No truly significant changes from the first week. More like subtle  adjustments to reality in the depth chart (PDF, p.3).

At running back Bennett is still listed as the starter, but James Conner is listed at number two rather than Malcolm Crockett. That’s the only change on the offense.

For the defense, Ejuan Price is not listed as “OR” at both DE spots. Now he’s only listed as the possible starter with Bryan Murphy. So David Durham has the coaches trust at the other DE spot. Mike Caprara is no longer listed behind Shane Gordon at middle linebacker. It is Mike Galambos. Jevonte Pitts is no longer listed on the 2-deep at both safety spots. Instead he is listed third at free safety behind Ray Vinopal and Cullen Christian. If Vinopal plays like he did last week, he’s going to repeat his fate from last year of not being seen again after two games.

The only other change is on kick returns. Jason Hendricks will not be back there with Lafayette Pitts. Carrying from the FSU game, it is Tyler Boyd back there. Sixteen freshmen or redshirt freshmen are on the 2-deep

On Friday (Insider subs)…

The recruiting rivalry is not as intense as some of those down in Florida or the SEC, but Penn State and Pittsburgh are often going head-to-head for prospects. The two are going at it once more for a three-star running back.

Qadree Ollison (Buffalo, N.Y./Canisius) is deciding 3:15 p.m. on Monday at his high school after taking visits to Penn State and Pitt this week. He took in Pitt on an official visit earlier this week for the Florida State game, and he will visit Penn State beginning on Friday.

At this juncture, it looks like the Nittany Lions will be on the receiving end of Ollison’s verbal commitment…

Penn State is a school Ollison has been high on all along, and he was at the Lions’ spring game despite not having an offer at the time. He also hastily put together a visit to Penn State for this coming weekend. Penn State has mined Canisius before, too, as offensive lineman John Urschel is from the school.

There are a few factors in Pitt’s corner, however. The atmosphere at Heinz Field was, as one high school coach put it, “like a Steelers game.” The crowd support has often been criticized by recruits and opposing coaches. The Panthers also have an opening at running back following Rushel Shell’s exit.

Ollison’s decision will become public Monday, but it is hard to see him picking a school other than Penn State.

Today.

After careful thought, Qadree Ollison has announced his commitment to continue his football and academic career at PITTSBURGH!

— Canisius HS Football (@CanisiusHSFB) September 9, 2013

Ollison is a pure 3-star recruit. Wisconsin, Rutgers, Maryland, Minnesota and Iowa also offered him.

So, a nice way to start the week.

First off, if the title doesn’t cause you to jam out to Rage Against the Machine in your head a little bit, I recommend the song as a great one to workout to. It’s quite angry, like most of us are at Matt House’s defense right now. Thankfully the defense is getting a huge break this week, going from NFL talent surrounding a future 1st round pick QB to…well, a team who has completed 10 passes in 2 games. (more…)

Defensive Coordinator Matt House hasn’t covered himself in early glory. His co-defensive coordinator audition in the Compass Bowl didn’t wow anyone, but that was probably an unfair standard.

His debut in the season opener was more disturbing. The biggest criticism of his gameplan was having the defensive backs play off the receivers and have the linebackers do more to help in the pass coverage. It suggested a coach who either doesn’t understand his own personnel — the linebackers are the most obvious weakness on the defense while the secondary is a strength — or one that out thought himself.

Needless to say, House had some questions to answer. It was a mixed bag.

(more…)