First Quarter Heisman

Leonard Fournette does things like this.

Through three week’s of the college football season there have been some impressive performances, most of them coming from LSU running back Leonard Fournette. At this point in the season, and I know it’s early, but at this point it’s his Heisman to lose. The last running back to win the award was Alabama’s Mark Ingram. His team went on to win the National Championship too, Fournette’s Tigers have a chance of doing that but he is going to have to carry the entire team due to their lack of consistent quarterback play. Here are the five (still earl) Heisman leaders.

1.       Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU: Fournette is 3^rd in the country in rushing and leads the country with a blistering 210 yards per game. He’s the first LSU running back to have back-to-back 200-yard games. He also has 8 touchdowns to go along all those yards. (631 to be exact). As I stated however, Fournette doesn’t have a choice but to put up crazy numbers so look for him to continue to do so. If he can do that against the tough SEC, throw in an 8.64 YPC (yards per carry) average, and you have the Heisman Trophy front-runner.
2.        Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU: Boykin was in the hunt for the Heisman last season as the leader of the Horned Frogs. He finished last season with almost 4,000 yards through the air, 33 touchdowns to just 10 interceptions. He’s picking up this year where he left off; so far the senior has 1,470 yards with 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. If TCU can keep winning and have his team as one of the four teams in the College Football Playoff, Boykin will no doubt be on his way to New York.
3.    Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia: No surprise that there is more than one SEC player on this list. The Georgia back might be the second best player in the conference behind Fournette; he’s 5^th in nation in rushing (599), 11^th in touchdowns (6), and much like Fournette, Chubb also has a staggering YPC at 8.44. He has the Bulldogs ranked in the top ten heading into SEC play. Alabama comes to Athens this Saturday and a win against the Tide and another big performance from Chubb will go along way to keeping his name on Heisman lists the rest of the season.

 

There aren’t many other players who stand out this year in college football, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliot is doing OK but not blowing people away like many thought he would; just 455 yards and 5 touchdowns for the preseason All American.

Alabama running back Derek Henry is in the same boat as Elliot, doing enough but nothing special, just 422 yards and 8 touchdowns (which is good for 4^th in the nation) for the 6’3” 242 pound bruiser.

There is a long way to go in the college football season and other players might step up, but for right now these are the guys who you should watch and marvel at.

San Diego State Recap

When you see a final score of 37-21 you would probably think that one offense was scoring at will and was making plays all over the field, that wasn’t the case in Penn State’s victory over San Diego State. The first quarter couldn’t have gone much better for a Penn State team that is still trying to get things going on offense. Running back Saquon Barkley looked to be on his way to another career day until he went down with an apparent ankle injury (8 carries, 62 yard before injury) and was lost for the rest of the game. Back-up Akeel Lynch looked to carry the load in Barkley’s absence but soon after the freshman went down, Lynch went down with what looked to be a knee injury and was in street clothes the rest of the afternoon. (Barkley was still dressed with his helmet on but trainers held him out.) Quarterback Christian Hackenberg finally looked somewhat comfortable behind his offensive line. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 296 yards and 3 touchdowns. Although the running game was held in check after Barkley and Lynch went down, the passing game still came around. Hackenberg found receiver Saeed Blacknall multiple times downfield, which the Nittany Lions hadn’t done in the first 3 games. Blacknall finished the day with 4 catches for 101 yards.

On defense the story was Anthony Zettel. The senior lost his father, Terry, on Friday afternoon after a 19-month battle with cancer. While many of us wouldn’t even consider getting out of bed after the loss of a parent, Zettel knew it was what his father would have wanted. “That was up to him. I felt like that’s what his family -- his dad -- would’ve wanted him to do.” head coach James Franklin said. He did play Saturday, and he played great. He led the team with 7 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, as well as a fumble recovery. Fellow defensive tackle Austin Johnson also had big day for a big man. The 323-pound junior recovered a fumble and took it 71-yards for a touchdown, the first of his career. The play happened just a minute into the fourth quarter with the score 27-21 Penn State and put the game out of reach for the Aztecs.

 

Penn State was without safeties Jordan Lucas and Marcus Allen due to injuries. No word on their status for next week’s game against Army. James Franklin isn’t the most open coach when it comes to injuries so it’s likely we won’t know until later in the week how Lucas, Allen, Barkley, and Lynch will fair going forward. Lynch’s injury looked a lot more serious so I’m not as optimistic about him as I am Barkley.

