2010 Penn State Nittany Lions Game Preview
written by: BB73, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, Bucky Katt, DaddyBigBucks, JCOSU86, and jwinslow
written by: BB73, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, Bucky Katt, DaddyBigBucks, JCOSU86, and jwinslow
Preface
This week's match-up will mark just the 15th time that two FBS coaches with 200 wins will be on opposite sidelines, and Joe Paterno has been involved in nine of the games. Saturday's contest will mark the fourth time that Joe Paterno and Jim Tressel have met with 200 victories, the most among all the coaching combinations who've reached the milestone.
Speaking of milestones, last week the Penn State comeback win over Northwestern gave JoePa 400 career wins as a head coach. If his health allows him to return next year, he can break the Division 1 mark of Eddie Robinson's 408 wins at 1-AA Grambling. That's tops among major college coaches, but here is the complete list of coaches with at least 300 wins at any level of college football.
1. John Gagliardi, Carroll/St. John's, 1949-present
4. Bobby Bowden, Samford/West Virginia/Florida State, 1959-62, 1970-09
1,050: Penn State lettermen since 1966
535: Games as head coach (second to Amos Alonzo Stagg's 578 all-time)
504: Wins as member of staff (691 games; 504-180-7)
Date and TimeSpeaking of milestones, last week the Penn State comeback win over Northwestern gave JoePa 400 career wins as a head coach. If his health allows him to return next year, he can break the Division 1 mark of Eddie Robinson's 408 wins at 1-AA Grambling. That's tops among major college coaches, but here is the complete list of coaches with at least 300 wins at any level of college football.
1. John Gagliardi, Carroll/St. John's, 1949-present
477-129-11 (.782)
2. Eddie Robinson, Grambling, 1941-42, 45-97
408-165-15 (.707)
408-165-15 (.707)
3. Joe Paterno, Penn State, 1966-present
400-132-03 (.750)4. Bobby Bowden, Samford/West Virginia/Florida State, 1959-62, 1970-09
377-129-04 (.743)
5. Paul "Bear" Bryant, Maryland/Kentucky/Texas A&M/Alabama, 1945-82
323-085-17 (.780)
323-085-17 (.780)
6. Glenn "Pop" Warner, Georgia/Cornell/Carlisle/Pitt/Stanford/Temple, 1895-1938
319-106-32 (.733)
319-106-32 (.733)
7. Amos Alonzo Stagg, Springfield/Chicago/Pacific, 1890-1946
314-199-35 (.605)
314-199-35 (.605)
7. Roy Kidd, Eastern Kentucky, 1964-2002
314-124-08 (.713)
314-124-08 (.713)
9. Forrest "Frosty" Westering, Parsons/Lea/Pacific Lutheran, 1962-63, 1966-03
305-096-07 (.756)
305-096-07 (.756)
10. Harold "Tubby" Raymond, Delaware, 1966-2001
300-119-03 (.714)
300-119-03 (.714)
It should be noted that Jim Tressel currently has 237 career wins, and a victory on Saturday would tie him with the career mark for Woody Hayes, whose totals were 238-72-10 (.759) when including his years at Denison ('46-'48) and Miami of Ohio ('49-'50).
Here are the most successful college football programs since JoePa became an assistant coach at Penn State in 1950. Note that next year, 3 of the top 4 will be in the Big Ten, and none of those 3 can be reached by traveling north from Toledo.
Winningest Programs since 1950:
505-155-15 (.759) Ohio State
526-166-12 (.756) Oklahoma
504-180-07 (.733) Penn State
515-189-09 (.727) Nebraska
499-193-10 (.721) Texas
505-155-15 (.759) Ohio State
526-166-12 (.756) Oklahoma
504-180-07 (.733) Penn State
515-189-09 (.727) Nebraska
499-193-10 (.721) Texas
In what has become a tradition, we look at several numbers to tell the story of JoePa's time at Penn State.
1,050: Penn State lettermen since 1966
863: Number of coaching changes in Div. I-A since 1966
688: Games coached as Penn State assistant or head coach (missed three games)535: Games as head coach (second to Amos Alonzo Stagg's 578 all-time)
504: Wins as member of staff (691 games; 504-180-7)
400: Career Wins (first all-time among FBS coaches)
324: Broke Division I-A career wins mark of Bear Bryant with 324th win vs. Ohio State (29-27) on October 27, 2001
153: Wins since Penn State joined Big Ten in 1993
324: Broke Division I-A career wins mark of Bear Bryant with 324th win vs. Ohio State (29-27) on October 27, 2001
153: Wins since Penn State joined Big Ten in 1993
83: Joe Paterno's actual age. When he coaches in a bowl game after his birthday on December 21st, he'll be on the sidelines with rolled-up pants at the age of 84.
69: Length of his game-winning punt return for Brown vs. Holy Cross in 1949.
65: Different stadiums coached in as head coach
64: First team All-Americans (77 selections)
61: Years on Penn State staff
45: Years as head coach
36: Bowl trips as head coach (all-time leader)
35: Teams ranked in the final top 25
33: First round NFL draft choices
24: Bowl victories (all-time leader). Bobby Bowden is next with 21 (not counting Bobby's vacated '06 Emerald Bowl).
23: Teams ranked in the final top 10
23: Winning streak from 1968-70
21: Number of teams with at least 10 wins
17: Grandchildren
17: New Year's Day bowl wins
14: Interceptions made as Brown DB
69: Length of his game-winning punt return for Brown vs. Holy Cross in 1949.
65: Different stadiums coached in as head coach
64: First team All-Americans (77 selections)
61: Years on Penn State staff
45: Years as head coach
36: Bowl trips as head coach (all-time leader)
35: Teams ranked in the final top 25
33: First round NFL draft choices
24: Bowl victories (all-time leader). Bobby Bowden is next with 21 (not counting Bobby's vacated '06 Emerald Bowl).
23: Teams ranked in the final top 10
23: Winning streak from 1968-70
21: Number of teams with at least 10 wins
17: Grandchildren
17: New Year's Day bowl wins
14: Interceptions made as Brown DB
9: Number of U.S. presidents since he became coach in 1966
8: Number of his players in College Football Hall of Fame
7: Years had a team ranked No. 1
5: Unbeaten, untied seasons
2: National Championships
8: Number of his players in College Football Hall of Fame
7: Years had a team ranked No. 1
5: Unbeaten, untied seasons
2: National Championships
1.5 inches - The distance that Tony Johnson's feet were clearly in-bounds by, late in regulation time in the 2002 overtime loss to Iowa. After that, JoePa famously chased down the referee leaving the field. That Iowa play was instrumental in getting the Big-10 to adopt instant replay. The 1 1/2" distance may also indicate the thickness of Joe's glasses, but he did see that play more clearly than the referees. The only time since then that JoePa moved that fast on the field resulted in him returning with different colored pants at the 'Shoe in 2006.
1.5 feet - The approximate distance that Mike McCloskey was out-of-bounds when he caught a 15-yard pass near the 2-yard line from Todd Blackledge with 9 seconds left against #2 Nebraska in 1982. For some reason, Joe didn't protest this call. Penn State scored on the next play to win 24-21, and went on to win their first national title (Nebraska finished #3 at 12-1). Yes, that's the same Todd Blackledge eating his way across college campuses on ABC. The team that finished #2 that year was pre-Death Penalty SMU, led by the 'Pony Express' backfield of Eric Dickerson and Craig James (now on ESPN).
27-13-2 - Their overall bowl record, but it was only 3-2-1 before JoePa became the head coach.
Date: Saturday, November 13th, 2010
Time: 3:30 pm ET Kickoff
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events: ESPN's College Gameday will be in Columbus this week.
Broadcast Information:
Time: 3:30 pm ET Kickoff
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events: ESPN's College Gameday will be in Columbus this week.
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: ABC/ESPN reverse mirror: Brent Musburger (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analysis), and Erin Andrews (sideline).
Radio: WBNS (97.1 FM The Fan) and the 73-station Ohio State radio network. Paul Keels (play-by-play), Jim Lachey (analysis) and Marty Bannister (sideline).
The game can also be heard on Sirius satellite radio 91 and XM 196 and on Touchdown Radio with Gino Torretta, Frank Frangie and Roxy Bernstein.
Radio: WBNS (97.1 FM The Fan) and the 73-station Ohio State radio network. Paul Keels (play-by-play), Jim Lachey (analysis) and Marty Bannister (sideline).
