#4 Notre Dame 41 #19 Penn State 17
The best quote I have seen about Saturday’s disaster was “Penn State was looking ahead to Youngstown State.”
What can I say? The Nittany Lions were lethargic on both sides of the ball and worse on special teams. Where was the fire? In my prediction, I just assumed the team would play with passion and heart. What happened?
As much as I hate to say it, egomaniac Charlie Weis lived up to his billing Saturday.
Nittany Lions have a lot to fix – CDT
Blowout at South Bend – Patriot-News
Boxscore – ESPN
Nittany Lions Fall to No. 4 Notre Dame – Intercollegiate Athletics (includes quotes, photos, stats, etc.)
Penn State Football Story video
OFFENSE
If you were wondering when Derrick Williams would have a bad game, wonder no more! The sophomore dropped at least two passes and did not make any big plays. QB Anthony Morelli was okay, but was unable to create a big play. He also threw an INT and fumbled an ill-concieved option, two miscues born out of desperation. RB Tony Hunt rebounded somewhat from last week with 100 total yards (76 rushing, 24 receiving) but that was still not enough. A clipping penalty, a suspect one at that, wiped out an excellent Hunt run in the first half that swung momentum back to Notre Dame.
DEFENSE
Two games into the season, it is pretty clear that Paul Pozluszny is not the same linebacker that he was last year. He appears to have lost a step or two laterally. I don’t know if that is because of his knee injury or the brace he know wears, but it is noticeable. I expect to see him play without a brace later in the season.
Notre Dame took advantage of the zone defense that Penn State used to get a lot of passes completed underneath. With little pass rush, Irish QB Brady Quinn picked the defense apart.
Overall, the defense did not play with enough intensity. Two dropped interceptions also proved quite costly. Also, the defense has yet to stop a team on fourth down this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Dreadful, absolutely dreadful. No good returns, another botched field goal attempt, and a fake punt by Notre Dame. Easily the most damaging was the bad snap on a first quarter field goal attempt. If the Lions convert there, it is a much different game I think. The Lions need to find someone who can long-snap as well a new holder I think; Jason Ganter is not getting it done
FIELD GOAL CHALLENGE
Unlike the previous week when no one accepted the challenge to kick field goals, the Ombudsman (of all people) did. I wound up winning, going 5 for 10, while he went 1 for 6.
NO PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Nobody deserves it.