Penn State vs. Maryland: Final thoughts & analysis of PSU’s matchup with the Terrapins
Penn State will finish out the regular season at home Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins in a Big Ten matchup. The Nittany Lions will play the game in Beaver Stadium, in Week 14 of the college football season. Here are some final thoughts, questions and predictions ahead of the Nittany Lions’ matchup with the Terps.
Staying healthy should be the priority
This game should be a blowout, which means Penn State should be substituting early and often — especially once the Nittany Lions grab the lead. They’re a significantly better team than the Terps and they have too much riding on the next month-plus to put players at risk in a game that shouldn’t be close. That doesn’t mean Drew Allar should be coming out in the first half or anything like that, but once the lead is secure — say, three or four scores in the second half — then he and the rest of the important players on the team should see their days end. It’s not worth getting somebody hurt just to rack up points or improve award chances (although I think you can make an argument that Tyler Warren deserves a boatload of targets early).
This also applies to players who are banged up or coming into the game anywhere less than 100%. Someone like veteran wide receiver Julian Fleming, who showed up as questionable on the availability report before the Minnesota game and wasn’t seen at practice during the media’s viewing session last Wednesday, shouldn’t play if there’s any risk to worsening his injury. There aren’t a ton of players in that category, but this should be a chance for Penn State to get ready for the real tests coming in December.
Will any young players step up?
Penn State should also be rotating in some of their younger players early to keep getting them ready for the postseason. And there are several spots where getting young guys in the game could end up paying major dividends. That starts at wide receiver where freshman Tyseer Denmark has already begun to take one of the rotation spots. He’s a smaller wideout — and should be significantly better later in his career after he adds strength — who could provide a spark as a slot receiver.
There are also young linemen like Cooper Cousins, who has been playing all season on offense, and Xavier Gilliam, who could help fill the void left by Alonzo Ford at defensive tackle after he suffered a long-term injury against Minnesota. Cousins should only see his role continue to grow, much as it already has, while Gilliam could be called into duty more than anticipated. And one of the most important players who could step up is Anthony Speca at linebacker. The Nittany Lions have struggled at the second level of the defense at times, outside of Kobe King, and could use a player stepping up.
How does Tyler Warren punctuate his Heisman campaign?
There is a legitimate chance that Tyler Warren finishes in the top four of Heisman Trophy voting and makes it to the award’s ceremony in New York, and I think Penn State should do what it can to get him there. It helps, of course, that getting him the ball is also a good way to help the Nittany Lions get up big early and put this game away. Warren should see touches all over the field against the Terps. As a passer, as a runner, as a receiver and any other way the Nittany Lions can concoct — although I’d refrain from having him punt again after the last one went 16 yards.
Warren deserves the chance to go out with a monster performance and I think he will. This is the perfect opponent to do it against because Maryland doesn’t have a defense that has put up much of a fight against anyone this season — let alone one of the best offensive weapons in the country. That’s what Warren is and as much as he hates being in the spotlight, he deserves to be in it and should end his Heisman campaign with a statement game against the Terps.
Final predictions
Penn State 38, Maryland 7: There is almost no chance Penn State loses this game, and I tend to think they go up early and stay up. The Nittany Lions have a significant talent advantage and a significant coaching advantage and those things should help them get the job done and clinch their first playoff berth. This game feels like it will be more of a celebration than a competition.
MVP: TE Tyler Warren. This is likely Warren’s last chance to impress Heisman voters before votes are due, and I would be surprised if he isn’t featured in the game. He’s been a dominant offensive force all season for Penn State and has been the engine that makes it go. Going up against a bad Maryland defense should allow him to have one of his best games of the season. I’ll say Warren catches seven passes for over 100 yards, rushes for 50 yards and throws for 25 yards, all while scoring one touchdown through the air and one on the ground as the Nittany Lions make the push for him to earn an invite to the Heisman ceremony.
The last word
Penn State head coach James Franklin on Drew Allar’s frustration with a play in the Minnesota game that was caught on camera
“To be honest with you, I think a little bit misinterpreted. I think the people thought the frustration was with the quick kick. The frustration was with he was offset and Dawkins couldn’t hear him. He was frustrated that he’s trying to get the snap off and the ball is not be snapped. Drew does a great job managing the clock and he saw we were about to get a delay of game. That’s what I was talking about at the beginning of the press conference. If we get a delay of game there, no big deal. We were quick kicking or sky punting or whatever it may be.
So his frustration was more with the ball not getting snapped to Tyler so he could quick kick it. . ... I think that was misinterpretation a little bit what his frustration was about. Either way, it was an opportunity for us to have a discussion and then another discussion and then another discussion. And to me, that’s exactly how I want it to be. I want him to be fiery. Obviously like anything, you don’t want to live in the extremes. I want him to be fiery. I want him to play with passion and emotion.
That was an opportunity for him to do that, and what was great is we were able to have a conversation. He gave me good feedback and I gave him good feedback and went out and played really well. I followed back up with him again because of just some things that kind of I thought it was important for him to hear from my perspective. To me it was perfect. I expect there to be fire and emotion and I’m totally OK with that. I encourage that. We work too hard, we sacrifice way too much. I think Drew is a great example of that. I’m glad he is showing that side of his personality. We have seen it. I don’t know if necessarily everybody else has seen it. Yeah, I think it was great.”