The game can also be heard on Sirius satellite radio 91 and XM 196 and on Touchdown Radio with Gino Torretta, Frank Frangie and Roxy Bernstein.
2010 Penn State Nittany Lions Offensive Preview
After wiping out Minnesota and resting over the bye week, the Buckeyes begin their home stretch with a home game against Penn State, coming off of Joe Paterno's historic 400th win. Despite this monumental accomplishment, it has been an otherwise subpar year in Happy Valley, as the Lions have succumbed to most of the good teams on their schedule and appear destined for a middle-of-the-pack finish in the Big Ten this year after two straight 11 win seasons. Coordinators Galen Hall and Jay Paterno have had their work cut out for them this year, as a lot of young players, including QBs, and a couple of key injuries have set the offense back from previous seasons. This year, the Lions are just 68th in total offense at 369.4 yards per game, ranking them behind teams such as Florida International and Central Michigan. They aren't throwing the ball all that well (231.7 YPG, 62nd) and they aren't running it nearly as well as was expected behind Royster either (149.6 YPG, 68th). At 24.2 points per game, they rank just 82nd in the nation in scoring, and scored just 3 against Iowa and Alabama. They have just 174 first downs (68th) but are converting 40.9% of their third downs, which is a more respectable number (38th). Whereas the Buckeyes lead the nation in turnover margin, the Lions are tied for 67th (-0.22). They have a few good areas, such as allowing sacks, with just 9 in 9 games, and they have only lost 4 fumbles on the season. Overall, however, the Lion offense has been mediocre for much of the season, and it looks like it will be at least 2011 before they have the offense situated to contend for a conference title.
Quarterbacks
QB #11 Matt McGloin (6-1, 209, SO, West Scranton HS, Scranton, PA)
After starting a true freshman to begin the season, it appears that the Matt McGloin era might have begun in Happy Valley the past couple of games. He entered in relief of an injured Rob Bolden in the Minnesota game, completing 6 of 13 for 76 yards and a pair of TDs with an INT. He started the following week against Michigan, playing solid, fundamental football as he was 17 of 28 for 250 yards and a TD and he also ran for a TD. Against Northwestern he entered early in the game and remained in the lineup to lead his team to 35 straight points and the resounding victory by going 18 of 29 for 225 yards and 4 TD passes. Despite losing the battle for the starting spot coming out of camp, he was ready for the opportunity when it presented itself and has taken full advantage. He is not a danger to run, but he has enough mobility to create some space with his legs and he has a quick release to help avoid sacks (1 thus far). His TD/INT ratio is very good and he has made excellent decisions the past 2 games. He will be making a large step up in competition and atmosphere (on the road for the first time as a starter) this week, so it will be intriguing to see how he handles the pressure, as thus far that appears to be one of his best attributes.
The backup is now freshman Rob Bolden (#1), and judging by his actions on the sideline last week, he is not happy about it. He has thrown for 1350 yards this far, but has been nicked by injuries and has a poor TD/INT ratio (5/7). He is still a tough kid who can take a hit and deliver the football downfield, but he needs work on his fundamentals and decision making, which is not surprising for a young player. He topped the 200 yard passing mark 4 times, but threw only 3 TD passes after the opener against Youngstown State. He was having a very good game against Minnesota (11 of 13, 130 yards, TD) when he got hurt, and he was 3 of 4 for 43 yards against Northwestern before being replaced as well, so he might be a victim of circumstance more than anything else. Now that the coaches have gone a different direction, it will be interesting if they decide to keep him in the active loop or if they are going to stick with McGloin like it is his team.
Lost in this battle is the expected starter in the spring, sophomore Kevin Newsome (#12). He entered the season with the most experience (albeit limited), but he has shown little in the way of throwing the football and now appears to be little more than an afterthought. He has appeared in 6 games, but has only attempted 13 passes and seems out of the battle for the starting job. He is the most mobile QB the Lions have, however.
QB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State QBs
McGloin: 41/70 (58.6%), 551 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT, 154.8 rating; 6/10, 1 TD
Pryor: 152/225 (67.6%), 1997 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs, 165.2 rating; 84/463, 4 TDs
The situation is a mess, but conference play does not appear too big for McGloin based on his performances the past 2 games. He beat a pesky Michigan team knowing they probably had to score a lot of points and led a furious comeback from 21-0 down to a reasonably good Northwestern team to notch the historic win for his coach. He is gritty and makes good decisions, and seems to be able to throw the intermediate routes very effectively. He is not, of course, in the class of Pryor, and he is no threat on the ground as Pryor is. However if he can unmuddle the QB situation and establish himself as the starter he could raise this rating some. On the other hand, Bolden has shown flashes of raw but good talent as well, and is not happy about the demotion to be sure. How the players and the team deal with all of this will go a long way towards determining if they have any chance to win more than 1 of their final 3 games.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
TB #22 Evan Royster (6-1, 218, SO, Westfield HS, Fairfax, VA)
TB #37 Joe Suhey (6-1, 227, JR, Loyola Academy HS, Deerfield, IL)
Evan Royster has become Penn State's all-time leading rusher, but this season has to be considered a disappointment, considering the past 2 seasons he has had. He is still on pace to gain almost 1000 yards, but most of that production came from 3 games: Temple (187), Michigan (150, 2 TDs) and Northwestern (134). He did not top 65 yards in any of the other 6 games. On the plus side, two of those 3 are the past 2 games for the Lions, so perhaps he is rounding into form for a big push at 1000 down the stretch. Royster doesn't have the greatest speed, but he is a talented and powerful runner who is very effective off-tackle and between the tackles. He is also a reasonably good option out of the backfield, catching 17 passes for 145 yards thus far, with a TD last week. It is unfortunate for him that his best season will likely be his sophomore year (1236 yards, 12 TDs, 6.5 YPC) but he has been a workhorse for the Lions and has certainly been one of their better backs. He has gained just 113 yards in 2 games against Ohio State the previous 2 seasons, including just 36 last year on 13 carries.
Emerging behind Royster somewhat out of nowhere has been young freshman Silas Redd (#25). He is a burner with breakway speed who can still push the ball ahead in the middle of the field. In 8 games, he has 328 yards and a gaudy 7.1 YPC average. He has picked up his game recently, gaining 71 yards on just 9 carries against Minnesota and breaking out last week against the Wildcats, with 11 carries for 131 yards and a TD. He should also be dangerous in the Lion screen game going forward, though he has just 3 receptions thus far. Also in the mix is junior holdover Stephfon Green (#21). Green is also a burner who gained 319 yards and was expected to be the primary backup this year, but his role has diminished as Redd has emerged. Since gaining just 15 yards on 11 carries against Temple, he has carried it only 9 times in the 5 games since, though he did have a 21 yard run and a 20 yard reception for his only 2 touches last week, so he can still be explosive when called upon.
The Lions always seem to feature quality fullbacks, and this season is no different. Suhey is a bull who can trace his Penn State roots back to 1917, and sophomore Michael Zordich (#9, 6-1, 236) is also a powerful back who can block and do something with the football. Suhey handles most of the receptions (12 rec, 122 yards) while Zordich gets most of the carries (12 carries, 29 yards, 2 TDs) when they are involved with the ball.
RB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State RBs
Royster: 142/734 yards, 4 TDs, 5.2 YPC; 17 rec/109 yards, 1 TD, 6.4 YPR
Redd: 46/328 yards, 1 TD, 7.1 YPC; 3 rec/11 yards, 0 TDs, 3.7 YPR
Green: 42/157 yards, 1 TD, 3.7 YPC; 6 rec/49 yards, 0 TDs, 8.2 YPR
Herron: 129/634 yards, 12 TDs, 4.9 YPC; 11 rec/137 yards, 0 TDs, 12.5 YPR
Saine: 54/247 yards, 2 TDs, 4.6 YPC; 17 rec/182 yards, 5 TDs, 10.7 YPR
Hall: 31/126 yards, 2 TDs, 4.1 YPC; 8 rec/83 yards, 1 TD, 10.4 YPR
Royster is a talented player who has underperformed this season to date, but his recent play combined with the emerging quality depth makes this a position of strength for the Lions overall. The Lions like the screen game, so the backs are quite active catching the football as well as carrying it. The fullbacks also chip in at seemingly crucial times when no one is expecting it. Herron has had to battle for the starting job this season, but he seems to have a firm grip on it now and like Royster has been playing well of late. Both teams have an experienced backup, though Saine has had more opportunities of late than Green. There is also a lot to like down the depth chart for both teams as well, as Redd for the Lions and Hall, Hyde and Berry for the Buckeyes make the future look bright for both teams. Boren is an important and underappreciated member of the Buckeyes, and matches up well against the Lion FBs, who are also good.
