Upon Further Review

The Picture Worth a 1000 Words





- Photo courtesy N. Yuh/Chicago Tribune





We're a full generation removed from morale victories. However, if you told any NU fan going in to yesterday that Mike Kafka would leave the game in the 2nd quarter and we'd be tied entering the 4th quarter they'd have told you you were crazy. If there was any doubt about how critical Mike is to the success of our team than yesterday serves as the smoking gun case study. I felt so bad for Mike knowing as a QB he's waited so long to have this kind of a stage to make a memorable night. He was simply marvelous for 1 1/2 quarters - typical uncanny accuracy (14-18) but he was gouging Penn State with the rush, and if not for the pulled hammy he appeared to be off to the races had he juked that last Penn State defender. As Fitz repeated over and over again in the postgame presser, we've got to find a way to make the big play, execute and simply finish. This team has the 2007-itis when we led several games late (Iowa, Michigan, Purdue) but couldn't close. As for the overall feeling on the game, Joe Paterno said it best when asked about what 2nd half adjustments he made that led to the win. His reply:





"The adjustment we made is their quarterback got hurt."





Do I really need to write anything else? OK, I will - The Great, The Good and The Disappointing:





THE GREAT


Mike Kafka


What can you say? Mike was spectactular and had the buzz brewing in Evanston for major upset. You could feel the old Cardiac 'Cat magic in the air, until he pulled up lame on a run that might have been a huge gain. He was 14-18, 128 yds, 42 yds rushing and 1 rush TD while Penn State had done absolutely nothing on offense to that point. Upon leaving PSU promptly marched 93-yards for a TD and while we our D played extremely well for 3 quarters, we had no scoring threat without him in there. It was heartbreaking to see him go out. Persa played with heart, but simply was off on his passing timing until the game was out of hand. Fingers crossed we can get Mike back for Iowa.





3/4 D


Again, playing phenomenally for 45 of 60 minutes reeks of morale victory BS. However, when you hold Evan Royster to 26 rushing yards for nearly 3 quarters and continually come up big on 3rd down you have to feel good. The 3-minute stretch in the 4th when you get gashed for 21 points including 2 huge plays the D slides down to disappointing. Obviously health is a major concern, but you feel like this team is circa 1994 or 2007 where they have the talent, but not the confidence to close the deal. Penn State posterized NU for 301 second half yards with the majority of them coming in the 4th quarter



Zeke - What else is new? Mr. Money racked-up another 9 catches and you wonder why we don't go to him 15 times a game. He earned every yard as he got whallopped time and time again and never dropped a ball. The kid is something else.



THE GOOD

Playcalling - I thought the 1st half playcalling on offense was brilliant. The best of the season. I thought Hankwitz called a fantastic game as well. Obviously, execution makes the playcalling look even better. I'm willing to give some slack to the O playcalling on offense when Persa got in, but man, did we go run-heavy. It backfired as Penn State just brought the house on nearly every play and we couldn't get a second for Dan to even look downfield, but, man do you wonder "what if" had not the Kafka injury occurred. The bottom line is the 'Cats net only 98 yards after Kafka departed.

Accountability - This is a double-edged sword as Fitz again points thumbs (classy) not fingers at the team, yet he has mentioned either being outcoached or not coaching well as a staff



THE UGLY

Demos' Completion - Give him credit, he drills a 45-yarder with a vicious wind and also gets a first down completion on a muffed punt. His heads-up scramble and pitch to Woodsum for a 1st down which was a beautiful "ugly". When it occurred you thought "we're going to win this thing. Plays like that happen and its Cardiac 'Cats magic".



Attendance - The most marketed game on the schedule - by far - against a #12 NAME team with bowl eligibility on the line and we get 30,000? Why am I not surprised.



THE DISAPPOINTING

4th Quarter Defensive Lapse - In just over 3 minutes we served up 21 points including two big plays - a 50-yard TD pass and a 69-yard TD run on 2 consecutive touches by Penn State. The attitude slumped as admitted by Phillips in the postgame, which simply can't happen.



Kick Return Hands - The 'Cats had their most productive special teams return day by far today, yet I left the game wishing for a special teams coach. Stephen Simmons nearly busted a KOR for a TD after fumbling the kickoff and Jeravin Matthews struggled mightily to catch the ball on two straight KORs.



Turnover Margin - NU again lost the TO battle coughing up a fumble on the second play from scrimmage and then late in the game inside the 10. We failed to create any takeaways. You can't beat a #12 when you give them two extra possessions.

Other News & Notes
Skip Myslenski was his usual spot-on self breaking down the game here.

The non-conference '09 opponents had a mixed day as Syracuse hung for a while with Cincy before bowing 28-7 and dropping to 3-6. Miami (OH) got on the board with their first win of the year upsetting Toledo 31-24 to move to 1-8. Eastern Michigan is not as fortunate as Arkansas dropped a 63-spot on them 63-27 and EMU is now, gulp 0-8. Towson continues to struggle at the FCS level as Richmond blasted them 42-14 and drops to 2-6.

On to Iowa week...20 defensive starters and 9 different starters in the secondary to date. Man. The only team that can relate is likely Iowa and boy have they handled adversity. It's time to pray for the season maker of all season makers - not only an upset of Iowa, but ending their national title hopes. Spoiler status, here we come.