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The Football Letter Blog
Published by The Penn State Alumni Association
Category Archives: Game Previews (2019)
by Vincent Lungaro
Penn State Preview: Rutgers
UNIVERSITY PARK — Each week, we'll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye on, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions on fall Saturdays this season.
Game details: No. 10 Penn State (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) vs. Rutgers (2-9, 0-8 Big Ten), 3:30 p.m. kickoff, broadcast on Big Ten Network.
Venue: Beaver Stadium
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 37 degrees with a wintry mix possible
The line: Penn State – 40.5
Last week: Penn State lost at Ohio State. Rutgers lost at home to Michigan State
All-time series: Penn State leads 27-2
Last meeting (2018): Behind a stellar performance from the Penn State defense, Trace McSorley became the winningest quarterback in program history with last year's 20-7 victory over Rutgers. McSorley threw two touchdowns to Pat Freiermuth in the win.
Throwback classic (2015): We caught up with longtime editor of The Football Letter, John Black, to help recount Penn State's first Stripe Out game, a 28-3 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Overview: Penn State's College Football Playoff hopes are all but over, but there's still plenty to play for when the Nittany Lions host the Scarlet Knights this Saturday. Checking in at No. 10 in the latest Playoff rankings, Penn State is in a great position to play in a New Year's Six bowl. Rutgers, meanwhile, limps to the finish line once again, having already fired head coach Chris Ash earlier this season.
Penn State wins if: The Nittany Lions handle business. There's a reason Penn State is a near six-touchdown favorite. Rutgers has been awful and the Nittany Lions should be eager to put the disappointing loss to the Buckeyes behind them.
Rutgers wins if: We've tried to come up with a scenario where the Scarlet Knights somehow catch the Nittany Lions sleeping in this regular season finale, but it's just not going to happen. The best Rutgers could hope for is to keep it relatively close until halftime.
The Football Letter/Steve Manuel
Count On: A lot of emotions for Penn State seniors. Senior Day is always a bittersweet moment for college athletes. These Nittany Lion seniors deserve all the credit in the world. They've led Penn State to a remarkable four-year run, which with a win on Saturday, will see the program tally at-least 10 wins in three of the past four years. That's a heck of an achievement.
Keep an eye on: The Penn State quarterback situation. At his Tuesday press conference, head coach James Franklin said starting QB Sean Clifford would probably be a game-time decision. Knowing Clifford's competitiveness, he's going to want to be out there one last time in Beaver Stadium this year. Still, even if Clifford does play, expect Will Levis to get a healthy share of the reps, especially if the Nittany Lions are up big early.
Trivia tidbit: The first matchup between these two programs came all the way back in 1918. The teams met on Nov. 9, 1918, just two days after the German armistice effectively ended World War I. The Scarlet Knights came away with the win at New Beaver Field, 26-3
John Patishnock: Penn State 42, Rutgers 14
Vincent Lungaro: Penn State 45, Rutgers 7
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by John Patishnock
Penn State Preview: Ohio State
The Nittany Lions head to The Horseshoe on Saturday for a Top-10 battle with the Buckeyes. Photo credit: Steve Manuel/The Football Letter
Game details: at Ohio Stadium, noon kickoff, broadcast on FOX.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 43 degrees, partly sunny and chilly.
The line: Penn State +18
Last week: Penn State outlasted Indiana 34-27, while Ohio State continued its unbeaten season, clobbering Rutgers 56-21.
All-time series: Ohio State leads 19-14.
Last meeting (2018): Ohio State clipped Penn State for a 27-26 victory at Beaver Stadium.
Throwback classic (2008): In a matchup mirror Saturday's showdown, the Nittany Lions upset the Buckeyes in battle of Top-10 teams. Penn State then won the Big Ten and appeared in the Rose Bowl.
Overview: A late-November game in Columbus with the Big Ten East Division on the line. This is what fans have been looking forward to — and the players and coaches working toward — all season. The Buckeyes have stood near the top of the national rankings all season, not missing Urban Meyer. First-year coach Ryan Day and QB-transfer Justin Fields have the Buckeyes looking as good as they have over the last few decades, making Penn State at least two-touchdown underdogs in most scenarios.
The Nittany Lions are finishing up a brutal stretch, playing their fifth ranked opponent in six games. Win Saturday, and Penn State will go into the Big Ten championship as the favored team to win the conference title and head to either the College Football Playoff or Rose Bowl.
In a season where nine or 10 wins seemed like the ceiling, Penn State seems to be ahead of schedule — next year looked to be the year that at the CFP was in focus. But the team has been shattering expectations since James Franklin arrived, so don't be surprised if Saturday's game is competitive well into the fourth quarter.
Penn State wins if: the Nittany Lions can dramatically slow down Fields. The former Penn State commit transferred to the Buckeyes before the season, leading arguably the best team in the nation — LSU and Ohio State are clearly the top two teams. The Nittany Lions' pass defense has been worrisome the past two weeks, with the secondary looking downright confused at times. Whether it's blown coverage, bad angles, or missed tackles, both Minnesota and Indiana moved the ball throughout the game.
Ohio State wins if: the Buckeyes force at least two turnovers. Lately, Sean Clifford has had a tendency to give away the ball, something which he rarely did earlier in the season. Indiana stunted a promising drive last week with a sack-fumble combo, for example. Penn State does have some margin for error. Though it's difficult to see the Nittany Lions winning while also making a handful of mistakes. Penn State doesn't have to play perfect, though close.
