BLACK HEART GOLD PODCAST 31: THE SEASON PREMIERE
by Patrick Vint on Jul 19, 2010 8:00 AM CDT
in Iowa Hawkeyes Football
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After a season or two, most shows are in need of a bit of an overhaul: New themes, a new opening, maybe the return of a favorite character who left last year. Thirty episodes in, Black Heart Gold Podcast is no different, so we recorded a new theme and brought back an old friend in Tom Fornelli, blogger-at-large for Fanhouse and Foul Balls, founder of Blog Ten, guest in BHGPodcast episode two, and our Chicago-based drinking companion this past June. We make half-reasoned Big Ten predictions, discuss PSU's Kevin Newsome as the new Jake Christensen, and fit in a little discussion of the upcoming Mad Men season premiere at the end.
Listen below or subscribe on iTunes and get the show a little earlier.
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Penn State's season will not come down to offensive line play.
It will come down to offensive line play because that’s the way it always happens.
Our defensive line will be good again because it’s always good, the secondary will be good again, we have plenty of wide receivers, Evan Royster is still around, and the offensive line can’t possibly be worse and it’s a stretch to say we’re completely rebuilding again.
Hawkeye State, your comparison to Morelli is intriuging, but I don’t see enough evidence to make it stick. Morelli was a basketcase and so were his father and his coach. We haven’t had any indication of the same from Newsome. We’ve only had two quarterbacks to “fold” under the pressure of Penn State; Morelli and John Sacca. Both were basketcases, and Sacca ran away to Arizona without telling anyone. Newsome will have more support than those two had, especially Morelli.
Frankly, I like where Penn State finds themselves right now. Everyone says they’re going to finish fourth (reasonable) or fifth (behind who?) and everyone says they have little to no chance against Iowa, Bama, or OSU. Lately, Penn State has rarely been in the position where their season outlook seems so obvious and a consensus builds around said obvious outlook. I’m not predicting a conference title, but I really believe we’ll be fine and perhaps even 10-2 fine.
There is fire at the travel agency.
Penn State's season will not come down to QUATERBACK play.
Whatever.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions
I didn't say "half-reasoned" with the sarcasm tag
It’s spitballing, much like most of the podcasts before it. I genuinely hope Newsome is everything advertised, if only because the conference is a better place with Penn State at punching weight. And I think the track record is there for JayPa with mobile quarterbacks (Robinson and Clark) that he didn’t show with pocket passers (Morelli and, to a lesser extent, Zach Mills) (and before it even gets posted, yes…)
But still, I’d be worried if I were you. There’s a walk-on quarterback in play. Ask Michigan how it goes when you surround the walk-on with talent. Answer: It’s still a walk-on quarterback.
Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.
by Patrick Vint on Jul 19, 2010 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions
thanks for reminding me of that.
Oh wait… I’ve made that comparison too.
BTW, fuckable pet party is the worst thing I’ve ever heard. 100 cocktails to you.
Maize n Brew
Because Football is Better with Beer
by Maize n Brew Dave on Jul 19, 2010 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you mean:
100 cocker spaniel tail to you? I love a fuckable pet party as much as the next red-blooded American but 100 seems…excessive.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 19, 2010 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions
With all due respect to Dave, I blame Michigan fans for all of this "Threet is Newsome and Newsome is Threet" stuff.
You guys are just jealous because we don’t suck anymore.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Color me shocked
that a guy who runs like this:
Couldn’t run rich-rod’s offense with the support of of a defense gave up almost 350 ypg. Seriously, shocking stuff there, and just like Penn State’s current situation.
