraska is coming off a physically draining game against Michigan State and their #1 nationally ranked defense.  The Huskers lost that game and may be on an emotional low.  Penn State, on the other hand, is coming off a relatively easy win over the hapless Boilermakers of Purdue.  They are most likely well rested and riding an emotional high.  Couple that with the drive to “win one for the seniors” and that may be a recipe for success.  Oh, and it doesn't hurt that it’s a home game.  The Lions have played significantly better at Beaver Stadium than on the road, where they haven’t won a game all season.  Nebraska’s star quarterback Taylor Martinez is out for the game with a lingering injury, which leaves his back up, freshman Tommy Armstrong, to once again carry the load.  Armstrong has never played in a place like Beaver Stadium before and with a 3:30 kick in late November, he’ll have to face night game like conditions.  He has been anything but impressive so far, throwing 7 interceptions in the past 3 games with a completion percentage somewhere in the low 50's.  Penn State’s ever improving secondary, especially the all-senior safety unit, is likely licking their chops at the thought of miscues in the passing game.  The emotion of the day combined with the Huskers’ tendency to turn the ball over have actually led Las Vegas to declare Penn State a 2 point favorite!  Very interesting.

The Bad

Regardless of how poorly Tommy Armstrong plays, Nebraska has plenty of weapons on offensive to help compensate.  Running back Ameer Abdullah is one of the best backs in the entire country, having gone for 100+ yds in every game but one this season (and even in that game, he had 98 yds).  Meanwhile, Kenny Bell is arguably the best receiver in the Big Ten behind Allen Robinson and will be a huge challenge to the Penn State’s cornerbacks.  On paper, Nebraska’s offense and defense are better and more talented than Penn State’s, although not by much.  They’re also bowl eligible and competing for a better bowl selection, so they theoretically have “more to play for.”  As for that incredible Senior Day atmosphere, it happens to fall after many students will have chosen to go home early for the start of Thanksgiving break.  If the number of tickets available (for as low as $11) on the student ticket exchange is any indication, the mighty Penn State student section might be closer to a kitten than a roaring Nittany Lion.  Here’s hoping they prove me wrong.  Oh, and I might as well bring it up one more time; Penn State has gone W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, W this season and that means it's time for a loss.  Maybe they'll finally break the trend?

The Story

The big story is of course Senior Day.  These seniors were part of a special class that went through the death of their legendary head coach, the Sandusky scandal, and NCAA sanctions.  They stuck with the team even when they were permitted to leave without penalty.  They, like the 2012 seniors will be remembered forever at Penn State.  Although they may not have the star power of a Michael Mauti or a Matt McGloin, they were true, loyal Nittany Lions just the same.  On the field, hopefully these seniors can channel that emotion and come out with the victory they deserve.  There are 3 keys to the game.  First, stop the outstanding run game of Nebraska and force Tommy Armstrong to throw.  Second, avoid mistakes, namely turnovers.  I’m talking to you Zwinak, Belton, and Hackenberg!  Judging by their last few games, Nebraska will make plenty of mistakes.  Penn State needs to capitalize on those and limit their own if they hope to win.  Finally, 3^rd downs.  The defense needs to get off the field by holding Nebraska on 3^rd down, and the offensive needs to convert their 3^rd downs.  Again, do that and a victory is more than posisble. 

The Prediction

Alright, so we have a team that much like Minnesota two weeks ago has a strong run game and a questionable defense that Penn State should be able to run the ball on.  I think O’Brien leans on the running game heavily in this game, so Hackenberg will most likely only get around 150 yds.  That won’t stop Allen Robinson from claiming at least 100 of those yds for himself.  He'll also score 1 TD on yet another GIF-worthy catch.  Zwinak will get the bulk of the carries, in part because of his performance the last 2 weeks, and in part because he’s a senior.  I expect him to surpass 150 yds with 2 TDs.  Belton may sneak a 100 spot in there too, and score a TD of his own.  I’m predicting 2, yes 2 interceptions for the defense as Jordan Lucas grabs his 4^th of the season and senior Mike Hull gets his first.  Senior Da’Quan Jones is going to do his best impression of Jordan Hill from last year’s incredible Senior Day win over Wisconsin and get at least 1 sack.  I've been fairly pessimistic about this game up until today, but writing this post may have persuaded me.  Penn State narrowly pulls off the victory in a very entertaining back and forth game.  Final score: 31-27

Enjoy Senior Day everyone, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus for updates throughout the game (especially since it’s on BTN).  Check back on Sunday for the wrap up, and as always, go State!