Edge: Even
Wide Receivers
WR #83 Brett Brackett (6-6, 242, SR, Lawrence HS, Lawrenceville, NJ)
WR #6 Derek Moye (6-5, 202, JR, Rochester HS, Rochester, PA)
WR #19 Justin Brown (6-3, 216, SO, Concord HS, Wilmington, DE)
This position has had quite a bit of turnover in recent seasons, but the Lions still manage to put a few quality players out there. Leading the way is Moye, who seems to be the primary target for new starter McGloin when possible. Moye led the team last year with 48 receptions and 785 receiving yards, and scored 6 TDs. He has just one 100 yard game (3 receptions, 106 yards, TD against Illinois), but has played solid football all year and has put up quality numbers over the past month, topping 70 yards receiving in each game and scoring 4 TDs in the past 4 games. He is on pace to replicate last year's totals. He did not catch a pass against Ohio State last season. Brackett is a former QB prospect who caught just 3 passes last year, but his tremendous size and deceptive speed almost makes him a TE on the field, creating matchup problems for opposing secondaries. He also has sure hands and a good grasp of the offense. He had 8 receptions for 98 yards and 2 TDs in the opener, but has not been able to sustain that kind of production. Still, he has been a good second option, catching at least a pass in every game and scoring 2 TDs over the past 3 games.
Brown is in more of a rotation situation with fellow sophomore Devon Smith (#20), who has also started a couple of games as a 4th receiver. Brown has good size and is more of a possession-type receiver, whereas the diminutive Smith (5-7, 157) is barely noticeable and can break a big one downfield. Brown has 16 receptions for 219 yards, but just 3 for 29 in the past 4 games. Smith has caught 23 for 281 yards, with at least 1 pass in every game and 6 over the previous 3 games. They will rotate as the offense dictates, and they make a decent tandem.
Perhaps most surprising this year for the Lions is the virtual disappearance of senior Graham Zug (#5). He was second on the team last year with 46 receptions for 600 yards, and he led the team with 7 TDs. This year he has been an afterthought, playing in every game but catching just 9 passes for 113 yards and a score. On the flip side he has 5 catches for 64 yards and a TD in the past 2 games, so he might have more chemistry with McGloin than he had with Bolden. He burned Ohio State last year with 7 receptions for 96 yards, so expect him to be out there quite a bit on Saturday trying to rekindle that magic. Freshmen Brandon Moseby-Felder (#8), Christian Kuntz (#17) and Shawney Kersey (#4) round out the chart. Combined they have just 2 receptions for 5 yards.
WR Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State WRs
Moye: 33 catches, 615 yards, 4 TDs, 18.6 YPR
Brackett: 28 catches, 385 yards, 4 TDs, 13.8 YPR
Smith: 23 catches, 281 yards, 1 TD, 12.2 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 42 catches, 658 yards, 8 TDs, 15.7 YPR
Posey: 40 catches, 601 yards, 5 TDs, 15.0 YPR
Brown: 7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD, 13.1 YPR
Moye is a fine player who has established himself firmly at the top of the chart for the Lions. Behind him it is a bit more muddled, as not many players had experience coming into the season except Zug, who is down the chart. Smith and Brown appear to be promising players, but they will not take over a game at this stage of their careers. Brackett is a solid player, but not a superstar. The Buckeyes are thin but ultra-talented at the top, as Sanzenbacher and Posey could pretty much start for anybody.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #82 Kevin Haplea (6-4, 249, FR, North Hunterdon HS, Annandale, NJ)
The Lions lost promising freshman Garry Gilliam for the year in the Iowa game, so they have had to turn to Haplea. In the past, the Lions have featured the TE as a regular part of the passing attack, but they are breaking in several new players and Haplea has just 2 receptions thus far. TE is more of a situational position this season for the Lions, as they have gone with 4 receivers or a FB in the starting lineup since the loss of Gilliam.
TE Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State TEs
Haplea: 2 catches, 25 yards, 0 TDs, 12.5 YPR
Stoneburner: 11 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD, 11.0 YPR
For once the Buckeyes have a clear edge at this spot, as the Lions lost Quarless and Shuler after last season and their best player to injury this year after just 4 games. TEs won't play as much for the Lions and Stoneburner and Fragel have done a good job for the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Offensive Line
LT #67 Quinn Barham (6-3, 298, JR, Hillside HS, Durham, NC)
LG #74 Johnnie Troutman (6-4, 323, JR, Pemberton Township HS, Brown Mills, NJ)
C #68 Doug Klopacz (6-3, 286, SR, St. Joseph Regional HS, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ)
RG #61 Stefen Wisniewski (6-3, 306, SR, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS, Bridgeville, PA)
RT #52 Chima Okoli (6-4, 291, JR, Salem HS, Virginia Beach, VA)
The Lion line has been suspect for several years, and they have suffered this season from personnel turnover from last year and a key injury to starting RT Lou Eliades that knocked him out for the season after the Temple game. Otherwise the line has been pretty consistent across the board, leading to better production from the offense, and in particular the running game in recent weeks. Their slow start could be partially attributed to the fact that of the 5 players starting now, only Wisniewski and Troutman started games last season. Wisniewski is easily the best of the lot and is second on the active career starts list with 35, including all 9 games this year at RG after moving from C, where he was first team All-Big Ten in 2009. He is carrying on the proud tradition of his father as a strong, instinctive player who has a potential NFL career ahead of him. On the left side, Troutman started 8 games last season and took over the LG spot after 2 games in 2010. He is a big, physical player who is a good run blocker along the interior. In the middle, Klopacz has rehabbed diligently from a torn ACL in 2008 and has now been rewarded with starting at C in his senior season. He is athletic and intelligent and understands the blocking scheme well. On the outside, Barham has experience at G and C in his career and has started every game at LT, making him perhaps the most versatile lineman for the Lions. He has significantly improved his game during his tenure and is now a strong and athletic player with a veteran presence. On the other side, Okoli took over for the injured Eliades and has filled in admirably. He shifted from defensive line the past 2 seasons and has turned out to be a quality player in the offensive trenches.
The Lions also have a couple of players with significant experience on the bench. DeOn'tae Pannell (#50) has experience at G and T and has made 9 career starts for the Lions, including 2 this season at LG. Sophomore Mike Farrell (#78) could also see significant time in the game at tackle. Beyond that, a series of freshmen, including guards Adam Gress (#58), John Urschel (#64), and Mark Arcidiacono (#73), center Ty Howle (#60), and tackle Eric Shrive (#75) round out the chart.
OL Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: The Lions have one really good player and several other solid but unspectacular upperclassmen. Depth is also a concern, as only a couple of players off the bench have any significant experience and they are already thin because of injuries. They have been playing better of late, and that is reflected in the increased offensive production and the quality results against Michigan and Northwestern, but they will have a very difficult time dealing with Ohio State's ferocious front 7 on the road. The Buckeye line issues are well-documented but they are deeper and more talented.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
Overall Analysis: The Lion offense has taken care of the ball fairly well and converted some third downs, but other than that their production in 2010 has been pedestrian at best and they have been thumped by the quality teams on their schedule thus far. On the positive side, the last 2 games have featured 200+ passing days by McGloin and 100+ rushing games by Royster, so perhaps the Lions can beat Indiana, put a scare into Ohio State or Michigan State, and go to a second tier bowl. It certainly appears that 2011 could be a good season for the Lions, though they will still have to address issues up front and the loss of Royster. The Lions have traditionally been one of the more balanced offenses in the country, and though there are some elements of that this season, it appears neither aspect (passing or rushing) is good enough to take over a tight game against a quality team. They have played very well the past 2 games, but that has been against subpar defensive teams. They will have a hard time breaking through on the road against a tough Ohio State unit that has their eyes on their 6th straight title.
