SB Nation User Blog: millzners

Special Teams Personel to be Shuffled. No this is not a repeat.

millzners — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:38:23 -0000

Special Teams Personel to be Shuffled. No this is not a repeat.

With 2 games in the regular season we're in the bottom 5% in kickoff returns and coverage. So *now* we're going to make some personel changes. Joe says it's not scheme, and it's not coaching.

Ok, usually I'm a blatant optimist, but something tells me this might have a little to do with scheme and coaching. Last I checked we have 1st string guys out there on coverage and returns, and we're still horrific.

Getting a Pulse: How confident are you?

millzners — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:14:12 -0000

Heading into last year's game I was outrageously confident we'd win. There wasn't a doubt in my mind. I think I predicted we'd win like 49-17 or something. Needless to say come 3rd quarter I was sweating bullets.

But this year is different, I'm nervous, I'm worried about our O-line, and I'm not sold on our safeties. I was wondering how confident people are around here. I know it's hate week, but let's be honest.

Poll

We're going to win right?

Does Sanchez's performance in the NFL make the Rose Bowl a little easier to bear?

millzners — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:23:21 -0000

Ok after two games the rookie QB Sanchez has now outplayed and beat Tom Brady and the Patriots and led his team to a 2-0 start. He's completed 60% of his passes and looks like he's headed for a monster rookie season... Stats

In hindsight I'm not sure we can hang our heads about the Rose Bowl. We faced an NFL-caliber passing attack lead by a guy who's now playing at an extremely high level in the NFL. Sanchez wasn't just some average NCAAF QB, and our inability to stop him now seems less damning.

Poll

Does Sanchez's perfornance in the NFL make the Rose Bowl loss easier to bear?

Yes

64 votes

No

104 votes

168 votes | Poll has closed

Get your tin foil hat out, I've got a good one

millzners — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:12:36 -0000

Get your tin foil hat out, I've got a good one

We're keeping Royster's carries down to keep him from running off to the NFL. By using him as a receiver, punt returner, and by using Green more (8 carries to Royster's 12) we're keeping Royster from being a featured TB. By doing so we're keeping him healthy and making sure he isn't going anywhere. I know it's not true, but it's good for discussion on this glorious Sunday afternoon.

Tailgate food: What's your favorite?

millzners — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:43:43 -0000

I was wondering thru the grocery store last Friday thinking: "man, I always get the same food for tailgating, I need to expand my horizons" but to no avail.

I found myself yet again grilling brats burgers and sausages, and yet again found the stable of reliable mainstays to be satisfying yet boring. I've seen people cook everything from beer-can chicken to bar-b-q ribs over coals, I've seen chili, kabobs, fish, dips everything.

So this time around I need some suggestions: How do you roll? What are your all time favorite recipes and foods at a tailgate?

Poll

How do you prefer to roll at your tailgate?

The Classics: Burgers, Brats, Sausage, and Hotdogs

49 votes

BBQ: Ribs, brisket, and chicken

18 votes

Chilli, Soups, and Stews

15 votes

Exotic: grilled salmon, lamb chops, or kabobs

3 votes

Liquid Diet

18 votes

Vegan: Tofu, Fruits, and Raw Veggies

2 votes

105 votes | Poll has closed

Rivalry Esq Looks at PSU

millzners — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:28:49 -0000

Rivalry Esq Looks at PSU

Just a continuation of BamaHawkeye's campaign to discredit PSU. He's now on the record: PSU will lose to Iowa (shocking!) Illinois, Michigan, and MSU.

Good stuff.

Because you wanted to know: Scouting the PSU @ Alabama 2010 matchup

millzners — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:01:43 -0000

C'mon, admit it. You were curious. I know I was. This game has enormous implications. It's the first good OOC game in years, it's against ZOMG SEC!!! and it's an old-school rivalry that dates back to 1959 when an integrated Penn State team beat an all-white Alabama team 7-0 in the Liberty Bowl. Currently PSU is 6th (801) and Alabama 7th (799) in all time wins.

Here's how the rosters shape up. I made the following assumptions:

1. Royster is going to have a monster season and leave for the NFL. You'd be a fool to turn down 1st round money and risk injury when you already have your degree as he will by year's end. Plus in this year's RB class he could be top 3.

2. Bowman is leaving. Same reason Royster is.

3. I'm going to predict starters for next season before this season even starts. That's crazy. But that's just how I roll.

PSU Offense (1 TE 3 WR 1 RB):

Returning Starters: 7/11

OL: 4/5 (only lose Landolt)

RB: 0/1

QB: 0/1

WR: 3/3

TE: 0/1

Obvious strengths? Solid line, veteran receivers, and good potential at RB.

Obvious weakness? QB. Seriously, we're going to be running the ball. A lot.

Alabama Defense (3-4):

Returning Starters: 4/11

DL: 0/3

LB: 2/4

DB: 2/4

Obvious Strengths? They're recruiting lots of talent, so they will reload easily. Their DL; they will be new but they'll all be Sr's and Jr's.

