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Game Thread Game Five: Penn State 17, Ohio State 10 (Final)

How many officials did we have in for the Texas game? I know there were several unofficials and apparently PSU has quite a few unofficials coming in. I seem to remember people complaing about Tressel not taking advantage of all the hype around Texas but with the late kickoff you don't have all the time to spend with recruits as you do with a noon kickoff.
 
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Ohio State's defense, led by those linebackers, is fifth nationally against the rush, allowing 41 yards a game, and fifth in total defense, surrendering 249 yards.

Guess it is too much to ask that the tribune actually do some fact checking.
That's 1st in the nation against the rush, 5th in nation overall on Defense (giving up 34 more yards per game through the air than #1 against the pass Miami-FL).
 
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Who has the best LBs, PSU or OSU?
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[/SIZE][/FONT]</td></tr></tbody></table>By Sam Ross Jr.
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 6, 2005

The linebackers are the crown jewels of the Penn State and Ohio State defenses, each set eager to outshine the other when their teams share the Beaver Stadium field Saturday night.
"You always try to outplay them, and I'm sure they're thinking the same thing," Buckeyes middle linebacker Anthony Schlegel said Wednesday. "I remember last year watching them a little bit when we were off the field. They are playmakers, and they fly to the ball. That's what stands out. That's what other linebackers look at. They've got a lot of good guys, and that's what Penn State has been known for."
The best of the current Lions linebackers is Paul Posluszny, the junior outside man who was honored for the second consecutive week as the outstanding Big Ten Conference defensive player. Posluszny also won the weekly Walter Camp national award for his play against Minnesota, making nine tackles, two of them for losses. A week earlier, he had 22 total tackles against Northwestern.
Posluszny respects the group of linebackers the Buckeyes have assembled, led by returning All-American senior A.J. Hawk, who also had been Big Ten defensive player of the week earlier this season.
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"They've got great players, (an) All-American. Guys who are all-everything football players," Posluszny said. "You can't take anything away from them. They make a lot of plays defensively, so they've got to be up there as one of the best units."
Ohio State's defense, led by those linebackers, is fifth nationally against the rush, allowing 41 yards a game, and fifth in total defense, surrendering 249 yards. Hawk is fifth in the Big Ten, averaging 10 tackles a game.
Penn State's defense, which had its strongest showing to date last week against Minnesota, is 20th against the rush (90.6 yards) and 27th in overall defense (308.6). Posluszny is third in the Big Ten at 11.4 tackles a game.
Joining Hawk and Schlegel in the Ohio State starting group is Bobby Carpenter. Starters besides Posluszny for Penn State are Tim Shaw at the other outside post and Tyrell Sales inside. Dan Connor has played extensively in recent weeks after returning from a disciplinary suspension.
There's little to chose between the two groups.
"I think they're similar from the standpoint they're both sets of linebackers who are very physical, both sets play extremely hard and make plays," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "Obviously, both sets of them diagnose what you're trying to do offensively very well, and they're fast learners."
"The Ohio State guys deserve everything they get in terms of publicity," Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "They're certainly a group you want to emulate.
"A.J Hawk, he's in another world. He's excellent and plays football the way it's meant to be played, all-out, all the time. I think Paul's time (for All-America recognition) will come when it's right."
So, which group is better? "Obviously, I have a little bit more bias to the Penn State linebackers," Lions quarterback Michael Robinson said. "I think they're the best thing since sliced bread.
nice article. I like this one better:

From Tom Deinhart of the Sporting News:

Ohio State over *Penn State: Take one last look around from Undefeated Land, Joe Pa. Nice view, eh? You can see for miles, maybe all the way to the Big Ten title. Go ahead and take a picture if you want to remember it, because you're gonna get defeat crammed down your pie hole by Ohio State. First, there will be a fist full of LB A.J. Hawk. Then, QB Troy Smith will serve a platter full of humility. If you aren't full yet, Joe Pa, WR/KR Ted Ginn will come around with a desert cart full of big plays. See you at the Alamo Bowl, Nits. And bring your camcorder.
 
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XC - pretty good (probably conservative) analysis. Your memory of Happy Valley marries with mine. I remember going there with the missus and number 1 son. When the Penn State band went into their standard victory tune (yep we lost that year) she turns to me and says

"I think that's what the youngsters call "Gay" - they're playing a show tune for their fighting song."

As for players I hope will have a big game on Offense - I hope to see good tough WR play from Roy Hall and Anthony Gonzalez, plus we must get production out of the running game. I also wonder if this is actually one of the games where another star at WR will be played some in the secondary - namely Ginn.
 
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Who's got the best group of LBs? Going into the Iowa game there was considerable sentiment from their camp that Greenway & Hodge made their group better than ours. We saw how that one turned out.

Not taking anything away from Penn State's group, but ours are the best. Still, it's a great testament to the strength of the Big Ten that so many teams are loaded with studs at the LB position.

On another matter, if it were up to me, I'd put JonathanXC on the kickoff team for this game. He's got his gameface on!!

GO BUCKS!!
:osu:
 
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I don't like smack talk and it seems like there has been a bit of that, no matter what our players meant to say.

Nevertheless, I think this team is coming right. I think it increasingly will be an offensive and defensive powerhouse. I don't think Penn State will understand what rolled through Happy Valley in the dark on Saturday night.
 
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Too bad there aren't more WhiteUsOut's out there. I knew a couple of reasonable PSU fans back when I lived in S Central PA (Franklin County), but that was about it. Michigan fans call in to buckeye shows and talk smack, but they have talent to back it up. PSU fans never fail to call in and say absurd things, despite having achieved nothing.

Way to go Booyah on blowing out cupcakes. Minnesota did the same thing before you faced them. You really think you're gonna be able to run the ball at will? We already faced the #1 rushing attack in america, and are still #1 in rushing defense. This will be a one dimensional game. The reverses will not work against a real defense (Minny could have forced you inside 5 times but their DE never stayed home outside).

Eventually Robinson will have to throw over the middle, and that should terrify you. He did a poor job doing that during your rout of lowly Minny, so when Hawk/Carp/Whitner are in his face all day, it's gonna get even uglier.

I love JoePa, he's a classy coach. Seems like he's lost it as a head coach tho if he can't handle recruits before a big game. We seemed to handle a truckload of recruits just fine before one of the biggest OOC games in years against Texas. Maybe your coaching staff should visit OSU's during the offseason to get tips on how to do two things at once.

Prepare to be knocked back to reality. You've played no one with a defense, and had success running trick plays and bubble screens. Your running game will not be there. And your speedy freshman will not continue their success when your poor passer gets knocked down every play by 250 lbers that run sub 4.5 40's.
 
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