Overall Offensive Rating: C+
2010 Penn State Nittany Lions Defensive PreviewQB #11 Matt McGloin (6-1, 209, SO, West Scranton HS, Scranton, PA)
After starting a true freshman to begin the season, it appears that the Matt McGloin era might have begun in Happy Valley the past couple of games. He entered in relief of an injured Rob Bolden in the Minnesota game, completing 6 of 13 for 76 yards and a pair of TDs with an INT. He started the following week against Michigan, playing solid, fundamental football as he was 17 of 28 for 250 yards and a TD and he also ran for a TD. Against Northwestern he entered early in the game and remained in the lineup to lead his team to 35 straight points and the resounding victory by going 18 of 29 for 225 yards and 4 TD passes. Despite losing the battle for the starting spot coming out of camp, he was ready for the opportunity when it presented itself and has taken full advantage. He is not a danger to run, but he has enough mobility to create some space with his legs and he has a quick release to help avoid sacks (1 thus far). His TD/INT ratio is very good and he has made excellent decisions the past 2 games. He will be making a large step up in competition and atmosphere (on the road for the first time as a starter) this week, so it will be intriguing to see how he handles the pressure, as thus far that appears to be one of his best attributes.
The backup is now freshman Rob Bolden (#1), and judging by his actions on the sideline last week, he is not happy about it. He has thrown for 1350 yards this far, but has been nicked by injuries and has a poor TD/INT ratio (5/7). He is still a tough kid who can take a hit and deliver the football downfield, but he needs work on his fundamentals and decision making, which is not surprising for a young player. He topped the 200 yard passing mark 4 times, but threw only 3 TD passes after the opener against Youngstown State. He was having a very good game against Minnesota (11 of 13, 130 yards, TD) when he got hurt, and he was 3 of 4 for 43 yards against Northwestern before being replaced as well, so he might be a victim of circumstance more than anything else. Now that the coaches have gone a different direction, it will be interesting if they decide to keep him in the active loop or if they are going to stick with McGloin like it is his team.
Lost in this battle is the expected starter in the spring, sophomore Kevin Newsome (#12). He entered the season with the most experience (albeit limited), but he has shown little in the way of throwing the football and now appears to be little more than an afterthought. He has appeared in 6 games, but has only attempted 13 passes and seems out of the battle for the starting job. He is the most mobile QB the Lions have, however.
QB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State QBs
McGloin: 41/70 (58.6%), 551 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT, 154.8 rating; 6/10, 1 TD
Pryor: 152/225 (67.6%), 1997 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs, 165.2 rating; 84/463, 4 TDs
The situation is a mess, but conference play does not appear too big for McGloin based on his performances the past 2 games. He beat a pesky Michigan team knowing they probably had to score a lot of points and led a furious comeback from 21-0 down to a reasonably good Northwestern team to notch the historic win for his coach. He is gritty and makes good decisions, and seems to be able to throw the intermediate routes very effectively. He is not, of course, in the class of Pryor, and he is no threat on the ground as Pryor is. However if he can unmuddle the QB situation and establish himself as the starter he could raise this rating some. On the other hand, Bolden has shown flashes of raw but good talent as well, and is not happy about the demotion to be sure. How the players and the team deal with all of this will go a long way towards determining if they have any chance to win more than 1 of their final 3 games.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
TB #22 Evan Royster (6-1, 218, SO, Westfield HS, Fairfax, VA)
TB #37 Joe Suhey (6-1, 227, JR, Loyola Academy HS, Deerfield, IL)
Evan Royster has become Penn State's all-time leading rusher, but this season has to be considered a disappointment, considering the past 2 seasons he has had. He is still on pace to gain almost 1000 yards, but most of that production came from 3 games: Temple (187), Michigan (150, 2 TDs) and Northwestern (134). He did not top 65 yards in any of the other 6 games. On the plus side, two of those 3 are the past 2 games for the Lions, so perhaps he is rounding into form for a big push at 1000 down the stretch. Royster doesn't have the greatest speed, but he is a talented and powerful runner who is very effective off-tackle and between the tackles. He is also a reasonably good option out of the backfield, catching 17 passes for 145 yards thus far, with a TD last week. It is unfortunate for him that his best season will likely be his sophomore year (1236 yards, 12 TDs, 6.5 YPC) but he has been a workhorse for the Lions and has certainly been one of their better backs. He has gained just 113 yards in 2 games against Ohio State the previous 2 seasons, including just 36 last year on 13 carries.
Emerging behind Royster somewhat out of nowhere has been young freshman Silas Redd (#25). He is a burner with breakway speed who can still push the ball ahead in the middle of the field. In 8 games, he has 328 yards and a gaudy 7.1 YPC average. He has picked up his game recently, gaining 71 yards on just 9 carries against Minnesota and breaking out last week against the Wildcats, with 11 carries for 131 yards and a TD. He should also be dangerous in the Lion screen game going forward, though he has just 3 receptions thus far. Also in the mix is junior holdover Stephfon Green (#21). Green is also a burner who gained 319 yards and was expected to be the primary backup this year, but his role has diminished as Redd has emerged. Since gaining just 15 yards on 11 carries against Temple, he has carried it only 9 times in the 5 games since, though he did have a 21 yard run and a 20 yard reception for his only 2 touches last week, so he can still be explosive when called upon.
The Lions always seem to feature quality fullbacks, and this season is no different. Suhey is a bull who can trace his Penn State roots back to 1917, and sophomore Michael Zordich (#9, 6-1, 236) is also a powerful back who can block and do something with the football. Suhey handles most of the receptions (12 rec, 122 yards) while Zordich gets most of the carries (12 carries, 29 yards, 2 TDs) when they are involved with the ball.
RB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State RBs
Royster: 142/734 yards, 4 TDs, 5.2 YPC; 17 rec/109 yards, 1 TD, 6.4 YPR
Redd: 46/328 yards, 1 TD, 7.1 YPC; 3 rec/11 yards, 0 TDs, 3.7 YPR
Green: 42/157 yards, 1 TD, 3.7 YPC; 6 rec/49 yards, 0 TDs, 8.2 YPR
Herron: 129/634 yards, 12 TDs, 4.9 YPC; 11 rec/137 yards, 0 TDs, 12.5 YPR
Saine: 54/247 yards, 2 TDs, 4.6 YPC; 17 rec/182 yards, 5 TDs, 10.7 YPR
Hall: 31/126 yards, 2 TDs, 4.1 YPC; 8 rec/83 yards, 1 TD, 10.4 YPR
Royster is a talented player who has underperformed this season to date, but his recent play combined with the emerging quality depth makes this a position of strength for the Lions overall. The Lions like the screen game, so the backs are quite active catching the football as well as carrying it. The fullbacks also chip in at seemingly crucial times when no one is expecting it. Herron has had to battle for the starting job this season, but he seems to have a firm grip on it now and like Royster has been playing well of late. Both teams have an experienced backup, though Saine has had more opportunities of late than Green. There is also a lot to like down the depth chart for both teams as well, as Redd for the Lions and Hall, Hyde and Berry for the Buckeyes make the future look bright for both teams. Boren is an important and underappreciated member of the Buckeyes, and matches up well against the Lion FBs, who are also good.
Edge: Even
Wide Receivers
WR #83 Brett Brackett (6-6, 242, SR, Lawrence HS, Lawrenceville, NJ)
WR #6 Derek Moye (6-5, 202, JR, Rochester HS, Rochester, PA)
WR #19 Justin Brown (6-3, 216, SO, Concord HS, Wilmington, DE)
This position has had quite a bit of turnover in recent seasons, but the Lions still manage to put a few quality players out there. Leading the way is Moye, who seems to be the primary target for new starter McGloin when possible. Moye led the team last year with 48 receptions and 785 receiving yards, and scored 6 TDs. He has just one 100 yard game (3 receptions, 106 yards, TD against Illinois), but has played solid football all year and has put up quality numbers over the past month, topping 70 yards receiving in each game and scoring 4 TDs in the past 4 games. He is on pace to replicate last year's totals. He did not catch a pass against Ohio State last season. Brackett is a former QB prospect who caught just 3 passes last year, but his tremendous size and deceptive speed almost makes him a TE on the field, creating matchup problems for opposing secondaries. He also has sure hands and a good grasp of the offense. He had 8 receptions for 98 yards and 2 TDs in the opener, but has not been able to sustain that kind of production. Still, he has been a good second option, catching at least a pass in every game and scoring 2 TDs over the past 3 games.
Brown is in more of a rotation situation with fellow sophomore Devon Smith (#20), who has also started a couple of games as a 4th receiver. Brown has good size and is more of a possession-type receiver, whereas the diminutive Smith (5-7, 157) is barely noticeable and can break a big one downfield. Brown has 16 receptions for 219 yards, but just 3 for 29 in the past 4 games. Smith has caught 23 for 281 yards, with at least 1 pass in every game and 6 over the previous 3 games. They will rotate as the offense dictates, and they make a decent tandem.
