Now less than two weeks from.opener. Any intel on depth chart?
- Thread starter RickinDayton
- Start date
RickinDayton
Well-known member
Thanks.
GregInPitt
Well-known member
I don't believe we know the DT depth chart. A discussion of it by Franklin could include how Adirika, the only true freshman DE, is progressing as in the Spring Franklin said he was surprised how physically developed he is and how prepared he was to compete in practice. It's been some time since Franklin commented at all on Andrews, the highest rated player as a recruit now practicing at DT.
Other than Frankin commenting on Durant, Ford, Gilliam and revealing that Wafle and Blanding are likely in the mix of the depth chart a discussion by Franklin could reveal if Cook, Andrews, Adirika and/or Artis have progressed enough to be in a more lengthy list of players such as he revealed at DE (7 deep that likely put many fans more at ease regarding DE depth) that the staff may be comfortable as players that PSU could win B10 games by playing.
If someone had gotten Franklin talking about the DT's and White Franklin may have said he was looking for White to contribute in the rotation or he might have said that White has some things to learn about DT which would have been a polite way of telling us that White has some technique to refine before being ready.
The question about Allar was a waste of time and of a question and Franklin's rambling answer took up the time that could have been used to ask a number of more direct questions, such as has anything further sorted itself out at RB3..... Allar's progress and the parts of his game that he's worked on since he arrived at PSU has been reviewed by Franklin numerous times and at this point, first game game week, Franklin is not going to comment on any weaknesses any player may have let alone his 3 year returning starting QB.
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GregInPitt
Well-known member
Anyone take notice that Frankin has a color coded list for about any question on the roster or position depth charts?
Another obvious question that could have revealed some additional info would have been to simply ask who are the true freshmen that are Yellow at this point. Franklin had it right in front of him and if he had discussed it we could have gotten some discussion on the true freshmen LB's that seemed to be flashing, Arrington and Tatsch, with Tatsch being specifically mentioned by Knowles last week.
In case someone that gets to ask a question next week is reading.....
"Are any of the other true freshmen WR's, Outten, Samuel, and/or Exinor, progressing to where they may be Yellow at this point with a reasonable chance to get playing time this season?"
or how about....
"With Dixon seemingly being a key backup at CB from the start of the seaon, are any of the true freshmen Joseph, Johnson or Thomas getting close to being ready to contribute at CB?" Smith likes to rotate a good many players at CB and an injury to a key CB such as Harris who will likely play 70% of the snaps if healthy could put another of the true freshmen on the field.
Another obvious question that could have revealed some additional info would have been to simply ask who are the true freshmen that are Yellow at this point. Franklin had it right in front of him and if he had discussed it we could have gotten some discussion on the true freshmen LB's that seemed to be flashing, Arrington and Tatsch, with Tatsch being specifically mentioned by Knowles last week.
In case someone that gets to ask a question next week is reading.....
"Are any of the other true freshmen WR's, Outten, Samuel, and/or Exinor, progressing to where they may be Yellow at this point with a reasonable chance to get playing time this season?"
or how about....
"With Dixon seemingly being a key backup at CB from the start of the seaon, are any of the true freshmen Joseph, Johnson or Thomas getting close to being ready to contribute at CB?" Smith likes to rotate a good many players at CB and an injury to a key CB such as Harris who will likely play 70% of the snaps if healthy could put another of the true freshmen on the field.
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Cook, Andrews, Adirika and Artis are clearly at the bottom of the DT depth chart. None have been mentioned during Fall camp. We have as top backups Gilliam, Blanding, Wafle and then I think White. That is a 3 deep. I don't think Franklin is going to say these bottom depth chart guys are not ready (although he kind of is by putting them on 4th and 5th string) but they are 4th string so that tells you something. If you want to ask a question ask about White since he just made a position move. Otherwise what you are looking for is a complete run down of the talent at every position group and how the bottom depth guys are developing if you really want to know about 4th and 5th string DTs. They are 4th and 5th string now. Artis is clearly not cutting it. The others are young and hopefully develop but they are at the bottom of the depth chart. Okay to play them vs Nevada but we are not seeing them in the B10 games barring multiple injuries or a blowout.
On Allar it is not a waste of a question. Do you want to know if Allar has made strides to be mentally tougher in winning time leading to better execution? Or are you happy with him throwing picks to end our chances in big games again this season?
GregInPitt
Well-known member
Yep, we now those 4 are at the bottom. Robinson is near the bottom at DE but now we know that Robinson although 7th is still looked at as a game ready DE which obvously says the Depth at DE is more than adequate in the coaches eyes. Something we surely didn't know before today's PC. What you said about the young players at DT is not known as that's just your opinion and hasn't been commented on by Franklin in that detail. Something that him answering a question about the DT depth chart would likely have revealed.
Yes asking about Allar's things to work on before the 1st game is a waste of a question. It's a good question for the off season, particularly before Spring practice which is where the coaches focus more so on QB deficiencies. Or before Winter workouts begin regarding Allar's speed and strength and durability. But not now.
So you believe Franklin answering a question about Allar's deficiencies at this point means something regarding Allar's propensity to not throw a pick in a game against a top team under pressure? Did Franklin's answer to that question mean Allar won't throw a pick in the same situation? No and No. Most here know that what will help Allar not throw picks in key moments is having WR's that get open earlier in plays. i.e. better WR's which seems to be the case but won't be proven until PSU plays Oregon.
The problem with any Allar question is that he's going to have to produce in the big moments of big games. You can't replicate down 7 vs OSU with 106k screaming. You can't replicate down 8 vs Oregon on a neutral field. You can't replicate tie ball game with 2 minutes left vs ND.
