I don't normally watch these, but this week's PC might be a good one if they have it....

[LionDeNittany]

I did, actually. In the first half, Penn State only had THREE possessions. The first was a long drive for a TD. The second was stopped when a WR dropped a ball that hit him right in the chest (Gary Danielson blamed that on Alllar, go figure). The third stopped on downs with around :30 to go in the half.

So the PSU drives went like this: zero (onside kick), ten plays 75 yards for a TD, 3 plays for 4 yards, and eight plays for 28 yards.

UCLA had drives of 10/75/TD, 7/40/FG (onside kick), 17/75(TD), 6/68 (TD), and 3/17 (FG).

To recap, and If you do the math, PSU only had 21 plays in the first half to UCLA's 43. This is most due to a) allowing drives of 75, 40, 75, 68, and 17 and b) a horrible onside kick turnover.

Football at UCLA 10/4/2025

The official box score of Football at UCLA 10/4/2025

gopsusports.com

Yes. So psu not having more than 21 plays... that was on the offense.

I'm not even going to start on the defense. They were putrid.

The DC kept blitzing from the safety and LB spot, leaving the middle open for long runs.

At some point he should have stopped and just played a base defense, forcing the UCLA qb to throw the ball.

I'd take it a step further. Rush three. Because the blitz was killing us.

 

[Sheriff Coffee]

Yes. So psu not having more than 21 plays... that was on the offense.

I'm not even going to start on the defense. They were putrid.

The DC kept blitzing from the safety and LB spot, leaving the middle open for long runs.

At some point he should have stopped and just played a base defense, forcing the UCLA qb to throw the ball.

I'd take it a step further. Rush three. Because the blitz was killing us.

it was NOT on the offense. Of the three drives, one was 75 yards and the other 28. The big problems were the onside kick and the dropped pass by Hudson. Believe it or not, Hudson had the best drop percentage in the B1G last year.

Yes, the offense could have been better but one TD in three possessions isn't awful.

 

[LionDeNittany]

it was NOT on the offense. Of the three drives, one was 75 yards and the other 28. The big problems were the onside kick and the dropped pass by Hudson. Believe it or not, Hudson had the best drop percentage in the B1G last year.

Yes, the offense could have been better but one TD in three possessions isn't awful.

I watched the video just now. I see the entire thing is about the defense.

Shows exactly what I saw. We were blitzing guys and making the QB runs easy.

It was terrible coaching. Just downright awful.

We didn't even bother making him beat us with the pass.

 

[joejohn]

If Frankie loses another, bye-ya!

 

[Sheriff Coffee]

I watched the video just now. I see the entire thing is about the defense.

Shows exactly what I saw. We were blitzing guys and making the QB runs easy.

It was terrible coaching. Just downright awful.

We didn't even bother making him beat us with the pass.

Yep. But I will say, he made two unbelievably long throws on the wheel route and a very well covered bomb down the middle. he dropped that ball into a one-foot well. Kid had the game of his life.

 

[Frank Lee]

I think full salary and COBRA for six months is reasonable. Plus free access to a talent placement agency for six months.

 

[Creamery]

I didn't listen and glad I did not. Changes need to be made but I don't think Franklin has the balls to do it. I am not talking about firing Knowles or AK but there have to be personnel changes, schematic changes. Having tough conversations with players AND coaches. Knowles is probably a pretty intimidating guy but Franklin has to get in his face. Not yell at him or belittle him but in no certain terms tell him Saturday was unacceptable and can't happen again. Leaders take action, they lead with boldness and confidence. Franklin has to do this.

Word from Cbus was that Knowles and LJ Sr didn’t get along and Day sided with LJ. That has to be in the back of Franklin’s mind and I’d think Knowles has free rein.

 

[LionDeNittany]

Word from Cbus was that Knowles and LJ Sr didn’t get along and Day sided with LJ. That has to be in the back of Franklin’s mind and I’d think Knowles has free rein.

Knowles also got paid stupid money to come to PSU.

I mean, that defense we saw was pee wee level.

 

[Creamery]

I think it was Neil Rudel who asked about the (lack of) punt rush at the end. CJF said they discussed it and decided to set up for a punt return. I was hoping for a follow up question of why they couldn’t do both (or at least send 1 guy after the punter) - we lost a lot of time there.

I also thought they should have fair caught the ensuing kickoff to save the time of running it back. Figured time was more valuable than a short kickoff return. But what do I know.

 

[Creamery]

Knowles also got paid stupid money to come to PSU.

I mean, that defense we saw was pee wee level.

That was another question I was hoping would’ve been asked - why was the tackling so poor and isn’t there someone we could’ve used as a spy who could stay with their qb. Franklin had said postgame that the spy missed tackles or got outrun. And their qb was a very good runner, but are you telling me we dont have anyone we can bring up in the box to spy their qb and stay with him? Even if it is a safety, corner, or the best tackler on the team. It seemed as if our other ILB was on the ground a lot.

 

[Frank Lee]

That was another question I was hoping would’ve been asked - why was the tackling so poor and isn’t there someone we could’ve used as a spy who could stay with their qb. Franklin had said postgame that the spy missed tackles or got outrun. And their qb was a very good runner, but are you telling me we dont have anyone we can bring up in the box to spy their qb and stay with him? Even if it is a safety, corner, or the best tackler on the team. It seemed as if our other ILB was on the ground a lot.

Wheatley would have been a great spy. He's fast and can tackle. A backup Safety could have backfilled. IMHO, make Wheatley the permanent "hero" as they called it back in the 70s.

 

[ryoder1]

That was another question I was hoping would’ve been asked - why was the tackling so poor and isn’t there someone we could’ve used as a spy who could stay with their qb. Franklin had said postgame that the spy missed tackles or got outrun. And their qb was a very good runner, but are you telling me we dont have anyone we can bring up in the box to spy their qb and stay with him? Even if it is a safety, corner, or the best tackler on the team. It seemed as if our other ILB was on the ground a lot.

They put DDS as a spy in a goal line situation and Nico blew by him for a TD. Total mismatch.

 

[Frank Lee]

2026 Recruiting Ranking...
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***
We have "Phil Knight" and "Texas Money", and I realize that 90% of 5*s are in the sunbelt, so what can be done by PSU other than getting out the checkbook?