*Correction from yesterday's post: OG Miles Dieffenbach is NOT a senior, at least not with regard to eligibility and contrary to ESPN.com.  He will not be graduating and will be back for the 2014 season!

Seniors and Recruiting

I apologize in advance as this will be one of the more technical posts I've ever done.  Sorry to those of you who read this blog strictly for entertainment purposes, but it's time to talk some serious football.

This Saturday marks Senior Day 2013, so I'd like to take a moment to talk about this year's seniors.  There are currently 27 seniors on the roster, 17 of which are starters.  5 additional players will be celebrated during Senior Day festivities despite having eligibility left, most notably TE turned OT Garry Gilliam.  Like last year's seniors, these men could have bolted for other programs after the sanctions were announced, but chose to stay at Penn State.  I think I speak for all Penn Staters when I say, thank you so much seniors for staying with us through our darkest hour!  You truly embody the "success with honor" idle that all Penn Staters strive to live up to, and your loyalty will forever be remembered.  Good luck in the next phase of your lives and whatever paths life may lead you down!  Here is a list of the seniors who will be honored during pre-game on Saturday:

Zach Zwinak               RB

Brandon Johnson        RB

Pat Zerbe                   FB

Brandon Smith            FB

Brandon Felder           WR

Alex Kenney*             WR

Matt Lehman**           TE

Garry Gilliam*            OT

Adam Gress               OT

Kevin Blanchard*        OT

John Urschel              OG

Miles Dieffenbach       OG

Eric Shrive                 OG

Bryan Davie*              OG

Ty Howle                    C

Brad Bars                   DE

C.J. Olaniyan              DE

Da’Quan Jones           DT

Kyle Baublitz*            DT

Tyrone Smith              DT

Glenn Carson              LB

Mike Hull                    LB

Malcolm Willis            S

Stephen Obeng-Agyapong S

Ryan Keiser                S

Jesse Della Valle         S

Alex Butterworth          P

* Junior, forgoing final year of eligibility

** Applying for additional year due to injury

With the seniors leaving, it’s time to see what next year’s team will look like without them.  Now, I've criticized O’Brien over the past year for going after too many “skill” position players (QB, RB, WR, CB, S) in recruiting and not focusing on the immediate needs on both lines and at linebacker.  However, when you look at this list of seniors, you start to see the method to his madness.  First of all, Penn State will most likely lose Allen Robinson to the NFL even though he is not a senior, so I’m including him in the following list.  Additionally from the wide receiver group, Brandon Felder and Alex Kenney are graduating.  Although there are plenty of receivers left on the roster, the remaining players, at least that fans are aware of (Geno Lewis, Richy Anderson, Matt Zanellato), are severely lacking in experience.  Thankfully tight end looks food for the future, so that should help Hackenberg out.  The only senior tight end is Matt Lehman, who due to his injury in the first game of the season against Syracuse, is applying for a medical redshirt and could be back next year.  He will be celebrating Senior Day just in case that 6^th year of eligibility is denied.  As for the skill players on the defensive side, cornerback actually looks fine, so I’m very excited to see Jordan Lucas and Adrian Amos leading that group next year.  The safeties, on the other hand, will be decimated by graduation as all but backup Malik Golden are leaving.  So, in summation, the more I look at the situation, the more I understand O’Brien’s recruiting philosophy.

The problem is that Penn State is still lacking tremendously on the offensive line (at all positions), the defensive line (at tackle), and at linebacker.  All of those positions will be left 1 deep at best, and even that 1 deep is comprised almost exclusively of current backup players.  These are also positions that tend to require a year of development to maximize player potential, whereas skill position players tend to be more capable of playing at the college level in their first year.  If O’Brien waits until the 2015 class to recruit more linemen and linebackers, they most likely won’t be ready until the 2016 season.  Now don’t get me wrong, I trust that O’Brien knows exactly what he’s doing.  I’m just saying, to me personally, the current recruiting strategy looks strange on paper.

Oh, we also need a new punter as Alex Butterworth is graduating.  There are no other punters on the current roster.  Also, on special teams, although all of Penn State’s kick/punt returners are coming back (except Jesse Della Valle), none of the current snappers or holders will be returning.  That will need to be sured up as well.

