Here are some thoughts regarding the game. I delayed posting to let the euphoria wear down (not off).
Offense
1) I don't think the first 58 minutes were on Sheridan. Those were execution problems. First game execution problems just like we saw against Ball St. last year.
2) Even though MP was early getting some balls out, particularly early in the game, and was more inaccurate than normal, there were also plenty of instances of the ball still hitting his WR in the hands. Not that they would have been easy catches, but there's that old saying that if it hits your hands you can catch it.
3) I won't have a more firm opinion on OL until after the Mich game. Like, how much of that yesterday was the IU OL not coming together vs. PSU just being good. And poor Caleb Jones there at the end getting whipped twice. Rough. And he wasn't alone.
4) I don't know if the dearth of outside runs were a talent/speed issue, a lack of snaps issue, or the gameplan.
Defense
1) Saved the day.
2) The first PSU drive was a grinder and had the completely inexplicable failure to account for all-American TE which I think we were all calling out Play Action to the TE there. But other than that, kudos
3) Micah had some missed tackles early and looked slow in space on a swing pass I recall in the 1st quarter (or 2nd), but he settled in and was everywhere.
4) I love Sio. And Swann accounted well for himself on some plays.
5) On the whole, way to stuff the inside run on the regular.
6) There was ZERO pressure with the front 4. Kinda like the OL above, I'll defer until after the Michigan game to know if that is an "us" problem or a "them" problem.
7) BIGGEST OBSERVATION - They were able to send a bunch of LB pressure but PSU wasn't testing the corners. Maybe Reece & Mullen are really locking it down. Fingers Crossed
Overall
PSU played badly in many ways, but then again so did IU. There are no style points & I was bouncing all over my living room during that final review.
P.S. - Speaking of the review, I think the touchdown was originally called because he hit the pylon with the ball. But in review where the ball clearly hit the ground before the pylon, they ended up no overturning because they couldn't tell if the nose was over the goal line before hitting the ground or pylon.
Offense
1) I don't think the first 58 minutes were on Sheridan. Those were execution problems. First game execution problems just like we saw against Ball St. last year.
2) Even though MP was early getting some balls out, particularly early in the game, and was more inaccurate than normal, there were also plenty of instances of the ball still hitting his WR in the hands. Not that they would have been easy catches, but there's that old saying that if it hits your hands you can catch it.
3) I won't have a more firm opinion on OL until after the Mich game. Like, how much of that yesterday was the IU OL not coming together vs. PSU just being good. And poor Caleb Jones there at the end getting whipped twice. Rough. And he wasn't alone.
4) I don't know if the dearth of outside runs were a talent/speed issue, a lack of snaps issue, or the gameplan.
Defense
1) Saved the day.
2) The first PSU drive was a grinder and had the completely inexplicable failure to account for all-American TE which I think we were all calling out Play Action to the TE there. But other than that, kudos
3) Micah had some missed tackles early and looked slow in space on a swing pass I recall in the 1st quarter (or 2nd), but he settled in and was everywhere.
4) I love Sio. And Swann accounted well for himself on some plays.
5) On the whole, way to stuff the inside run on the regular.
6) There was ZERO pressure with the front 4. Kinda like the OL above, I'll defer until after the Michigan game to know if that is an "us" problem or a "them" problem.
7) BIGGEST OBSERVATION - They were able to send a bunch of LB pressure but PSU wasn't testing the corners. Maybe Reece & Mullen are really locking it down. Fingers Crossed
Overall
PSU played badly in many ways, but then again so did IU. There are no style points & I was bouncing all over my living room during that final review.
P.S. - Speaking of the review, I think the touchdown was originally called because he hit the pylon with the ball. But in review where the ball clearly hit the ground before the pylon, they ended up no overturning because they couldn't tell if the nose was over the goal line before hitting the ground or pylon.