'Spread HD' all the rage in Happy Valley

2008-09-11T22:47:36-04:00

2008-09-06T20:58:48-04:00

2008-09-10T06:38:24-04:00

2008-09-11T22:47:36-04:00

PhillySteelers

Hatboro 522824

4 Michael Robinson impersonator? Seriously. This cats got some skills to be out Devlin, who was said to be a better RUNNER than Clark. Robinson played with heart. This team is playing with talent. 2722355

2008-09-11T09:28:04-04:00

curmudgeon79

Fairfax 485152

3 For some reason I find it hard to believe that the Lord or his Mother sit around on saturdays with their "I Heart Charlie Weiss" t-shirts on watching any football! 2714081

2008-09-11T06:32:34-04:00

NDJerry90

Bethel Park 521222

2 With regard to PSUNutcase, the Lord may like Penn State, but His Mother absolutely loves Notre Dame. 2713460

2008-09-11T01:51:42-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/122/135/thumb/KANSAS_Signs.jpg 245 KS

JayhawkRock

Lawrence 122434

1 Very impressive. My friend who goes there saw it in person and was definitely excited about the offense, and with those numbers, I really can't blame him. I, like most of the nation, was curious about what the "Spread HD" was and how/how well it was going to work, but the idea of mixing everything up is brilliant, especially for a program that has athletes everywhere and really needed an injection of something new with the word all around the country that Joe Pa (and, in turn, the program) was getting old and getting passed by. By creating some confusion for the defense, PSU can create a lot of mismatches with its speedy WRs and open big holes for Royster and Clark to run through as the LBs and CBs bite on the deep routes. Linebacker U will always have a stifling defense, lead by the always-impressive D-line and LBs, so whenever the offense becomes dominant (a la 2005 & MRob & others' Orange Bowl run) look out. Would LOVE to see them go into Columbus and take it to the Buckeyes. 2712810

2008-09-09T22:06:02-04:00

PSUNutcase

Pompano Beach 520144

Penn State is awesome. Anyone who says otherwise shall be struck down by our Lord and Savior. Go Nitanny Lions!!!! 2706432

2008-09-09T17:01:35-04:00

curmudgeon79

Fairfax 485152

Let me preface this by saying.. I'm a PSU fan. But they have played coastal carolina and Oregon St.. Can we please hold of judgement on them winning the Big Ten until they actually play a conference game.. Yes Michigan has some questions but they are still Michigan, Ohio St is still Ohio St but you also have to look at a tough Wisconsin and Michigan St.. please please.. sportswriters, find somethine else to write about!! 2704337

2008-09-08T09:32:56-04:00

424

INCSOC

Bellefonte 83737

This comes as exactly no surprise for me. The conference is a two team league, Ohio State and Penn State. While Penn State has been the most impressive team so far, until proven otherwise, the Buckeyes have the best defense in the conference and play Penn State at home where they have never won. However, they certainly have the speed on both sides of the ball to put the Buckeyes away. At this point, it is safe to say that Daryl Clark is the league's best QB and that he leads what is by far and away, the Big Ten's best offense. The defense is about as good as I thought it would be. A small step back from last year's unit but that may be the result the temporary loss of players to suspension. Nothing bad happened actually other than some knucklehead brought a joint to a party (heaven's forbid, a college party and someone brought some pot) so these guys will be back before the Illinois game. Penn State will head to Columbus undefeated setting up a showdown for the Big Ten title and maybe more, as predicted Mr. Mandel. 2687704

2008-09-07T13:22:47-04:00

pablo_psu

Tunkhannock 517359

PAterno has not lost control of the program.....he is one of the few that would actually take action for what other coaches may deem, "a little pot". I respect Paterno for making these kids take responsibility for their idiotic actions. As for the football team that did play on Saturday...very complete. I just want the Big 10 games to start to see what the lions are really made of. 2683100

2008-09-07T11:07:17-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/491/882/thumb/OSU_Wells.jpg 401 OH

etc_04

Athens 492322

beachgator, holding everyone back? Tell them to come compete. As for Penn State, they looked VERY impressive, can't wait for 10-25, going to (hopefully) be a great one. They had showed that if they play like this they definitely have the firepower to win the Big 10 2682690

2008-09-07T10:09:21-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/483/1/thumb/byebyetn.jpg 2198

rhymeister

tea town aka Tokyo 4851

I wonder if Mandel still think Oregon State is a darkhouse team this season? They could still upset some of the big boys in the Pac-10 but oh boy, do they have some improving to do.... 2682525

<img style="border: 1px solid black; margin: 5px; width: 425px; height: 300px; float: right;" title="AP" src="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/images/09/06/t1_royster.jpg" alt="AP" width="425" height="300" />By Mark Beech, SI.com STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State's <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/scoreboards/2008/09/06/38725_viewcast_recap.html">45-14 blowout of Oregon State</a> was so out of hand by the end of the first half that the Nittany Lions could afford to keep a significant part of their new "Spread HD" offense under wraps. No matter. What we saw was enough to show that Penn State could be a dark-horse threat to win the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions can score in a variety of ways and out of a variety of formations. We saw the Power-I. We saw the shotgun. We saw the quarterback draw and the zone-read option. It's going to be a lot for defensive coordinators to counter. One of the neatest wrinkles came when wideout Derrick Williams lined up as the tailback in the I formation, took a pitch and threw to the end zone. It will be little tricks like that -- as well as a solid offensive line -- that could just make running back Evan Royster a serious Heisman-Trophy candidate. While the Beavers were trying to figure out what was coming next, the smooth-running Royster ran right over them, picking up 141 yards on 17 carries and scoring three touchdowns. That gives him six scores in the season's first two games. Were you watching, <a href="http://heismanpundit.com/">Heisman Pundit</a>? In short, Penn State looks very, very complete. Williams is basically a third option at tailback after Royster and speedy Stephfon Green. Wideout Jordan Norwood (eight catches, 116 yards, one TD) has exceptional hands and quarterback Daryll Clark, who showed a remarkable passing touch today, does an excellent Michael Robinson impersonation. If there's a downside to this boffo exhibition, it's the fact that three defensive players, including starting defensive linemen Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma, were not on the field due to a suspension by Joe Paterno earlier this week. In the last few years, Penn State has had more than its share of off-the-field trouble, and there is a growing buzz that Paterno has lost some control of the program. Thankfully for the fans in Happy Valley, those concerns will be dealt with at a later date. For today, anyway, the sky's the limit. 1225

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