Survey Says . . .

According to multiple sources, including GoPSUsports, Coach O'Brien has tabbed Matt McGloin as his starting QB for this season.

O'Brien cited McGloin's consistency running the offense throughout spring practice as the driving force behind his decision to name the Scranton native the starter heading into the season.
"He (McGloin) was the most consistent guy throughout the spring," Coach O'Brien said. He has good command of the offense at this point. He's a tough kid. He's a competitive kid. He's shown good leadership qualities. I just felt like he is the No. 1 quarterback."

O'Brien added that it was very important to make the decision prior to training camp.


"When you go into training camp you have to make sure that one guy is getting the bulk of the reps," Coach O'Brien said. "You don't have time to give three guys equal reps. Also, in the summertime when the coaches aren't allowed to be around, you need to have leaders on both sides of the ball. Matt, being a quarterback, is a leader on the offensive side of the ball...Mostly, it's because you have to get one guy ready to play. You can't get three guys ready to play. And it's really hard to get two guys ready to play. So you have to have a starter, and then you go from there."

On the field, Coach O'Brien said that consistency in numerous areas pertinent to success at the quarterback position separated McGloin during the spring.

"His completion percentage, getting us in and out of the right plays, knowledge of the offense, being prepared in meetings, cutting down on his interceptions as spring ball went on," Coach O'Brien said. "He completed about 65 to 70 percent of his passes during the spring. He ran some of our situational stuff pretty well. He just did a very good job of being consistent."

When was the last time Penn State football fans heard their coach announce who the QB for the first game or the season was, before August . . . or September?  The reasons for doing so make sense--the primary guy gets the reps.  You know who your leader is.  Trying to get three (or more) guys ready is not practical.

Yet, there are those that can't shake the cock-sure attitude of McGloin or his penchant for throwing McSix Picks.

I personally had been leaning toward Jones, but that may have been wishful thinking.  The back-up QB always seems to be the most popular.  But if a man who can coach quarterbacks like Tom Brady thinks that McGloin was more knowledgeable about the offense and more prepared in meetings and had the better completion percentage on the field, then McGloin is my man too.

We don't know how close the battle was, nor do we know how far behind Bolden was, presumably, in third place.

Congratulations Matt!  Bring on the season!

What say you?  Are you Going with McGloin, or do you wish McGloin was going?

Ch-ch-ch-changes

The O'Brien Era is going to bring changes.  Many fans have been looking forward to some changes since 1999.  Change can be good.  If your diaper is dirty, you need a change.  But could too much change be good? 

Well, we won't know until September.

But what we do know is that there are changes happening as we speak type.  You might need to sharpen your pencils and get an extra eraser before all this is over.

In brief, and I will refer you to Philip Cmor's article on A Change of Pace for further reading on the subject, here are some things going on in Spring practice.  The very fact that we know so much that is going on in practice is a change in itself.

Try and dodge these bullets, Mr. Bond . . .

• Bill Belton has moved from wide receiver to runningback.  Perhaps because . . .
• Curtis Dukes is out of spring practice for academic issues.
• Curtis Drake is moving from wide receiver to corner.
• DE Dakota Royer is moving to tight end.
• Keep up with me here.
• Devon Smith got tripped up on grass again.  Investigation and punishment (if necessary) is pending.
• Cornerback Derrick Thomas will participate this spring.  Joe's Dog House has been sold.
• DE Shawn Oakman will not return (unspecified reason)
• Danny O'Brien, a potential QB transfer from Maryland, was at the opening day of practice.
• Curtis Cothran, DE from Council Rock North verballed to PSU
• Ryan Switzer, wide receiver and West Virginia's Gatorade Player of the Year--will be visiting PSU this weekend
• O'Brien (coach, not the transfer) feels the change in conditioning program has already produced visible body changes.
• Phil Simms will switch from QB to linebacker.

I don't know about you, but my head is spinning.  And this is only the first day!