The first was SMU. Our offense looked inept for much of the first half. We were leading 14-0 because of two interceptions. Then with the score 14-0 Franklin decides to go for it on 4th and 1 from our own 19 yard line. What a horrible call! SMU could have got back in the game if not for Deluca's interception. PSU won 38-10 but it wasn't because of the offense. It was because Jennings threw 3 picks (2 pick 6s) and missed a 4th down throw in the end zone.
The second was OSU. OSU dominated after PSU took an early 10-0 lead. We were nearly down 21-10 except for OSU's fumble through the end zone. PSU's offense was once again inept. IIRC the only completed passes late in the first half were to Singleton. Then Wallace made a great catch for 21 yds to get us to the OSU 3 yd line only to have another pass stripped from his hands in the end zone. Ugh! Somehow we were still in the game and a 33 yd completion to Warren got us another 1st and goal at the 3 yd line. Kotelnicki's creating offense called for 3 straight runs up the middle for 2 yds.. On 4th and goal Allar threw into traffic for an INT. It seems that we play OSU close every year but they make one or two big plays when it matters. PSU makes a couple of bad plays when it matters. Is that a talent gap or is it just confidence?
Two takeaways:
1) How good is our offense? We have a lot of guys back but we really struggled at times last year and we lost Warren. We're counting on Allar to make a big step forward and for our new WRs to be a lot better than last year.
2) What kind of a pass rush are we going to have? Carter was extremely disruptive in those two games but he's gone. We're expecting DDS to pick up where Carter left off but he didn't get the double teams like Carter did last year. He has to make a big step forward for PSU to be as strong defensively.
The second was OSU. OSU dominated after PSU took an early 10-0 lead. We were nearly down 21-10 except for OSU's fumble through the end zone. PSU's offense was once again inept. IIRC the only completed passes late in the first half were to Singleton. Then Wallace made a great catch for 21 yds to get us to the OSU 3 yd line only to have another pass stripped from his hands in the end zone. Ugh! Somehow we were still in the game and a 33 yd completion to Warren got us another 1st and goal at the 3 yd line. Kotelnicki's creating offense called for 3 straight runs up the middle for 2 yds.. On 4th and goal Allar threw into traffic for an INT. It seems that we play OSU close every year but they make one or two big plays when it matters. PSU makes a couple of bad plays when it matters. Is that a talent gap or is it just confidence?
Two takeaways:
1) How good is our offense? We have a lot of guys back but we really struggled at times last year and we lost Warren. We're counting on Allar to make a big step forward and for our new WRs to be a lot better than last year.
2) What kind of a pass rush are we going to have? Carter was extremely disruptive in those two games but he's gone. We're expecting DDS to pick up where Carter left off but he didn't get the double teams like Carter did last year. He has to make a big step forward for PSU to be as strong defensively.