Color me shocked that a guy who ran like that totally torched Wisconsin’s defense.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Did somebody say's Wisconsin's defense?
by KevinHD on Jul 19, 2010 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
My only point is this:
If you’re going to run something with the magical wizardry of the Spread HD (RR: Your mom is a Spread HD) with a true sophomore at quarterback, you should probably come away from spring practice with something like “yeah, he’s a true sophomore, but he didn’t play like a true sophomore.” Instead, what we got from the PSU spring practices was stuff like this:
“I don’t think yesterday solved anything in the quarterback competition. Newsome looked like he was locking on his receivers and having accuracy issues. McGloin was forcing things and made some poor throws into coverage. He ended up with two interceptions. I wasn’t impressed with his arm strength at all.”
Of course, it’s all fine, because he’s playing behind a talented and experienced offensive line that will protect him from harm OH WAIT NO HE ISN’T:
“The left offensive tackle situation is a huge problem. I thought Eliades looked okay at right tackle, but Quinn Barham at left tackle did not impress me at all. Eric Latimore had his way with him all day. But the flip side of that is that Latimore looked awesome, so maybe he has had a breakout spring and is set to be a major player on the defensive line.
The offensive line looked bad in pass protection, but I thought they got a pretty good push in the running game."
So Penn State is going to roll the dice with a true sophomore who has virtually no experience, playing behind a line that leaks like a sieve. Which means they’ll probably be reduced to running behind said offensive line 75% of the time and scrambling or throwing three-yard curl routes the other 25%. And if that doesn’t scream MICHIGAN 2008 at you, then I don’t know what does.
And yes, Penn State’s defense is likely to be better than the abomination that was the 2008 LOLverines, but (1) I don’t yet see Brandon Graham on your defensive line, and (2) you’re still going to need more than the 20 ppg that offense put up if you have any chance of winning more than 7.
Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.
by Patrick Vint on Jul 19, 2010 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
When you say Michigan 2008, what are you saying? That we are going to go 3-9? That we’ll have one good player on our defense but give up 350 ypg next year? Just about everyone thinks the transition to defense will go fine (Joe, and I can’t stress how rare this is, has even said so), and last year’s unit game up 159 ypg.
If you want to be down on PSU, which is totally fair, go back to 2007 Morelli. Very solid defense, which Penn State almost certainly will have, and an offense that will stall because of poor decisions and the inability to build a consistant run game. That year even started with a big road game in week 2, just like this year.
This year's defense will be better than the 2007 version.
That defense gave up tons of yards to Illinois and blew a three touchdown lead in a 35-31 loss to Michigan State – which is unacceptable by Penn State standards (When we score 30, we good and well expect to win).
A good defense actually gets that team to 10-2.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Hawkeye State, your comparison to Morelli is intriuging, but I don’t see enough evidence to make it stick. Morelli was a basketcase and so were his father and his coach. We haven’t had any indication of the same from Newsome.
When you guys stop hitting each other, let me know.
I’m not saying PSU will go 3-9; if you listened (and I know you did, or else you wouldn’t have made the points you have), you’d know I still think they’re the #4 or #5 team in the conference this year. But to simply say “We don’t need no stinkin’ quarterback, we’ll just rely on defense and 10 wins boom goes the dynamite” flies in the face of reality. For instance, just ask any Iowa fan how it works out when you put an untested, young, inaccurate passer behind a brand new offensive line and rely on a stout defense and two proven halfbacks to carry the load. It’s called 6-6. We lived it in 2007 and, unless Newsome makes some pretty big strides between spring and Sept. 4, you could see it too.
As for Michigan 2008, well, early returns on Newsome vs. McGloin sound eerily similar to the preseason talk out of Ann Arbor that year, where they weren’t sure who was better, and the walk-on who ran like an ostrich saw the field. Either it’s a smoke screen by people who don’t generally engage in such behavior (like you and your esteemed colleagues at BSD) or there’s a decent chance you’ll be seeing what they saw.
Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.
by Patrick Vint on Jul 19, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I think we agree, so we’re still friends. But I think pulling the Michigan 2008 card brings up unwarranted implications about the success of the team as a whole. Having untested QBs is literally the only similarity between UM 2008 and PSU 2010. Let’s just agree to say this is way too much like Iowa 2007 and call it a day?