Perhaps most surprising this year for the Lions is the virtual disappearance of senior Graham Zug (#5). He was second on the team last year with 46 receptions for 600 yards, and he led the team with 7 TDs. This year he has been an afterthought, playing in every game but catching just 9 passes for 113 yards and a score. On the flip side he has 5 catches for 64 yards and a TD in the past 2 games, so he might have more chemistry with McGloin than he had with Bolden. He burned Ohio State last year with 7 receptions for 96 yards, so expect him to be out there quite a bit on Saturday trying to rekindle that magic. Freshmen Brandon Moseby-Felder (#8), Christian Kuntz (#17) and Shawney Kersey (#4) round out the chart. Combined they have just 2 receptions for 5 yards.
WR Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State WRs
Moye: 33 catches, 615 yards, 4 TDs, 18.6 YPR
Brackett: 28 catches, 385 yards, 4 TDs, 13.8 YPR
Smith: 23 catches, 281 yards, 1 TD, 12.2 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 42 catches, 658 yards, 8 TDs, 15.7 YPR
Posey: 40 catches, 601 yards, 5 TDs, 15.0 YPR
Brown: 7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD, 13.1 YPR
Moye is a fine player who has established himself firmly at the top of the chart for the Lions. Behind him it is a bit more muddled, as not many players had experience coming into the season except Zug, who is down the chart. Smith and Brown appear to be promising players, but they will not take over a game at this stage of their careers. Brackett is a solid player, but not a superstar. The Buckeyes are thin but ultra-talented at the top, as Sanzenbacher and Posey could pretty much start for anybody.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #82 Kevin Haplea (6-4, 249, FR, North Hunterdon HS, Annandale, NJ)
The Lions lost promising freshman Garry Gilliam for the year in the Iowa game, so they have had to turn to Haplea. In the past, the Lions have featured the TE as a regular part of the passing attack, but they are breaking in several new players and Haplea has just 2 receptions thus far. TE is more of a situational position this season for the Lions, as they have gone with 4 receivers or a FB in the starting lineup since the loss of Gilliam.
TE Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State TEs
Haplea: 2 catches, 25 yards, 0 TDs, 12.5 YPR
Stoneburner: 11 catches, 121 yards, 1 TD, 11.0 YPR
For once the Buckeyes have a clear edge at this spot, as the Lions lost Quarless and Shuler after last season and their best player to injury this year after just 4 games. TEs won't play as much for the Lions and Stoneburner and Fragel have done a good job for the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Offensive Line
LT #67 Quinn Barham (6-3, 298, JR, Hillside HS, Durham, NC)
LG #74 Johnnie Troutman (6-4, 323, JR, Pemberton Township HS, Brown Mills, NJ)
C #68 Doug Klopacz (6-3, 286, SR, St. Joseph Regional HS, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ)
RG #61 Stefen Wisniewski (6-3, 306, SR, Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS, Bridgeville, PA)
RT #52 Chima Okoli (6-4, 291, JR, Salem HS, Virginia Beach, VA)
The Lion line has been suspect for several years, and they have suffered this season from personnel turnover from last year and a key injury to starting RT Lou Eliades that knocked him out for the season after the Temple game. Otherwise the line has been pretty consistent across the board, leading to better production from the offense, and in particular the running game in recent weeks. Their slow start could be partially attributed to the fact that of the 5 players starting now, only Wisniewski and Troutman started games last season. Wisniewski is easily the best of the lot and is second on the active career starts list with 35, including all 9 games this year at RG after moving from C, where he was first team All-Big Ten in 2009. He is carrying on the proud tradition of his father as a strong, instinctive player who has a potential NFL career ahead of him. On the left side, Troutman started 8 games last season and took over the LG spot after 2 games in 2010. He is a big, physical player who is a good run blocker along the interior. In the middle, Klopacz has rehabbed diligently from a torn ACL in 2008 and has now been rewarded with starting at C in his senior season. He is athletic and intelligent and understands the blocking scheme well. On the outside, Barham has experience at G and C in his career and has started every game at LT, making him perhaps the most versatile lineman for the Lions. He has significantly improved his game during his tenure and is now a strong and athletic player with a veteran presence. On the other side, Okoli took over for the injured Eliades and has filled in admirably. He shifted from defensive line the past 2 seasons and has turned out to be a quality player in the offensive trenches.
The Lions also have a couple of players with significant experience on the bench. DeOn'tae Pannell (#50) has experience at G and T and has made 9 career starts for the Lions, including 2 this season at LG. Sophomore Mike Farrell (#78) could also see significant time in the game at tackle. Beyond that, a series of freshmen, including guards Adam Gress (#58), John Urschel (#64), and Mark Arcidiacono (#73), center Ty Howle (#60), and tackle Eric Shrive (#75) round out the chart.
OL Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: The Lions have one really good player and several other solid but unspectacular upperclassmen. Depth is also a concern, as only a couple of players off the bench have any significant experience and they are already thin because of injuries. They have been playing better of late, and that is reflected in the increased offensive production and the quality results against Michigan and Northwestern, but they will have a very difficult time dealing with Ohio State's ferocious front 7 on the road. The Buckeye line issues are well-documented but they are deeper and more talented.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
Overall Analysis: The Lion offense has taken care of the ball fairly well and converted some third downs, but other than that their production in 2010 has been pedestrian at best and they have been thumped by the quality teams on their schedule thus far. On the positive side, the last 2 games have featured 200+ passing days by McGloin and 100+ rushing games by Royster, so perhaps the Lions can beat Indiana, put a scare into Ohio State or Michigan State, and go to a second tier bowl. It certainly appears that 2011 could be a good season for the Lions, though they will still have to address issues up front and the loss of Royster. The Lions have traditionally been one of the more balanced offenses in the country, and though there are some elements of that this season, it appears neither aspect (passing or rushing) is good enough to take over a tight game against a quality team. They have played very well the past 2 games, but that has been against subpar defensive teams. They will have a hard time breaking through on the road against a tough Ohio State unit that has their eyes on their 6th straight title.
Overall Offensive Rating: C+
Contrary to popular belief, Tom Bradley has not lost it. Sure, he's been around a long time compared to anyone but Joe Paterno, but he's still got it. Now in his 32nd season with Penn State, and fielding his 11th defense, he has the Nittany Lions playing good defense.
Some will point to the national rankings of the yardage stats and sniff in contempt, but not those who have actually watched this team play. While this squad won't be included in the discussion of Best-PSU-Defenses-of-all-time; seeing them play is enough to at least allow that they are well above average.
Apart from the "eye-test", there are two things to keep in mind when you peruse the statistics below:
____________|_Score_|_Tot_Yds__|__Rush__|__Pass__|
Penn State__|_20.11_|__346.00__|_156.44_|_189.56_|
Ohio State__|_13.56_|__234.22__|__84.00_|_150.22_|
Big Plays
____________|_INT_|_Fum_|_Sack_|
Penn State__|___7_|__4__|__13__|
Ohio State__|__15_|__9__|__16__|
Get-Off-The-Field (GOTF) Defense
____________|__1stD_|__3rd D_|__PCT__|__TOF*_|
Penn State__|__158__|_34-113_|_30.1%_|_29:25_|
Ohio State__|__114__|_33-113_|_29.2%_|_26:57_|
Red Zone Defense
____________|_Red Zone_|__PCT__|_RZ TDs_|__PCT__|
Penn State__|__21-23___|_91.3%_|__16-23_|_69.6%_|
Ohio State__|__14-19___|_73.7%_|__10-19_|_52.6%_|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
As for the Buckeyes, their numbers are a collection of a-little-better and a-little-worse than their numbers from last year at this time. The exception is the much-discussed precipitous drop-off in sack production. The Nittany Lions on the other hand have had a far more drastic drop in sack production, but unlike the Buckeyes they have dropped off similarly in most other categories. While the graduation of a few key components is certainly part of the diminution of defensive production for Penn State; an (almost) equal part is the aforementioned tougher slate of offenses for the Nits compared to what they had faced up to this point last year.
Statistically, the Buckeyes are superior across the board. This also holds true in DSA, as you will see in "Behind the Numbers". Penn State comes closest to Ohio State in 3rd Down defense. If only they could cut down on those pesky big plays on 1st and 2nd down.
