Game Thread Ohio State 24, Penn State 7 (final; 11/07/09)

[BuckeyeNation27]

fuck penn state

 

[buckeyesin07]

I have measured optimism about this game; and, this has little to do with the fact that playing at Happy Valley is never "easy."

While I agree that the defenses will be the better units on display, the Buckeye offense will have to produce. We certainly shouldn't count on the defense scoring points to secure a victory.

Clark is capable of throwing short passes (look at the game logs of previous contests for evidence) and that can be a weakness of tOSU defense. Much has been said about Purdue's successful scheme on defense; however, their gameplan on offense wasn't too bad either. And I think PSU is capable of duplicating a similar scheme.

So, instead of rolling out familiar cliches like "we need to pressure their QB" and "the Buckeye O-line needs to execute well," I'm trying to make careful predictions why I think the Buckeyes will win.

I haven't been this nervous since USC. While this game may be a classic battle of two Big 10 defenses, I think tOSU offense needs to step up. I need therapy. Give me good reasons why the Buckeyes will destroy PSU. Please.

I totally agree with the bolded language above as it relates to Purdue--I think they had a great offensive gameplan to counter our d-line's ability to pressure the QB. I disagree with the following sentence, though--I don't think PSU is capable of duplicating that scheme. From what I've seen of their games, they do not run an offense that consists of short, quick dump offs and crossing patterns.

 

[cincibuck]

I have measured optimism about this game; and, this has little to do with the fact that playing at Happy Valley is never "easy."... Give me good reasons why the Buckeyes will destroy PSU. Please.

Because when Ohio State has the ball it will be in the hands of the best athlete on the field. If Pryor has a good game he's very difficult to defense. He can score from any spot on the field and he can force the defense into mistakes, putting themselves out of position to make the play... the way Masoli kept USC's defense out of position all night long... Terrell is capable of such a game, Clark is not.

 

[jazzman]

Because when Ohio State has the ball it will be in the hands of the best athlete on the field. If Pryor has a good game he's very difficult to defense. He can score from any spot on the field and he can force the defense into mistakes, putting themselves out of position to make the play... the way Masaoli kept USC's defense out of position all night long... Terrelle is capable of such a game, Clark is not.

Agreed. TP is such a big threat on broken plays (just like Jeremiah Masoli) and Darryl Clark is not.

BTW, I found this shirt hilarious.....its a design that has been planned for the whiteout. Its proof that this game is officially a big rivalry game.

 

[rocketman]

I think CalvinistBuck is also referring to our excruciating tendancy to settle into a no-blitz soft zone when facing a dink 'n' dunk offense. I don't know much about football to comment on strategy, but I do know one thing: we don't win.

Sadly, as someone who relies on data to make predictions and recommendations, there isn't much for me to go on to say that our offense will "light it up" against these guys. Blind hope (and hate) is all I have to go on this week.

We'll need points off of turnovers in the worst sort of way.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Agreed. TP is such a big threat on broken plays (just like Jeremiah Masoli) and Darryl Clark is not.

BTW, I found this shirt hilarious.....its a design that has been planned for the whiteout. Its proof that this game is officially a big rivalry game.

No, it's proof that Penn State fans are losers.

 

[jazzman]

No, it's proof that Penn State fans are losers.

that too....

check this now infamous video......classless. This gets my blood boiling for the game.

Penn State fans harass Ohio State fans | The Daily Collegian Online

 

[CalvinistBuck]

The PSU O-line isn't very good for one thing. tOSU's D-line is one of the best and possibly the deepest in the country. Our D-linemen and LBs will be residing in PSU's backfield for this game.

Also, Darryl Clark & Co. have been up against one decent defense this entire season, i.e., Iowa. His pass completion percentage in that game....37.5%. If Penn State is looking at the Purdue & USC film, we will be looking closely at that Hawkeye game. We have a lot more playmakers than the Hawkeyes do on both sides of the ball.

Another thing.....the two teams that PSU and tOSU have both played this season are Minnesota and Illinois. We looked better than PSU in both games. :)

Some good comments. I find comfort in sifting through reasoned analysis. Noting Clark's completion percentage vs. Iowa was a good stat. Is PSU's O-line down from last year? They have a few seniors (and some underclassmen) on their line and was wondering how good they are.

 

[Ttown]

Let's go Buckeyes. Beat PSU.

 

[FCollinsBuckeye]

Let's go Buckeyes. Beat PSU.

 

[CalvinistBuck]

Because when Ohio State has the ball it will be in the hands of the best athlete on the field. If Pryor has a good game he's very difficult to defense. He can score from any spot on the field and he can force the defense into mistakes, putting themselves out of position to make the play... the way Masaoli kept USC's defense out of position all night long... Terrelle is capable of such a game, Clark is not.

While I agree to an extent, placing too much responsibility on a soph. QB for a victory in a hostile environment can be a lot to ask for. I'm hopeful that Miller and Boren are 100%. Cordle is versatile and valuable, but LT is probably not his natural position.

In addition, Clark isn't too shabby. He's erratic but talented.

 

[jazzman]

Some good comments. I find comfort in sifting through reasoned analysis. Noting Clark's completion percentage vs. Iowa was a good stat. Is PSU's O-line down from last year? They have a few seniors (and some underclassmen) on their line and was wondering how good they are.

It is an inexperienced O-line, with just Stefen Wisniewski (C) & Dennis Landolt (LT) returning starters on that line. I should add that Lou Eliades & Matt Stankiewitch and their backups, Johnnie Troutman and Quinn Barham have really struggled at the guard positions. This is where Doug Worthington, Dexter Larimore (back from injury), Todd Denlinger, Johnny Simon and Cam Heyward are gonna have to get pressure up the middle.

 

[CalvinistBuck]

I think CalvinistBuck is also referring to our excruciating tendancy to settle into a no-blitz soft zone when facing a dink 'n' dunk offense.

Yes. Against NW last week, Clark threw lots of passes less than 10 yards. Some longer passes came available in the 4th quarter and then they were able to pull away.

While I wouldn't classify PSU as a great passing team (they lost their top 3 receivers), they are capable of relying on short passes when the running game isn't there. They have a pretty good TB (I assume Royster is healthy) and yet they were content to throw more than run vs. NW.

 

[CalvinistBuck]

I totally agree with the bolded language above as it relates to Purdue--I think they had a great offensive gameplan to counter our d-line's ability to pressure the QB. I disagree with the following sentence, though--I don't think PSU is capable of duplicating that scheme. From what I've seen of their games, they do not run an offense that consists of short, quick dump offs and crossing patterns.

I certainly hope you are right. Clark did have decent success throwing short passes vs. NW last Sat. They did not need this strategy vs. tsun because the the tsun secondary was so positively dreadful that Clark could throw it straight to the endzone for a TD.

I'm encouraged that Larimore is back. We can boast about the depth on the D-line, but tOSU defensive front is better with Dex in there. Forgive the cliche, but pressuring Clark will go a long way to determining the outcome in this game.

 

[CalvinistBuck]

It is an inexperienced O-line, with just Stefen Wisniewski (C) & Dennis Landolt (LT) returning starters on that line. I should add that Lou Eliades & Matt Stankiewitch and their backups, Johnnie Troutman and Quinn Barham have really struggled at the guard positions. This is where Doug Worthington, Dexter Larimore (back from injury), Todd Denlinger, Johnny Simon and Cam Heyward are gonna have to get pressure up the middle.

Thanks. Good info. Having Dex back is a huge positive in a game of this magnitude.

On the other hand, it's disheartening that Pettrey is done for the year. I hope he knows how much tOSU faithful have appreciated him.