appoo
Hall of Famer
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 15499
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Biggest non-conference game we've played in a LONG time, considering both teams' aspirations, so let's try to get to know what PSU is up against.
Here's a likely starting line up (from a Bama fan on Rivals)
QB- Greg Mcelroy 3*
RB- Mark Ingram 4*
WR- Julio Jones 5*
WR- Marquis Maze 3*
WR- Darius Hanks 3*
TE- Micheal Williams 4*
LT- James Carpenter 4*
LG- Chance Warmack 3*
C- William Vlachos 3*
RG- Barret Jones 4*
RT- DJ Fluker 5*
LE- Marcel Dareus 3*
RE- Luther Davis 4*
DT- Josh Chapman 3*
LB- Courtney Upshaw 4*
LB- Nico Johnson 5*
LB- Donta Hightower 4*
LB- Jerrell Harris 4*
CB- Dre Kirkpatrick 5*
CB- Burton Scott 5*
FS- Robby Green 4*
SS- Mark Barron 4*
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McElroy can't beat us throwing the ball. The tandem of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson is easily the best in America. Ingram is a power back who reminds me of a faster Tony Hunt, while Richardson is speed demon with reasonable size. A good comparison might be a faster version of Joe McKnight, without the flashy moves.
At receiver, Julio Jones is a possession receiver who has good speed. However, he might be the most physical receiver in the college game since Braylon Edwards. The other recievers are a bit faster, but the passing game of Alabama is not what will beat you.
Bama's offensive line is built grade the road - and they do it very well. They're big and strong, but not especially athletic - you can get to their QB as Texas showed.
In general, it's an offense that Joe Paterno would be proud of. They wear you out with their size and strength, and the power and speed of their two RBs. They like to go play action, they have an NFL style passing game (intermediate and deep, a lot of use of the TE), and use bubble screens as a change of pace.
Defensively, this might be a weakness for Bama. They have to replace 9 starters, but in returning Donta Hightower from injury, might have the best defensive player in America (if he returns in full ability). The defense isn't built like your speed-based SEC defense, it's built like an old school Big 10 defense. They don't blitz a lot, they're DLine are built to stop the run, rather than pressure the QB (though they'll probably do that very well). The secondary is going to fast and strong, and you can count on Nick Saban giving our QB a barrage of different looks. If you're looking for a player to watch out for in the secondary, it's Dre Kirkpatrick, who they'll ask to be their shut down corner.
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Blue&White
Hall of Famer
Reged: 10/17/03
Posts: 17448
Loc: Right here
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McElroy can't beat us throwing the ball.
Our secondary was fairly average last year. I think it remains to be seen what it is like this year but I would not be surprised if we have more than a few kinks to work out for this game. I think if Bama runs a short passing game they can pick us apart.
We lose two key guys at the LB position in Lee and Bowman. Getting pressure up front is not a given.
I don't really love us in this game. Just too many questions for my liking.
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I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!
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tempe
Split End
Reged: 10/26/03
Posts: 264
Loc: tempe, az
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Am I correct in believing that State generally does a good job stopping big time running backs?
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PennState03Chris
Running Back By Committee
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 3285
Loc: Princeton, NJ
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tempe,
I think that is true when that RB is the entire offense.
appoo,
If Pryor can beat us (as he did last year), than McElroy can more than beat us.
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HAIL! to the Lion, loyal and true.
HAIL! Alma Mater, with your white and blue
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thenewlama
Split End
Reged: 10/29/04
Posts: 1166
Loc: Nirvana
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We are going to get our butts handed to us
> PSU struggles (especially offensively) in big away games
> 1st year staring QB, 1st year starting LT, RT against a powerhouse D = OUCH
> Losing Odrick, Hull, Lee, Bowmann is a big hole to plug for stopping run
> Losing Lee, Clark - alot of leadership went with the talent.
PSU will lose this game by double digits - probably 3 scores.
Unless Alabama is a really cool place to visit this could be a real buzz kill if you make the trip - I've been to a long trip road game where PSU laid an egg - it ain't fun.
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You can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you, that's vanity
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appoo
Hall of Famer
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 15499
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Somewhat disagree with the Pryor comment. He definitely hurt us running the ball, but he basically made one big throw the entire game, and that was off of play action, up 17 - 7, and they had already mown us over and worn us out with their running game. Agree with your comment regarding the running back though.
