Buzz On Broad is proud to bring to you a brand new segment called "Inside PSU." We are all aware of the recent events surrounding the proud university involving some deranged higher-ups formerly employed by Penn State. The 2012 football season at PSU marks the first season under a new regime and even more monumentally, the start of a brand new chapter in Penn State history.
While the national media will have their eyes closely affixed to the school from the outside looking in, you can now rely on Buzz On Broad and our newest contributor, PSU Insider Dan Smith, to shed light on the morale and attitude from within the confines of Happy Valley.
Look for Dan Smith to break down every game this season each week, from a gridiron perspective to the pulse of the fan base and student body. Enjoy this recap from Saturday's win over Temple.
FINAL SCORE
Penn State 24, Temple 13
PASSING
Matt McGloin (PSU): 24-36, 318 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Chris Coyer (Temple): 13-26, 124 yards, 1 TD
RUSHING
Zach Zwinak (PSU): 18 carries, 94 yards
Chris Coyer (Temple): 13 carries, 64 yards
RECEIVING
Allen Robinson (PSU): 5 receptions, 82 yards, 1 TD
Montel Harris (Temple): 3 receptions, 42 yards
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
0:06 - PSU - Matt McGloin 41 Yd TD Pass to Allen Robinson (Sam Ficken Kick) ...
PSU 7-0
Second Quarter
10:29 - Temple - Brandon McManus 33 Yd FG ... PSU 7-3
0:22 - PSU - Matt McGloin 1 Yd TD Run (Sam Ficken Kick) ... PSU 14-3
Third Quarter
4:57 - PSU - Matt McGloin 2 Yd TD Run (Sam Ficken Kick) ... PSU 21-3
1:37 - Temple - Brandon McManus 42 Yd FG ... PSU 21-6
Fourth Quarter
2:29 - PSU - Sam Ficken 21 Yd FG ... PSU 24-6
1:33 - Temple - Chris Coyer 1 Yd TD Pass to Matt Brown ... PSU 24-13
NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
- This win is certainly more impressive than the Navy win considering what Temple has been able to do against Penn State in recent years. The Navy win was a nice moment, getting Bill O'Brien his first win in front of the home crowd, but it was ultimately unremarkable considering how inept the Midshipmen appear to be this season. This one means a little bit more.
- That said, it was not a fantastic game by any stretch. Penn State still commits too many penalties (nine for this game) and cannot afford to be turning the ball over in the red zone. There is still time to work things out, but not all that much.
- Matt McGloin had another good game, probably his best in this already solid season. He threw for a career-high 318 yards and was involved in all three touchdowns. His interception was entirely the fault of wide receiver Brandon Moseby-Felder, who deflected it right off his hands and into the arms of a Temple defender. McGloin's confidence in the pocket is improving every week, and now he's confident enough to pick up the yardage in those short yardage situations, even near the goal line.
- Temple has got to be concerned with their run defense, because Penn State's running game has gone like this so far this season: starter Silas Redd transferred to USC, backup (and converted wide receiver) Bill Belton sprained his ankle, third stringer Derek Day separated his shoulder and fourth stringer Curtis Dukes injured his thigh. That left the team giving its tailback carries to fullback Michael Zordich, who picked up 75 yards on the ground until he also got hurt in the third quarter, bringing in the SIXTH option, Zach Zwinak ... who then put up 5.2 yards per carry in the second half while gaining 94 yards.
- On the bright side, O'Brien indicated this week that Belton, Day and Dukes should all be back. This is good news for his plan to redshirt freshman running back Akeel Lynch.
- Wide receiver Allen Robinson had another good game, though at this point anything less than 100 yards and two touchdowns is slightly underwhelming.
- Defensively, Penn State had another good matchup. Navy and Temple were both run-first teams, and those types of teams get destroyed by this defense. The way to beat Penn State is to pick apart its below average secondary, and neither team had the ability to do so. Chris Coyer did not have a good game, as he was under pressure all day.
- The team has not missed Khairi Fortt at all. Mike Hull has stepped into the fourth linebacker role and has been an absolute stud in four games. Penn State continues to have one of the most impressive linebacker units in the country.
- Sam Ficken Status Update: INNOCUOUS! Ficken had very little impact on this game, getting three extra points and a chip shot field goal. Good. Let's keep it that way.
- Three games after the disastrous Gerald Hodges experiment, Penn State has finally found its punt returner: backup cornerback Jesse Della Valle. Della Valle looked great returning punts, finding seams in the blocking, maintaining a surprising elusiveness and securing the football when anticipating hits. His 29-yard return set up Penn State's second touchdown.
- I usually post this column on Monday, but I got held up because of a couple of personal things. It should not happen again. I'll go a little more in-depth with looking forward to Saturday's game since it's Tuesday.
- Penn State kicks off its Big Ten schedule next week, opening at Illinois. It's a good matchup for the Nittany Lions because the Fighting Illini are pretty terrible. They got embarrassed last week against Louisiana Tech, committing six turnovers. Penn State's defense has been good at forcing turnovers so far this season; it's what kept them in the game at Virginia.
- It's also going to have the added flavor of Penn State's newfound hatred of Illinois. When schools were sending coaches to recruit players after the sanctions, Illinois sent half a dozen coaches to State College to try to grab defects, the only Big Ten team to send even one coach. O'Brien and Michael Mauti have both publicly alluded to not being pleased with that move. You're going to see an angry football team play angrier than ever on Saturday.
Dan Smith is Buzz on Broad's Penn State Insider and the Executive Editor of Penn State's ComRadio. Contact him by email at des5249@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ThatDanSmith.
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