Ohio State football: Confidence level against Penn State
By Eric Boggs
Defense Confidence Level – 7
The Ohio State football team isn’t too far behind Penn State when it comes to its overall national rankings. Jim Knowles and company have the Silver Bullets playing intelligently and soundly.
The Buckeyes are only giving up 109.2 rushing yards per game, which is good enough for 22nd in the nation. When it comes to defending the pass, Ohio State is only giving up 154.3 yards per contest, which is good enough for fourth in college football. Knowles has this defense currently ranked seventh in the nation in total defense.
Former Ohio native Drew Allar hasn’t exactly set the world on fire this season. Despite his hot start in game one on national television against West Virginia, Allar is only averaging 209 passing yards per game. Where this offense has thrived is on third and shorts. The Nittany Lions are at 48 percent on third downs this year. Their ability to sustain drives and matriculate the ball down the field has been their modus operandi this season.
Knowles and the Ohio State defense is going to have to find a way to get pressure on Allar and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. They need to get Penn State into third and long situations, and then most importantly, get off the field on third down. The longer the Penn State offense is on the field, the higher the percentage that Ohio State will lose this football game on Saturday.
Last year, defensive end J.T. Tuamoloau had the game of his life against Penn State. It is foolish to think that he can do that again this year. But if the defense as a whole can create pressure, find a turnover or two somewhere in the game, and most importantly, win third down, then we won’t need Tuamoloau to be Superman again this year.
All that being said, I am slightly more confident in the Ohio State defensive situation this Saturday and have us at a seven.