Keep an eye on: Yetur Gross-Matos and the defensive line. One of the most disruptive d-line groups in the country can be the difference Saturday, not only for pressuring Fields but also for helping the secondary. If Fields gets comfortable in the pocket, there probably isn't a secondary in the country that can stop him.
Trivia tidbit: While both programs have played in 49 bowl games — ranking in the Top 10 nationally all-time — Penn State holds the advantage in postseason winning percentage. The Nittany Lions hold a 29-16-2 mark, while the Buckeyes are 24-25.
John Patishnock: Ohio State 34, Penn State 24
Vince Lungaro: Ohio State 35, Penn State 24
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Penn State Preview: Indiana
Game details: No. 9 Penn State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) vs. Indiana (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten), noon kickoff, broadcast on ABC.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 39 degrees and partly cloudy.
Last week: Penn State lost at Minnesota, 31-26. Indiana had a bye week
Last meeting (2018): After two gut-wrenching losses to Ohio State and Michigan State, respectively, Penn State rebounded for a 33-28 win in Bloomington. It was not a perfect display by any means, with Indiana out gaining the Nittany Lions on the day, 554-417. Still, it was a much-needed victory given the nature of the two previous defeats that season for Penn State.
Throwback classic (2010): Indiana got paid. Penn State got the win. The Hoosiers collected a $3 million paycheck to move their 2010 home game against the Nittany Lions to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, only a 200-mile drive from State College. Penn State won the game, 41-24
Overview: Penn State is going to have to move on quickly from last weekend's defeat to Minnesota, because the Hoosiers are playing with a lot of confidence right now. Coach Tom Allen has put his team in a position to potentially reach double-digit wins, something rarely done in Bloomington. While the Nittany Lions lost an emotional rollercoaster to the Gophers in Minneapolis, Indiana had a bye week, giving the Hoosiers an extra week to prepare for this one.
Penn State wins if: The defense can return to form. It's no secret the defense had a rough day at the office against Minnesota. The Gophers used quick passes and screens to negate the effectiveness of the stalwart Penn State front seven and put more pressure on the Nittany Lions' secondary. I expect the Hoosiers to use a similar formula to that one.
That being said, I anticipate Penn State's defense to be motivated to get things back on track. The return of Antonio Shelton, who was suspended against Minnesota, should provide a nice spark.
Indiana wins if: It exploits Penn State's defense as Minnesota did. I really think this game comes down to Indiana's offense vs. Penn State's defense. As I mentioned before, the Nittany Lions' secondary was burned repeatedly against the Golden Gophers. If the Hoosiers can put up points, it puts a lot more pressure on a Penn State offense that's struggled with consistency all season long.
Count On: Pat Freiermuth to have another big day. When Penn State needs a first down, it seems like Sean Clifford always looks for his tight end. He had a career day last week and he's a matchup nightmare for any opposing defense. Look for him to reach the end zone again Saturday and move atop the all-time touchdowns list by Penn State tight ends. It's crazy to think he's only a sophomore.
Keep an eye on: Justin Shorter. The redshirt freshman has all the physical tools to be a premier wide receiver. He struggled last week with a few drops and hasn't quite got going in his collegiate career yet. Coach James Franklin has talked about the need for receivers not named KJ Hamler and Jahan Dotson to step up and give Clifford another consistent target.
Trivia tidbit: At 7-2 overall Indiana is off to its best start since 1993. The Hoosiers were off last weekend, but got a nod in the AP poll for the first time since Sept. 20, 1994 and the Amway Coaches Poll for the first time since Oct. 24, 1994.
John Patishnock: Penn State 35, Indiana 24
Vincent Lungaro: Penn State 28, Indiana 20
Penn State Preview: Minnesota
Game details: No. 4 Penn State (8-0, 5-0) at No. 17 Minnesota (8-0, 5-0).
Venue: TCF Bank Stadium, featuring a capacity of 50,805.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 39 degrees and mostly cloudy.
The line: Penn State –6.5
Last week: Penn State and Minnesota each had a bye.
All-time series: Penn State leads 9-5.
Last meeting (2016): Penn State earned a dramatic 29-26 overtime win at Beaver Stadium, as Saquon Barkley rushed for a touchdown on the Nittany Lions' first play in the extra session. The play helped spark an impressive run that included a win over No. 2 Ohio State en route to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearance for the Nittany Lions.
Throwback classic (1993): Here's a good trivia tidbit for fans: Minnesota was Penn State's first Big Ten opponent, with the Nittany Lions earning a 38-20 victory on Sept. 4, 1993, at Beaver Stadium. The teams combined for more than 100 pass attempts, as Bobby Engram became the first player in program history to catch four touchdown passes.
Overview: Coming into the season, there was a good chance Penn State would have a November showdown against another undefeated team. The smart thinking had the game occurring in Columbus, though, not Minneapolis. Ohio State still looms, though Penn State will need to dispatch the upstart Gophers, having an against-the-odds kind of season that the typically ordinary Big Ten West teams have once a decade or so. Northwestern last season and Iowa in 2015 are two recent examples.
Perhaps the most impressive trait for this year's Nittany Lions squad is their collective focus. They've won big and small, stayed ahead in tough environments, started fast, and have also closed out games. There's a sense they're truly battle-tested, so whatever they see Saturday against Minnesota, it won't be anything they haven't seen before.