Apart from the "eye-test", there are two things to keep in mind when you peruse the statistics below:
- Schedule
- They've already played Iowa and TSUN
- Ohio State has yet to play those two
- They played Alabama
- Differential Statistical Analysis
- DSA objectively shows Penn State's defense to be pretty good
- But not as good as the Silver Bullets
- See "Behind the Numbers" in the Additional Information section for details
____________|_Score_|_Tot_Yds__|__Rush__|__Pass__|
Penn State__|_20.11_|__346.00__|_156.44_|_189.56_|
Ohio State__|_13.56_|__234.22__|__84.00_|_150.22_|
Big Plays
____________|_INT_|_Fum_|_Sack_|
Penn State__|___7_|__4__|__13__|
Ohio State__|__15_|__9__|__16__|
Get-Off-The-Field (GOTF) Defense
____________|__1stD_|__3rd D_|__PCT__|__TOF*_|
Penn State__|__158__|_34-113_|_30.1%_|_29:25_|
Ohio State__|__114__|_33-113_|_29.2%_|_26:57_|
Red Zone Defense
____________|_Red Zone_|__PCT__|_RZ TDs_|__PCT__|
Penn State__|__21-23___|_91.3%_|__16-23_|_69.6%_|
Ohio State__|__14-19___|_73.7%_|__10-19_|_52.6%_|
* TOF = Time on Field (Opponent's T.O.P)
As for the Buckeyes, their numbers are a collection of a-little-better and a-little-worse than their numbers from last year at this time. The exception is the much-discussed precipitous drop-off in sack production. The Nittany Lions on the other hand have had a far more drastic drop in sack production, but unlike the Buckeyes they have dropped off similarly in most other categories. While the graduation of a few key components is certainly part of the diminution of defensive production for Penn State; an (almost) equal part is the aforementioned tougher slate of offenses for the Nits compared to what they had faced up to this point last year.
Statistically, the Buckeyes are superior across the board. This also holds true in DSA, as you will see in "Behind the Numbers". Penn State comes closest to Ohio State in 3rd Down defense. If only they could cut down on those pesky big plays on 1st and 2nd down.
Defensive Line
LE #59 Pete Massaro (6-4, 255, So.)
LT #85 Ollie Ogbu (6-1, 300, 5th yr Sr.)*
RT #71 Devon Still (6-5, 311, Jr.)
RE #47 Jordan Hill (6-1, 309, So.)
* = started vs. Ohio State last year
The loss of Jared Odrick has had the same effect on the Penn State pass rush that the loss of Thadeus Gibson had on Ohio State. Last year at this time the Nittany Lions had already recorded 32 sacks. Entering their game against Northwestern last Saturday, the Blue and White had but 9.
The Penn State pass rush was revived against the Wildcats, stopping Dan Persa behind the line of scrimmage four times and dropping Northwestern from 113th to 114th in the nation in sacks allowed. Tackles Devon Still and End Pete Massaro each recorded one of the sacks of the beleagured Wildcat QB, bringing their team-high totals to 4 and 3 sacks respectively.
Ends Jack Crawford (6-5, 271, Jr.) and Eric Latimore (6-6, 280, Jr.) are back on the Penn State depth chart for the Ohio State game, but not at their starting positions. Crawford (foot) has been out for the last 4 games while Latimore (wrist) has missed most of the season. Whether they can provide quality minutes will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the visiting front four.
Other depth is provided by ends: #44 Kevion Latham (6-2, 252, Jr.), #90 Sean Stanley (6-1, 231, Jr.), and tackles: #91 DaQuan Jones (6-3, 305, Fr.), #99 Brandon Ware (6-3, 337, So.), and #93 James Terry (6-3, 312, So.). Out of this group, only Stanley has started a game (Kent State), though the injuries have allowed for significant playing time for many reserves that would otherwise be riding pine.
DL Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State DL
Even before the injuries to Crawford and Latimore, this unit was struggling while trying to account for the losses of Odrick and Hayes from last year's squad. As big as any line in the Big Ten, this unit nevertheless struggles equally against power and spread-option rushing attacks.
These units are very similar to each other in terms of production (tackles, sacks). The real difference comes in the overall defensive performance vs. common opponents (Illinois and Minnesota). Against these opponents, the Buckeyes allowed less than half the aggregate rushing yardage as did the Nittany Lions, and fewer pass yards besides (not to mention fewer points). The edge here goes to the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #42 Michael Mauti (6-2, 229, So.)
ILB #48 Chris Colasanti (6-2, 241, Sr.)
OLB #15 Bani Gbadyu (6-1, 241, 5th yr Sr.)
None started vs. Ohio State last year
Though purported to be "Linebacker U", Penn State is struggling in their attempt to replace Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman (and Josh Hull for that matter). The 2010 starters have been solid and productive, but won' be mistaken for last year's starters any time soon.
Chris Colasanti returns to the starting lineup after watching the nickel defense take on the Wildcat spread last week. He and Michael Mauti account for 21.6% of the team's tackles, with 83 and 60 respectively. By way of comparison, Ohio State's leading tacklers (Rolle and Homan), have 47 and 41 tackles for just 15.8% of the team total. On the other hand, the Buckeye duo has 3 interceptions, 7 break-ups and 3.5 sacks between them compared to zero picks, 2 break-ups and 2 sacks for the Penn State pair.
Depth is provided by LBs: #34 Nate Stupar (6-1, 231, Jr.), #33 Mike Yancich (6-2, 236, RS Fr.), #54 Jamie Van Fleet (6-0, 224, So.), #40 Glenn Carson (6-3, 233, Fr.), #6 Gerald Hodges (6-2, 228, So.), and #11 Khairi Fortt (6-2, 233, Fr.). Fortt stepped in for Gbadyu and started the Illinois game. Stupar also started the Illinois game as well as the YSU, Minnesota and Northwestern games. He leads the reserves with 45 tackles and 2 sacks. Hodges is a converted safety and has recorded 10 tackles.
LB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State LBs
The eponymous unit at "Linebacker U" is productive this year, leading the team in tackles (as they should in a Tom Bradley defense). They do not however, measure up to the name, ranking in the bottom half, not only of the Big Ten but in the national rankings of rushing defense. While they can share some of the blame for the rushing numbers with the line, they must also share blame with the backfield for the 77th ranked pass efficiency defense. Meanwhile the Buckeye linebackers produce fewer tackles, but nevertheless lead a defense that leads the Big Ten and is top-5 nationally in every defensive category. While the Silver Bullet linebackers haven't been as dominant as some Ohio State fans expected, they are having a better year than their Blue and White counterparts.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
FS #10 Malcolm Willis (5-11, 217, RS Fr.)
Hero #28 Drew Astorino (5-10, 193, Jr.)*
RCB #2 Chaz Powell (6-1, 196, Jr.)
LCB #8 D'Anton Lynn (6-1, 200, Jr.)*
* = started vs. Ohio State last year
Last year, Penn State's defensive backfield was expected to be the team's weak link. Instead, they replaced the 4 starters from the previous year and actually improved their national ranking in both pass efficiency defense and pass defense. Some of that improvement however, was probably attributable to the schedule the Nittany Lions played last year. This year, on the other hand, the improved Iowa and Michigan offenses (not to mention the Crimson Tide offense) seriously tested the Penn State backfield. As a result, this unit, unlike last year's, is probably better than the numbers suggest.
It is not only the opponents that vex this year's defensive backfield however. Nick Sukay had half of the team's 6 interceptions going into the Illinois game, but he tore a pectoral muscle (his own) and was lost for the year. The team has taken only 1 interception since. After some experimentation, the team has settled on Malcolm Willis as his replacement. Malcolm has accounted for 32 tackles and 1 pass break-up.
Returning starter #12 Stephon Morris (5-8, 185, So.) at the right corner spot is listed as a back-up for this game, but he too has been battling the injury bug. While the target of fan criticism this year, he is Penn State's best option at the right corner position when healthy. Chaz Powell has started the past 2 games at the position and is listed as the starter this week. He has recorded 4 tackles and 2 pass break-ups.
Expect Drew Astorino, listed at the "Hero" (Strong Safety) position, to play both safety spots during the game. He too has battled injury throughout his career, but is relatively healthy this year having missed only the Temple game. He leads the DBs with 50 tackles (more than any Silver Bullet). D'Anton Lynn is the only pre-season starter who has started every game, and is the only current starter in the backfield to have recorded an interception (2).