Ok, I think I'm seeing where I missed my mark here.
I hate the comparison to Michigan in 2008. I think it’s crazy to compare a highly rated quarterback with a year in the system to that mess they had out there. And – here is where I wasn’t clear – I think comparing it is totally pointless because their entire team sucked.
Do I think we’re going to go 9-3? Nah, not really because NW is going to be nasty this year. But I do think Newsome is going to be just fine and while our line will have their struggles, I do not consider them “brand new”.
And once again, McGloin will not see the field.
Cheers, although your mom is still a golden flash.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
10-2, not 9-3, RichRod can proofread better than this.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions
I know Penn State has a proud tradition and is used to an exceptional level of play
but this:
That defense gave up tons of yards to Illinois and blew a three touchdown lead in a 35-31 loss to Michigan State which is unacceptable by Penn State standards
is absurd. There may be programs for which this occurrence is hardly a new phenomenon but name me one for which it’s “acceptable” (Minnesota excepted because they’re IML-going masochists).
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 19, 2010 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Again, it's not unheard of in many places
but outside of early 90’s WAC games (although 35-31 would be a halftime score), I can’t think of anywhere that it’s “acceptable”. You are not unique in that regard: WE ARE…LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 19, 2010 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions
OK, I'l give you 30+ points.
PSU fans are disappointed with 20+ points. We’ll take a 13-10 loss over a 21-20 loss any day.
Are you talking about the blowing three touchdown lead part
Or the loss to Michigan State part? I was talking about the loss to Michigan State part.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, well yeah, that's a given.
MSU is supposed to do the epic fail, not the other way around. It’s just the order of things.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 20, 2010 2:54 AM CDT up reply actions
Let me go with the new hotness defense (We used it last year, some Iowa fans this year).
It’s not that our line sucks, it’s that the defensive line is really good.
So Penn State is going to roll the dice with a true sophomore who has virtually no experience, playing behind a line that leaks like a sieve. Which means they’ll probably be reduced to running behind said offensive line 75% of the time and scrambling or throwing three-yard curl routes the other 25%. And if that doesn’t scream MICHIGAN 2008 at you, then I don’t know what does.
Right, except we have three our four very good receivers and a quarterback that actually has the ability to keep some (read: most mediocre defenses) defenses honest with his scrambling ability. It absolutely doesn’t scream Michigan 2008 at you because Penn State will still be a football team that plays fundamentally strong football while Michigan’s coaching staff relies on a bunch of fast guys running around and a defensive coaching staff that seems to have the brain power of honey badgers or something.
Look, I don’t care that much about Blue/White Day. I will not – I cannot believe Penn State’s line will be worse than last year’s line until we’re getting troubled by Temple like last year (Yes, really, that actually happened). Note: Last year’s line was good enough for 11-2.
Finally, this is semantics, but if Penn State’s defense is not 10x better than Michigan’s defense I also expect the sun to explode.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions
One edit here
Our other MAC team, not Temple. Akron was pwning us last year and Temple will be good this year.
Kevin, who’s our other MAC team this year? Ball State?
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Ugh.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Hawkeye State's mom is a Golden Flash
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
The walk-on quarterback is not in play.
Newsome will start. For all of this talk about JoePa changing his ways and starting younger guys, the same does not apply to quarterback play. More importantly, a) McGloin looked terrible in the spring scrimmage, and b) Penn State will have to use a run based offense this year.
Moreover, Penn State’s starting defense: A secondary that was solid, maybe even very good returns all of their starters. Their linebackers are young, athletic, untested, but coached by Ron Vanderlinden, one of the best position coaches in CFB. Larry Johnson is the best defensive line coach in college football. He returns Devon Still, who often looked excellent last year, Ollie Ogbu, Odrick’s partner in crime, and two defensive ends with lots of potential.
Michigan’s starting defense, 2007-2010: 
I will worry when I am dead.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Mind you, that's not even *good* Pennsylvania Lebanon bologna.