Penn State wins if: the Nittany Lions hold the Gophers to less than 28 points. Minnesota's offense has been consistently good all season, scoring at least 28 each game and averaging 41 in its five Big Ten contests. Gaudy numbers, even if against supposedly the weakest division in the conference and Rutgers and Maryland.
Minnesota wins if: the Gophers' ground game can wear down the Nittany Lions. Based on numbers, Minnesota can win a shootout, though the Gophers will need to sustain drives that'll test Penn State's depth along the defensive line and in the linebacking corp. Minnesota averages 205 rushing yards per game, with Penn State allowing only 68. If the Gophers finish Saturday anywhere near the latter mark, their chances of winning are incredibly slim.
Keep an eye on: the offensive play-calling. Offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne has faced more criticism than you'd think for a team 8-0 and ranked No. 4 — and it's easy to argue most of that criticism has been unwarranted — and it'll be interesting to see if he dials up anything unexpected after having an extra week to think over the game plan.
Trivia tidbit: Penn State's been ranked in the AP poll for 51 straight weeks, the third-longest streak in program history.
John Patishnock: Penn State 28, Minnesota 24
Vince Lungaro: Penn State 33, Minnesota 20
Penn State Preview: Michigan State
Game details: No. 6 Penn State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) vs. Michigan State (4-3, 2-2), 3:30 p.m. kickoff, broadcast on ABC.
Venue: Spartan Stadium, which features a capacity of 75,005.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 54 degrees with some sunshine giving way to clouds and rain at times in the afternoon.
The line: Penn State –6.
Last week: Penn State outlasted Michigan 28-21, while Michigan State had a bye.
All-time series: Michigan State leads 17-15-1.
Last meeting (2018): Michigan State escaped Beaver Stadium with a 21-17 win.
Throwback classic (2016): We're sending it back only two years, to when Penn State demolished Michigan State 45-12 to win the Big Ten East Division title, before winning the conference championship a week later against Wisconsin in Indianapolis.
Overview: Penn State is 7-0 for the fifth time since joining the Big Ten, and while the Nittany Lions have created a ton of momentum the last few weeks (and really, the entire season), Saturday looms ahead. Michigan State has been outscored 72-10 in its last two games — losses to Ohio State and Wisconsin — and that stat actually makes the Spartans seem more dangerous. That's how odd this game has been since James Franklin arrived in Happy Valley.
Penn State wins if: Sean Clifford continues to protect the ball. The first-year starter has thrown only two interceptions, and the home crowd will be thirsting for a win Saturday. It's been almost a month since the Spartans' last victory, a 40-31 win over Indiana on Sept. 28, and the same amount of time since Michigan State's last home game. The atmosphere should be plenty rowdy, though won't be anything Clifford hasn't seen before. Protect the ball, and stay unbeaten: That's the mantra Saturday for the superstar sophomore.
Michigan State wins if: the Spartans' offensive line gives quarterback Brian Lewerke enough time to have downfield success. Penn State ranks fourth nationally in rush defense per game (66 yards), and Michigan State doesn't appear to have the ground game to make it work Saturday. The Spartans average a respectable 117 yards per contest, though nothing that'll shift the dynamic of the game. Unless a team can gain 200-plus yards against Penn State, and it doesn't appear the Spartans have that potential, the air attack is the best bet. That's what Michigan State will need Saturday.
Keep an eye on: Noah Cain (yes, we're going with the true freshman running back again). Saturday will be a game when James Franklin might want to (have to?) divert from the running back rotation and go with a bruising back if the game turns into a contest of one grinding possession after another. Cain leads Penn State with 329 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Trivia tidbit: Though Michigan State leads the overall series, Penn State is ahead 14-9 since joining the Big Ten.
John Patishnock: Penn State 34, Michigan State 30
Vincent Lungaro: Penn State 30, Michigan State 21
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Penn State Preview: Michigan
Game details: No. 7 Penn State vs. No. 16 Michigan, 7:30 p.m. kickoff, broadcast on ABC.
Venue: Beaver Stadium, where Penn State boasts an all-time record of 294-74.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 59 degrees and mostly sunny.
The line: Penn State –8.5.
Last week: Penn State outlasted Iowa 17-12 at Kinnick Stadium, while Michigan thumped Illinois 42-25.
All-time series: Michigan leads 14-8.
Last meeting (2018): Michigan earned a convincing 42-7 victory in Ann Arbor.
Throwback classic (2008): Penn State roared back from an early 10-point deficit to dismantle Michigan 46-17 on the Nittany Lions' path to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearance.
Overview: Penn State's trajectory had them competing for a spot in the playoff next season, though they're showing this year is also a reality. Sean Clifford's acclimated to the offense immediately, distributing the ball efficiently through the air while also remaining a threat to run whenever needed. The defense has been as good as imaginable, with future NFL first-round draft pick Yetur Gross-Matos totaling 18 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks to lead the group.
Here's what Michigan has going in its favor. The Wolverines essentially have to win this game, both in terms of the Big Ten race, and their season. They host No. 8 Notre Dame next weekend, and if they lose both contests, then it'll feel like Harbaugh will never win the Big Ten or national championship at Michigan. Remember, this was supposed to be the year for the Wolverines, with Shea Patterson coming back to run a revamped offense, Ohio State welcoming a new coach, and Penn State moving on from Trace McSorley. So, Saturday means a lot more to Michigan. Not just for this season, though also for their future.
