Penn State Football: Podcast QBs McGloin and Hackenberg Weigh in Clifford

Every week this fall, I spend over two hours with Matt McGloin and Christian Hackenberg.

We walk on campus, hike in the woods and talk Penn State football. OK, I walk and hike, and they talk — and I listen.

And learn.

The two former Nittany Lions are quarterbacking a pair of new podcasts that are must-listens for casual PSU and Big Ten fans, as well as for those of us who cover the Nittany Lions.

McGloin is paired with Penn State alum Tom Hannifan on “Paydirt,” which I profiled back in August. (Read about its genesis here.) Hackenberg’s podcast partner on the “The JP and Hack Show” is former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry, who is a regular on the Big Ten Network. Perry was on the Penn State campus last week, doing a clever and well-done student-on-the-street interview piece for BTN (watch it here). And before you go, “Ewww, Ohio State,” let me tell you that Perry is real pro and as nice off-camera as he is likable on it.

You can subscribe to “Paydirt” here.

You can subscribe to “The JP and Hack Show” here.

You already know McG and Hack. They do not need much of an introduction.

Together, they threw for almost 14,000 yards and 94 TDs, and were Penn State’s passing leaders for six consecutive seasons (McGloin 2010-12, Hackenberg 2013-15). From Joe Paterno’s Win No. 409 to that amazing 4OT win over Michigan, they were the field generals for a succession of head coaches in situations that were unprecedented, often memorable, truly incredible and often very testing.

They also took a number of bullets when they were playing at Penn State, so McGloin and Hackenberg certainly know what it is like to be on the other side when it comes to analysis and criticism, constructive or otherwise.

There’s no doubt they know whereof they speak when they talk Penn State on their respective pods. There are myriad other Penn State football podcasts out there, some of them staffed by butchers, bakers and candlestick-makers. None of the other PSU podguys quarterbacked a winning fourth-quarter comeback drive in Beaver Stadium. And it shows. 

These days, McGloin and Hackenberg are still enmeshed in football beyond their weekly podcasts. McGloin alls games for BTN and is on SiriusXM. Hackenberg is coaching high school football in New Jersey with former teammate Bill Belton.

They have lived the ups and downs of being a PSU QB and know oh-too-well the rigors of the NFL. I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t add they were excellent students in the classroom, never skipped a day, had strong work ethics and handed in assignments that still stand out. I don’t think I am breaking any FERPA regs when I say McGloin took to some coaching and delivered a top-notch final project, while as a freshman Hackenberg wrote a deep and honest piece on being an “athlete-student.”

(Another similarity: Both outkicked their coverage by far, when they married Penn State alumnae who made their marks on campus in their own rights and again now in the professional world.)

So, I especially enjoy their weekly analysis. Their insight on Penn State’s quarterback play and the scheming and play-calling of Mike Yurcich is fascinating. The students are now excellent teachers.

So, with that as a preamble, here is a some sampling of their insights and comments this week about PSU quarterbacking brethren Sean Clifford, who – like McGloin and Hackenberg, and their successor, the equally impressive Trace McSorley – is now in his third consecutive season as Penn State’s passing leader.

Their comments came in the days just after Penn State’s 38-17 victory over Villanova, when Clifford threw for 401 yards and four TDs against the Wildcats. Hackenberg’s 454 yards vs. Central Florida in Ireland remains the top passing game in PSU history, followed by Clifford’s 401. McGloin’s 395 yards against Indiana in 2012 ranks No. 5. Zack Mills’ 399 vs. Iowa in 2002 is No. 2; Cliff’s 398 vs. Maryland in 2019 is No. 3.

Final thought: Like the Manningcast on ESPN2 on Monday nights, it would be very cool to listen to a PSUQBcast with McGloin and Hackenberg.

McGLOIN ON 400 YARDS AND CLIFFORD VS. VILLANOVA:

“I’m glad they let him get to 400 yards passing. That’s a big mark to hit. That’s a great accomplishment. When I see that mark hit in college football – especially at Penn State now – I think back to my senior season. Funny story:

“We had Indiana at home. I didn’t know I was closing in on 400 yards. I finished the day with 395 or something like that. I didn’t notice that it happened; word got back to me that this happened. All of the assistant coaches on the sidelines were saying. ‘Should we tell Bill (O’Brien) that Matt only needs five yards for 400…to let him get it?’ I guess one of the coaches told him and O’Brien goes (in angry voice), ‘I don’t care how many yards he needs. That doesn’t matter!’ 

“…When I played in Beaver Stadium, they didn’t show stats on the screen. So, I didn’t know how many yards I had. The game was pretty much over in the fourth quarter (PSU won, 45-22) when I was still in. Had I known I needed five yards, I would have absolutely called my own play. I would have just went quick game and said, ‘Oh, I thought they were changing coverage so I switched to a pass.’

“To this day, I’m still mad I didn’t get to the 400-yard mark. But congratulations to Sean Clifford — that’s a big day and a big performance. Clifford is playing mistake-free football right now. Obviously, the interception wasn’t his fault. (KeAndre) Lambert-Smith needs to catch the football.

“Look at the way the game stated – the touchdown pass to (Jahan) Dotson. That is what you do in that game. You set the tone early: ‘Villanova, you’re not here to compete. You’re here to get beat down.’ Dotson runs right past the cornerback. Not many times do you get to take your drop and get to launch the football downfield and take your completion. It’s like throwing on air. That’s as easy as it gets for a quarterback and a wide receiver.

“Clifford is just developing so much each and every week. We’ve talked a lot about what he does with blitzes and pressures, and what he does in those situations. There was a big play in the fourth quarter when Villanova brought pressure. What does Clifford do? He just drifts, drifts. Just a little bit. Very subtle, in the pocket. He gets the ball to Parker Washington, and that speed and explosiveness after the catch is insane and he took it for a touchdown.”

HACKENBERG ON THE PSU OFFENSE AND CLIFFORD:

“The Penn State offense really does feel like that Joe Moorhead offense on that 2016 team. I think (Mike) Yurcich knows Clifford. Yurcich needs to put Clifford in situations where he can succeed, where Clifford’s skillset fits and he does well. I think Yurcich has done a great job of that.

“They need to figure out a way to run the ball if they want to be a for-real contender. If they want to be dead-serious contender, they need to figure out ways to run the ball. I don’t think it’s a lack of talent. I love Noah Cain. He’s a very tough runner. He can be a guy you feed the football to and who can physically handle the load of being a downhill, between-the-tackles guy who can pound and grind out four yards a carry for you and keep you on schedule.

“However, they need to do it with formations – misdirection, window dressing, with options, with using Jahan (Dotson) as a decoy.

“I do think Clifford is playing really well right now. He’s very confident. He has shown no signs of slowing down. I hope for his sake and Penn State’s sake, that it is for real. And I think it is.”