01-02-2017, 08:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-02-2017, 08:25 PM by OutsiderFan.)
At minimum Penn State earned a lot of respect, and showed why I thought they were being under appreciated.
That said, Franklin went full on David Shaw turtle mode on the last possession they led 49-42. For the zillionth time... You win the game by getting first downs, not by running clock! Those predictable runs played right into U$C's hands, as they gladly traded timeouts to get the ball back. Where was the bootleg? Where was the play action to the TE who was a matchup mismatch on the USC Safeties? Where was WR Chris Godwin? U$C lost both starting CBs and PSU still didn't pass on that possession when they win the game with two first downs.
Unless you have a dominant defense, or are playing a weak offense, it's just crazy to play it like Franklin did at the end when he still had the lead. Rather than play like they were ahead, PSU needed to play like they were behind on their last possession before U$C got the ball back after the punt.
That said, Franklin went full on David Shaw turtle mode on the last possession they led 49-42. For the zillionth time... You win the game by getting first downs, not by running clock! Those predictable runs played right into U$C's hands, as they gladly traded timeouts to get the ball back. Where was the bootleg? Where was the play action to the TE who was a matchup mismatch on the USC Safeties? Where was WR Chris Godwin? U$C lost both starting CBs and PSU still didn't pass on that possession when they win the game with two first downs.
Unless you have a dominant defense, or are playing a weak offense, it's just crazy to play it like Franklin did at the end when he still had the lead. Rather than play like they were ahead, PSU needed to play like they were behind on their last possession before U$C got the ball back after the punt.