Penn State wins if: the White Out atmosphere is everything it promises to be. The crowd will undoubtedly be loud, disruptive, and influential in the outcome of the game. For all the talk about Xs and Os this week, what'll be most interesting to see is how Patterson and the Wolverine offensive line handle what'll be the toughest environment they'll play in this year, and maybe in their collegiate careers.
Michigan wins if: Josh Gattis engineers the best offensive performance of his career. After working with James Franklin for a number of years, including at Penn State as the wide receivers coach, Gattis now serves as Michigan's offensive coordinator. The Wolverines have produced big numbers, albeit against Rutgers and Illinois, though have looked fairly stagnant during other parts of the season (Wisconsin, Army). Penn State features perhaps the best front-seven and overall defense in the country, so Gattis needs to show something we haven't seen yet this season: a big-time performance against a marquee opponent.
Keep an eye on: Noah Cain. While Penn State's running back rotation has continued through thte first half of the season, Cain constantly stands out. He was in the game during the Nittany Lions' season-defining drive last week against Iowa, capping off a scoring drive and giving Penn State enough cushion to hold off the Hawkeyes. Cain's a true freshman, though has shown he can handle the spotlight.
Trivia tidbit: Penn State stands 6-0 for the fourth time since 2000.
John Patishnock: Penn State 31, Michigan 21
Vince Lungaro: Penn State 24, Michigan 14
Penn State Preview: Purdue
Each week, we'll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye on, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions on fall Saturdays this season.
Game details: No. 12/11 Penn State vs. Purdue, noon kickoff, broadcast on ESPN.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 60 degrees with plenty of sunshine.
Last week: Penn State dominated Maryland 59-0, while Purdue dropped a home contest to Minnesota 38-31.
All-time series: Penn State leads 14-3-1.
Last meeting (2016): Penn State blasted Purdue 62-24 in West Lafayette, overcoming a sluggish first half to earn the convincing win. This game is also noteworthy since it came right after the Nittany Lions' upset of No. 2 Ohio State, setting up Penn State's run to a Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl.
Throwback classic (2004): The White Out is now widely regarded as one of the best environments in college football, and perhaps all of sports. But back in 2004, it was a novelty, with the student section wearing all white for the first time during a 20-13 loss to undefeated ninth-ranked Purdue (the first stadium-wide White Out came years later).
Overview: Win Saturday, and Penn State sets itself up for a highly compelling four-game stretch against Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, and Minnesota — the Golden Gophers have started the season 4-0. More immediate, the Boilermakers enter this weekend with a disappointing 1-3 mark, and head coach Jeff Brohm announced earlier in the week that star wide receiver Rondale Moore will be out after suffering an injury last weekend. Without him, it's difficult to see Purdue scoring 30-plus points, a mark that Penn State should surpass; the Nittany Lions are averaging 50 per game so far this year. Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar will also sit out after being injured on the same play as Moore, so the Boilermakers need a whole lot to go right for them to pull off an upset on Homecoming weekend in Happy Valley.
Penn State wins if: the defense continues to create mayhem. Penn State's given up only 30 points through four games, and with the offense having the potential to 40-plus seemingly every week, even a workmanlike performance Saturday should be enough to keep Penn State unbeaten.
Purdue wins if: the Boilermakers can make Sean Clifford uncomfortable. For as much as success as Clifford (and the offense) has had this year, he did look rattled, at times, when Pitt pressured him last month. Purdue clearly can't win a shootout, so the Boilers' best chance is to grind out the clock and limit Clifford's opportunities when the Nittany Lions have the ball.
Keep an eye on: Penn State's third down success. Last week, the Nittany Lions converted its first seven third down opportunities and finished 9-of-13.
Trivia tidbit: Thirteen Nittany Lions caught at least one reception last week against Maryland, the second time Penn State receivers have hit that mark (Idaho).
John Patishnock: Penn State 45, Purdue 14
Vincent Lungaro: Penn State 41, Purdue 10
Penn State Preview: Maryland
Each week throughout the 2019 season, we'll tell you what to expect, what to keep an eye on, and where and when you can catch the Nittany Lions on fall Saturdays.
Game details: No. 12/11 Penn State @ Maryland, 8:00 p.m., broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
Venue: Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): Kick-off temperature of 73 degrees, mostly clear skies.
The line: Penn State – 6.5
Last week: Both teams enter this Week 5 matchup coming off a bye.
Last meeting (2018): Penn State dominated Maryland, 38-3, on Senior Day a season ago. Trace McSorley opened the scoring on Penn State's first possession of the game, running into the end zone from three yards out. McSorley capped off his home career for the Nittany Lions with 230 yards and a touchdown through the air, plus an additional 71 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.
Throwback classic (1993): Since Penn State scored 79 points in its Week 1 win over Idaho, take a look back at another 70-point showing for the Nittany Lions in their 70-7 thrashing of Maryland in 1993.
Overview: The Terrapins have come down to earth a bit after a scorching start to the season. Maryland opened with blowout wins over Howard and then-No. 21 Syracuse, which earned the Terrapins a spot in the Top-25. They then put up a dud in Week 3 at Temple, falling 20-17. Penn State, meanwhile, crushed Idaho in Week 1 and produced an excellent second half to down Buffalo 45-13. Week 3 saw the Nittany Lions hold off Pitt 17-10. Add all that up, and it's really difficult to predict how Friday night's matchup is going to unfold. Which version of each team will we see?
