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Sorting through the blue and white mailbag:
Neil:
I am certainly not an offensive coordinator, but something is amiss.
It's been said that our offensive line is one of the best in the nation, but so far on the field that is not the case.
Could it be that offensively we are making things too complicated?
With so much movement, shifting, substituting and changing plays at the line is the line often confused with their blocking assignments? Do we really need to start in the wildcat against FIU?
I just think we could make the game much simpler, especially against less superior opponents.
Allar stated after the game that it is time to get back to the drawing board. I think it's time to scrap the drawing board and get back to some basics.
John Pifer
Middlebury Center
John:
I agree on lining up Allar as a WR on the game's first play.
That said, it did produce nine yards.
Neil:
After watching two games this year and the progression of Drew Allar last year, my opinion is that he is a great practice player.
When the pressure is on, he doesn't react. He overthinks instead of letting his athleticism and raw talent shine.
After watching clips of Beau Pribula at Missouri against better competition, maybe the best in-game talent got away.
Steve Beigle
Columbus, Indiana
Steve:
I'm happy for Beau, but your assessment is a little early.
Plus Kansas isn't known for its defense.
Neil:
"I'm not worried about it," Allar said at least three times.
Well, I'm worried -- really worried.
We're not beating Oregon and Ohio State -- and possibly a few other teams -- unless Allar steps up his game. He's missing on basic throws that average QBs should hit on.
I'm sure he will be an NFL round one draft pick, but that's largely because: 1) teams are desperate for QBs and, 2) he has the measurables they're looking for.
But I'm not sure Allar is ever going to realize his potential at PSU.
Rick Weber
Fort Myers, Fla.
Rick:
Your concerns are entered into the record.
Neil:
James and Sandy Barbour had it figured out after all: We'd need three scrimmages to possibly not be completely embarrassed for the rest of the year.
Pitiful offensive line -- and people were saying it's the best Franklin has ever had?
With no holes and Allar running for his life against weak competition, how can they stack up vs. real teams including the Buckeyes and Ducks?
It's going to be bad.
Hooray for Beau Pribula. He's turning out to be outstanding and got out of town before PSU coaches could destroy him like Hackenberg and Allar.
QB coach Danny O'Brien and James Franklin should be ashamed.
They're wasting talent.
Ed Hill, Altoona
Ed:
Another vote for Pribula.
And BTW: Sandy's schedules were tougher than Pat Kraft's.
Neil:
If you're going to load up on non-conference cupcakes, please learn how to blow out the candles.
The score looks good. However, if you watched the game, you know it was far from a blowout.
And I'm getting tired of James Franklin's "we got some things to clean up" speech.
Do me a favor versus Villanova: Put Singleton and Allen both in the backfield and run the ball. Show us fans you can impose your will on a far lesser opponent.
The offensive effort displayed vs. FIU isn't going to cut it vs. the big guns in the conference.
John Shearer
Renovo
John:
Even against some of the smaller guns.
Neil:
On that very fitting tribute final edition of Gameday, Lee Corso correctly chose LSU and Ohio State as victors.
Of note, he also chose LSU and Penn State as national semifinalists with LSU eventually being crowned the national champion.
Greg Guise
Ferguson Township
Greg:
ESPN put its best foot forward with Corso's sendoff.
Rudel will respond to brief questions and comments in Gameday. You can email him at nrudel@altoonamirror.com and follow him on X @neilrudel.