Can Drew Allar & the Penn State Nittany Lions make their mark on the Big Ten? | ALL Big Ten Podcast

last year 10 and3 record 7-2 conference 4-2 in the division now Cory I'm going to open it up to you like this yeah we're going to a college football playoff that's going to be 12 teams if we had run this back over the last eight years Penn State would have been in that college football playoff six of those eight years would have even gotten a four seed in 2016 we all know about the divisions those are cracked wide open look I got I got them that they've lost to Michigan the last three seasons in a row they've dropped seven straight to the Buckeyes 11 of last 12 those are no longer stumbling blocks or obstacles in Penn State's way so Cory open it up man is this the year is this the year the Penn State gets it done I I think this is the year I I'm a big James Franklin fan you know I I I love him as a coach uh I think the players really buy into him but I think this is their year to make the college football playoffs I know they've expanded the the Big 10 so there's more competition but everything is starting to stack up in Penn State's favor and I think it comes down to the quarterback Drew Aller I think he needs to have a big year right there's a lot of Dink and dunk check Downs um we know he's got that two-headed monster with Singleton and Allen but how can he off the Run game really work that play action because we saw some of his throws last year when he actually took shots he has a cannon of an arm he can do it all so I think this year comes down to his success because we know that that that talented uh you know two two back uh sets that they have with with Allen and siglon they're going to get that done it all comes down to Aller and I think it's it's a huge season for him and I think he could have a breakout season if they really extend the field I think that's what they need to do with him yeah Cory when you talk about their back field look it's fair to at least penil then in for 1,00 yards combined right I think 2000 is probably a Mark that they want to really shoot for they're bringing in a new offensive coordinator I'm right there with you on Aller um a guy that I don't think it's a chicken in the egg right do they trust the receivers to get open or do they trust Drew Aller to be efficient and accurate down the field can he get above the 60% completion percentage mark this season so taking a step forward is going to be really huge we know that they love running the ball but also their bread and butter is going to be on the defensive end so Corey I just want you to um here's where I get you excited in episode one I want you to talk about Abdul Carter I love this dude they're moving him from linebacker now to defensive end just tell the good folks what does he bring to the table and why you think he could be an X Factor for this Penn State team oh they they're they're trying to do with him what they did with Michael par and I absolutely love that right a guy that can transition to that standup outside DN role because he has the athleticism he has the first step burst he flash pass rush potential I think this is a year where he really breaks out and Penn St Penn State is known for that they usually have the undersized defensive ends outside linebackers that can really are strong as the point of attack but could really pass rush and in this league when it's becoming such a past dominant League even in the Big 10 rather I think this is where he really makes his hay this year and I'm looking forward to it especially a guy in the trenches that I would love to see this year go for double digits because I think he's capable of that just follow up real quick is he first round NFL draft material Abdul Carter 100% I think he has all the the size the speed the quickness the first step the hand uses that's what you use um yeah Penn State has been doing this for years really having those kind of tweener guys um that really don't have a fit whether they're you know not an outside linebacker not a defensive end but they're very productive in the NFL and um who who better to mold your game after than a guy like Michael Parsons yeah and just moving forward looking at the schedule as we talked about no longer that division play so you don't have to worry about Michigan anymore they do have to take on oh Ohio State but it's at home they have to go to USC which I think October 12th for a lot of these games that we're going to be previewing here I think that's one of the most exciting weekends in Big 10 history because of some of those matchups so Penn State at USC that's a great history marker right there but looking at this schedule Cory I'm not trying to say we're going to get to our Ohio States we're going to get to our Oregons I'm not trying to say that Penn State's going to overtake them but man if this is the year to really make your mark Make That cfp 12 maybe win a actual playoff game for Penn State this kind of seems like the chance and you talked about James Franklin some people are kind of on the fence with him a little bit you seem to be a fan so the big question that I have for them isn't just the the large esoteric is is this finally their chance do you have them over under 10.5 wins and then in terms of the top four the big four right now where do you have them ranked right now going into the season so I I would say for me looking at their schedule right I think the Ohio State game is going to be really tough game but then I look at the Washington game with all everybody that they you know got to the draft this year penck Roman dun the offensive tackles that they had so I think there's going to be some holes in there I I honestly think pen can H can finish this year with with one loss and I think the Ohio State I really think they have a chance to start out the season going six and0 um then they have they have another buy and then Wisconsin I think that's a very winnable game for them um Ohio State I think that's going to be the tough one because Ohio State's the front runner then you look at Washington I I got them beating them Purdue I think that's going to be easy game for them Minnesota very beatable Maryland as well so Joey I have them finishing the season with with one loss so I think I think they're in the top four I probably have them right now at three or four right because I'm looking at Ohio State I'm looking at Oregon those those are my top two right there start out and uh I think Penn State has a chance to be the third best team in this conference and I think this is their year everything is is aligning and I think it comes down to the quarterback position that's that's the key this year we know that two-headed monster running back is really going to get off we know defensively they've been really good can AAR Step Up can can he can he really make his hay in the passing game because all the great teams what do they usually have the quarterback that can stretch the field he has all the tools is he gon to do it this year