Howard and Rapp Questionable for Saturday vs Wisky (UPDATE HOWARD OUT)
- Thread starter TheWizardofCamelot
- Start date
Here's an opportunity for Zay Robinson and the backup PR to make an impact. Zay has looked good on punt returns, has some YAC ability.
Not the way I read it "Are you saying PSU can't beat a team with a pulse without Kobe Howard? If you can't beat Washington, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Maryland, Rutgers and Minnesota without Kobe, this wasn't a good team anyway."
I think Washington, Wisconsin, and Northwestern definitely have a pulse and I don't think we're a shoe in to win those games. Heck, Rutgers nearly beat USC.
"Are you saying PSU can't beat a team with a pulse without Howard?" There is only one way to read that.
I listed the teams that PSU should be able to beat, with or without Kobe Howard. I then added my opinion that losing to any ot those 7 listed teams with or without KH, means PSU isn't a very good team anyway.
The "pulse" reference is a time-honored quote that has been used here to dismiss 9-10-11 and a 13 win season. As in PSU only beats teams ,"without a pulse." I always thought winning was difficult and it should be celebrated. But. the BWICAC makes the rules.
I think if we can't beat Wisky or NW without Howard then we just aren't that good. Those games will now be more difficult but we should win them. Our margin of error has now shrunk. This loss hurts but should not decimate us to the point where we are losing at home to Wisky or even on the road at NW. Don't get me wrong, I predict a dogfight vs the Wildcats but I don't believe we lose because of no Howard. There would have to be other issues like turnovers, Becht plays poorly, we can't run the ball, the D-Line plays soft, etc.
Also, I don't think we beat UDub or scUM even with Howard. I hope we can somehow muster enough up, buoyed by the WO environment, to squeak by USC without Howard. This unfortunately could be the swing game....with Howard we win, without him, we lose. Hope that is not the case.
I don't see why you consider Washington such a hurdle. They haven't scared anyone. I think the trip is the most challenging part of that game. As for Michigan, they can't score on a hooker.
There are a ton of unknowns right now with this team and our opponents, but people love to grandstand like they know this team is somehow so good they can beat everyone. Everyone else is crap and apparently PSU is goo good they'll roll any team.
I mean most on this site that read it know Marshall is hoping VT goes undefeated and MC fails....because he is so petty he wants to be proven right about his man coach crush. Playing 3 weaker OOC games is no indication of how good you really are or not, but even last year you could see signs in those tune ups that PSU wasn't very focused or good.....but yet they got better with a new leader so there is that. 7.5 favorite at home while it's nice isn't exactly proclaiming PSU world beaters. This team could win 7-8 games or 10+ games....just don't know.
I try to listen to both podcasts during the week, and one of them (don’t recall which one) said that heading into the season, Koby was only supposed to be WR3. While his loss is obviously huge, it’s still the same team with a lot of depth and talent spread across the rest of the roster. Some guys are now going to have a larger opportunity to get opportunities that Koby got. A number of his opportunities came from defenses choosing to load the box. My opinion is that moving forward teams were obviously going to try to focus on Koby and somebody else was going to have to make big plays to win games anyway. If you noticed in the Buffalo game Becht was so locked onto Koby that on one of the drives he threw to Koby in the corner who was covered up by the cb, missed a wide open Sowell , and we settled for a FG. Maybe this gives Rocco the opportunity to see the whole field again.
I have seen the greatest QB's on the planet live miss wide open WR's and sometimes the fans just flat out don't know what in the hell is going on too....so they see it from up high and say how did he miss that? The QB at the LOS may see a certain look and know...single coverage, our best guy with no safety over the top and they go there because they feel it is the best option. Is it wrong sometimes....sure it is sometimes, but using one play to say a QB is habitually locked in is a fan favorite past time. Rocco if anything does a good job of keeping his eyes down field if things start to collapse.
I've seen him throw jump balls to Sowell already this year meaning he knows his guy was covered, but also trusted him to make the play. I'm sorry I know the vast majority of college QB's are not going through 3-4 progressions on every single snap.....it's a myth as old as time. The ones that do are the exception, not the rule. Hell pro QB's still lock on to targets and force balls....it's a part of the game. Saying Koby was WR3 was motivation and well played, but yes....when you have a clear #1 and a playmaker you get the ball in that persons hands more than other people. Rocco was also quoted saying he could see KH reach 1000 yards this season back in the summer....they know what they have in KH.
Last night in the NFL game the ATL OC stated....we want to simply the QB's reads so he can see his favorable matchup at the LOS. Sometimes the defenses shift and progressions had to occur and other times the ball was out in 2 seconds....no progressions. It's not a video game and presnap intelligent QB's aren't always locking on....they know the matchup they like. The best QB's to have ever tossed the pill know what look they are seeing pre-snap....and even then sometimes a shift occurs and fools them. It happens.
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Wisconsin beat Western Illinois 36-9 and they beat Eastern Michigan 54-10. Those wins were as decisive as PSU's wins over Marshall, Temple, and UB.
Wisconsin lost to #4 ND 41-13 which looks like a blowout but the halftime score was only 13-10 and Wisconsin would have actually been leading 10-6 if they didn't muff a KO and give ND 7 free points. ND pulled away in the second half but the stats were pretty close. If nothing else Wisconsin is battletested against one of the top teams in college football.
I expect PSU to win this game but the weather and injuries give Wisconsin a chance. Howard was probably our #1 offensive threat and Rapp is definitely our top edge blocker.
I agree about the Washington game, it is more of the travel rather the team itself. However, Husky Stadium is a very tough place to play, which coincides with the travel aspect.
First of all, my post is referring to Washington. Every team "has a chance " that's why games are played and we don't award wins based on odds makers. Now since you reference Wisky, they are not a good team. PSU is home, has by far the more experienced and talented roster. Virtually every analytic, offense, defense and special team rates PSU above the Badgers. Being "tested" but beaten by 3 0r more touchdowns isn't a positive resume. I agree PSU hasn't been tested. I'll state once again, every team has injuries. PSU should win the game by 2 scores.
Winning 7 or 8 games with this schedule would be a monumental failure. Then check the conference schedule the next 2 years. That could be 3 dismal years. What happened to excellence at the highest level?
The way a crying child gets everyone's attention. Big deal. Tom McAndrew should permanently take you to the crying room.
Says the same guy who cried about the HC being canned last year after losing to NW and UCLA after losing the Whiteout game to Oregon? That was in year 12 by the way, not in year 1 where you piece mealed a roster together from a B12 team. You still aren't over it either and that is abundantly clear. PSU was 3-0 last year with similar scores too FWIW.....so again tell me how great this PSU team is or was last years team after 3 games?
You certainly love to move the bar if your guy isn't the HC. It's odd watching you root for coaches more than the program, but I get it....you're old and lonely and this gives you some upside down purpose.
While KH has been the best offensive weapon so far, I wouldn't mind seeing Robinson get some extra offensive snaps. I think he has a big game.
excuses and more excuses. Campbell kept the top 24 players from his ISU roster and combined them with the best players eligible to return to PSU. Last year's team was a disaster and the coach was fired. It has nothing to do with the expectations for this team and the standard that Kraft promised. The weakest schedule since PSU entered the Big Ten and one of the most veteran team rosters in college football. Mix in a coach who is superior in every way to his predecessor. It's precious to see how tight the sphincters are getting at the very thought of big bad Wisconsin coming to town.
A Jackson may also see some more touches FWIW. Tons of summer hype on him, but we all know that isn't always a great indicator.
Careful now, Marshall. They will bring Moore out of retirement. .
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