Penn State wins if: The offensive line gives Sean Clifford time to throw downfield. Clifford was under duress a lot against Pitt, and turned in an uneven performance because of it (14-of-30 for 222 yards and zero touchdowns). He's going to have to have a much better day connecting with the likes of KJ Hamler and Pat Freiermuth, who was held to just one catch against Pitt, if Penn State is going to get the road dub.
Maryland wins if: The Maryland rushing attack has a big day. The Terrapins want to run the football and run it often. Like Penn State, they have a rotation of running backs they like to use throughout the game. Anthony McFarland remains their bell cow and most explosive weapon out of the backfield despite the rotation. If he and the rest of the running backs get going, it will open up the passing game for Josh Jackson, and make life really difficult on the Penn State defense.
Count On: A sea of white amidst the Maryland "blackout" in the stands. Penn State fans have been encouraged to wear white. With only about a four-hour drive separating the two campuses, and with plenty of Penn State alumni and fans in the Washington, D.C. area, there should be a heavy Nittany Lion presence throughout the stadium.
Keep an eye on: Yetur Gross-Matos. Gross-Matos blew up the Maryland rushing attack in the 2018 matchup between the two teams, doing a great job of setting the edge on multiple occasions and getting into the backfield with 3.5 tackles-for-loss. Penn State is going to need him at his best in this year's game, both in disrupting the ground game and getting after Josh Jackson. After being held without a sack or a tackle against Pitt, I expect Gross-Matos to bounce back and shine in Week 5.
Trivia tidbit: Penn State hasn't given up a touchdown to Maryland in the last two meetings, crushing the Terrapins 66-3 in 2017 and winning 38-3 a season ago. As good as the Nittany Lion defense is, I expect that to change Friday night.
John Patishnock: Penn State 38, Maryland 30
Vincent Lungaro: Penn State 27, Maryland 23
Penn State Preview: Buffalo
Game details: No. 15/14 Penn State vs. Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., broadcast on FOX.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 73 degrees, partly sunny and pleasant.
Last week: Penn State pounded Idaho 79-7, while Buffalo defeated Robert Morris 38-10.
Last meeting (2015): Penn State won 27-14 at a soggy Beaver Stadium. This game also represented the beginning of the legend of Saquon Barkley, who pulled off the first of his many impressive hurdles over an unsuspecting Bulls defender. Barkley also scored a touchdown and ran for more than 100 yards in his first home game.
Throwback classic (1900): We'll give this category to the Bulls, who defeated Penn State 10-0 at Buffalo. While William "Pop" Golden led the Nittany Lions, the Bulls played without a coach.
Overview: The one question everyone seems to be asking is "Just how good is this Penn State team?" There's a ton of talent, and perhaps more experience than some fans think — thanks to guys redshirting and getting game reps last year — though can this year's Nittany Lions compete for a Big Ten title? It'll probably be another month before we have a clear answer, though they can continue to impress Saturday against another overmatched opponent. However, Buffalo is capable of making this competitive. The Bulls won a school-record 10 games last season, winning the MAC East Division. Buffalo rushed for 285 yards last week in its season-opening victory against Robert Morris, though Penn State's impressive defensive front will (obviously) present a much, much bigger challenge. Still, it might be good for Penn State's long-term interest if the team faces more pushback before facing Pitt and the Big Ten slate.
Penn State wins if: the Nittany Lions avoid mistakes. Penn State clearly has more talent, size, and strength, and it's difficult seeing Buffalo sustain long drives the entire game. Don't give the Bulls a short field and stay on schedule offensively, and Penn State should have a carousel of reserves see game time this Saturday, too.
Buffalo wins if: Penn State loses it. Even if the Bulls play a near-perfect game, chances are it still won't be enough to pull off a historic upset. Making a few plays early will certainly help, and if this were a noon kickoff, maybe that could be more probably, though a primetime kick at Beaver Stadium will have all of Happy Valley rocking from the start.
Count on: another running back rotation. It worked so well the first week, so why change anything? Five backs combined for seven rushing touchdowns, and the offensive line should have its way against the Bulls. Chances are no one back will get more than 12-15 carries (Noah Cain's nine attempts against Idaho were a team-high mark), so look for the most talented group of running backs in the country to once again share carries.
Keep an eye on: Jahan Dotson. The sophomore wide receiver was quiet last week, totaling just one catch for 13 yards. Dotson has plenty of speed and has earned the praise of coaches and teammates in the fall, and this could be the week when he begins to post numbers that match his big-time talent.
Trivia tidbit: Penn State has been ranked in the AP poll for the last 41 weeks — the fifth-longest streak in the country. It's also the fifth-longest mark in program history.
John Patishnock: Penn State 48, Buffalo 13
Vince Lungaro: Penn State 50, Buffalo 13
Penn State preview: Idaho
Game details: No. 15/14 Penn State vs. Idaho, 3:30 p.m., broadcast on BTN.
Weather forecast (via AccuWeather): High of 75 degrees, with sun and some clouds.
The line: Penn State –36.5.
All-time series: First meeting.
Overview: Penn State football returns to Happy Valley. Although there are many compelling storylines for this year's Nittany Lions, the real story is that football is back. How will Sean Clifford fare in his first career start? What will the running back rotation look like? On the other side of the ball, just how dominant can the defense be this year? We'll get a first look at a clearly overmatched opponent that shouldn't push Penn State too much. Make the necessary plays and stay healthy. That's this weekend's game plan for the Nittany Lions.
Penn State wins if: the Blue Buses find their way to the stadium.
