Penn State Phryday Preview

Yinzers,

Well, the Kent State Golden Flashes are behind us on the 2010 football season's road. I can't say I was pleased with the team play last week. Although the score shows a dominating victory at 24-0, if you were at the game, there was an uneasy feeling all game. Kent State moved the ball relatively well, considering they were playing what was supposed to be a far better team in Penn State. There were several points in the game where Kent State was driving in a methodical fashion before one dropped pass or one stalled run play forced them into the pooch-punt in Penn State territory. But like I said in the past couple PSPP blogs, these games are for getting the kinks out and building confidence.

On Saturday, the Owls of Temple fly into Beaver Statdium...ok they will probably take a tour bus but who is counting? The Owls have not beaten the Nittany Lions since JoePa was a safety at Brown University. However, this is no reason to take this year's flock lightly. Temple is 3-0, their best start in 30 years, and they have been playing good, technically-sound football. Temple picked up wins against Villanova (who was one of the top teams in the FCS last season), Central Michigan (eh...) and Connecticut (who was in the top 5 of the Big East last season). So what will Temple bring this weekend? They will bring an offense that is based off of establishing the run and works the play-action and screen passes off of it. If they want to be successful against the Penn State defense, they will stick to the screen pass. Penn State is so aggressive on defense that they overrun the screen every time (that's why Kent State was successful in moving the ball). Junior quarterback Chester Stewart has yet to throw an interception in 3 games...but he only has 2 of the team's touchdowns. The bulk of offensive production comes from the "split" backfield of sophomores Bernard Pierce and Matt Brown, with Pierce being the feature. Pierce is expected to be a 1000-yard rusher this season in the MAC, so the kid does have the skill. Temple does not have any real stand-outs on defense, but defensive end Adrian Robinson came up with a big forced fumble-touchdown combo that sealed the deal for Temple last week. Look for them to be fired up in Beaver Stadium.

The Nittany Lions need to continue to grow this week. Temple has not beaten the Nittany Lions in 70 years and they cannot let that streak come to an end. Evan Royster is still slumping after being the Big Ten's leading rusher for the past two years with over 2000 yards. Maybe he's gearing up to explode in Big Ten play, maybe not. Either way, Penn State is a smashmouth football team that relies on the run. If Royster cannot get his bearings, get Stephfon Green and Silas Redd in there to get it done. Having a good running game takes the pressure of your true-freshman quarterback. Royster had just 38 yards rushing against lowly Kent State. The story of this short season so far is the 'averageness' of this year's squad with their best NCAA rank being 74th in rushing yards per game (Temple is 70th). Defense has definitely led the way with the 2010 team so far. Even though there has not been the sheer domination as was in years past, the defensive corps is still very stingy where it counts: on the score board. Penn State has given up just 16 points per game in their first three contests, but you can't depend on that all season. Someone needs to step up and ignite the fire in the hearts of the Nittany Lions on both sides of the ball. For the last game before Big Ten play, Saturday needs to be an absolute, no holds-barred massacre. Pull out all the stops and get a little reckless if just to get some confidence.

Game time is 3:30 pm on the Big Ten Network. The spread is 14 and the over/under is 43. This weekend is one in which all of the alumni from Philthadelphia and/or attend Temple for graduate school come back to Happy Valley...and there are a ton of them. Bars will be packed, so get in early and stay there. Tomorrow is the Boy's birthday so if you see this tromboner on the TV, holler "happy birthday, boy!"

For the Glory,
B Brog