Step off that ledge, oh loyal Penn State fan. Everything will be okay.
Last week's performance at Notre Dame wasn't as bad as many seem to think. Yes, mistakes occurred all too frequently. And yes, the Nittany Lions were defeated more soundly than they had been since 2003. But last Saturday's game really isn't very important in the greater picture. Repeat: It doesn't matter. It's in the past, and sooner or later, Penn State fans are going to have to realize that the same goes for the magical 2005 season that ended with players hoisting a trophy full of naval oranges.
Michael Robinson isn't there to fire fourth down passes to Issac Smolko, nor are Calvin Lowry and Alan Zemaitis present to come up with timely interceptions.
If you don't lower your expectations that every Penn State squad should be a BCS lock, you'll have difficulty appreciating anything less. How soon we forget 2003 and 2004.
So, as a public service to address the concerns of Nittany Nation, here are some reasons to have confidence in the 2006 squad -- without holding it to the golden standard set by last year's team.
Fans complained about the lack of blitzes on Penn State's part, asking where the pressure was and, more importantly, why there were no adjustments once it was apparent that Notre Dame exposed the Lion defense's weaknesses.
Penn State did call a fair amount of blitzes throughout the game -- just not during that crucial touchdown drive at the end of the first half. Instead, as many fans have complained, the defense sat back and played bend-but-don't-break while Brady Quinn stretched the secondary for 15-yard gains before finally breaking the unit's back with a touchdown pass to Rhema McKnight.
This drive, which came at the most critical point in the game, may very well have been the result of coaching miscues on the Penn State sideline. But don't expect that to happen again. Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley wore an expression of "Never again" on his face as he sped off the field and into the locker room last week.
Some fans are concerned that 2005 Butkus and Bednarik Award winner Paul Posluszny is a bit slower -- either physically or mentally -- on the field this year after his Orange Bowl knee injury and change of position.
Relax. Posluszny was given the task of covering tailbacks and tight ends in the open field against one of the better offenses in the country. With little pass rush coming his way, Quinn had all the time
he needed to wait for his targets to get open. And while Posluszny was victimized by a few throws up the middle to tight end John Carlson, so too was Dan Connor. Nobody is saying that Connor lost a step.
The defensive captain's numbers are right where they should be (actually, he has one more tackle now than he did at the same point last season), but statistics are often not the best way to judge a defensive player.
During tomorrow's game, watch No. 31 in the seconds leading up to the snap up until the whistle after the play. There is no one on the Lions defense that will be busier or more active during that time.
Posluszny might be the victim of the tremendous expectations created by his own stellar play the last two years. No, he did not dominate the Fighting Irish offense, but there were 10 other guys in white who are in the same boat.
Another common concern is that the vocal leaders of yesteryear have not been replaced.
In a player meeting early this week, co-captain Levi Brown said that he and the Lions had simply been beat and that there were no excuses. Other players said Penn State had to move on, that focusing on what happened at Notre Dame would provide little help with the rest of the season.
A year removed from jubilation in Miami and with 10 games still to play in 2006, perhaps some of the frantic Penn State fans should heed the same advice.