Idaho wins if: We could try to concoct a maze of "this, then that," scenarios, though we'll give our readers the benefit of knowing better. Idaho, an FCS opponent, isn't winning Saturday.
Count on: a feel-good vibe all day long. With a mid-afternoon kick and a gorgeous forecast, fans have plenty to look forward to: tailgating, watching (what should be) a comfortable win, and enjoying a wonderful weekend in Happy Valley.
Keep an eye on: Will Levis. Even though Sean Clifford was named the starter (as expected), Saturday's contest shouldn't be close in the second half. Maybe James Franklin keeps Clifford in the majority of the game so he can build up game reps, though it wouldn't be surprising if Levis leads at least a couple of drives. So, both quarterbacks might have a chance to show off their arm in the season opener.
Trivia tidbit: Penn State is one of only two teams in the country who have recorded at least 14 consecutive winning seasons, and also been ranked in the AP poll for the last 40-plus weeks. The other team? Oklahoma.
John Patishnock: Penn State 45, Idaho 7
Vincent Lungaro: Penn State 59, Idaho 10
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Once on this page you will be able to click within the text boxes with the dates listed within them and edit the dates for each image within your album.
After you complete your editing of dates for your pictures, the images will structure and list out accordingly to the dates that you set for each image.


A paring knife has a short blade, sharp edges and a spear point and is a must have in any restaurant or commercial kitchen. Also called a chef's parer, this multi-purpose knife can slice, chop, and peel fruits and vegetables. Paring knives with a beak shape are great for peeling round fruits while those with serrated edges are good for food with tougher surface and tend to stay sharper longer. A "sheep's foot" paring knife has a flatter edge and is well suited for garlic or other smaller foods.
Victorinox 47602 Serrated Paring Knife, 3-1/4"
Victorinox 47600 Paring Knife, 3-1/4"
Messermeister 102-B Spearpoint Parer 3"
Mercer M33932B Tomato Knife, Black, 4-1/4"
Genesis M20003 Paring Knife, 3-1/2"
Messermeister 104-O Clip Point Parer Orange 3"
Messermeister 103-G Birds Beak Peeler Green 2.5"
Messermeister 103-B Birds Beak Peeler Black 2.5"
Messermeister 102Y Spearpoint Parer Yellow 3"


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Mercedes GLE SUV (2011-2018)
Mercedes GLE SUV (2011-2018) - MPG, running costs & CO2
The Mercedes GLE is more fuel-efficient than you'd think, but running costs could be better
by Carbuyer team
MPG, running costs & CO2 - currently reading
Engines, drive & performance
Interior & comfort
Practicality & boot space
Reliability & safety
Carbuyer Rating
MPG, running costs & CO2 Rating
Buy used for less at Buyacar
Considering the GLE's size, fuel economy isn't too bad. It naturally performs better than the bulkier GL but maintenance costs remain typically Mercedes – in other words, pricey.
Mercedes GLE MPG & CO2
No large SUV will ever be truly economical, but the GLE tries its best to remain competitive with its closest rivals for efficiency.
The 350d returns a respectable fuel economy figure of 36.7mpg with CO2 emissions of 204g/km, but with rivals such as the (faster) BMW X5 3.0d M Sport offering 45mpg and 162g/km of CO2 the GLE really could do better. Oddly, the emissions for the GLE fall when this model is fitted with the larger 21-inch alloy wheels – dropping to 199g/km.
The GLE costs £140 per year to tax after the initial CO2-weighted payment at time of registration and as it has a list price of over £40,000 it is also subject to a yearly surcharge of £310, payable for five years. That'll bring your yearly bill to £450 for the five years following the first year's CO2-weighted payment.
The GLE 350d falls into group 45 for insurance purposes so will likely attract high premiums.
Mercedes provides a warranty that covers you for unlimited miles during the first three years of owning the car. It's a pretty standard affair that other German manufacturers offer, too.
Mercedes offers fixed-price servicing plans that can be paid up front in one go or spread over monthly instalments.
PreviousVerdict
NextEngines, drive & performance
Top 10 most economical family cars 2022

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: AzCopy - how to specify metadata when copying a file to a blob storage I'm trying to upload a file to an Azure Blob storage using AzCopy, but I want to include metadata.
According to the documentation, "AzCopy copy" has a metadata parameter where I have to provide key/value pairs as a string.
How has this string to be formatted? I can't get it to work and don't find any examples...
AzCopy.exe copy .\testfile2.txt "https://storageaccount.blob.core.windows.net/upload/testfile4.txt?sastoken" --metadata ?what_here?
Thanks!
Documentation:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-ref-azcopy-copy#options

A: The string should be in this format: --metadata "name=ivan".
If you want to add multi metadata, use this format: --metadata "name=ivan;city=tokyo"
This is the command I'm using, and the version of azcopy is 10.3.4 :
azcopy copy "file_path" "https://xxx.blob.core.windows.net/test1/aaa1.txt?sasToken" --metadata "name=ivan"

The test result:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Opinionator | Armed With Data, Fighting More Than Crime
Armed With Data, Fighting More Than Crime
May 2, 2012 7:00 am May 2, 2012 7:00 am
Government accountability systems don't usually become global superstars, but CompStat did. The ideas in CompStat were first developed by Jack Maple, when he was a lieutenant in the New York City Transit Police, as a way to track subway crime and more intelligently deploy transit cops. In 1994, when William Bratton, the chief of the transit police, became chief of the New York City Police Department, he brought Maple with him as a deputy. They then applied CompStat principles throughout the city's entire crime fighting operation.
