PSU Fan Here

by Roland86 on Dec 31, 2008 7:58 AM PST Comment 7 comments

Let me just start off by saying that I have no bad feelings against USC. I like Pete Carroll, LA weather, and of course good defense and song girls.

However, I was just wondering If what I am hearing about this upcoming game annoys USC fans the way it does me. It is all "USC OMG Defense, PSU loses big." Now, I know SC has GREAT defense, and should be favored. However, I have heard no actual analysis of this game. Nothing about how the two teams have nearly identical stats, schedule strengths, etc etc. This game on paper at least is incredibly even. Is it just my homerism, or does this kind of thing bother others even if it leans towards their team? Or better yet, besides the blogs on this site does anyone know where to find decent football analysis anymore? (ahem Mark May)

thanks

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors.

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Lets put it this way

I know how good PSU is. I don’t expect it to be a blowout either way. I do think my team has a very good chance to win, but by no means is it a given.

That being said, the past seven years has bred a good amount of fair weather USC fans. They all vanished during the Hackett years, but now they are all back in full force. They get upset when our team finishes with 1 or 2 losses, and usually have unrealistic beliefs that USC should be in the BCS championship game every year. Anything less to them is unacceptable. What I have seen at USC the last 3 years is very good defenses, and above average offenses. We don’t have the offense right now to go all the way to the national championship. We do have a team that can compete for the Pac-10 title every year and a Rose Bowl berth, and that is enough to satisfy most fans.

I’m really excited about the matchup against the Nittany Lions tomorrow. Its going to be a classic.

by frak on Dec 31, 2008 10:21 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

It's the old Yankees, or Patriots deal

I hate hearing how good ‘SC is and how much they’re gonna pummel their next opponent. It’s old and tired. And fantastically boring.

I’m about the biggest ‘SC rah-rah out there. Season ticket holder, occasionally attend basketball games (work, notwithstanding), and caught the women’s soccer bandwagon 1 1/2 years ago. That being said, I hate hearing about our defense in print, television, and radio. I loathe hearing how much someone is hugging our nut. Because there’s always someone else who kisses our ass better than the nut-hugging fool.

The short of the long of it: when Vince Young killed us in those last minutes of that historic game a few years ago, I went far and wide looking for my mind. I lost it. (we rendezvoused at Dillon Beach in Northern Calif. a few weeks and bottles of Scotch later. we’re practically cool, now!). Now, although we lost that game- I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THAT GAME. I’ve attended many of our recent historic and improbable wins, but THAT game still stands out. The games we barely squeaked by are the one most memorable to me. I expect a close game. And it CAN go either way. . . .but I’ve predicted ’SC wins and covers the spread.

I know Penn State is a very very good team that should have played for the BCS trophy this year. We’re not so bad either, and we’ve had a month to prepare for you guys. No disrespect Roland86- but Penn State hasn’t come close to playing a team like ours this year. We might not fully stop your running, but you won’t have a passing game AT ALL.

Here’s hoping both teams come away injury-free.

"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun

by BixBeiderbecke on Dec 31, 2008 11:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Would we like USC to be in the Championship game?

Sure. But I think any Penn State fan would say the game. But regardless of that I am really looking forward to the Rose Bowl. It should be a great game and PSU is a great opponent. I have to admit though that in my heart of hearts I am thinking that it will be an SC blowout of State College, but the fact of the matter is that statistically speaking PSU and USC are very similar and there is no completely reasonable reason for it to be a lock for SC as many analysts predict.

Also Bix, I have to agree that the USC-Texas NC game was absolutely fantastic, and itshould be recognized as one of the greatest games in Trojans history despite the loss. Its funny whenever I run into Texas fans as they act like it was a six touchdown blowout or something, but their team sure did earn it on that day.

by Laughing Stock on Dec 31, 2008 1:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

It was, wasn't it?

But the kicker in having said and admitted to holding that game dear to my heart. . . . . it’s no wonder those at Ucla tragically wear those lameass, played-out “13-9” shirts. Oh that just gets on the very nerve I didn’t know I had left.

Hey Roland86, what’s the consensus among Nittany Lion fans regarding tomorrows game? Is it true that Penn State players and fans think “smash-mouth Big 10 football” is the key to victory? What are your thoughts on our front 3 on D? You guys have monsters on your Offensive front 5, but I haven’t heard much regarding your running backs/fullbacks. Can they or are they proven to be solid blockers when their is a necessity to pick up our “elephant” or blitzing corners? It’s been well-documented JoPa likes to run on 1st and 2nd, disguising his players through motion and/or misdirection. Will Daryl Clark be given the green light to run or make audibles to isolate mismatches once he reads our D alignment? I can’t wait to see what accounts for a “mismatch” tomorrow, I’m flummoxed so far. That one’s a twister for me. Our secondary is gonna try to bully your wideouts directly after the snap, and jam ‘em to contain their excellent route running and very very disciplined slants. Clark’s got a cannon, and some jets too. If he isn’t allowed to run, I honestly don’t see how this Spread HD can truly spread us out. We’ll see. I hope you guys are as fast as advertised, that way it won’t be so difficult timing our hits. Our # 1’s go against our #1’s all day, everyday- they kinda have to get acclimated to most teams, in a slower-moving kinda way. We have a tendency to over-pursue early.

