1 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back into the Penn State Pulse. I'm your host, 2 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: Dylan Dawson. Penn State kept their perfect season afloat last 3 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: Saturday in Los Angeles in a far from perfect game, 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: topping USC thirty three to thirty in overtime. It feels 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: like every time these two teams play, it's bound to 6 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: be an all time classic. 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: Now. 8 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: PSU coming back to win from being down twenty to 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: six at halftime comes after the twenty sixteen Rose Bowl, 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: the last time these teams played, which, although I hate 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: to admit it was one of the best college. 12 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:37,720 Speaker 2: Football games I've ever seen. 13 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: The Nittany Lions got their revenge for that one, though, 14 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: coming back to beat the Trojans on a walk off 15 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,440 Speaker 1: field goal, just like they did to us in that 16 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,480 Speaker 1: Rose Bowl. So what stood out to me? Gotta start 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: with Ryan Barker. 18 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 2: Man. 19 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: There isn't too much to be said. Penn State's kicking 20 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: game went from what the hell are we gonna do? 21 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: To this kid as a stud pretty much overnight. Barker 22 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: was for four on the day against USC, including that 23 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: game winner, as well as three for three on his 24 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: extra points. Penn State does not win this game without 25 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: Ryan Barker, and it's as simple as that. He would 26 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 1: have been the clear pet player of the game too 27 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: if it wasn't for one of the better performances we've 28 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: ever seen from. 29 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,039 Speaker 2: A tight end in a college football game. 30 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,240 Speaker 1: That, of course, was Tyler Warren, whose name is now 31 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: being associated with terms like Mackie and Heisman. Seventeen catches, 32 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: two hundred and twenty four yards, and a touchdown in 33 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,559 Speaker 1: one game. Penn State fans have known for a while 34 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: how good Tyler is, but he's now becoming a household 35 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: name in. 36 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: College football circles. 37 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: After that one, he also took a wildcat snap and 38 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 1: ran for four yards. I believe that was on a 39 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: third down. And he also completed a pass for nine 40 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: yards because why not. And I'm sure a bunch of 41 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: you saw this one already, But on that thirty two 42 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: yard touchdown catch, he was lined up at center, where 43 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: he proceeded to snap the ball, run straight down the field, 44 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: and pluck the ball right off of the DB's helmet. 45 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: Just ridiculous stuff from number forty four. Let the Heisman 46 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: campaign begin next up. This team puts something on display 47 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: last Saturday that we haven't quite seen to that level 48 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: since maybe that twenty sixteen year, and that is their resiliency. 49 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: They dug themselves in a hole and then between great 50 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: coaching and pure will from the players, they were able 51 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: to climb back out of it. Penn State does not 52 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: come back from a fourteen point deficit on the road 53 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:34,519 Speaker 1: against a very talented team like USC in recent years, 54 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: but they did it last Saturday. In recent years, we'd 55 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: kind of just see an avalanche like scenario play out 56 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: in that situation where they just keep slipping until it's 57 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:48,440 Speaker 1: not even a contest anymore. You can see Ohio State 58 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two, Michigan also in twenty twenty two, 59 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 1: and then most of the games from twenty twenty, but 60 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: Iowa and twenty twenty it really got away from them. 61 00:02:57,639 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 2: Those are a few recent examples that come to mind. 62 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: This team had a handful of plays last Saturday where 63 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: it was basically make a play right here or you 64 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: lose the game, and they were able to do just that, 65 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 1: make a play and respond every single time. A big 66 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: part of that was quarterback Drew Aller. I truly think 67 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: we witnessed Drew grow up on Saturday. What if I 68 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 1: told you the in a game where he threw three picks. 69 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: It was the best he's looked in the blue and white. 70 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: It's pretty crazy to think about, but he finally took 71 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: the risks and with those interceptions came the big plays. 72 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 1: Drew went thirty of forty three on the day, which 73 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: is right under a seventy percent completion percentage. He also 74 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: had three hundred and ninety one yards, a career high, 75 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: and two touchdowns. Aler orchestrated that final drive to tie 76 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: the game in regulation with some help from Andy Kolnecki. 77 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: Of course, that drive went twelve plays for seventy five yards, 78 00:03:53,440 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: including two huge fourth down conversions excuse me where Aler 79 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: connected with Julian Fleming, and that drive was capped by 80 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: a fourteen yard touchdown pass to Nick Singleton. Every time 81 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: Drew through a pick in this game, he came back 82 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: the next drive, the next play, whatever it may be, 83 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: with a response of some sort. It's so important to 84 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 1: have a short memory in those sort of situations, and 85 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: that's exactly what we saw from Drew Roler on Saturday. 