Game 11: Penn State Nittany Lions Preview
By Adam
Ok, and now for a preview of this week’s game, in which I will try to stay focused on the task at hand and not mention the ongoing scandal in State College, PA. For all intents and purposes, the players on this team are not connected with the horrors and wrongdoings around them, and for that reason, I will refrain from dragging them into the mix.
This Nittany Lions team currently controls their own destiny in the Leaders Division on the Big Ten. By beating Ohio State and Wisconsin, they will represent the Leaders, most
likely against the Spartans of Michigan State, in the first Big Ten Championship Game, despite the irony that the game’s trophy no longer holds their former coach’s name.
Here are a few names/numbers to watch for in this week’s matchup…
Offense
Matt “Moxie” McGloin (#11, Junior, 6’1”, 211 lbs) – OSU will be facing its second straight ginger-haired quarterback (Caleb TerBush – Purdue) in McGloin, but hopes to have better results against this one. McGloin was the clear cut winner of the quarterback battle between him and sophomore, Rob Bolden. Don’t read that as, “McGloin stepped in and immediately earned the position by running an amazing offense.” More simply put, he has been able to allow Penn State to win, rather than giving the other team multiple chances to win, as Bolden does. McGloin will rarely win in the category of fun and gun, but he is more efficient and makes better throws than Bolden. He is a solid possession quarterback, meaning he rarely dazzles with long throws and huge plays, but can nickel and dime his team down the field.
Rob Bolden (#1, Sophomore, 6’3”, 216 lbs) – Since the start of October, Bolden’s role on the team has decreased significantly from co-quarterback to backup. He may still see the field on occasion, but this QB tandem has become the Matt McGloin show for Penn State. Although Bolden has the edge in his ability to scramble at times, his lack of accuracy and poor decision making when throwing the football have led to his new position as clipboard holder.
Silas Redd (#25, Sophomore, 5’10”, 209 lbs — 2010 highlights below) – Despite the fact that a couple of other running backs may step in and get a carry or two, Redd is the main guy for the Lions, and the one that could make or break this game. Unless OSU jumps out to a big, early lead (I know, I’m trying not to laugh too) expect Silas Redd to get somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 carries. In his last 6 games, he has rushed for over 100 yards in 5 of them. The opposition may not have the defensive reputation of Ohio State, but if we see the same sure tackling (sarcasm) that plagued OSU last weekend, then Redd can plan on his streak of big games continuing. Although not a tremendous threat to catch passes out of the backfield thus far, I would not be surprised if Penn State used Redd or another back on some quick screens after watching our game film against Purdue.
The Nittany Lions’ offense has three wide receivers to keep an eye on, in this order: Derek Moye (#6, Senior, 6’5”, 210 lbs), Justin Brown (#19, Junior, 6’3”, 214 lbs), and Devon Smith (#20, Junior, 5’7”, 155 lbs). Moye is my main concern on this receiving core, as he is the most likely one to break a big play or catch a jump ball in the endzone. He is deceptively fast on the sideline and off the line of scrimmage, and although I’d feel more comfortable (height-wise) with Travis Howard lined up on him, either he or Brown will have a big jump-ball advantage over Bradley Roby. Justin Brown will probably play a large role in moving the chains for the Lions, as he is a solid possession receiver, and Smith is another threat to break a long play with his speed and elusiveness.
Defense / Special Teams
Penn State’s defense has been the main reason for them competing to hang on to their Leaders Division lead. This unit is currently 3rd in the country in scoring defense (only giving up 12.9 points per game), 4th in passing defense (167.7 yards per game…uh oh), and 28th in run defense (119.5 yards per game). So far the two teams that beat Penn State (Alabama and Nebraska) didn’t have much luck in the passing game, but were able to pound them on the ground. Unfortunately for OSU, those two teams have the appearance of a passing attack to use as a decoy. If Penn State lines 8 or 9 guys in the box, as they should, they could make it an interesting day for Ohio State.
Defensive “Top 3” Leaders for Penn State:
Tackles:
80 – Gerald Hodges (#6, LB, Junior, 6’2”, 234 lbs)
57 – Drew Astorino (#28, S, Senior, 5’10”, 207 lbs)
56 – Jordan Hill (#47, DL, Junior, 6’1”, 297 lbs)
Sacks:
4.5 – Gerald Hodges (#6, LB, Junior, 6’2”, 234 lbs)
4 – Sean Stanley (#90, DE, Junior, 6’1”, 246 lbs)
4 – Devon Still (#71, DT, Senior, 6’5”, 310 lbs)
Interceptions:
3 – Nick Sukay (#1, S, Senior, 6’1”, 219 lbs)
2 – Chaz Powell (#2, CB, Senior, 6’1”, 206 lbs)
2 – Nate Stupar (#34, LB, Senior, 6’1”, 234 lbs)
Penn State’s junior kicker/punter, Anthony Fera (#30), has been a decent 12 for 15 on field goal attempts this season, and is averaging over 42 yards per punt. All three of his missed field goals came from 40+ yards away, and he has been nearly as accurate when punting, pinning the opposing offense inside of the 20 yard line on 11 of his 46 punts. OSU cannot afford to let the game come down to a field goal, because Fera has the ability to convert, especially if the ball is snapped from the red zone. One thing to note in the Penn State kicking game is that they have had both a kick and punt blocked this year, but unfortunately, so has OSU.
The player to watch in the return game is defensive back, Chaz Powell. He has the quickness and open field speed to break a big play, and has a 95 yard kick return TD under his belt this year. With two offensively challenged teams on the field, a big special teams play could swing all the momentum to the eventual winner.
11/19 OSU vs. Penn State
What must OSU do in order to get a win over the Penn State Nittany Lions?
1) TACKLE!!! – OSU missed way too many tackles last Saturday, and a team like Penn State that is built on a slow, methodical “run, run, pass” offense will drain this defensive unit for the Buckeyes if they allow for many yards after contact.
2)
Fire Jim Bollman
Mixup the offensive play calling – Running the ball on 23 out of 25 first down attempts isn’t bad, if it’s getting you 4 to 5 yards per try. Last week, it wasn’t, and still the fearlessly stupid/arrogant
walrus
offensive coordinator continued to show the same looks to the defense.
Remember back when we were excited to have Jake Stoneburner on this offense because of what he brought to the table? Can you recall when we thought that Jordan Hall would be great in the slot for catching quick screens and getting up field? Hang on to those dreams, because they may be three games and 9.5 months away from becoming a reality.
3) Ryan Shazier (<– excellent bio from OurHonorDefend) – I don’t think that one defensive player’s name can be considered a useful tactic for getting a win, but in this case, it might be our best shot at a game-changing play. Shazier is a hybrid player, the likes of which OSU may not have experienced in recent memory. He is 6’3”, 210 lbs, and runs a 4.56 40 yard dash, but what makes me put him on this list is the fact that any time he is on the field, Buckeye fans know that the possibility of a fumble, interception, block kick, or batted ball are far more likely than when you see #10 on the sidelines. He is a playmaker.
My prediction: OSU 21 Penn State 17
Follow me on Twitter @AJBorland and let me hear your predictions for the game