Penn State Snowflakes: The Coaching

Specifically, what I meant is that the way we USE the schemes, they would not work if we didn't have above average talent. We run the same running plays over and over, at times right at the strength of the defense. That's not good, we need to switch it up. We're too predictable and it is only because we have well above average talent that we are having the success we are having. I agree that even with the best talent, a team is going to have a hard time winning without adequate coaching. 

That was obviously stupid but before that, he parlayed a fake punt into points.  And Penn State was like 3/3 on 4th down until that last drive.  Those 4th down gambles gave them a lead (until we took it back lol)

the fake FG was dumb, going for it there would not have been....

Harbaugh seems to have a pretty reasonable approach to 4th down and FB/4th-and-red-zone decisions.  When he thinks we have the horses or the reward is out of proportion to the risk, he's aggressive; otherwise he's not.  This year, with our run game generally paving people, he's aggressive on 4th down (and throws on 3rd and short because he's willing to go for it on 4th down too!).  When we aren't doing that (MSU, and sporadically against Wisconsin/Nebraska), he pulls in his horns - and that makes sense to me.

Context is everything about those decisions.

The fourth down run you reference was the worst call of the game.  

PSU had every defender in the box, tightest defensive formation in the game.  A run had no chance of success, but a fake dive play action likely would have had someone wide open for the first down and maybe a lot more. Or three wide to spread the field.

Our maulers can maul, but not into a box stacked that tight, not consistently.

Vastardis got crushed into the cutback lane.

Stopped in Space!

Fifty? Nebraska or Penn State would have beat OSU if they got to thirty. 

But we weren’t playing OSU, we were playing PSU.  Against OSU I imagine we’ll have a different gameplan.  (We’ve generally had solid offensive gameplans against them.  It’s the defense that’s gotten wrecked.)

OSU hasn't faced an opponent with  pair of edge rushers like Hutch and Ojabo. If anyone thinks that C. J. Spiller is going to be able to stand in the pocket all day and wait for the coverage to breakdown has got another thing coming.

I'm liking how some of the guys on the defensive back end are coming into their own.

Junior Colton and D.J. Turner are really playing well down the strech.

This is the truth. The big ten east is by far the worst landing spot for any team in CFB. It’s a meat grinding division. If Michigan were in any other division (exception of SEC West), they’d have probably won some division titles in Harbaugh’s time

Would you say that Harbaugh has gotten any breaks in that time span?  PSU beat OSU on one offensive play and one miracle special teams play for their win leading to a conference championship after getting TROUNCED by Michigan and then Michigan getting screwed in the OSU game.  Then Wisconsin was kicking PSU's tail all game in the Big 10 championship game until they lost 6 regulars on defense which allowed PSU to come back in 4th quarter against 3rd string defensive backs.  Sorry, 2016 counts be the idea that Franklin earned those achievements more than they were gifted is ludicrous.  Two years ago PSU was gifted about 4 pass interference calls for the win.  PSU couldn't stop Michigan's wide receivers without help.  So I find it hard to credit Franklin when he never credits the other side for beating him.  In his post game comments it is always his mistakes or conditions beyond his control but you won't hear him mention that they other team is composed of real talented people too.