Perhaps "depth" isn't a term that should be used for a unit with so many health issues, but players not already mentioned include cornerback #14 Mike Wallace (5-9, 195, RS Fr., not the guy from 60 Minutes), "Heroes" (strong safeties) #16 Shelton McCullough (6-0, 187, 5th Yr Sr.) and #13 Andrew Dailey (6-2, 222, Jr.), and safeties: #23 Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (5-10, 196, Fr.), and #27 Jake Fagnano (6-0, 203, So.). Dailey has started games at both safety positions, recording 12 tackles and 1 pass break-up. Others have seen only spot duty.
DB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus OSU DBs
If there is one defensive backfield in the country that has spent more time on the training table than the Penn State unit, it is the one on the banks of the Olentangy. Although it more closely resembles a M*A*S*H unit than a backfield, the Silver Bullets will be starting players who have accounted for 7 interceptions this week, versus the 2 interceptions recorded by D'Anton Lynn (none by any other Penn State DB still playing). The Nittany Lions have more tackles than the Buckeyes, but considering the number of running backs who make it past the Penn State front 7, and the fact that 150 passes have been completed against the Nits versus just 132 against the Buckeyes; perhaps the greater number of tackles doesn't indicate a higher level of play. Then there is Penn State's #77 ranking in pass efficiency defense against Ohio State's position at #3. This one is simple. The Buckeyes are better.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Last year at this time, Penn State had a defense that looked great on paper. Then they gave us 228 rushing yards to the Buckeyes. This year is different. The 2010 Nittany Lions are actually better than the statistics indicate, though admittedly they are not as good as last year's stop troops.
Having faced better offenses than most teams, Penn State is still the 28th best scoring defense in the nation, so clearly they are better than average. The Buckeyes on the other hand, while not measuring up to some fans' lofty expectations, are still very close to matching the standards set by previous groups of Silver Bullets. Having had a week off to get healthy, the Buckeyes have the far better defense this year.
Overall Defensive Rating: B-
2010 Penn State Nittany Lions Special Teams PreviewLE #59 Pete Massaro (6-4, 255, So.)
LT #85 Ollie Ogbu (6-1, 300, 5th yr Sr.)*
RT #71 Devon Still (6-5, 311, Jr.)
RE #47 Jordan Hill (6-1, 309, So.)
* = started vs. Ohio State last year
The loss of Jared Odrick has had the same effect on the Penn State pass rush that the loss of Thadeus Gibson had on Ohio State. Last year at this time the Nittany Lions had already recorded 32 sacks. Entering their game against Northwestern last Saturday, the Blue and White had but 9.
The Penn State pass rush was revived against the Wildcats, stopping Dan Persa behind the line of scrimmage four times and dropping Northwestern from 113th to 114th in the nation in sacks allowed. Tackles Devon Still and End Pete Massaro each recorded one of the sacks of the beleagured Wildcat QB, bringing their team-high totals to 4 and 3 sacks respectively.
Ends Jack Crawford (6-5, 271, Jr.) and Eric Latimore (6-6, 280, Jr.) are back on the Penn State depth chart for the Ohio State game, but not at their starting positions. Crawford (foot) has been out for the last 4 games while Latimore (wrist) has missed most of the season. Whether they can provide quality minutes will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the visiting front four.
Other depth is provided by ends: #44 Kevion Latham (6-2, 252, Jr.), #90 Sean Stanley (6-1, 231, Jr.), and tackles: #91 DaQuan Jones (6-3, 305, Fr.), #99 Brandon Ware (6-3, 337, So.), and #93 James Terry (6-3, 312, So.). Out of this group, only Stanley has started a game (Kent State), though the injuries have allowed for significant playing time for many reserves that would otherwise be riding pine.
DL Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State DL
Even before the injuries to Crawford and Latimore, this unit was struggling while trying to account for the losses of Odrick and Hayes from last year's squad. As big as any line in the Big Ten, this unit nevertheless struggles equally against power and spread-option rushing attacks.
These units are very similar to each other in terms of production (tackles, sacks). The real difference comes in the overall defensive performance vs. common opponents (Illinois and Minnesota). Against these opponents, the Buckeyes allowed less than half the aggregate rushing yardage as did the Nittany Lions, and fewer pass yards besides (not to mention fewer points). The edge here goes to the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #42 Michael Mauti (6-2, 229, So.)
ILB #48 Chris Colasanti (6-2, 241, Sr.)
OLB #15 Bani Gbadyu (6-1, 241, 5th yr Sr.)
None started vs. Ohio State last year
Though purported to be "Linebacker U", Penn State is struggling in their attempt to replace Sean Lee and Navorro Bowman (and Josh Hull for that matter). The 2010 starters have been solid and productive, but won' be mistaken for last year's starters any time soon.
Chris Colasanti returns to the starting lineup after watching the nickel defense take on the Wildcat spread last week. He and Michael Mauti account for 21.6% of the team's tackles, with 83 and 60 respectively. By way of comparison, Ohio State's leading tacklers (Rolle and Homan), have 47 and 41 tackles for just 15.8% of the team total. On the other hand, the Buckeye duo has 3 interceptions, 7 break-ups and 3.5 sacks between them compared to zero picks, 2 break-ups and 2 sacks for the Penn State pair.
Depth is provided by LBs: #34 Nate Stupar (6-1, 231, Jr.), #33 Mike Yancich (6-2, 236, RS Fr.), #54 Jamie Van Fleet (6-0, 224, So.), #40 Glenn Carson (6-3, 233, Fr.), #6 Gerald Hodges (6-2, 228, So.), and #11 Khairi Fortt (6-2, 233, Fr.). Fortt stepped in for Gbadyu and started the Illinois game. Stupar also started the Illinois game as well as the YSU, Minnesota and Northwestern games. He leads the reserves with 45 tackles and 2 sacks. Hodges is a converted safety and has recorded 10 tackles.
LB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus Ohio State LBs
The eponymous unit at "Linebacker U" is productive this year, leading the team in tackles (as they should in a Tom Bradley defense). They do not however, measure up to the name, ranking in the bottom half, not only of the Big Ten but in the national rankings of rushing defense. While they can share some of the blame for the rushing numbers with the line, they must also share blame with the backfield for the 77th ranked pass efficiency defense. Meanwhile the Buckeye linebackers produce fewer tackles, but nevertheless lead a defense that leads the Big Ten and is top-5 nationally in every defensive category. While the Silver Bullet linebackers haven't been as dominant as some Ohio State fans expected, they are having a better year than their Blue and White counterparts.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
FS #10 Malcolm Willis (5-11, 217, RS Fr.)
Hero #28 Drew Astorino (5-10, 193, Jr.)*
RCB #2 Chaz Powell (6-1, 196, Jr.)
LCB #8 D'Anton Lynn (6-1, 200, Jr.)*
* = started vs. Ohio State last year
Last year, Penn State's defensive backfield was expected to be the team's weak link. Instead, they replaced the 4 starters from the previous year and actually improved their national ranking in both pass efficiency defense and pass defense. Some of that improvement however, was probably attributable to the schedule the Nittany Lions played last year. This year, on the other hand, the improved Iowa and Michigan offenses (not to mention the Crimson Tide offense) seriously tested the Penn State backfield. As a result, this unit, unlike last year's, is probably better than the numbers suggest.
It is not only the opponents that vex this year's defensive backfield however. Nick Sukay had half of the team's 6 interceptions going into the Illinois game, but he tore a pectoral muscle (his own) and was lost for the year. The team has taken only 1 interception since. After some experimentation, the team has settled on Malcolm Willis as his replacement. Malcolm has accounted for 32 tackles and 1 pass break-up.
Returning starter #12 Stephon Morris (5-8, 185, So.) at the right corner spot is listed as a back-up for this game, but he too has been battling the injury bug. While the target of fan criticism this year, he is Penn State's best option at the right corner position when healthy. Chaz Powell has started the past 2 games at the position and is listed as the starter this week. He has recorded 4 tackles and 2 pass break-ups.
Expect Drew Astorino, listed at the "Hero" (Strong Safety) position, to play both safety spots during the game. He too has battled injury throughout his career, but is relatively healthy this year having missed only the Temple game. He leads the DBs with 50 tackles (more than any Silver Bullet). D'Anton Lynn is the only pre-season starter who has started every game, and is the only current starter in the backfield to have recorded an interception (2).