Here’s a position by position breakdown of key players and whether they are staying or leaving:
Offense

QB: Leaving – N/A; Staying – Christian Hackenberg, Tyler Ferguson

FB: Leaving – Pat Zerbe; Staying – N/A

RB: Leaving – Zach Zwinak; Staying – Bill Belton, Akeel Lynch

WR: Leaving – Alex Kenney, Brandon Felder, Allen Robinson; Staying – Geno Lewis, Matt Zanellato, Richy Anderson

TE: Leaving – Matt Lehman (maybe); Staying – Kyle Carter, Jesse James, Adam Breneman

OT: Leaving – Garry Gilliam, Adam Gress, Eric Shrive; Staying – Donovan Smith, Andrew Nelson

OG: Leaving – John Urschel, Miles Dieffenbach; Staying – Angelo Mangiro, Anthony Alosi

C: Leaving – Ty Howle; Staying – Wendy Laurent

Defense

DE: Leaving – C.J. Olaniyan; Staying – Evan Schwan, Deion Barnes, Anthony Zettel

DT: Leaving – Da’Quan Jones, Kyle Baublitz, Tyrone Smith; Staying – Derek Dowrey, Brian Gaia, Austin Johnson

LB: Leaving – Glenn Carson, Mike Hull; Staying – Nyeem Wartman, Gary Wooten, Ben Kline, Brandon Bell, Adam Cole, Charles Idemudia

CB: Leaving – N/A; Staying – Adrian Amos, Jordan Lucas, Trevor Williams, Da’Quan Davis, Jordan Smith, Anthony Smith, Devin Pryor

S: Leaving – Malcolm Willis, Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, Ryan Keiser, Jesse Della Valle; Staying – Malik Golden

Special Teams

K: Leaving – N/A; Staying – Sam Ficken, Chris Gulla

P: Leaving – Alex Butterworth; Staying – N/A

Finally, we’ll take an even closer look at recruiting in the offseason, but with the above lists in mind, this is the basic gist of Penn State’s needs verses like to haves for the 2014 recruiting class:

Needs - fullback, wide receiver, offensive line (all positions), defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, punter

Nice to haves - quarterback, running back, defensive end, cornerback

Hopefully, you can now enjoy Senior Day with a little more knowledge of the seniors and how their departure will affect next year's squad.  Check back tomorrow for my prediction, and as always, go State!

Oh, and here are two great articles by the folks over at OnwardState.com
http://onwardstate.com/2013/11/20/seniors-urschel-gilliam-featured-in-videos/

http://onwardstate.com/2013/11/21/why-you-should-stay-for-saturdays-football-game/

Thank You!

I wanted to do a special post tonight to say thank you to everyone who has read my blog so far this season.  As of last night, I have surpassed 1,000 page views!  I know in the grand scheme of things that doesn't seem like much, but to me it means the world.  I started this blog at the beginning of the season on a whim.  Then, the more I wrote, the more I enjoyed doing it.  And apparently many of you have enjoyed reading it as well.  I'm still not quite sure where this thing is going to take me, but I hope you're all willing to come along for the ride.

Again, I can't say it enough, thank you so much, and go State!

Week 12 Awards

Nothing like an easy win heading into a brutal 2 game final stretch to end the season.  Hopefully the team feels rested up after easily taking care of business against Purdue.  Those kind of games make Awards so much easier.  So without further adieu, here we go!

I think it should be obvious, but the Beast Mode Award this week goes to none other than Zach Zwinak who earned a hat trick of hat tricks!  His 149 yds on 26 carries for 3 TDs was his 3^rd 3 TD game of the season.  He still hasn't gotten control of that fumbling issue, but that’s ok if he keeps putting up numbers like this.

This week’s Transformer Award goes to Eugene “Geno” Lewis who may have stepped up as a decent #2 target for Hackenberg.  Lewis redshirted last year and was poised to do great things this year, but after an amazing catch in the Syracuse game, he’s been mostly relegated to kick returns.  This week, however, he had 3 catches for 19 yds and was the only receiver besides Robinson to catch a pass all game!  Here’s hoping we see more of Geno in the last two games.

The Matrix Award goes to true freshman Adam Breneman.  After being named the #1 tight end recruit in the country last year, it was assumed that Breneman would become a special target for Hackenberg.  But with surprising depth at tight end, many believed he would be redshirted this year.  After Matt Lehman went down in week 1, Breneman was thrown into the lineup.  It took him a while to get used to the college game but on Saturday the Hack-Bren connection finally worked as Breneman scored his first collegiate touchdown!  Overall, he had 2 catches for 11 yds.  Not bad rookie!

It was a little easier to find a winner for the In Disguise Award this week: good ol’ Sam Ficken.  As stated in my previous posts he hit all 6 of his extra points and even a 29 yd field goal.  But it was his successful save of a kick off return for a touchdown that makes him a true unsung hero.  There honestly may not be a fan base that loves their kicker more than Penn State.

Speaking of saving touchdowns, the Megatron Award goes to kick offs.  Not only did our special teams allow one of the worst teams in the country to return a kick off 100 yds for a touchdown, but if it weren't for Ficken they would've done it again.  Our own kick returners did ok taking 3 kicks back for an average of 17.3 yds per return, but that’s not great either.  Does anybody else miss Derrick Williams yet?

That wraps up another week here on the blog.  There’s only 2 games left so get excited!  We most likely won’t win either, but with no bowl game to look forward to, we need to enjoy the football while it lasts.  This week’s game against Nebraska is a 3:30 kick and it’s Senior Day so I expect a huge crowd on hand screaming their lungs out.  Follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus throughout the week, and as always, go State!

Week 12 Grades

It was absolutely gorgeous weather on Saturday.  The sun was shining and the sky was a perfect shade of blue as the 2^nd largest crowd of the season filed into Beaver Stadium to watch what most considered a guaranteed win over the Purdue Boilermakers.  Although there were a couple of mistakes that made it look less lopsided than it actually was, the hapless Purdue squad couldn't capitalize on any of them.  In the end, the Nittany Lions got a relatively easy win as they prepare for a significantly more difficult challenge next week against Nebraska.  Hopefully some of the momentum from this game coupled with the emotion of Senior Day will help get win #7 and send this year’s seniors out with a winning record.  For now, though, let’s get to the grades.

Offense

QB: (A-) Bill O’Brien clearly had a run-heavy game plan, especially after he saw how well it was working, but Hackenberg still managed to rack up 212 yds and both a passing and rushing TD.  His biggest strides weren't on the stat sheet as even the casual observer could see that his understanding of the game and decision making continue to get better each week.  Hack just misses the “A” because he threw an interception.

OL: (A) The line created holes for the running backs all day long.  John Urschel loved it so much that he called the heavy dose of running plays a “dream” for offensive linemen.  Garry Gilliam probably wanted out of that dream when somehow his facemask became fused with the facemask of Purdue defensive lineman Bruce Golston and play had to be temporarily stopped.  Thanks to Gilliam's somewhat self-depricating Twitter feed, however, I can bring you this picture of arguably the funniest moment of the game.

RB: (A+) Wow, even when both running backs fumble, they still manage to have a great day!  Akeel Lynch, fresh back from injury, helped reunite the 3-headed monster which carried the ball a record 54 times for 274 yds.  Now that’s production!  Zwinak had his 3^rd 3-TD game of the year while Belton and Hackenberg added TDs of their own, and the rout was on.

WR: (B+) Only 2 receivers caught passes due to the running game’s dominance.  Robinson just missed the 100 yd mark with 98 yds on 8 catches while Geno Lewis came out of his shell and caught 3 balls for 19 yds.  Given the limited stats the receivers played decently, but not great.  Oh, and we didn't even see Felder, Anderson, or Zanellato… mildly disappointing.

TE: (A+) Jesse James’ 58 yd catch and run was not only his longest play of the year, it was Hackenberg’s too.  That, along with Breneman’s first ever collegiate TD meant it was a landmark day for the tight ends.  Also, this picture from the game program is pretty bad ass.

Defense

DL: (A) Da’Quan Jones, Deion Barnes, Austin Johnson, and Carl Nassib all recorded sacks as the defensive line played a key role in holding Purdue to only 41 yds rushing.  They played great, what more can I say?

LB: (B+) Mike Hull and Nyeem Wartman each got a sack and the linebackers looked very good at times, however, they still need to help with the passing game more as Purdue somehow managed to put up more passing yards than Penn State.  If the defense is going to improve next year, it will start at the linebacker position.

DB: (B+) Jordan Lucas got his 3^rd interception of the season and Adrian Amos spent plenty of time in the backfield leading the team with 6 tackles, 2.5 of which were for a loss.  They’re going to be REALLY good as Penn State’s cornerbacks next year.  But everyone in the secondary got beat at least once by Purdue receivers that had no business beating our defensive backs so they get knocked down a little bit for that.

Special Team

K: (A-) Sam Ficken hit a 29 yarder and all 6 of his extra points.  There was a kick return for a TD where Ficken basically fell over trying to save it, but he executed a perfect tackle the second time Purdue tried to run one back, so he gets a good grade.

P: (N/A) Alex Butterworth should have just gone out and tailgated with some fans during the game because he didn't see the field once during this game.  That hasn't happened since 1997!

That will about do it for the grades this week.  Thankfully they’re much improved over last week.  Let’s all hope that trend continues into next week and the trend of going W, L, W, L, W, L ends with Nebraska.  Come back tomorrow for the weekly Awards, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus, and as always, go State! 

*Side Note: Former walk on Penn State QB Matt McGloin started his first ever NFL game with the Oakland Raiders.  He had a very impressive debut beating the Houston Texans and becoming the first undrafted free agent rookie QB to throw for 3 TDs in a game since 1987!  Congratulations Matt!

Week 12 Wrap Up

Now that was fun!  Penn State took it to the Purdue Boilermakers in front of a surprisingly raucous home crowd (the 2^nd largest of the season), eventually winning 45-21.  Yet even that lopsided score doesn't express just how dominant Penn State was in this game as they more than doubled Purdue’s first downs and nearly doubled their yardage.  Every star on the Penn State roster had a big game as the hapless Boilers provided a much needed confidence boost to the struggling Lions.  Hopefully that confidence carries over to next week for Senior Day, and the last home game of the season, against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Let me preface this by saying that Purdue is truly awful.  They are just as bad as I predicted they would be, maybe worse.  Even when Penn State was playing poorly, Purdue was incapable of capitalizing on mistakes.  So the following statistics are expected.  With that said, a fun little blowout like this is always good for some stat padding.  That’s why I’ll be doing things a little bit differently today.  Here’s the numbers!

- Christian Hackenberg didn't have the superstar performance that I predicted, but he didn't do bad either.  He went a respectable 16/23 for 212 yds and a TD.  The bad news is he threw an interception.  The good news is he ran for a touchdown on a play that gave new meaning to the term “quarterback sneak.”  It appeared as if no one knew who had the ball until Hackenberg was already in the endzone, untouched.  Interestingly, Robinson was wide open on the play and seemed upset that he didn't get the ball.

- Speaking of Robinson, he also underperformed statistically (at least, compared to his usual jaw dropping numbers), but he still managed to look like he was putting up video game stats.  On paper, he had 8 catches for 98 yds and no TDs.  In reality, he was clutch whenever the offense needed him to be.  Robinson also broke his own single-season receptions record which now stands at 81 and continued to add to his single-season yardage record.

- Zach Zwinak was arguably the hero of the game as he rushed for 149 yds on 26 carries.  More importantly he scored 3 TDs for the 3^rd time this season.  He did fumble, but managed to recover it.  I guess those new gloves didn't help very much.

- Zwinak’s counterpart Bill Belton was technically the starter for the game and ran for 81 yds on 19 carries of his own in addition to scoring the first TD of the game before Zwinak decided to set up camp in the endzone.  Belton was not able to recover his fumble, but luckily it didn't lead to Purdue points.

- Adam Breneman scored his first college TD by somehow contorting his body like one of the cheerleaders.  Those body control skills are part of the reason he was the #1 ranked TE recruit coming out of high school.  Here's a picture of him celebrating the TD with Robinson and Jesse James a mere 8 rows from me!

- On the defensive side of the ball, 6 players recorded a sack including my prediction Da’Quan Jones.  Also, Mike Hull and Adrian Amos each added tackles for a loss.  I’d like to take a moment and clear something up; Deion Barnes has 2.5 sacks this season, so technically this was NOT his “2^nd sack of the year.”  He made this point very clear on Twitter, so I figured I would share.  The defense forced 3 turnovers, including 2 fumbles and an interception by Jordan Lucas that yours truly predicted.  Overall, the unit held Purdue to just 14 first downs and only 41 yds rushing.  Impressive!

- Sam Ficken hit a 29 yard field goal and all 6 of his extra points, but his finest moment was on a kickoff.  After Purdue returned one kickoff for a TD, it looked like they might do it again until Sam Ficken threw himself at the returner’s legs and took him out.  To all the kickers out there, this was textbook.

- Finally, punter Alex Butterworth worked on his tan in the bright rays of a beautiful early afternoon sun because his services were never required.  And that’s got to be a pretty nice feeling.

There are only 2 games left in the season, 1 home and 1 away.  Both are against fairly good teams, so this was possibly Penn State’s last win of the season.  It was great to see a solid performance by everyone on the team.  Hopefully they can put together a similar effort next week on Senior Day so the seniors can go out ringing the victory bell.  I’ll be back tomorrow with the grades.  Follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus and as always, go State!