Mr All Turk: Oliver
It's gotta be tough coming in off the bench but he made the plays and surprised the hell out of me. It wasn't pretty but he got it done. Others under consideration: Jackson, Harris
All Turk Awards: Vitale, Vault, Scanlon, Mitchell [money when game is on the line], Oliver, Long, Christian Jones, AC, Frazier, Walker, Smith, Hall, Harris, Van Hoose, Godwin, Henry, Gibson
Head Coach: Fitz: Grade A
his team showed a no quit attitude. Two 4th quarter comebacks in the big ten is a sign of a very good football team. I didn't prefer him trying to burn the clock for a 45+ yard FG but thank God, Franklin came through for us again and allowed us to run two more plays to cut down 9 more yards for Mitchell. Very disciplined ball, fairly prepared although they struggled against the wildcat. This team makes some bonehead plays and misses opportunities but the bottom line is that they are finishing games, and that's what counts.
Offensive Coordinator: McCall: Grade B
For the second week in a row, the priority was getting the ball to guys who can actually catch the ball, i.e., our superbacks. I'll have to look at the film later but it appeared that he also had a new formation placing Vitale just off tackle and using him to seal a LB, while having another blocker out there as well. Jackson continually ran the same direction where Vitale lined up and had fantastic success with this as Vitale had TREMENDOUS blocking all day long on that edge. He did do a few RB screens as PSU was coming up field but PSU had them covered. I would like McCall to move the pocket as opposed to just bootlegging it. Nonetheless, he had little tendencies and I'm not sure it was ever noticeable what the next play would be as we even kept pushing it downfield with Oliver. That said, McCall is useless at getting Vault the ball, and doesn't seem to know Long is on the team other than a couple plays a game. Long is Jason Wright all over again. A true load with speed. Having him/Vault and Jackson in the game at the same time should be a no brainer. Our offense has been largely ineffective. For that reason, McCall gets a downgrade to a B.
Defensive Coordinator: Grade B
The defensive play calling was too predictable. On the all out blitzes, PSU just dinked RB screens. He knew the wildcat was coming but we really struggled on this. Some zone blitzes were effective, especially with Gibson dropping off.
Special Teams: Grade B+
Kickoff team....very very good. Booming kicks, and also the last squibb was beautiful
Kickoff Return: Excellent. Anytime the opposition has to kick the squibs on all of its kicks giving us the ball past the 25, that's great. Vault is better than Mark on this. 3 KOR in two years? R U KIddn me? How the hell can we get this guy the ball on offense. C'mon McCall!
Punt Return: C Thank God we recovered the muff.
Punt: A Great kicks all day long and WELL PLACED. Field possession was awesome as a result.
FG Unit: C+ I give them an upgrade from a D due to the winning kick but even that kick was a disaster. The longsnapper rolls the ball but Scanlon made a big play for us and got the ball placed. One partial block and two misses.
WR: Grade B
nice catch by AC 'in the morning' and nice catch and run by McHugh for a key first down. Onward Christian Jones had a great game blocking and nice catches. Vitale and G Dick were awesome blocking and catching.
OL: Grade B-
I know some will say that I'm nuts but this OL didn't do the job even though Fitz and others, and the stats would indicate. Most of the yards by Jackson was the work on outside blocking by Vitale and WR's. Olson needs serious work. North still can't snap the ball. And Butler needs to be prepared next time. 3 penalties in 6 plays. C'mon maaaannnn! Frazier did a good job and Mogus as well but Hence and Olson and North had issues. That said, they really were moving the pile on those last few plays and gave Oliver good protection on that 3rd and 14. For finishing that last drive, I give them an upgrade to a B-.
QB: Grade B
Oliver, imo, gave us all he has and more. Grade A. A few inexperienced plays by him but he moved the team on that last drive and moved the team otherwise on occasion with a TD and a run TD. Thankfully, PSU dropped two surefire INT's although they nabbed another. Several overthrown balls but he didn't let it bother him and made the plays when it counted.