The CompStat era coincided with a staggering decline in crime. Between 1990 and 2011, homicide in New York City declined by 80 percent, robbery by 83 percent, burglary by 86 percent and car theft by 94 percent. During that period crime fell everywhere in the United States, but it fell twice as much and for twice as long in New York City.
How much of this was due to CompStat is still hotly debated. One of the most careful criminologists, Franklin Zimring, gives New York City's changes in policing (which are not limited to CompStat) credit for a significant share of the crime drop.
CompStat has now become almost as much a part of policing as the blue uniform. A survey last year by the Police Executive Research Forum, a think tank for city police departments, found that 79 percent of medium to large police departments surveyed use some form of the CompStat model.
What is only starting to catch on, though, is the idea that CompStat isn't just for policing. In Baltimore, which pioneered the application of CompStat to other government business, mayors for the last decade have used a CompStat-style system to run the whole city. CitiStat has greatly improved how the city does the meat-and-potatoes of government: picking up trash, filling potholes. But it goes much further. "We now Stat homelessness, we Stat domestic violence," Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Baltimore's mayor, said in an interview. "We're finding more ways to use it — monitoring day-to-day progress, monitoring the pace at which we improve and push it along. We're doing a citywide analysis of how to use CitiStat to drill down into problems that have been in existence for years." Baltimore has been trying for years to put in a new computerized system for emergency dispatch of ambulances and firefighters. "We're creating a Stat process — pull all the people into the same room with independent analysts and figure out how to get rid of roadblocks," she said.
Robert Behn, a lecturer in public policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, counts at least 19 United States cities, a couple of counties and two states — Maryland and Washington — that use CompStat for activities other than police work. Some federal agencies are also adapting the model.
CompStat is popularly seen as a high-tech way of sticking pins in a map. It is much more than that. It starts with collecting data, analyzing it and presenting it in visual form — whether with pins on a map, bar graphs or other charts.
But the key to CompStat is how the data gets used. Maple's four principles, which he claimed (entirely credibly; this is a guy who wore a homburg and spats) to have jotted down on a napkin in the fall of 1994 in the celebrity hangout Elaine's, are these:
Accurate, timely intelligence
Effective tactics
Relentless follow-up and assessment
Before CompStat, precincts turned in their reports on crimes and arrests only every few months. With CompStat, that data is collected and analyzed weekly. Precinct commanders appear before the N.Y.P.D. leadership every few weeks to be questioned about their performance. If the numbers are not good, the commander must explain why — and have a specific plan for improvement. The next meeting begins with questions about how well those commitments were kept.
Why did this cause a revolution? After all, this is exactly how good businesses have always been run. CompStat after all, is probably (accounts vary) short for Computer Statistics — now there's an up-to-the-minute concept.
"There was nothing new about this," said Andrew Boyd, who runs a Baltimore-based consulting firm called GovStat. "Except that it's a private-sector concept that had never been embraced by the public sector."
When Martin O'Malley was running for mayor of Baltimore, reducing crime was a centerpiece of his campaign. He knew about CompStat, of course, and after he won the Democratic nomination — which in Baltimore is the same as winning the election — he called Maple. In the fall of 1999, just before O'Malley took office, Maple and O'Malley took a drive around East Baltimore. "They were playing a favorite game of Maple's — spot the cop," Michael Enright, O'Malley's first deputy mayor, recounted in an interview. "He liked to see how present police officers were in the most violent parts of the city. It was extraordinary how few cops you see, how long it would take to see a uniformed presence."
As they drove and talked about CompStat, Maple commented that CompStat wasn't just for policing — it was for everything. O'Malley didn't buy it. "Certain things can't be measured," he said.
"Name them," said Maple.
O'Malley mentioned at-risk kids. Maple started to list potential indicators: Look at this playground — these basketball hoops have no nets. What other parks have no nets? What hours is this rec center open? Are they the same hours as peak time for juvenile violence?
"Anything O'Malley said, Maple could rattle off things that have an impact that the mayor could control," said Enright. "We were grappling with how we get our arms around this city and the enormous wheels of government we'd been handed. O'Malley came back and said, 'We're going to do this.'"
Less than six months later, O'Malley and Enright presided over the first meeting of Baltimore's CitiStat.
CitiStat cost only about $20,000 to set up (instead of expensive custom software, it used Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint) and about $350,000 to $400,000 to run each year — mainly the salaries of four analysts and an investigator. The initial problem was data. Unlike police departments, which collect data on how they're doing every time they write up an arrest report, other agencies had no performance data. Bring in whatever you have, O'Malley told his agency directors — later we'll decide what you should start collecting. "We spent the first six months struggling to figure out what to measure," said Enright, who ran the CitiStat meetings.
At first, the agencies had only personnel records and their budgets. But those proved useful. Once analyzed, they showed a widespread pattern of abuse of overtime, rampant absenteeism and use of city cars for private purposes — city officials drove them home every night.
The other early focus for CitiStat was on how the city handled complaints. Any Baltimore resident trying to report a problem — a pothole, uncollected trash, a gushing fire hydrant — got bounced around to 4 or 5 different phone numbers. The complaints were not tracked, and as a result, things didn't get fixed. O'Malley created a "One Call to City Hall" 311 number. Each complaint was now tracked and followed up, and operators were trained to make each caller a promise: for example, the city will fix your pothole in 72 hours (it later became 48). And whether the city kept those promises became more data for CitiStat.