Of all the Big 10 teams we’ve played the past 7 years, Michigan in Rose Bowl 2007 (2006 season, when they wanted to play Ohio St. in the BCS championship game- the one that Florida won) scared me the most, as far as players, talent, and hype. You guys are scarier. Top all that off with having Coach Joe Paterno and his stellar coaching staff, and it might be one looooong day for us.

And for what it’s worth, I DO think you guys are very much a BCS top 4 team. Too bad you all aren’t playing Oklahoma. That, would be one helluva game!

I’ll be getting my “drank” on right now. Heading out for some debauchery and violence tonight. Ahem. . . I mean, debauchery and dancing. (pssst. I don’t think I love the girl I’m goin’ out with tonight. but she sure does cook a superfantabulous breakfast! BACON! I’ll have to be a “Viking” tonight!)

"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun

by BixBeiderbecke on Dec 31, 2008 6:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Hello

Well at least amongst my friends, it seems that nobody has any particular problem with USC, I think everybody is genuinely excited for the matchup of probably the two best defenses in the country going at it. I just think a lot of PSU fans are very bitter about the way the media percieves this. Its really unfair for USC and PSU to have ESPN paint this game they way they have. As a no win for USC and a no chance for PSU. PSU IS quite different from the Big Ten because we are always actually prepared for any bowl opponent.

Otherwise, our backs aren’t exactly stand out blockers, but they are ok. The wideouts are really solid with it though, they aren’t afraid to step in and chuck someone coming around the edge but you have an advantage there. We also have not stellar, but very sizeable blocking TEs. The O-line itself is suceptible to letting people right through which is bad, but if they get a gap, I would say they are one of the best at blocking downfield and helping extend runs and Royster is a ++ back at getting 5 where there was only 2.

Also the misconception about the “spread HD” is that it trys to spread the defense way out. I don’t think thats true, its barely different than what we would do normally, only we have great athletes doing it, maybe throw in an option or wildcat here or there. Don’t worry about Clark running it too much, they’ll be worried about him getting hurt with the loss of Devlin, and he much prefers to use his legs as a means to pass, not as a running back.

I honestly think that PSU’s D matches up against the USC O as good as the USC will handle PSU. Not that PSU’s D is better than USC’s, cause its not, its just that I think PSU’s O is better than USC’s.

As for a mismatch that could decide the game, I think in PSU’s favor it will either be a costly Sanchez pick, which hasn’t hurt him too much because of some opponents he has thrown them too, or special teams. I think PSU has a better return man in WIlliams, with better blocking. I wouldn’t sleep on Kelly being a deciding factor, I mean I haven’t heard much about your kicker being a threat.

A mismatch in favor of USC I would think would be strength of your secondary, our guys at WR are quite fast but not overly strong and not real tall. Only Norwood seems to like to go over the middle and we can feed off that, but I think Mays can put a stop to that and take that bread and butter away from us. However, I think the biggest way USC can create a mismatch is to rattle Clark. He is waaaaaayyyy emotional, which in some ways is good, but if he gets picked off, he can try to go out and overcompensate by getting to aggressive or not having his head in there.

Basically, I wouldn’t get caught up in the hype of PSU beign slow, that they are not. They have plenty of speed, even on defense. Aaron Maybin is one of the best speed rushers to come along in awhile. I think honestly as long as SC doesn’t count on us being slow and is ready for a faster and more athletic team than expected that is sick about hearing how bad they are, they should win, but I definitly do not see the spread being covered here. I would say more USC 13-17 PSU 6-10

by Roland86 on Dec 31, 2008 11:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

OH I forgot

USC is like the 4th Most penalized team in the country, PSU is the 3rd least penalized. USC definitly has enough talent to overcome to this for sure, but if its close a 15 yarder could make a game winning FG a lot easier, for one example. as I said, I expect USC to win about 16-10 or something close to that, but I’m only about60% sold on it.

Good luck tomorrow.

by Roland86 on Jan 1, 2009 12:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

getting tarred with someone else's brush

My objection to the media rusty trombone re: USC is that it turns people against us – and really, we don’t need the help. I think it also causes some alumni of opposing teams from other conferences to compensate in the other direction and assume that the team can’t be that good and is a bunch of panty-waists who will fold from smash-mouth football. Which is not to their advantage, but oh well.

by DC Trojan on Dec 31, 2008 3:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs