Top 3 keys to 2025 season

Frank Lee said:
Yes. And I will add...
Converting 3rd and <2 yds on O.
Stopping 3rd and 10+ yds on D.
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I've always though giving up 3rd and 10+ was due to our defensive strategy more than player performance. The coaches have always pushed for explosive plays and they think 3rd in long is a great time to bring the heat and force a fumble or INT. That's great when it works but there's a lot open when the blitz doesn't get there. I'd be inclined to play it safe more often (not always) and give them 6 yards and get them to punt.

It will be interesting to see how Knowles plays it.
 
1. Injuries not derailing the season.
-injuries will happen, but depth has to step up when it does.

2. Efficiency. Offense and defense.
-For as close as we were vs OSU, Oregon, and ND, we just didn't seem to have the ability to close games out before the 4th quarter. Bowling Green being a dogfight as long as it was. Illinois being uncomfortable far longer than it needed to be. UCLA being a slog. I don't expect zero close games, but we need to curb stomp a couple teams like that this year. We did this to Washington for a half, but proceeded to look inept in the 2nd half. Maryland was close, but even that beating felt subdued and like we took our foot off their neck.

The defense couldn't stop anybody on any opening drives. Teams seemed to find a soft spot and exploit it. Fannin Jr, Tez Johnson. Elliot Washington making a 3rd down tackle vs OSU then drawing the Unsportsmanlike Conduct flag. Tracy with an unnecessary block in the back on a guaranteed Pick 6. One armed Carter unable to recover a ND fumble.

3. Big Game Drew.
-Drew needs to be better in the biggest games. Improvement here determines the ceiling of this season.
 
And whether it's Drew, Kaytron, or whoever... when sliding, leaping, or diving for the first down marker or for a TD, please power or extend beyond that point for another yard. There were so many times where there were questionable ball placements by the refs or where the knee actually did touch the ground with the ball a half yard short.
 
1. Some pretty suspect play calling at times in the playoff games that ended up as wasted and negative downs. 2nd and 2's that ended up 3rd and 9's and then punts. This has to be eliminated by play calling and good short yardage execution and OL play.

2. As much as I'd like to seem more explosive plays along with more consistency game to game by the WR's significant improvement must come from Allar to accomplish that. Allar will have to get the confidence he needs to more consistently throw the WR's with improved decision making on his part. He could also benefit from throwing it away or dumping the ball off to a safety outlet RB when the OL gets beat by blitzes instead of trying to step up or bide time when there is no time. i.e. better pocket awareness (recognizing number of defenders that came on the rush) when the defenses bring the house. I'm also looking for WR's in addition to the 3 transfers to emerge as more consistent targets for Allar, such as Denmark and Saunders, or possibly Gonzalez, Ivey or Howard. Drew can't just chuck it to whoever emerges at TE (Dinkins, Reynolds or...) and expect to consistently get the highlight catches he got from Warren, but I have to admit that Drew did make some spectacular throws to Warren that gave Warren the chances for the catches he made.

3. DL depth.
At DT, need to avoid injuries to Durant and Fisher, and have Gilliam and a couple of others step up from among Artis, Blanding and the other redshirt freshmen. Very doable. It seems Artis has lost weight and is heading towards contributing, and among Blanding, Cook, Andrews and Wafle Barnes needs to get a couple ready to be regular contributors.
At DE if Fisher can stay healthy along with DDS and Harvey and Kemajou, there seems to be a good number of other young DE's that Barnes and pick from to complete a deep DE rotation. If the transfer White could some how be ready to play at a high level he could really take the PSU DE rotation to where it was last season.

4 At LB I'm in the camp that believes that although Wylie will likely emerge if he stays healthy and Campbell will be valuable against running teams, that if Rojas can take the next step in his development at LB he has the athleticism to be an All B10 player and could contribute the splash plays that win big games. DeLuka should be consistent in his play. I'm looking for one of the younger LB's such as Speca to emerge and get playing time as well.

5. With the secondary Harris and Wheatly are the top playmakers and losing either to injury would be a big blow to the defense. Lane, Mack, Washington, and Tracy should all take a step forward in their play as big contributors. Lots of talent at both CB and Safety but ideally the younger DB's such as Toure, Belgrave-Shorter, Woseley and Dixon can be brought along to be confident contributors as the season goes along.
 
GregInPitt said:
1. Some pretty suspect play calling at times in the playoff games that ended up as wasted and negative downs. 2nd and 2's that ended up 3rd and 9's and then punts. This has to be eliminated by play calling and good short yardage execution and OL play.

2. As much as I'd like to seem more explosive plays along with more consistency game to game by the WR's significant improvement must come from Allar to accomplish that. Allar will have to get the confidence he needs to more consistently throw the WR's with improved decision making on his part. He could also benefit from throwing it away or dumping the ball off to a safety outlet RB when the OL gets beat by blitzes instead of trying to step up or bide time when there is no time. i.e. better pocket awareness (recognizing number of defenders that came on the rush) when the defenses bring the house. I'm also looking for WR's in addition to the 3 transfers to emerge as more consistent targets for Allar, such as Denmark and Saunders, or possibly Gonzalez, Ivey or Howard. Drew can't just chuck it to whoever emerges at TE (Dinkins, Reynolds or...) and expect to consistently get the highlight catches he got from Warren, but I have to admit that Drew did make some spectacular throws to Warren that gave Warren the chances for the catches he made.

3. DL depth.
At DT, need to avoid injuries to Durant and Fisher, and have Gilliam and a couple of others step up from among Artis, Blanding and the other redshirt freshmen. Very doable. It seems Artis has lost weight and is heading towards contributing, and among Blanding, Cook, Andrews and Wafle Barnes needs to get a couple ready to be regular contributors.
At DE if Fisher can stay healthy along with DDS and Harvey and Kemajou, there seems to be a good number of other young DE's that Barnes and pick from to complete a deep DE rotation. If the transfer White could some how be ready to play at a high level he could really take the PSU DE rotation to where it was last season.

4 At LB I'm in the camp that believes that although Wylie will likely emerge if he stays healthy and Campbell will be valuable against running teams, that if Rojas can take the next step in his development at LB he has the athleticism to be an All B10 player and could contribute the splash plays that win big games. DeLuka should be consistent in his play. I'm looking for one of the younger LB's such as Speca to emerge and get playing time as well.

5. With the secondary Harris and Wheatly are the top playmakers and losing either to injury would be a big blow to the defense. Lane, Mack, Washington, and Tracy should all take a step forward in their play as big contributors. Lots of talent at both CB and Safety but ideally the younger DB's such as Toure, Belgrave-Shorter, Woseley and Dixon can be brought along to be confident contributors as the season goes along.
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You make a lot of great points but stepping back and looking at the big picture our chances for a NC rest with Allar. You said it all in your point #2. He has to be better against our best opponents, decision making, pocket presence, poise, accuracy, etc. We do need the receivers to step up, the starters I am referring to and maybe the 4th guy like Denmark. The rest will be irrelevant to our title hopes unless we have significant injuries at the position (and in that case we would never win the title). Allar needs to elevate his play and as a result the whole offense gets elevated. He needs to make others around him better.

On defense I think the key is the line. Need to get pressure and be very stingy versus the run. Ford and Fisher need to emerge. Durant and DDS will show up and be our stars. If we can dominate the defensive line of scrimmage we have a very good chance to win every game.
 
"He suffered an injury in May. PSU being PSU, there are very few details on what happened. (And even if I knew, I wouldn't post the details.)

The expectations are that he'll be fine for the season. I don't know if he'll be a full-go for training camp, or will be out for the start/all of that."

-Tom McAndrew
 
bdroc said:
I'm guessing that Saunders will return punts again. Maybe Martin.
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I'm guessing Saunders as well if Ross isn't full go or if the staff wants Ross to concentrate on his WR play.

I'm then guessing Denmark would be competing with Saunders.

I'm more so believing that Martin may compete to return KO's depending on how that shakes out if Singleton if finally removed from KO's and Smith, Wallace and Martin compete to return KO's..... I'm guessing that Smith may do it as he seemed fast with some serious cutting ability, but who knows..........
 
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