THorson: Incomplete. Looked good although it was punt after punt with him. They just never finished a drive. Really proud he went for the sticks and took that big hit although he didn't get the first. Has a hip injury but heard he will be fine next week.
RB: Grade A
very nice blitz pickups, nice runs by Jackson and Long. No fumbles. Very very good.
DL: Grade B
Got a bit gassed and became thoroughly confused on the wildcat. A shame because otherwise I thought they controlled the LOS and shut down a good RB. Ifeadi was faked out of his jock by Hackenburg way too many times. I expect Ifeadi to start making plays. It's what he does so there is no excuse for him to either be a half step away or get faked out by a QB routinely. C'mon Ifeadi, you should have had 5 sacks the last two weeks, bro. Lowry was solid but gave up containment on one long run. I like him on the end as opposed to the DT on the passing downs. Xwas had a solid game and interesting play. Gibson was SOLID. Lancaster very good play. Looked like Robbins got a bit dinged up, dunno. Thompson had nice play.
LB: Grade B
good play bad play. Smith looked good. Walker had some really really nice plays but really struggled mightedly on the wildcat. Almost had a pick 6. Real nice sack at the right time. Hall looked REALLY REALLY good and had a nice read on PSU's 3rd and 1 at the end. Prater had a lower leg injury and didn't play another play after the 3rd play of the game.
DB: Grade A
Except for the trick play that burned Van Hoose for a TD [although he was there to cover, he was out of position] otherwise, these guys locked things down as in BIGTIME. Especially Harris. Harris and Van Hoose both missed INT"s although Van Hoose did have one and a pick 6 opportunity. With Harris back, this defense is awesome. Very good play by Godwin this week other than getting suckered on one outside screen that was really a deep outside route that went for 30 yards. The only other poor play with the safeties was on a 3rd down play when our CB's played the LOS and refused to allow the wr off the los, however a RB did a wheel on the outside along the sidelines for a big gainer. But the bottom line is that this unit deserves an A.
It's gotta be tough coming in off the bench but he made the plays and surprised the hell out of me. It wasn't pretty but he got it done. Others under consideration: Jackson, Harris
All Turk Awards: Vitale, Vault, Scanlon, Mitchell [money when game is on the line], Oliver, Long, Christian Jones, AC, Frazier, Walker, Smith, Hall, Harris, Van Hoose, Godwin, Henry, Gibson
Head Coach: Fitz: Grade A
his team showed a no quit attitude. Two 4th quarter comebacks in the big ten is a sign of a very good football team. I didn't prefer him trying to burn the clock for a 45+ yard FG but thank God, Franklin came through for us again and allowed us to run two more plays to cut down 9 more yards for Mitchell. Very disciplined ball, fairly prepared although they struggled against the wildcat. This team makes some bonehead plays and misses opportunities but the bottom line is that they are finishing games, and that's what counts.
Offensive Coordinator: McCall: Grade B
For the second week in a row, the priority was getting the ball to guys who can actually catch the ball, i.e., our superbacks. I'll have to look at the film later but it appeared that he also had a new formation placing Vitale just off tackle and using him to seal a LB, while having another blocker out there as well. Jackson continually ran the same direction where Vitale lined up and had fantastic success with this as Vitale had TREMENDOUS blocking all day long on that edge. He did do a few RB screens as PSU was coming up field but PSU had them covered. I would like McCall to move the pocket as opposed to just bootlegging it. Nonetheless, he had little tendencies and I'm not sure it was ever noticeable what the next play would be as we even kept pushing it downfield with Oliver. That said, McCall is useless at getting Vault the ball, and doesn't seem to know Long is on the team other than a couple plays a game. Long is Jason Wright all over again. A true load with speed. Having him/Vault and Jackson in the game at the same time should be a no brainer. Our offense has been largely ineffective. For that reason, McCall gets a downgrade to a B.
