Week 3 Awards

It’s been a crazy week, but we've finally come to the end of our coverage of the Rutgers game.  As you know, Penn State completed yet another late game comeback to pull out the win in Piscataway to the tune of 13-10.  Down 0-10 at the half, James Franklin and his staff only had their locker room speeches to pump up the team and come away with a road victory.  I guess it worked because in the second half the defense clamped down even harder and the offense finally got going enough to put some points on the board.  This week should be a little more easy against UMass, but let’s finish things up with the weekly awards!

By the way, see if you can guess the theme this week, and no I didn't play it that way, it just happened.

This week, the Beast Mode Award goes to DT Anthony Zettel for his 4 tackles (all solo), 3 for a loss, and 1 sack.  I wasn't the only one who noticed as he was also named the Athlon Sports Big Ten Player of the Week.  Zettel’s contributions have been instrumental so far this season in stopping opponents’ run games and pressuring their QBs.  He has served as one of the key pieces of Penn State’s surprisingly stout defense, which will be needed as long as the offense is struggling.

Next up, the Transformer Award goes to CB Trevor Williams for transforming into our new permanent 2^nd CB opposite Jordan Lucas.  Williams' 2 interceptions led the way to Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors, and gave the still young corner a lot more confidence and legitimacy.  We've been waiting for someone to step up at this position for some time, and it looks like the coaching staff has finally found their man.

Penn State has struggled in the return game for some time now, so it’s great to see a true freshman lend his talents to the special teams.  That’s why this week, the Matrix Award goes to backup CB Grant Haley.  He’s been on the verge of breaking away basically all season, but always seems to get tripped up by the last guy.  It’s only a matter of time before he scores 6 on a kickoff, and because he’s a freshmen we’ll have him around getting even better for the next 3 seasons!

Sometimes it’s hard to determine a defensive player’s impact because statistics can only measure so much in football.  That’s why I’m giving the In Disguise Award to DE Deion Barnes.  He only had 2 tackles, 1 for a loss and the other a sack, and 2 QB hurrys, but those numbers only tell half the story.  Barnes was in Rutgers QB Gary Nova’s face all game.  Even if he didn't get the sack, he forced Nova into making bad throws, or forced runners up the middle into the waiting arms of Zettel and Austin Johnson.  Barnes is starting to look like his freshman self again, and that’s good news for the whole team.

Last but… well, definitely least, the Megatron Award goes to Penn State’s offensive line.  These guys seem to have no idea how to maintain a pocket for Hackenberg, nor open up holes for the running game, and they don't have the ability to generate any push on short yardage situations.  It’s been well documented, but it still bears repeating, this offensive line needs to get it together fast.  I was thinking about giving this to Gary Nova for his 5 interceptions, but that doesn't make him a thorn in PSU’s side, it makes him an asset.

Alright that will wrap things up for this week.  Be sure to come back on Friday for my prediction against UMass, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @PSUOptimus, and as always, go State!