Cotton Bowl Recap
By Eric G. Stark
3 Thoughts After Penn State’s Cotton Bowl Win
Early in the third quarter of this year’s Cotton Bowl at ATT&T Stadium, I turned to my son and wife and said, “last team with the ball is going to win this game.”
My prediction didn’t quite hold up, but it was an exciting, entertaining game, one that saw Penn State pull away for a thrilling 53-39 victory over Memphis. The 92 total points was a Cotton Bowl record.
It was a good win by the No. 10 Nittany Lions against a talented and hungry Tigers squad, ranked No. 17 nationally.
I took a sigh of relief when the game ended. This contest had all the makings of letdown game.
This was Memphis’ biggest game in program history. This was not the game the Lions wanted to play in.
I believe if Penn State covers the 40-point spread and blows out Rutgers in the season finale, the Lions would have played in the Rose Bowl or at least in a more marque match up on New Year’s day (I love Penn State is in New Year’s 6 Bowl game, even though they played five days before New Years day). But instead Wisconsin, with its three losses (two to Ohio State) got the nod to Pasadena. Florida leaped in front of PSU in the rankings and earned an invite to the Orange Bowl and a meeting with No.21 Virginia.
Penn State Coach James Franklin did a great job making sure his ream didn’t take Memphis, the American Conference Champion, for granted. The Tigers played like it was their Super Bowl.
He made sure his troops respected the Tigers. He made sure his young Lions knew the history Penn State has with the Cotton Bowl, reaching back to honor Wally Triplett and Dennie Hoggard – the first two African-American players to participate in the Cotton Bowl in 1948.
Here are three thoughts after watching the Cotton Bowl victory, a win that gave Penn State an 11-2 record on the year, not bad for a team that many “experts” pegged for a 9-3 or 8-4 record. Heck, I even saw a few predictions for a 7-5 record. This team was supposed to be a year away from really contending. Instead it was a very entertaining season and raises the bar for the 2020 campaign.
The Offense Was Maddening
The passing game was non-existent. Sean Clifford, who missed the Rutgers game with an injury, never got in a rhythm. He threw an interception late that could have been a momentum changer and had another pass on the first possession of game that should have been an INT. He missed receivers with low passes.
His receivers – Daniel Georege I’m talking about you – dropped too many passes. They didn’t get the ball in KJ Hamler’s hands enough (nothing new). Oh and the offensive line couldn’t pass block and gave up too many sacks.
On a positive, the running game, featuring the Lawn Boyz (I love that name), is awesome. The rushing game collected 369 rushing yards. But, on a maddening note, it took way too long to commit to running the ball and taking time off the clock.
Eventually, they ran the ball, totally 53 attempts, averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry
Journey Brown rushed for 202 yards on 16 carries and two impressive touchdowns. Freshman running back Noah Cain added 92 yards and two more TDs on the ground.
I loved the power and speed Brown demonstrated on his first TD, which came right after Memphis’ field goal. His straight arm is impressive. Don’t think the NFL scouts didn’t take notice. See video below.
But again, on a maddening note, the Lions turned the ball over on downs on a Brown carry when Penn State needed one yard. Why not switch ball carriers and have Cain run the ball? He falls forward and gains more than one yard.
Penn Sate was 0-for-2 on fourth down converstions.
I am excited to see how Lions’ new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca uses the running backs, which also includes former 5-star back Ricky Slade, who recently was quoted as saying he wouldn’t mind working in the slot receiver spot. Freshman back Devyn Ford also had some highlight moments this season. The Lions also have 4-star backs signed in the 2019 class from Florida.
Hamler Swang Song
Ciarrocca will inherit and offense with a lot of talent, but more than likely will be without wide receiver Hamler, who many suspect will announce he is leaving school early for the NFL. His last game was likely the Cotton Bowl.
Penn State signed five wide receivers during the Dec. 13 signing period, making me think Franklin knows Hamler is leaving. Hamler told reporters after the Cotton Bowl that he will take a few days to make his decision.
Listed generously at 5-foot-9, 176 pounds, Hamler has taken a lot punishment and big hits. He also started his career with an ACL knee injury, making him aware of how quickly a career can come to an end because of an injury.
Draft experts have Hamler listed as top 10 draft eligible receiver. Fansided’s mock draft has Hamler being drafted No.18 by the Oakland Raiders. NFLMocks.com has Hamler going No. 29 to the New Orleans Saints.
But I also know he loves playing with Clifford, who he’s known for years. Hamler is a dynamic player, and another year of him on the field would make Penn State’s offense potentially one of the best in the country.
Lions’ tight end Pat Freiermuth, one of the best in college, already said he is coming back, because “There is some unfinished business,” namely he wants to beat Ohio State next year at Beaver Stadium.
Ciarrocca has a history of developing wide receivers [See Related Story].
There was a recent photo of Ciarrocca sitting in a hotel lobby talking to Hamler. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Selfishly, I hope he stays, but I bet he goes to the NFL.
Defense Starts Slow (Again)
Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry is great at making adjustments. I just wonder why he can’t start off the game with a better plan, instead of having to alter the plan. The Lions bent but didn’t break against Memphis.
Tigers’ quarterback Brady White threw for 454 yards and burned the Lions’ secondary for numerous big plays. Several of the big plays came when Pry was mixing in younger, backup players. But still. …
The difference in the outcome was Memphis had 10 trips inside the Lions’ 35 yard line, but only scored three touchdowns. Penn State, however, found the end zone five times inside the red zone.
Micah Parsons was dominate at linebacker on defense, breaking up plays and making key stops. He was named the game’s defensive MVP, collecting 14 tackles. He looked and played like the best player on the field.
I loved when he blew up the reverse attempt on Memphis’ first drive. He slowed down the Tigers’ early momentum. See video below.
I’m glad Yetur Gross-Matos played in the game. The defensive end already declared for the NFL draft and he has a hand injury. He easily could have sat out. Instead he played and played well. He added to his impressive resume and highlight reel.
Gross-Matos had an impressive one-handed sack and he showed great versatility, as he played inside at defensive tackle when the Lions’ defense went to a quick unit. He generally seemed happy to play with his teammates one more time.
See the smile on his face in this video.
Way too often players sit out the bowl game. I think it is a disservice to their teammates.
I will miss watching his dominance on the defensive line. I will also miss watching Cam Brown at linebacker; he seemed to always be around the ball and I like his leadership was invaluable. I believe he was a factor in the maturity and development of Parsons at linebacker.
From waiting in line for autographs for the wide receivers and linebackers at the the Blue-White Game in April to the Cotton Bowl, the football season flew by.
It been fun watching these guys with my 9-year-old son and wife and rooting for the guys who were nice to talk back in the autograph lines in April.
It is fun watching this program transform into one of the elite programs in the nation, to see the swagger players like Parsons play with on the field.
It’s been a fun ride, and I can’t wait to see how the offense evolves and becomes more balanced next season.