Defensive Coordinator: Grade B
The defensive play calling was too predictable. On the all out blitzes, PSU just dinked RB screens. He knew the wildcat was coming but we really struggled on this. Some zone blitzes were effective, especially with Gibson dropping off.
Special Teams: Grade B+
Kickoff team....very very good. Booming kicks, and also the last squibb was beautiful
Kickoff Return: Excellent. Anytime the opposition has to kick the squibs on all of its kicks giving us the ball past the 25, that's great. Vault is better than Mark on this. 3 KOR in two years? R U KIddn me? How the hell can we get this guy the ball on offense. C'mon McCall!
Punt Return: C Thank God we recovered the muff.
Punt: A Great kicks all day long and WELL PLACED. Field possession was awesome as a result.
FG Unit: C+ I give them an upgrade from a D due to the winning kick but even that kick was a disaster. The longsnapper rolls the ball but Scanlon made a big play for us and got the ball placed. One partial block and two misses.
WR: Grade B
nice catch by AC 'in the morning' and nice catch and run by McHugh for a key first down. Onward Christian Jones had a great game blocking and nice catches. Vitale and G Dick were awesome blocking and catching.
OL: Grade B-
I know some will say that I'm nuts but this OL didn't do the job even though Fitz and others, and the stats would indicate. Most of the yards by Jackson was the work on outside blocking by Vitale and WR's. Olson needs serious work. North still can't snap the ball. And Butler needs to be prepared next time. 3 penalties in 6 plays. C'mon maaaannnn! Frazier did a good job and Mogus as well but Hence and Olson and North had issues. That said, they really were moving the pile on those last few plays and gave Oliver good protection on that 3rd and 14. For finishing that last drive, I give them an upgrade to a B-.
QB: Grade B
Oliver, imo, gave us all he has and more. Grade A. A few inexperienced plays by him but he moved the team on that last drive and moved the team otherwise on occasion with a TD and a run TD. Thankfully, PSU dropped two surefire INT's although they nabbed another. Several overthrown balls but he didn't let it bother him and made the plays when it counted.
THorson: Incomplete. Looked good although it was punt after punt with him. They just never finished a drive. Really proud he went for the sticks and took that big hit although he didn't get the first. Has a hip injury but heard he will be fine next week.
RB: Grade A
very nice blitz pickups, nice runs by Jackson and Long. No fumbles. Very very good.
DL: Grade B
Got a bit gassed and became thoroughly confused on the wildcat. A shame because otherwise I thought they controlled the LOS and shut down a good RB. Ifeadi was faked out of his jock by Hackenburg way too many times. I expect Ifeadi to start making plays. It's what he does so there is no excuse for him to either be a half step away or get faked out by a QB routinely. C'mon Ifeadi, you should have had 5 sacks the last two weeks, bro. Lowry was solid but gave up containment on one long run. I like him on the end as opposed to the DT on the passing downs. Xwas had a solid game and interesting play. Gibson was SOLID. Lancaster very good play. Looked like Robbins got a bit dinged up, dunno. Thompson had nice play.
LB: Grade B
good play bad play. Smith looked good. Walker had some really really nice plays but really struggled mightedly on the wildcat. Almost had a pick 6. Real nice sack at the right time. Hall looked REALLY REALLY good and had a nice read on PSU's 3rd and 1 at the end. Prater had a lower leg injury and didn't play another play after the 3rd play of the game.
DB: Grade A
Except for the trick play that burned Van Hoose for a TD [although he was there to cover, he was out of position] otherwise, these guys locked things down as in BIGTIME. Especially Harris. Harris and Van Hoose both missed INT"s although Van Hoose did have one and a pick 6 opportunity. With Harris back, this defense is awesome. Very good play by Godwin this week other than getting suckered on one outside screen that was really a deep outside route that went for 30 yards. The only other poor play with the safeties was on a 3rd down play when our CB's played the LOS and refused to allow the wr off the los, however a RB did a wheel on the outside along the sidelines for a big gainer. But the bottom line is that this unit deserves an A.