It can be simulated, but the pressure of live, in the moment games is just different. As has been said, we've brought in new WRs and they have to get open and or catch passes vs NFL caliber CBs. How are they doing vs our secondary? I hope we've gotten creative. A lot of 1 WR vs 2 DBs, heck 11vs13 offense vs defense, etc.
Still, at the end of the day, I think the only way you can word a question could be:
"What have you done to prepare Allar for the moments vs an OSU where you are down 7, 5 minutes left, and prepare him to throw a game winning TD instead of a game ending INT?" And even then, I just don't know that you are going to get a good answer.
It's all very circular. Today, I thought they did a fair job.
It can be simulated, but the pressure of live, in the moment games is just different. As has been said, we've brought in new WRs and they have to get open and or catch passes vs NFL caliber CBs. How are they doing vs our secondary? I hope we've gotten creative. A lot of 1 WR vs 2 DBs, heck 11vs13 offense vs defense, etc.
Still, at the end of the day, I think the only way you can word a question could be:
"What have you done to prepare Allar for the moments vs an OSU where you are down 7, 5 minutes left, and prepare him to throw a game winning TD instead of a game ending INT?" And even then, I just don't know that you are going to get a good answer.
It's all very circular. Today, I thought they did a fair job.
RickinDayton
Well-known member
Agree about the Allar questions being a waste of time. CJF has a standard answer and it won't change.
The Allar question is worth seeing what you can get from Franklin but admittedly it is hard to get anything concrete from him. Everyone is wondering if Allar will improve in these big games. I think it is relevant now to ask at this point but it is a moot point so time to move on. We will find out as the season progresses if he has improved.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
The fact that five of the top six WRs didn't catch a ball for PSU last year is pretty telling. Actually, Denmark caught two passes last season. So overall, with Clifford's career 36 receptions, we are returning 38 receptions for PSU with our top 6 WRs.
Unless Allar has some kind of WR phobia, that doesn't make sense. He can complete passes to various TEs and RBs, but can't to WRs? In all probability, it is either the WRs or the WR schemes.
LudicrousSpeedGO!
Well-known member
It had to be a combination of not trusting last year's group and knowing that Warren was a stud. I felt like they tried to get different WRs going early on in the year but when it came to crunch time, the only receivers that were reliable were Warren and the RBs.
The receivers were not good but especially that pick vs ND was terrible and Allar is to shoulder much of the blame. Horrible decision, horrible mechanics. The last thing you can do there is throw a pick and that is what he does. Yes, it didn't help that the play call was atrocious and Evans couldn't get open if his life depended on it but that does not absolve Allar of responsibility. He also had other throws that should have been picks in that game. He simply did not perform on the biggest stage. I understand the receivers couldn't get open but he needs to be better.
GregInPitt
Well-known member
The pick vs ND that sealed the loss as well as the pick vs Oregon that prevented that comback resulting in a win were both on non 4th down plays. Especially vs Oregon Allar should have thrown the ball away. The picks were both on Allar. Against top teams, the teams PSU has rarely beaten with Franklin, there will be plays when the receivers are just plain not open and if its not 4th down the QB needs to either throw it away or try and make a play with his legs if there is enough time and downs to try it. We won't know if Allar has the game sense to throw it away in those situations this season until we see him in those situations again. And Franklin won't really know either, so I hope no reporter asks that question as it would be another waste of time.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
I agree but there will be no excuse this year. The WR coach has his guys, AK has had a full year in the system, and Allar has had a year to prepare with them.
Sheriff Coffee
Well-known member
I agree but picks are often a sign of desperation. Sooner or later, if players aren't open, you have to force the ball. Turning it over on downs does you no good. Penn State gave up 45 points to that Oregon team. They scored TDs on their first three drives. We then missed a 40 yard FG to start the second half. Yep, you can blame the QB but that isn't where we lost that game.
Still no RB3 named?
GregInPitt
Well-known member
But playing out of desperation on a game ending drive when it's not 4th down is just a lack of poise and composure which are bad characteristics for a QB.
Yes you can blame the defense. But football is a team game and the defense was responsible for as many wins as the offense last season. Playing top 5 and top 10 competition some games will get off to poor starts and teams that fall behind have to have the character to stay the course and compete, and eventually make key plays to pull the game out. The QB gets the praise when he makes plays and naturally will get the blame when he makes mistakes at the end of the game. Paterno talked a lot about poise which in footall seems to be all about not getting into a desperation frame of mind and and the players playing each play situationally to make plays to pull out wins when games are on the line. Throwing those picks when he had the option to throw those balls away when the INT plays broke down and he couldn't find an open target showed me he didn't have the poise needed in those games to take advantage of the situation. If he had forced the ball to a receiver on 4th down unsuccessfully that's a different story. Allar just wasn't a real heady QB last season at key times, but I'm hoping that he has matured and will take on those situations better this season. It's what could propel him up draft boards to the first overall pick. Top QB's are just plain playmakers.
Not publicly. BWI seems to think we'll go back to last years rotation initially (Wallace, Martin, Smith), health and availability pending.
Injury sidelines Penn State redshirt freshman WR for extended time
A Penn State wide receiver has suffered a long-term injury setback, his second major injury in the last three seasons.
Brown with his 2nd significant injury.
This may be part of the "it" factor that Allar doesn't have and will never have. Not trying to be a doomsday guy and I obviously hope I'm wrong but it is certainly a possibility. We will see but last year was his third year in the program and a 2nd year starter. The ND game was like his 26th game that he started. At some point you either have it or you don't in those big moments.
On that ND pick, the worst part is he claims he was trying to throw it away but did not have the mental awareness to simply heave it out of bounds towards Warren for example. What elite QB "throws it away" as a catchable ball over the middle?