Every two weeks, each agency head would come to a CitiStat meeting, facing Enright, sometimes the Mayor, and the heads of the departments of finance, labor, legal and information technology. Before the meeting, a CitiStat analyst went over the latest data from the agency, pulled out the important stuff and put it in graphic form. The agency director stood at a podium, his senior staff seated behind him, and the information was projected onto the wall. The first questions were always follow-up: how are you doing on the last meeting's projects? Then there were questions about new issues. When solutions were discussed, there was no need to schedule a meeting with the city's solicitors or budget director, because they were in the room. By 5 p.m. that day, the CitiStat analyst had written and circulated a short list of commitments the agency had made or information it needed to provide. "We expected that when you come back in two weeks you will have answers to these questions," said Enright.
By 2003, Baltimore had reduced overtime by 30 percent, and absenteeism was cut by half in the agencies where it had been attacked. City services had been greatly improved — snow was removed and trash picked up, potholes filled, lead abatements performed. By the end of 2006, O'Malley's last year in office, Enright said the program had saved the city nearly half a billion dollars over his tenure.
Is this a bargain? In terms of cash, certainly. But the cost of CitiStat is actually quite high measured in terms of the time of the mayor and his senior staff. Enright, for example, attended five 90-minute meetings every week. CitiStat has to be run by senior staff, to get agency heads to take it seriously. (The early firing of two nonperforming agency heads, the chiefs of parks and of water, was another clear message.) Some agency heads, said Enright, realized it was an opportunity. If they could show they could spend money well, they'd get more when they needed it, quickly. "Most saw it as keep your head down and it will go away. There was a certain passive-aggressive nature to meetings."
It didn't go away. Ten years later, the program has evolved, said Chad Kenney, a CitiStat analyst. "It used to be a very agency-specific conversation — about getting agencies used to data, collecting data and making decisions based on data. As that became ingrained we realized most things don't just touch one agency." Now there is CleanStat, which looks at not just whether the Solid Waste department is picking up trash on time, but whether Transportation maintains street medians, whether the Parks department keeps parks tidy and whether Housing enforces relevant building codes.
"It's a learning process," said Kenney. "What we were measuring in 2002 is very different than what we look at now — we learn that actually, this metric isn't the best metric for what we're trying to accomplish."
One example goes back to crime control. CitiStat initially focused on arrests, but now the focus is on gun crime. "If our goal is a safer city, we want to look at guns, gun violence and violent repeat offenders, because they're driving crime," Kenney said. Since GunStat was established in 2008, arrests, in fact, have dropped. But so have shootings — down from 651 in 2007 to 368 last year — and homicides, down from 282 in 2007 to 197 last year.
"The traditional way of being successful in a large bureaucracy is to not screw up," said Harvard's Behn. CitiStat-style programs, he said, change that – "from not screwing up and staying out of the newspapers to a list of things they are supposed to accomplish. People are aware there are things they're responsible for accomplishing, and they eventually drive that down into the organization."
Not every city that has instituted a Stat program has had Baltimore's success, but not everyone has done it the way Baltimore has. "They mimic the superficial features," said Behn. "They show up in Baltimore and see a meeting. But they don't get the importance of follow-up, and the importance of the chief showing that this isn't going away."
O'Malley is now governor of Maryland. The StateStat tenets on its home page are exactly the same ones Jack Maple scrawled on his napkin at Elaine's. "It's how he runs the state," said Enright. "I have yet to see a better way to manage vast bureaucracies than this system."
Have you? If your city has a form of CitiStat, how well does it work? Are there problems in your city that might benefit from a Stat approach? Where else might such an approach work? Let us know.
Stone Links: A Physicist's Flap
Italy's Own Lost Cause


Working as the bank inspector for Northern Bank and Trust, PM&C is monitoring the construction of a new high-rise mixed-use residential building located at 14 West Broadway in South Boston. The building will be 10-stories of 49 high end residential units of which seven are 2-story units on the 7th and 9th floors.
This new high-rise will accommodate a restaurant on the first and second floors as well as other amenities including a lounge area, conference room, roof top patio and a shared concierge with the adjoining hotel that is being constructed under a separate contract.
The building also includes one level of vehicle-elevator-accessed underground valet parking garage.


 Francesco Vezzoli: works that look at us - From 02/03 to 02/06/2019 between 11 AM and 6 PM.
2 March to 2 June, Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm. This exhibition has been designed as a unique project in which Francesco Vezzoli constructs a dialogue between his own work and the iconic works in the Collection Lambert.
In 2014, in the exhibition the Collection Lambert had organised at the Prison Sainte-Anne in Avignon, entitled "La Disparition des lucioles", the artist compared a bust showing his self-portrait as Emperor Hadrien to a bust of Antinous.
From the poetry of that installation sprang the shared idea of contrasting ancient or classical sculptures made by Francesco Vezzoli to a selection of works by the great artists in the 1960's, '70's, '80's, close to conceptual and minimal art, and who share a inextinguishable love for ancient history and classical art, such as Cy Twombly, Giulio Paolini and Louise Lawler.
The artist thus brings to bear, on Yvon Lambert's collection, a unique gaze. His gaze enjoins the public to bring an open mind and a new, sensitive look to the works displayed in Avignon.
From 02/03 to 02/06/2019 between 11 AM and 6 PM.
Full price: 10 €, Reduced price: 8 €.