Ron Musselman's Penn State football chat: 9.29.11

Thursday, 29 September 2011 17:27

Written by Dan Gigler

John_Jones: I see in your story in today's paper where Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin are talking about not wanting to split the QB duties. And John Shaffer says they need to pick either one or the other and stick to it. What do you think?

Ron Musselman: I thought the coaching staff should have picked a starter prior to the start of the regular season. I just don't get this rotation system. The quarterbacks don't like it, the players don't like it. McGloin has performed just well enough to be the starter. But the coaching staff seems have a love affair with Bolden. I would have banished him to the bench long ago. He just never seems to make any big plays.

knit knee lyin: Hi, Ron, I think the Lions will have to run the ball better they were poor against Eastern Michigan. With Brandon Beachum hurt, do you run Redd (12-48 yards last week) more or do you give Dukes(3-29) more carries?

Ron Musselman: Redd is the guy who needs to get more carries. The coaches have been waiting on Dukes for a few years now to deliver, but the big guy has not produced very much. Penn State is razor thin in the backfield now with Beachum out for the second week in a row, so it is a good thing Indiana is the opponent. You can only hope that Beachum, who is more of a fullback than tailback, recovers from his sprained foot in time to return next week and offer depth for game against Iowa.

Danny: Do you think an agreement was made with Bolden to be the starter after he wanted to transfer and Joe wouldn't let him? McGloin has proven time and time again he should be the starter.

Ron Musselman: Danny, that is a good question. It makes you wonder. Joe and his son Jay, the quarterbacks coach, were both in on that meeting with Bolden and his dad where Joe denied Bolden's request to transfer shortly after the Outback Bowl loss to Florida. And Jay is the guy who continues to send Bolden out as the starter, so maybe Bolden does have some extra leverage over McGloin, even though McGloin has been the better of two quarterbacks by a wide margin statistically.

Jim: Matt McGloin was named conference co-player of the week after a strong showing. Considering that he was a walk-on (I guess not highly recruited), do you think that Jay Paterno gets any credit for developing him to what appears to be a Division I, Big Ten Player of the Week?

Ron Musselman: Well, Jay is McGloin's position coach, but I am not sure how much he has had to do with his development. McGloin ran the scout team in practice until Kevin Newsome flopped as the backup last year and Bolden suffered a concussion. McGloin came out of nowhere after taking over for Bolden and played OK, considering he was a non-scholarship player just two years ago. Jay favors Bolden, but McGloin has been the better performer on the field the past two years, without question.

ZackAttack: What are we going to do with our offense? We don't seem to have a very good balance between the running game and passing game.

Ron Musselman: Actually, the numbers support a balanced attack, it's just not what you would hope for as an offensive coordinator. Penn State is 75th in the country in rushing, averaging 137 yards per game, and 76th in passing at 209.5. That is not good and needs to improve pretty quickly.

knit knee lyin: Even with their best player out for the season (Mike Mauti) I think this defense is still solid. I think Nate Stupar will do just fine. Do you think they could be a top-10 defense in the country?

Ron Musselman: The loss of Mauti was a huge one because. He was a playmaker and one of the more vocal leaders on the team. Stupar started seven games last year and played well against Eastern Michigan last week, but he is not the same player or leader as Mauti. The defense is ranked eighth nationally in total defense entering the Indiana game and I think it will stay in the top 10 as long as cornerback D'Anton Lynn isn't out too long with his head/neck injury, and I don't think he will be.

PSU_Frank: I see where Sean Lee is doing a great job in the NFL. I am happy for him. He seems like a great kid. Your thoughts?

Ron Musselman: Sean Lee is one of the favorite players I have covered since returning to the Penn State beat in 2007. Lee was fiery and intense but he also was a decent person. He was slowed by knee injuries at Penn State, but I am glad to see him healthy and doing well with the Dallas Cowboys. I can guarantee you, no one on the Penn State coaching staff is surprised that Lee was just named NFC defensive player of the month the other day. He has a ton of talent. Staying healthy was always his issue.

MoyeMan: It was nice to see my man Derek Moye have two touchdowns last week. I hope they can keep getting the ball to him at Indiana Saturday. He clearly is their best receiver, hands down.

Ron Musselman: There's no question Moye is the team's best receiver. He had just kind of been in a funk the first few games. Moye has never meshed well with Rob Bolden – just one of his 17 career TD passes are from Bolden – but he is the top target of Matt McGloin. Moye has caught nine touchdown passes from McGloin in the past 11 games, including his two of the year against Eastern Michigan. Penn State's struggling offense needs Moye to be productive every week.

Tony03: It was nice to see Penn State actually make a field goal last week. I like Anthony Fera handling the punting and kicking duties both.

Ron Musselman: I think Fera will continue to handle the field goal, kickoff and punting duties, ala Chris Bahr in 1975. Fera brings stability to the special teams, provided he can avoid trouble off the field. His 57-yard punt against Eastern Michigan was a season long and he also made the first field goal, a 29-yarder.

PSULions89: Assuming a win over Indiana Saturday - I know, you shouldn't assume -- is Penn State at risk of becoming complacent, given the Lions will have only one loss?

Ron Musselman: There is no room for complacency on this team, which has struggled offensively for most of the year to run the ball and throw it. I predicted at the beginning of the year Penn State would be 4-1 heading into the Oct. 8 game against Iowa and I still believe that. I don't think Indiana will put up much resistance, even though Penn State is 4-6 in Big Ten road openers.

Pete Z: PSU's defense seems to be the only thing keeping them in games. If that true?

Ron Musselman: Penn State's defense has been doing a good job with turnovers. The Nittany Lions came up with three takeaways last week for the third time this season, and have nine in four games. A year ago, they forced only 17 turnovers in 13 games.

knit knee lyin: I'm of the thinking that they won't pick a starting QB because if Bolden doesn't get the nod to start and he would want to transfer and leave the team with no back up What do you think?

Ron Musselman: Well, if Bolden left, it would leave the quarterback position extremely thin. You would have McGloin, a former walk-on, and third-stringer Shane McGregor, another walk-on, as your top two guys since Paul Jones is academically ineligible this season. I still would go with McGloin either way as the starter. No one should be able to hold a program hostage.

Danny: Ron, earlier in the year you said that you felt Penn State would pull one upset. Either beat Alabama or Nebraska. Do you still feel the same towards that statement? Which means it'll be a victory over Nebraska?

Ron Musselman: The Nebraska game still is a long way away, and you never know what is going to happen between now and then. Right now, I think Penn State would have to play a perfect game to beat the Cornhuskers Nov. 12 at home. In the meantime, Nebraska has a big game Saturday night against Wisconsin in Madison which could go a long way to determining the favorite in the Big Ten.

knit knee lyin: Thanks, Ron for all your insights again. I'll talk PSU football with you again next week. We Are Penn State!!!!! Take care and keep up the good work.

Ron Musselman: Thanks for the compliment. I'll do my best, as always.

knit knee lyin: Does JoePa stay down on the field this week or is he up in the box again?

Ron Musselman: I am guessing he will try to start the game of the sideline again, but will end up back in the coaches booth for the second half. It will all depend how he feels Saturday morning. He said he still is in pain and felt it near end of first half last week against Eastern Michigan

Ron Musselman: Thanks again for all the great questions today. See you all back here next Thursday at 11 a.m. for another chat.