In order for Penn State to have a winning season or even get close to .500 they’ll need two things; they‘ll NEED Saquon Barkley to be 100% healthy and able to carry the ball 20 times a game in order for the passing game to keep progressing; and they’ll NEED to continue to throw the ball downfield while keeping Christian Hackenberg clean.

Army comes into town next Saturday for the final non-conference game before Big Ten play starts. The Black Knights will come into Happy Valley ranked 93^rd in total defense allowing 418 yards per game. It might be a moot point seeing as how Penn State’s offense only gains 345 yards per game.

Another thing to keep an eye on in terms of injuries are the statuses of Jordan Lucas, Marcus Allen, and Andrew Nelson.  

San Diego State Preview

Here’s the deal for Penn State going forward this season, and it’s real simple, give Saquon Barkley the ball. And if Barkley needs a break giving the ball to Akeel Lynch isn’t the worst thing they can do. Now this is the definition of optimism but hear me out; James Franklin rides the coattails of his true freshman to the tune of 1,600 yards allowing the passing game to open up, Christian Hackenberg accumulates 2,600 yards and 15 touchdowns. He doesn’t get sacked more than twice a game. Our defense does their thing and is recognized as one of the best in the country. Put all that together and you’re looking at a potential 9-win or 10-win team.

I know. I know. I know. How can I say Penn State will win 9 or 10 games when they’ve beaten the likes of Buffalo and Rutgers, and got embarrassed by Temple, because I can see it happening. I can see Saquon Barkley being that workhorse running back like great teams have, I can see Hackenberg emerging as the most talented quarterback in the country like many people believe he is, I can our defense going from ‘good’ to ‘great’.  All of that is not outside the realm of possibility.

For now, let’s focus on San Diego State. The Aztecs come into Happy Valley at 1-2 and are still trying to find themselves. They play a 3-3-5 defense that will drive defensive coordinators absolutely insane. Players on defense never stop moving. That does have its downfall however, because players don’t stop moving and they blitz roughly 75% of the time, it opens up holes for the running game. If Penn State can establish a run game early and often that will make the Aztecs respect that run game and put multiple players in the box, which in return allows for the passing game to open up. It’s also a defense that allows 233 yards through the air and 161 yards on the ground, which will bode well for Barkley and company.

Offensively the Aztecs rank just seven spots behind Penn State in total offense. (122^nd out of 128 teams.) Penn State’s defense ranks 23^rd in total defense and with the front seven playing the way they are, it could be a long day for San Diego State. Look for Bob Shoop’s defense to take full advantage of a poor Aztec offense.

Special teams could have a big day as well. It seems that DeAndre Thompkins is only one move away from taking a punt return to the house. Those return yards and potential touchdowns could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Penn State is favored by two touchdowns this weekend and I expect them to cover that spread and then some. Look for Christian Hackenberg to eclipse the 200-yard mark and again Saquon Barkley will have a big game. On defense, they bring the heat and pitch a shutout. Penn State wins 34-0.

Take It or Leave It: Fantasy Tips for Week 3

My fantasy advice last week wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t the best. I told you to bench Peyton Manning and start Drew Brees, something many other fantasy “experts” said to do so I don’t feel as bad. I said to bench Odell Beckham Jr.; he ended up having 7 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. I did say to bench Eddie Lacy who ended up getting hurt, as did Jason Witten who I also said to bench, so take that for what it’s worth. Here are my week 3 Take It or Leave It fantasy players.

Quarterback: The Steelers Ben Roethlisberger is picking up where he left off last season and the Steelers look like one of the teams to beat in the AFC. Big Ben was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his 369 yards and 3-touchdown performance against the San Francisco 49ers. Pittsburgh travels to St. Louis to take a Rams team that gave up 373 yards to an average Washington Redskins defense. The Steelers also get running back Le’Veon Bell back from suspension so that’ll be another weapon Big Ben has. Flip side, Sam Bradford is a no-no this week. The Eagles head into New York to take on the Jets at 0-2 and are looking for a spark. Don’t expect that spark to happen this week; the Jets forced 3 interceptions against Andrew Luck on Monday night. Bradford is struggling so far and the struggles continue. Moral of the story; Start Roethlisberger, bench Bradford

Running Back: As I previously mentioned, the Steelers get Le’Veon Bell back from his two-game suspension; I know the Rams front 7 is one of the best in the league but I think the Steelers offense is that much better right now and having Bell back is only going to help that offense. The flip side, you’d think that since the Patriots are playing the Jaguars it would mean the Patriots offense is going to put up big numbers, well in the words of Lee Corso, NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! The Jags are second in the NFL allowing just 2.9 yards per carry, but are allowing 251 yards through the air so look for Tom Brady (aka the greatest living American) to air it out. Moral of the story; Start Bell, bench Blount/Lewis

