The Valley is Happy

[Steeldrama]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... im-knowles

Stealing Knowles from the National Champs a big get for Jimmy Franklin

[steelmann58]

Wow

[jebrick]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... im-knowles

Stealing Knowles from the National Champs a big get for Jimmy Franklin

But they still have Franklin?

[OhioSteeler]

From what it sounds like, there was a decent bit of internal strife. I'm sure everyone saw the reports that him and Larry Johnson didn't along. Then reports coming out that Day basically told him things change after the debacle in Autzen. That seems to line up with when Saban called them out and Day agreed. I read that he ghosted everyone after the NC and reached out to PSU on his own accord. Seems to line up with the reactions from all the returning defensive players.

I see them either internally promoting Guerrieri to ease the issues of learning a new defense or swing for the fences at a vet DC.

[Steeldrama]

Good insider info, Ohio

If only scUM were having similar issues with Wink Martindale

[Ice]

I'll add that Knowles did either zero or next to zero on the recruiting front. Add that to his issues with Johnson, who's been an incredible recruiter, along with having been there forever (after spurning PSU, incidentally), and that's why that struggle shook down the way it did. Until this season, his defenses had been a little too blitz-happy and gotten burned for it. I can see where it was time to move on.

[jeemie]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... im-knowles

Stealing Knowles from the National Champs a big get for Jimmy Franklin

But they still have Franklin?

Yes but unlike Mike Tomlin, he is actively trying to get better.

[Ice]

https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... im-knowles

Stealing Knowles from the National Champs a big get for Jimmy Franklin

But they still have Franklin?

Yes but unlike Mike Tomlin, he is actively trying to get better.

And not scared to employ a pretty well-regarded coordinator.

[OhioSteeler]

But they still have Franklin?

Yes but unlike Mike Tomlin, he is actively trying to get better.

And not scared to employ a pretty well-regarded coordinator.

I honestly have no clue what PSU has returning. I think I saw they return like 14 starters. What do they have returning at safety? Knowles scheme requires 3 safeties and even we didn't have 3 until Hancock got more comfortable playing over the top as opposed to mainly slot. Add in the best safety in football being able to play all over the field in Downs.

It took us three years to get there with his scheme and even Knowles mentioned it takes that long to get comfortable with his defense. Now maybe he'll have more free reign at PSU and his Jack will make an impact in the scheme, but when he ran it this year against Purdue, it was a disaster.

[Ice]

Yes but unlike Mike Tomlin, he is actively trying to get better.

And not scared to employ a pretty well-regarded coordinator.

I honestly have no clue what PSU has returning. I think I saw they return like 14 starters. What do they have returning at safety? Knowles scheme requires 3 safeties and even we didn't have 3 until Hancock got more comfortable playing over the top as opposed to mainly slot. Add in the best safety in football being able to play all over the field in Downs.

It took us three years to get there with his scheme and even Knowles mentioned it takes that long to get comfortable with his defense. Now maybe he'll have more free reign at PSU and his Jack will make an impact in the scheme, but when he ran it this year against Purdue, it was a disaster.

It's definitely likely all of the returning upperclassmen and a brilliant safety prospect coming in had the lions share of responsibility for what that D became, and yeah, it was seriously fugly the first couple years of the Knowles administration.

Of our recent coordinators, Hafley I thought had the best, most versatile and aggressive scheme, and he had a nice touch with the play calling.

[Steelperch]

Penn State is paying him more than the Steelers pay their entire defensive coaching staff. At least one of my teams is trying to win.