Perhaps "depth" isn't a term that should be used for a unit with so many health issues, but players not already mentioned include cornerback #14 Mike Wallace (5-9, 195, RS Fr., not the guy from 60 Minutes), "Heroes" (strong safeties) #16 Shelton McCullough (6-0, 187, 5th Yr Sr.) and #13 Andrew Dailey (6-2, 222, Jr.), and safeties: #23 Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (5-10, 196, Fr.), and #27 Jake Fagnano (6-0, 203, So.). Dailey has started games at both safety positions, recording 12 tackles and 1 pass break-up. Others have seen only spot duty.
DB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Penn State versus OSU DBs
If there is one defensive backfield in the country that has spent more time on the training table than the Penn State unit, it is the one on the banks of the Olentangy. Although it more closely resembles a M*A*S*H unit than a backfield, the Silver Bullets will be starting players who have accounted for 7 interceptions this week, versus the 2 interceptions recorded by D'Anton Lynn (none by any other Penn State DB still playing). The Nittany Lions have more tackles than the Buckeyes, but considering the number of running backs who make it past the Penn State front 7, and the fact that 150 passes have been completed against the Nits versus just 132 against the Buckeyes; perhaps the greater number of tackles doesn't indicate a higher level of play. Then there is Penn State's #77 ranking in pass efficiency defense against Ohio State's position at #3. This one is simple. The Buckeyes are better.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Last year at this time, Penn State had a defense that looked great on paper. Then they gave us 228 rushing yards to the Buckeyes. This year is different. The 2010 Nittany Lions are actually better than the statistics indicate, though admittedly they are not as good as last year's stop troops.
Having faced better offenses than most teams, Penn State is still the 28th best scoring defense in the nation, so clearly they are better than average. The Buckeyes on the other hand, while not measuring up to some fans' lofty expectations, are still very close to matching the standards set by previous groups of Silver Bullets. Having had a week off to get healthy, the Buckeyes have the far better defense this year.
Overall Defensive Rating: B-
The Buckeyes return to action Saturday to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions following a bye week. The week off allowed the Special Teams to heal up somewhat and they hope to continue to improve their to-date shaky performance.
Special Teams
Penn State
P #30 Anthony Fera (6-2, 210, So., St. Pius X HS, Cypress, TX)
PK #36 Collin Wagner (5-9, 183, Sr., State College Area HS, State College, PA)
PR #19 Justin Brown (6-3, 216, So., George Kosanovich HS, Wilmington, DE)
PR #20 Devon Smith (5-7, 157, So., Westlake HS, White Plains, MD)
KR #21 Stephon Green (5-10, 197, Sr., John F. Kennedy HS, New York, NY)
KR #2 Chaz Powell (6-1, 196, Susquehannock HS, New Freedom, PA)
LS #57 Emery Etter (6-1, 230, So., Chambersburg Area HS, Chambersburg, PA)
Hldr #83 Brett Brackett | 6-6, 242, Sr., Lawrence HS, Lawrence, NJ)
The Penn State Special Teams represent statistically the best units that Ohio State has faced this year. Punter Fera averages a net of 39.14 yards per punt to rank 17th in the nation. Brown and Smith have combined to return 24 punts for 178 yards, a 7.42 avg, to rank 71st in the nation. Kick returners Powell and Green are a dangerous combination as well, returning 34 kicks for an average of 24.5 yards and 1 touchdown. On defense the Nits are tough as well. The punt return defense only gives up and average of 6.22 yards per return, good for 26th in the nation. The kickoff return team is stingy as well, allowing only 28 returns for 551 yards (19.68 avg) to rank 22nd in the nation.
ST Rating: B+
Ohio State
P #17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
The Buckeyes continue to improve statistically from the awful start to the season. The punt and punt return teams are still dreadful, but the other units are approaching respectability. Buchanon is now averaging 39 yards per kick with 2 touchbacks, still only ranking 108th in the nation. The punt return team has moved to 39th in the nation due to the efforts of Hall and Brown with an average of 9.77 yards per return and a touchdown. The kickoff return team of Herron, Saine, Hall and Berry continues to be the bright spot ranking 10th in the nation with a 25.75 average yards per return. The punt return defense has continued to struggle, giving up 11 returns for 144 yards and a TD. Their average is 13.09 and they rank 102nd in the nation. The kickoff return unit remains in the lower-middle part of the pack giving up 22.49 yards per return, good for 84th in the nation.
ST Rating: D
Looking at the two teams statistically shows much superior Penn State Special Teams. The Nittany Lions rank above the Buckeyes significantly in every Special Teams' category save for kickoff returns. Couple that with the fact that Penn State is playing much better football the 2nd half of the season and the play of the Special Teams could very well come into play.
PredictionsSpecial Teams
Penn State
P #30 Anthony Fera (6-2, 210, So., St. Pius X HS, Cypress, TX)
PK #36 Collin Wagner (5-9, 183, Sr., State College Area HS, State College, PA)
PR #19 Justin Brown (6-3, 216, So., George Kosanovich HS, Wilmington, DE)
PR #20 Devon Smith (5-7, 157, So., Westlake HS, White Plains, MD)
KR #21 Stephon Green (5-10, 197, Sr., John F. Kennedy HS, New York, NY)
KR #2 Chaz Powell (6-1, 196, Susquehannock HS, New Freedom, PA)
LS #57 Emery Etter (6-1, 230, So., Chambersburg Area HS, Chambersburg, PA)
Hldr #83 Brett Brackett | 6-6, 242, Sr., Lawrence HS, Lawrence, NJ)
The Penn State Special Teams represent statistically the best units that Ohio State has faced this year. Punter Fera averages a net of 39.14 yards per punt to rank 17th in the nation. Brown and Smith have combined to return 24 punts for 178 yards, a 7.42 avg, to rank 71st in the nation. Kick returners Powell and Green are a dangerous combination as well, returning 34 kicks for an average of 24.5 yards and 1 touchdown. On defense the Nits are tough as well. The punt return defense only gives up and average of 6.22 yards per return, good for 26th in the nation. The kickoff return team is stingy as well, allowing only 28 returns for 551 yards (19.68 avg) to rank 22nd in the nation.
ST Rating: B+
Ohio State
P #17 Ben Buchanan (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
The Buckeyes continue to improve statistically from the awful start to the season. The punt and punt return teams are still dreadful, but the other units are approaching respectability. Buchanon is now averaging 39 yards per kick with 2 touchbacks, still only ranking 108th in the nation. The punt return team has moved to 39th in the nation due to the efforts of Hall and Brown with an average of 9.77 yards per return and a touchdown. The kickoff return team of Herron, Saine, Hall and Berry continues to be the bright spot ranking 10th in the nation with a 25.75 average yards per return. The punt return defense has continued to struggle, giving up 11 returns for 144 yards and a TD. Their average is 13.09 and they rank 102nd in the nation. The kickoff return unit remains in the lower-middle part of the pack giving up 22.49 yards per return, good for 84th in the nation.
ST Rating: D
Looking at the two teams statistically shows much superior Penn State Special Teams. The Nittany Lions rank above the Buckeyes significantly in every Special Teams' category save for kickoff returns. Couple that with the fact that Penn State is playing much better football the 2nd half of the season and the play of the Special Teams could very well come into play.
BB73's prediction: 30-17, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 27-13, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 34-9, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 35-17, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: xx-xx, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 52 - Minnesota 10)
Low score wins the year-long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(169) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 55-5, Ohio State (8 + 161 last week = 169)
(179) Bucky Katt's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (7 + 172 last week = 179)
(184) Bucklion's prediction: 45-17, Ohio State (14 + 170 last week = 184)
(184) jwinslow's prediction: 42-10, Ohio State (10 + 174 last week = 184)
(193) JCOSU86's prediction: 48-7, Ohio State (7 + 186 last week= 193)
(194) BB73's prediction: 38-10 Ohio State (14 + 180 last week = 194)
(195) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-3, Ohio State (14 + 181 last week = 195)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 27-13, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 34-9, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 35-17, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: xx-xx, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 52 - Minnesota 10)
Low score wins the year-long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(169) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 55-5, Ohio State (8 + 161 last week = 169)
(179) Bucky Katt's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (7 + 172 last week = 179)
(184) Bucklion's prediction: 45-17, Ohio State (14 + 170 last week = 184)
(184) jwinslow's prediction: 42-10, Ohio State (10 + 174 last week = 184)
(193) JCOSU86's prediction: 48-7, Ohio State (7 + 186 last week= 193)
(194) BB73's prediction: 38-10 Ohio State (14 + 180 last week = 194)
(195) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-3, Ohio State (14 + 181 last week = 195)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
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