My comment was more of a reflection of McElroy rather than our D. From what we saw of him last season, he's a John Schaffer style QB. IMO the only thing that CNS will ask him to do is not screw up. That said, they're going to take their shots off of play action and such, so they should have a bit of balance going.
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Llama, I think Bama can be had. While I agree that we generally look a bit underwhelming on the road in big games, I like the make up of our offense - it's a veteran bunch with the exception of one position at QB, and RT. They won't be fazed, and Bama is going to come in, IMO - over confident. The last time we went on the road like this was against Notre Dame and they had a very good passing attack that took advantage of a very young secondary, not to mention overwhelmed a basically new OLine.
This PSU team is very talented, hopefully they show it.
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Crowbar
Lion Grand Poohbah
Reged: 01/11/06
Posts: 2571
Loc: West Chester, PA
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Unless Alabama comes out and completely lays an egg and Penn State plays the game of their lives, I think the Tide rolls somewhere around 35-14.
With that said I hope we shelve the White House for this season and bring it back for the Alabama game in 2011.
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Nat'l Champs 1911 1912 1969 1981 1982 1986 1994
Since 08: Penn State 172, State of Michigan 55
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thenewlama
Split End
Reged: 10/29/04
Posts: 1166
Loc: Nirvana
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Another concern for PSU IMO is special teams - in a big road game SU is a team that need a contribtuion from the special teams.
Breaking in a new punter, Wagner is still a ? beyond 35 yards and let's all hope and pray we do a little better returning the ball on punts.
If this game were in November I'd give PSU an upset chance but too many untested guys in key positions to pull this off away in September.
Of course it's April - never know who is going to emerge as a player, who might get injured, or might get suspended/kicked off team - and that goes for both teams.
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You can't stop what's coming, it ain't all waiting on you, that's vanity
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PennState03Chris
Running Back By Committee
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 3285
Loc: Princeton, NJ
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FOS put together a video of PSU's open practice from last week. They showed about 10 seconds of kids catching punts. Guess what they were practicing? Fair catching...
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HAIL! to the Lion, loyal and true.
HAIL! Alma Mater, with your white and blue
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appoo
Hall of Famer
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 15499
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Is Justin Brown doing the fair catching?
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PennState03Chris
Running Back By Committee
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 3285
Loc: Princeton, NJ
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Whoever was getting the first team reps at free safety, I'm sure. I mean, that's how PSU does it, right? Why put a skill guy who is used to catching and running with the ball back there to return punts when you can have a starting safety?
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HAIL! to the Lion, loyal and true.
HAIL! Alma Mater, with your white and blue
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appoo
Hall of Famer
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 15499
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I could have sworn Justin Brown was returning punt in the Cap One bowl, but that might have been a jet lag dream of mine, as I had just returned from India the day I watched the game.
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PennState03Chris
Running Back By Committee
Reged: 11/19/03
Posts: 3285
Loc: Princeton, NJ
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He did return one or two.
I truly wonder what percentage of punts we 1) return, 2) fair catch, and 3) allow to hit the ground. I've never witnessed a coaching staff so scared of actually being aggressive re: punt returns. It is as if the staff tells these kids 1) If the defenders are outside of a 15 yard radius, you can catch and return, 2) if the defenders are between 5 - 15 yards away, fair catch, and 3) If the defenders are within 5 yards, let it hit the ground.
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HAIL! to the Lion, loyal and true.
HAIL! Alma Mater, with your white and blue
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Phil
Lion Grand Poohbah
Reged: 07/06/06
Posts: 2011
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Not responding to anyone in particular, but here we are nearly 3 weeks away from the Spring game and almost 5 months from playing games that count and already the hate begins - unbelievable.
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Carl Spackler
Flanker
Reged: 10/24/03
Posts: 3125
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Guess you'll have to define "hate" for me.
I saw optimism and realism based on past practice. I didn't see hate and think that word is used too quickly in too many situations. To me the word hate is extremely directed and focused on volatile issues. Discussing PSU football is not capable of hate emotion unless you are a Pitttttter or something like that which I KNOW you are not. To disagree is not hate any more than to agree is love. 
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Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.
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