Week 10 Grades

Sorry I’m a day late with the grades, I know I promised them for Sunday.  I was out saving the world from Decepticons… or just doing some work around the house that needed to get done, take your pick.  In my defense I usually don’t get the wrap up done on Saturday (watching other football), so Mondays are typically grade day regardless.  Still, better late than never, which is fitting considering the outcome of Saturday’s game.  With all that said, let’s roll out some week 11 grades!

Offense

QB: (C) Christian Hackenberg was back after injuring his shoulder against Ohio State.  He performed well going 20/32 for 240 yds and a TD, but continued to overthrow receivers throughout the game.  What was most disturbing, though, was his body language.  Anyone watching the game knew something was off.  He didn't seem like he even wanted to be there… until the end that is.  Hack always seems to turn it on in the final 2 minutes.  Now if we can just get him to do that for 4 quarters.

OL: (B+) When you pave the way for a 200 yd rusher, you’re doing something right!  However, the line needs to work on pass protection and give Hackenberg more room/time to work with.  There was an interesting change up as O’Brien benched monster left tackle Donovan Smith in favor of the equally large Adam Gress (nicknamed Sasquatch).  Former tight end Garry Gilliam took over full time at right tackle thanks to the switch.  I’ll wait until the Minnesota game to see if I like the new configuration.

RB: (A+) Bill Belton put up 201 yds!!!  Want to know how impressive that is?  No Penn State rusher has broken the 200 yd barrier since Larry Johnson.  Yep.  Belton also broke his own single game records for yds and carries (36).  I still love Zwinak, but Belton looks like the real deal for the foreseeable future.

WR: (A-) I think we might be getting a little spoiled as Allen Robinson had yet another great game with 11 catches for 165 yds.  Are we so jaded that we have just come to expect this every week?  Or are we simply trying to forget the fact that the better he does, the better chance of him leaving at the end of the season?  Meanwhile, I almost dropped this grade down because no one else is stepping up behind Robinson.  I thought Felder would be the guy, but he dropped 2 potential game winners at the end of regulation.  Don’t do that!

TE: (B) They’re back after last week's disappearing act.  The three healthy tight ends combined for 4 catches and 30 yds.  Kyle Carter got the game winning touchdown, but he wouldn't have needed to if Jesse James’ penalty hadn't negated Bill Belton’s original game winning TD.  Hopefully they keep it up against Minnesota.

Defense

DL: (B+)Yes, the defense overall looked bad, but not these guys.  They continue to be by far the best unit on this still young defense.  They constantly got pressure and harassed Nathan Scheelhaase all day long.  Go back and watch that interception in OT.  Ryan Keiser may get all the attention, but it was the line that got in the QB’s face and forced the throw.

LB: (C-) They didn't do as much wrong as the secondary, but they didn't do as much right either.  Hull led the team in tackles with 13, so there’s that I guess.  Defenses usually live and die with linebacker play, and this defense isn't very good; that should tell you something.  Penn State’s linebacking play has been mediocre at best.  Now, to be fair, they’re probably the single most under-manned group on the team.  But this is Linebacker U and Vanderlindin needs to find some way of getting these guy in shape to carry on that name.

DB: (C+) I know what you’re going to say.  Yet again, this group deserves a much lower grade.  But with 2 interceptions, including the game-clincher, it’s hard to go any lower than this.  Some guys like Jesse Della Valle are playing out of their minds.  Others, like Adrian Amos, aren't playing up to their potential.  They’re young, inexperienced, and give up way too many big plays.  But winning (or in this case intercepting the ball) silences a lot of criticism.

Special Teams

K: (C+) Sure Ficken hit the field goal that sent the game into OT, but that would've been the game winner if he had hit his other field goal earlier in the game.  He gets a C for effort, but mistakes like that could cost Penn State in the future.  Come back Mr Automatic!

P: (A) Frankly, I don’t even care about the stats, I’m sure they were fine.  Alex Butterworth gets an A, as in Academy Award, for the acting job he did on this “running into the kicker” penalty that continued a drive.  He got lucky that the refs were so flag-happy, because that should NOT have been a penalty.  What sucked even more was that the very drive he saved stalled again just a few plays later.  Oh well, at least he tried!

Well that will do it for grades this week.  Check back tomorrow for this week’s awards and as always, follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus for all the latest news and notes about Penn State football.  Go State!