Looks like that Oscar Meyer crap.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
Cutting straight to the really important bits -
I’m with Adam – the “O” in “LOL” is short, not long.
"Kittens give Morbo gas."
Ridiculous.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Which, I suppose, you pronounce as
“Rye-dye-cu-luss.”
"Kittens give Morbo gas."
by Bucketochicken on Jul 19, 2010 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Third.
We have quorum.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 19, 2010 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions
Fourthed.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
It was already settled
do you vote in December?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 19, 2010 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
You don't?!
Are you telling me that I’ve been doing it wrong all this time?
by The Mexican't on Jul 19, 2010 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions
I vote whenever I want, dammit.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
You'd fit in well here in Chicago.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 20, 2010 2:54 AM CDT up reply actions
this comment
was brought to you by a hole they cut in a cardboard box so they have something to talk about other than their beer, which is exactly like 85% of the beer consumed in this great nation of ours.
Yeah, I'm embarrassed
I know the beer is cold because I am sentient and, despite clipping off the tip of my finger last summer in a hideous gardening accident, I still have sense of touch.
As for the dumber people among us who need mountains and windows, well, I’ll leave it to David Cross to explain them.
Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.
by Patrick Vint on Jul 19, 2010 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
Your mom is a hideous gardening accident.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
HS
The new intro just blew out my speakers (specifically, the “podcast. podcast. podcast” destroyed the subwoofers)…why must you rock so hard?
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
It took, like, 44 comments to get to the new theme song
I am a little disappointed.
Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.
by Patrick Vint on Jul 19, 2010 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey, I already told you it was awesome.
So there.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I'm going to have nightmares about that theme song.
Great job, guys. As always!
"In case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic!" - Homer Simpson
by EastLosRandy on Jul 19, 2010 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Distraught
I always thought it was, “Drew Bledsoe much he needed a tourniquet.” A friend was convinced it was, “transfusion” and we agreed to disagree for years. We probably bet on it as well. Perhaps I’ll mail him a box of Franzia or something.
One more thing:
Northwestern goes to Rice, but it’s nothing compared to:
Minnesota…
at…
Middle Tennessee State
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
That will make for a great open thread.
And we are having an open thread for that game.
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 19, 2010 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
It's the opening Thursday night of the CFB season.
Of COURSE we’re having an open thread for that. Even if the games suck, it’s the first real football in nine goddamn months, which means they are in fact glorious.
"I want to be a cowboy. I don't want to be a panda. Pandas are boring, stupid and boring. Bad panda!"
I'll pencil that into my schedule.
I spent all day Saturday finally succumbing to college football withdrawal and it wasn’t good.
Going, going, going, going, going, going, going, going.... Alright, I'll stop for now.
by EnergizerHawk on Jul 19, 2010 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions
Minnesota at Middle Tennessee sounds crazy, but
The Blue Raiders were actually pretty good last year and won their bowl game against Southern Miss. Okay, they’re only Sunbelt-good, but for the Goofers this will be quite a test. Should be an entertaining game to watch, with a high schadenfreude quotient.
"In case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic!" - Homer Simpson
oops, reply fail
"In case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic!" - Homer Simpson
by EastLosRandy on Jul 19, 2010 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Not trying to be douche-y at all
but I already have that penciled in as a “L” for Minnesota. Why anyone would agree to play a solid 2nd-tier program like that at their place is, well, Brewster-esque.
Less memorable than Sam Okey's Hawkeye career.
by Kyle McCann't on Jul 20, 2010 2:57 AM CDT up reply actions
2nd tier? Solid?
Are you saying Middle Tennessee State is better than Minnesota? When you’re right you’re right!
There is fire at the travel agency.
by ReadingRambler on Jul 20, 2010 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions
I was thinking the same thing
Mid Tenn is pretty solid. Their QB was pretty impressive in the bowl game too, even if it was vs So Miss.
It's not that I'm lazy, Bob, it's that I just don't care
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