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Distaste? PSU is my ... alma mater. Except that my Michigan fandom overrides the others, I root for PSU and enjoy when they do well. The distinction (and heart of our recent conversations) is that I don't expect Franklin to be good enough. This is not the same thing as distaste. For whichever missteps, Franklin is likable and so is PSU.

In any event, I never specified behind-the-scenes goings-on. I just painted broad brush strokes that, whether the deeper details/motivations are true or not, look on the outside to be Game of Thronesy. Because even if it isn't actually a thick plot, it looks like one.

Distaste? PSU is my ... alma mater. Except that my Michigan fandom overrides the others, I root for PSU and enjoy when they do well. The distinction (and heart of our recent conversations) is that I don't expect Franklin to be good enough. This is not the same thing as distaste. For whichever missteps, Franklin is likable and so is PSU.

In any event, I never specified behind-the-scenes goings-on. I just painted broad brush strokes that, whether the deeper details/motivations are true or not, look on the outside to be Game of Thronesy. Because even if it isn't actually a thick plot, it looks like one.

Like I said, I have a "wait and see" attitude at the moment.  We don't have enough information to draw any conclusions.

If Penn State can over come the Sandusky scandal they can over come this latest mole hill.  Sounds more like a disgruntled former employee but the NCAA and PSU need to investigate and report the facts.

A quick note before the season begins:

James Franklin believes this is his best defense ever. Pretty crazy considering the 2014 defense was #2 in nation.  He did caveat his comment by saying that things could go different in an actual game.

He is very confident in every single position on defense.  Penn State will need an excellent defense to help a young offense.  If things go well PSU might get 10 wins.

It's not a crazy statement.

I am really hopeful that the improvements on special teams and defense will offset the pretty big losses on offense.  

Just the opposite of Michigan who's defense is a shadow of last years

You and I talk about this a lot.

No one knows what Michigan's defense will be yet but "Shadow of 2018" sounds like hyperbole. In 3 seasons at Michigan, Don Brown still hasn't had anything below a Top 5 defense. Maybe this will be his first (I am betting it will be lower), but that drop is more likely to only go as far as, let's say, #10 nationally than, let's say, #20. And that's if the big drop happens at all. Again, I'm betting it will, but in 2017 the defense lost far more (11 NFLers on defense, 8 of those were drafted defensemen from the nation's #1 defense in 2016) and Brown still turned that 1 returning starter into a Top 5 defense ... and this time his job is (in theory) less hard than it was that time because he lost a lot less going into 2019 than going into 2017.

Because M losses Marshall,Mone,Gary,Winovich - up front,Bush behind them,Long - Gone.Didn't that DB Kinnel lead the team in tackles?-Gone.Watson another DB was tied for team lead in interceptions - gone.Not being facetious when I say last years Buckeye offense might put up 100 on the new comers.Sorry I'm not buying.M is fortunate that it seems to be a lean year for conference offenses.So they shouldn't find themselsves looking thru their earholes too much.M Fans better hope JH keeps his mitts off the offense - that's where you're hanging your hat.I'm just not listening to the carnival barking about Don Brown's defense this season.Because any defensive stats will be fattened up on inept offenses

If there is one thing I have learned over time, a "ranked" defense doesn't mean much.  I have found that typically highly ranked defenses tend to play ball control, "3 yards and a cloud of dust" football.  It's easy to make your defensive stats look good when the opposing offense gets half of the possessions they normally would.

1994 Penn State is a great example.  It was, perhaps, the best offense in college football history.  I think they averaged less than 2 minutes per scoring drive.  This gave opposing offenses more possessions, and more opportunities to score.  Pundits claimed that the Penn State defense was average, but a closer look at the stats showed that Penn State's defense was actually pretty darn good.  Especially when considering that the defense was typically on 2nd and 3rd string players shortly after halftime.

Similarly, a closer look at Michigan's 2018 stats shows that their defense was good, but not great.  Certainly not top 5.  More like top 20, POSSIBLY top 10, if you're feeling generous.

Gattis is from the Moorhead offensive school, and should provide a big play, quick strike offense.  This means more possessions for opponents, and more points scored against.  They will have more blowout wins and more time for the second string as well.  I expect their defensive ranking to drop, but it is quite possible they will put a better defensive product on the field.