86 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 1: So this one's been overlooked a bit. I haven't seen 87 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: it talked about too much in Penn State circles at 88 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: least not yet, but another game for Penn State and 89 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: another positive trend with the penalties. In a game that 90 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: where every single play matters, Penn State can't have eighty 91 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,600 Speaker 1: or one hundred yards and penalties or else they probably 92 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: don't win the net Allions committed three penalties for twenty 93 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: five yards in that game, and that comes a week 94 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,640 Speaker 1: after committing two for twenty against UCLA, And just off 95 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 1: the top of my head, they were probably around six 96 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: or seven a game in those first four contests, So 97 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: it has been a huge improvement for the Nittellions in 98 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: the penalty category. It does seem like this team is 99 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: beginning to really come together and gel and the penalties 100 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: are just one example of that. Let's now discuss some 101 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: things that's better that I think the Nittny Lions need 102 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: to work on. The run game has taken a bit 103 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,600 Speaker 1: of a turn in the last few weeks, and Penn 104 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,359 Speaker 1: State struggled for the second straight game to produce much 105 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 1: of anything big on the ground. Case you carried thirty 106 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: one times on Saturday for one hundred and eighteen yards 107 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: in a touchdown against usc which comes out to three 108 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: point eight yards per carry. The longest run by a 109 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: running back came from Nick Singleton, which was the ten 110 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 1: yard scamper up the middle on what I believe was 111 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: his first carry on the day. This comes a week 112 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: after the longest carry by a running back against UCLA 113 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: was an eleven yarder from k Tron. 114 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 2: So definitely a little bit of. 115 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: Concerns surrounding the run game right now, specifically the production 116 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: of explosive plays. The good news here is that they've 117 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:56,760 Speaker 1: been able to get a lot of the short yarded 118 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 1: stuff and it's mostly just the big ones in the 119 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: last couple of games that they've struggled with. The other 120 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: good news is that PSU's offensive coordinator is Andy Kattoiniki. 121 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: He has always been. 122 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: A run first guy at all of his stops, and 123 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,919 Speaker 1: I'm pretty confident that he'll be able to continue that 124 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: trend here in State College. Doesn't help, though, that Penn 125 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 1: State's offensive line has dealt with a handful of injuries, 126 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: which leads into. 127 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 2: My next thing to work on. 128 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: It's not really something to work on, though, just more 129 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: of a negative factor to minor and that is this 130 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: team's injuries as a whole right now. The second bye 131 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: week came at a very convenient time because they are 132 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: very banged up. You of course have the long term 133 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: guys like kJ Winston's, Riyah Fisher, Kim Wallace, but guys 134 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: that have been at least a little banged up recently. 135 00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: It's becoming a laundry list. Nick Singleton, Anthony Donko, JB. Nelson, 136 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,280 Speaker 1: Sal Wormley. And then you look at the defense. You 137 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: got guys like Tony Rojas, Jalen Reid, Don de Luca, 138 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:59,040 Speaker 1: Kayln King, excuse me, Kobe King, and a few others. 139 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: Just a lot of guys with small injuries right now. 140 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: So yeah, this is a very good time to have 141 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: a bye week. This could make a huge difference with 142 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: a few of these guys where they're actually able to 143 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 1: get back close to or to. 144 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 2: One hundred percent before that Wisconsin game. So let's look 145 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 2: ahead a bit. Including that Wisconsin game. 146 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: Penn State's next three games will pretty much determine the 147 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,320 Speaker 1: season outcome and their playoff hopes. They sit at six 148 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: to zero overall and three to zero in the Big 149 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: Ten halfway through the season. Those next three games, though, 150 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: they are big ones, to say the least. Penn State 151 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 1: heads to Madison in a week and a half, depending 152 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: on when you're watching this uh to play the Wisconsin 153 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: Badgers in a seven thirty kick on the road. That's 154 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: any college football fan knows that Camp Randall is not 155 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: a place that you want to play, especially at night, 156 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,000 Speaker 1: so that'll be a tough one. They then turn around 157 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: and head back to Beaver Stadium where they'll play Ohio 158 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:03,120 Speaker 1: State and while Washington in back to back weeks. I 159 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: expect Penn Sate to get the short end of the 160 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: stick with that Ohio State game. I think that's going 161 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: to be a nooner on Fox, and the white out 162 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 1: against Washington is unfortunately looking like a three thirty kick time. 163 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: So not the ideal scenario for either of those games 164 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 1: as far as when they'll be kicking off. If Penn 165 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 1: Sate gets through these next three at three and zero 166 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,920 Speaker 1: or even two in one, they are in the playoffs 167 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 1: without question. If they go one and two, they'll have 168 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: a case for the playoffs, but would be far from 169 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: being guaranteed a spot. The Nitty Lions then finished the 170 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: season with games at Purdue, at Minnesota, and then at 171 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,640 Speaker 1: home against Maryland. Everything is still right in front of 172 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:48,560 Speaker 1: this team. All their goals, all their aspirations are still 173 00:08:48,559 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: within reach. They have made it through a handful of 174 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: very tough games now, beating West Virginia and USC on 175 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,600 Speaker 1: the road, as well as a ranked Illinois team at home. 176 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: And I'm not sure if any of you have been 177 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: keeping up with them, but they're five and one. 178 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,360 Speaker 2: They're still ranked, obviously. 179 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: With the five to one record, they still have not 180 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: lost a contest outside of that game at Penn State, 181 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,560 Speaker 1: So that's a pretty damn good team that Penn State 182 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 1: controlled for the majority of that game. So that is 183 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,679 Speaker 1: going to do it for today's episode of the Penn 184 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,559 Speaker 1: State Pulse. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. 185 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: Enjoy the stress free bye week. I certainly will, and 186 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: I will see y'all again in a bit to preview 187 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: that looming matchup with the Badgers.