Penn State.

[The Ancient Enemy]

At the beginning of the season, I knew PSU had issues but I also knew the B10 had no returning QBs better than Clark, and that the B10 as a whole would be even worse than last year. I figured that, even with PSU's question marks, they would still probably win (or split) the B10 title.

After tonight, it looks like that OL question mark is quite a bit larger than I thought. They have Wisnewski at C because there's no real backup, but the move to C for Wiz was a mistake. He blew a lot of blocks tonight and his snaps are STILL low/high/erratic. But, they really have no alternative right now.

Landolt, the Senior LT, should have been the stabilizing force on the OL. You and I saw how bad those Iowa DE's physically manhandled Landolt and Pannell. Pannell I think has a lot of upside, but Jesus lord they got brutalized.

There are OL issues, but on the bright side, two things:

1. They only lose Landolt. In 2010, the OL will be 4/5 intact, and the T recruiting has been solid. (filling the Landolt graduation void)

2. They will not play a DL as good as Iowa's the rest of the season, with the exception of Ohio State. Michigan's DL has been pushed around all season, and I have not been impressed by the tackles and ends at Wisconsin, NW, Ill, etc. So, wht OL questions, this is a good thing to have ahead of you.

Darryl Clark played the worst game of his life. A lot of problems were the OL, but he was high on all his throws and it was very ugly.

People can say what they want about "one player doesn't make or break a team" but consider that the best player on the defense, Lee, was out and was replaced by Gdabyu. Gdabyu was run straight at all night, could not shed a block to save his own life, takes horrible angles in pursuit, and was physically dominated all evening. You would expect as much from a 3rd teamer, which is what he is, since Stupar was ALSO out.

Josh Hull has a great mustach and is a great story (walk-on) but he has no hips, gets murdered in pass coverage, gets lured out of position constantly, and often times misses tackles where he has to adjust. He simply should not be playing. And, he wasn't going to be. Lee was supposed to be inside and Mauti was going to play OLB opposite Bowman. Mauti was lost for the season in preseason practice and it honestly changed everything. We are now married to Josh Hull, because no one else can cover the outside as well as Mauti and Lee and Bowman.

Bowman played a great game, but didn't see much action because Iowa was smart enough to take advantage of 3rd teamer Gdabyu.

Secondary is still playing too big of cushions. Sukay was hit or miss all night, you'd expect that from a 1st-year starter, but he needs to be consistent. Astorino played pretty well.

Moye played a very solid game, as did Quarless.

The DL did not get much pressure. I'm not as concerned with this, b/c those DE's are young and new.

The main problem is the conservative approaches on both sides, and in addition to that the OL. BUT... the only team that *should* possibly beat them is Ohio State.

Bad thing about Iowa is that they played wonderful on defense and they will turn around and lose 3 conference games to teams they should beat by 30 points.

[MountainMan]

if Iowa. gets beat that just shows how bad pennstate is .Top 25 at best

[retro1530]

if Iowa. gets beat that just shows how bad pennstate is .Top 25 at best

Stop saying the same thing in every thread. Go back to your mountain.

I have pretty much the same thoughts about the team, TAE. Iowa is a lot better than people give them credit for. Even though Penn State didn't play well, it's still tough to come into Beaver Stadium at night and come out with a win.

[ham55]

How much does this feel like 2004? The PSU defense gave up 10 points all night(minus the pointless FG that the offense handed to Iowa) and the end result was 21 points on the board for Iowa.

You can point out the weaknesses on that side of the ball but the severity of the problems for PSU are on the offensive side of the ball.

Back to the defense. If Josh Hull is going to remain on the field on passing downs, he should be relegated to a blitzing LB in every situation. He can't cover and he sure can't make a tackle in space.

[abpk2903]

I'm not going to be as hard on Hull as you guys. He does have an INT this season and numerous times I can remember him breaking up passes. It might not look pretty but remember he play MLB they need to cover but that is just one of the many responsibilities he has. Its not like he plays corner and struggles covering. I think Hull is still much improved from last season. Last year it seemed like he got drug 2 or 3 yards on every tackle whereas this year he seems to stand everyone straight up. He also comes off blocks and plugs holes much better. And I think he got a bit quicker. Hull is not the problem.

[The Ancient Enemy]

That's sugarcoating, ABPK.

Hull is not much better than 2008. The kid simply cannot make tackles where they are not straight ahead. He has no hips, and his pass coverage is beyond abyssmal. He gets lured out of position all the time, and when he DOES stay in position, he simply cannot cover. He is very flatfooted. When you see teams throw the ball right heind the MLB, guess who's space that is.

Josh Hull is very lucky that Stanzi was erratic most of last night.

Hull's INT... come on, now. You and I both would have made that catch.

The worst player out there last night was Gdabyu, a 3rd teamer who had to start.

[abpk2903]

Yeah but you or I would not have been in position to make that catch. I have seen Hull cover the flat better than ANY MLB in recent history. Teams are running away from him too which should tell you something. He obviously isn't a Lee or Bowman but not many are. I think you are underrating his pass coverage also. Its easy to point the finger at him because athletically he isn't as good as the rest of the LB corps but he has played well.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Where do you even want me to start?

I have seen Hull cover the flat better than ANY MLB in recent history.

Do you only watch Penn State games in which Josh Hull is on the field? Josh Hull is the worst MLB since at least 1987. The only player who has a chance to match his terrible play is Gino Capone.

Teams are running away from him too which should tell you something.

What games have you been watching? Last night, as the USC game, Hull stood there like a traffic cop pointing at people running right past him.

I think you are underrating his pass coverage also.

Did you not see what USC did to Josh Hull? Did you not see the plays last night where Iowa lured Hull out of position? If Stanzi was an accurate passer they would have beaten Penn State by 30 points!

Its easy to point the finger at him because athletically he isn't as good as the rest of the LB corps but he has played well.

He's not just the worst LB, he's the worst starter on defense. A senior... with 15 games starting experience at his position... is the worst player on the defense. The kid has been a detriment since the beginning of 2008. You can't just play a kid b/c its a nice story. So is Little House on the Prairie. But you don't see anyone lining up to get Michael Landon a MLB job.

For what its worth, dead Michael Landon is better than Josh Hull.

Penn State is married to Josh Hull until 2010 because Mauti got hurt. They literally instituted more blitz packages because of Mauti's athleticism. Well, he got hurt, which forced Lee to move back outside. Guess who's spot he was taking? That's right, Josh Hull's. Guess who's spot Mauti was taking on the outside, since the OLB battle raged in the preseason due to Lee being inside? That's right, a sophomore with no experience beat out a kid who started 12 games last season and is a senior... aka Josh Hull. They need Lee outside because Hull is too slow on the outside. The Mauti injury drastically changed the look of the starting defense.

Let me repeat this again, since you seem hell bent on defending the worst LB in recent PSU history: Josh Hull started 12 games as a Junior and lost his job inside to a kid coming off an ACL injury that never played MLB. He then lost his OLB job to a sophomore with no experience. Do you speak English?

[pats39]

all this hate for the guy

[abpk2903]

Agree to disagree.