Tight Ends: There are two players I like here and it’s two names you’d expect, Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. The Patriots are going to pass the ball and that means Gronk is going to catch the ball. A lot. No matter who is lined up against 6’6” tight end, it’s a mismatch. In Seattle, Jimmy Graham’s impact on the team has yet to be felt. The team finally comes home against a Bears defense that ranks last in the NFL in total defense. Look for Russell Wilson to find his new and hopefully favorite target. The flip side, Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert has been a great pick up for anyone who drafted him. However, I don’t like him this week against a Ravens defense that is looking to bounce back after two loses to begin the season. The game is in Baltimore and the Ravens always seem to play tougher at home. Moral the story; Start Gronk/Graham, bench Eifert

Wide Receivers: Doug Baldwin had 7 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Packers Sunday night and with the 32^nd ranked Chicago Bears defense coming to town, Baldwin will have plenty of opportunities to get open. The flip side, Jacksonville receiver Allen Robinson had a career game against the Dolphins, (6 catches, 155 yards, and 2 touchdowns), but I don’t consider him a week-to-week fantasy giant yet. The Jags as a whole are inconsistent and until the Bortles to Robinson connection produces weekly, that’s what Robinson will be, a week-to-week player. Moral of the story; start Baldwin, bench Robinson. 

Waiver Wire Warriors: WR Amari Cooper has looked every bit of the 4^th overall pick. The Raiders are making the trip to Cleveland to take on an average Browns team that allows around 200 yards through the air and with a big win last Sunday against Baltimore, the Raiders look to ride that momentum. Although the Colts offense looked abysmal against the Jets Monday night, WR Donte Moncrief had a breakout game, which could lead to a breakout season. The second-year receiver had 7 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Both players might be a risk because it’s still early in the season but if you want to win you have to take risks sometimes.

Stripe Out Recap

Running back Saquon Barkley showed he has
what it takes to be an every down back. 

Big games can bring out the best in players. While Saturday’s contest with Rutgers wasn’t a “big game” per say, it was a game Penn State had to win and it did bring out the best in some players. On the offensive side the player of the game was without a doubt the true freshman running back Saquon Barkley. It’s tough to follow the stats throughout the game unless you’re continuously looking at your phone after every play, and we all know Beaver Stadium’s cell phone service isn’t the best, but when I left the game I got a text saying Barkley had racked up 195 yards on 21 carries. Not too bad for a true freshman. Another name that is going to be important for Penn State going forward is punter Chris Gulla. Gulla took over the punting duties for Daniel Pasquariello and did a spectacular job against Rutgers; he had five punts with an average of 41 yards. Rutgers return man Janarion Grant was supposed to be a game changer because of how bad Penn State’s punting situation was but with the change to Gula, Grant was held to -1 yard of return yards. Well done Gulla, well done.

Safety Troy Apke causing one of the three
Penn State turnovers. 

Once again Penn State’s offensive line was able to keep quarterback Christian Hackenberg clean while not allowing a sack. But once again, Hackenberg’s numbers were subpar. He was just 10/19 for 141 yards and no touchdowns. It’s imperative going forward that the passing game comes alive, as teams will load up the box to stop Barkley and Akeel Lynch (who had 10 carries for 120 yards).  The next two games are against San Diego State and Army, who are ranked 79^th and 96^th respectively in pass defense, so if the offense wants to start putting up some real numbers in preparation for Big Ten play, these two games will be great starting points.

The defense of Penn State was again dominant, giving up just 294 yards of total offense and allowing just 43 rushing yards, and caused 3 turnovers. Safety Marcus Allen led the way with 11 tackles and defensive end Carl Nassib added another sack to his total, which puts him at 5. Freshman cornerback John Reid is continuing to break out in the early part of the season having an interception and a fumble recovery against the Scarlet Knights. It was another all-around great performance by Bob Shoop’s defense.

 

I’ve been stumped as to why the offense hasn’t opened up and why head coach James Franklin isn’t letting Christian Hackenberg throw the ball deep. It might be because the weather over the last two-week’s hasn’t been ‘deep ball’ friendly with the rain, but with the next two opponents being poor in pass defense, let’s hope Franklin allows his NFL-style quarterback to play like it. That means let’s stop with the quick slants and bubble screens. LET IT RIP!

By the way, the Stripe Out looked pretty awesome. Good job fans.