Obvious Weakness? They'll be very young in the secondary, and they'll lose 5 of their starting front 7.

My BS analysis on how they match up:

Well we'll be heading into 'Bama with a veteran O-line, that's not a bad start. We should have great depth and talent at WR and RB. Not too shabby. 'Bama will definitely have some questions on defense, but they've been recruiting as well as anyone. We'll probably rely heavily on the run game, insulate Newsome from mistakes, and run a lot of run-option stuff with our new QB. Newsome is the wildcard in the game. Who knows where he'll be in a year with his development.

PSU Defense (4-3):

Returning Starters: (5/11)

DL: 3/4

LB: 0/3

DB: 2/4

Obvious Strengths: Pass rush. Our DE's will return and we should have solid DT's. LB's will be all new, but reliable. Safeties could be good.

Obvious Weakness: Let's just pencil in CB. Again. And leadership will be a big question after losing Odrick, Lee, etc..

Alabama Offense (2 TE 1 RB 2 WR):

Returning Starters: (7/11)

OL: 3/5

RB: 1/1

QB: 1/1

WR: 1/2

TE: 1/2

Obvious Strengths: QB, RB, and a solid O line. With the talent they recruit and the returning starters they should be an excellent offense.

Obvious Weakness: None. I mean, they lose a WR a TE and 2 Oline. They have loads of young talent at those positions.

My BS analysis on how they match up:

This is a tough one to predict. We'll be very young all over the place while they will return everything they need to run right over us. But we should have a good front 7 like we usually do, and experience and talent at safety. With Alabama running a smash-mouth style of offense we could match up well despite our losses. On the other hand if they begin passing a lot on us we're in trouble.

References:

http://alabama.scout.com/a.z?s=14&p=9&c=16&yr=2009

http://alabama.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

http://pennstate.scout.com/a.z?s=157&p=9&c=16&yr=2009

http://bwi.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

Lou Holtz finally makes a reasonable ND prediction. Just kidding "THEIR GOING TO SSTHE NATSSSIONAL CHAMPIONSSSSHIPTH!"

millzners — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:15:35 -0000

Lou Holtz finally makes a reasonable ND prediction. Just kidding "THEIR GOING TO SSTHE NATSSSIONAL CHAMPIONSSSSHIPTH!"

In 2007 he predicted 11 wins. In 2008 he predicted 11 wings. In 2009 he's got them going to the NC game. He is serious, shameless, and obviously has access to some very good drugs.

Butler is looking sharp

millzners — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:07:05 -0000

Butler is looking sharp

So far at the half Butler grabbed a nice 31 yard TD in the opening drive with the Seahawks first string offense. He also had a great diving catch over the middle on 3rd down. He's looking really sharp out there. They also have him returning kickoffs (but not punts) although he didn't do too much with that. It was really cool having the analysts talking so much about him, giving him the spot light and such. One dig on PSU was the "well when they drafted him, they really didn't know what to expect b/c Penn St. didn't have a good quaterback" DC17 would like a word...

NFL Preseason / PSU Player Watch Open Thread

millzners — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:34:35 -0000

I'm excited to see some of our 2009 draft picks play today, here's the breakdown:

SAT, AUG 15	TIME (ET)	TV	LOCATION
Atlanta at Detroit	4:00 PM	NFL	Ford Field
Chicago at Buffalo	7:00 PM	NFL	Ralph Wilson Stadium
Cleveland at Green Bay	8:00 PM		Lambeau Field
Tampa Bay at Tennessee	8:00 PM		LP Field
Houston at Kansas City	8:00 PM		Arrowhead Stadium
Seattle at San Diego	10:00 PM	NFL	Qualcomm Stadium

Atlanta: NO ONE

Detroit: WR's Bryant Johnson, Derrick Williams, Safety Clavin Lowry

Chicago: DT Anthony Adams, Kicker Robbie Gould, Guard Tyler Reed

Buffalo: (no Maybin) LB Posluszny, CB Lydell Sargeant, Safety Bryan Scott

Cleveland: NO ONE

Green Bay: Punter Jeremy Kapinos

Tampa Bay: TE John Gilmore

Tennessee QB Kerry Collins

Houston: NO ONE

Kansas City: WR Bobby Engram, DE Tamba Hali, RB Larry Johnson

Seattle: WR Deon Butler

San Diego: NO ONE

I wish I could find a way to look up their numbers but it's probably more of a pain then it's worth. Also I doubt the 3 games that aren't on NFL network are even televised outside of regional coverage, so good luck with that.

Poll

Who's got the best chance at a long-term NFL career?

Butler

29 votes

Williams

13 votes

Sargeant

0 votes

Maybin

23 votes

Shipley

23 votes

Ornberger

6 votes

Norwood

0 votes

Cadogan

3 votes

Davis

0 votes

Evans

1 votes

Gaines

0 votes

Ruben

0 votes

98 votes | Poll has closed