• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

Game Thread Ohio State @ Penn State - 09/29/18, 7:30PM (ABC)

I normally don't follow BP during games. And I am happy I don't. It went from the entire O staff being fired. Then the entire D staff being fired. Then a blind squirrel finding a nut on the final score and humping picnic tables like a pro (I'm sure it's a dry hump). But what a ride, and on to the next one!!!

Hell of a ride. Great win. Still think the defensive coaches have done a piss poor job this year so far.
 
Upvote 0
Right...

I don't know how insanely gifted you'd have to be to read and process and correctly react to all of those shifts and stunts in a blink. That's why Sanders got stuffed.

But, from PSU's perspective, it was smart to gamble that our defense wouldn't suddenly uncork "next level". If I was Franklin, I'd probably woulda told my guys to just run up the gut. "Haven't stopped us up to now..."

Except we did like a lot unless it was a QB draw
 
Upvote 0
Except we did like a lot unless it was a QB draw
True...

Sanders: 16 carries for 43 yards (2.7 ypc). McSorley, on the other hand: 25 carries for 175 yds (7.0 ypc).

So if Franklin was playing the odds, he shoulda run McSorley again. I checked his run attempts: by far they were in the 4th quarter. Then suddenly on the single most important play of the game, no go.

What's interesting is that in this game McSorley carried almost twice as many times as he did in any previous game.
 
Upvote 0
Was just thinking about that, held a team averaging 55 a game to 26, for as bad as I thought the defense looked that’s a pretty decent stat line considering how much they moved the ball. Bend but don’t break.
I thought the defense played out of its mind for nearly 3 quarters outside of the one huge play. Then they got gassed a little bit because the offense had more three-and-outs than first downs to that point (it feels like this is true although it might technically not be, but indulge my dramatics to make the point) and they inexplicably stopped spying McSorley for awhile. Thankfully they finished strong.

Overall I thought it was a damn good game for the defense.
 
Upvote 0
The defense just held the team that was leading the country in scoring to 13 points in the 1st half when the offense could do absolutely nothing. Without that effort this isn't even a ball game. It also stopped PSU on their final 2 drives, once to get the ball back and once to seal the victory

I realize this is not a defense that will win a NC now. But without Bosa there where 7 new starters last night. Let's see what they look like in November.
 
Upvote 0
To Penn State fans who think they are Ohio State's rival, against Ohio State you have gone:

  1. 8-18 since joining the conference
  2. 4-13 since 2002
  3. 1-6 since Meyer arrived
  4. 1-5 in your last six home games

Just because you've played us tough the last three years doesn't make you our "rival". Any time you doubt that, refer back to the above four points.

Recent futility against the Buckeyes is only half the story. You have to include that, before the recent futility, they meant nothing to OSU fans

I mean, if recent futility alone meant you aren’t a rival...
 
Upvote 0
I'm really not one for rankings but both tcu and psu had our numbers for most of those games. And that was BEFORE we had key players out.
Did you see Clemson barely squeak by Syracuse at home? Do you think they look better than OSU? The only rankings that matter won't come out until next month but I'd be kind of surprised if the Bucks don't move up a spot after a top 10 win on the road.
 
Upvote 0
My take on that last play is pure film study. The stunt allowed Chase to shoot the gap in a crash course with the RB, because the D already knew the playcall.

It was a thing of beauty. I honestly don’t know that it would have been a horrible call if the D didn’t already know what it was. How many people thought the ball was going to Trace on the option keeper? Now go watch that defensive stunt/shift where Chase completely obliterates the gap.

I can’t think of any good reason why this attack happens unless you’ve seen it first hand on film. Lining up your best defensive man on the field to fire at the RB would be a huge mistake with the way McSorely was running all night.

Either way, it’s beautiful.
 
Upvote 0
Did you see Clemson barely squeak by Syracuse at home? Do you think they look better than OSU? The only rankings that matter won't come out until next month but I'd be kind of surprised if the Bucks don't move up a spot after a top 10 win on the road.

Yep, even the ESPN “experts” have the Bucks pegged at #2. Pretty sure that’s how the AP will look as well.
 
Upvote 0
I thought the defense played out of its mind for nearly 3 quarters outside of the one huge play. Then they got gassed a little bit because the offense had more three-and-outs than first downs to that point (it feels like this is true although it might technically not be, but indulge my dramatics to make the point) and they inexplicably stopped spying McSorley for awhile. Thankfully they finished strong.

Overall I thought it was a damn good game for the Defensive Line.
Fify
I disagree in thinking that the defense as a whole played a good game, if it wasn't for the stellar DL play, then this game probably wouldn't have been close. McSorley looked like the second coming of a mix between Baker Mayfield and Johnny Football(the good version), because the back 7 couldn't keep him contained. And at times, it was insane to watch the LBs go into man coverage and leave the middle of the field WIDE OPEN for McSorley to gash them, and this happened on multiple occasions! The saving grace is that OSU won't play another mobile QB with this talent until maybe the CFP. The highly talked about RB, Sanders was held in check, but McSorley was a sight to behold, he did whatever he wanted against the defense and kept making big plays. Hats off to him as he is either sitting on an NFL bench somewhere or fighting to get into the CFL next year.

It was an ugly win, but a WIN nonetheless, and like all of you, I'll take it and remain undefeated.
I don't think my heart can take me re-watching this game, but a few gems that I do remember:
  • Like has, and will constantly be stated, the LBs are such a liability. And its not to their own fault, as their doing what their taught, and there lies the problem. I hate to call for people's jobs, and rag on a coach, but my god is Bill Davis clueless! Going into this game, everyone knew that Trace McSorley was the most dangerous player on Ped St, he's killed us for several years, and yet it seemed like the LBs were told to not bother spying him. The fact that he had a career game with his legs against us, should be troubling, as I would've had Tate simulate him all week and found ways to keep my LBs from allowing him out of the pocket...
  • DBs are still taking bad angles, but they're starting to get better. Some of McSorley's arm punts were just gifts from the heavens, and our DBs were all over their WRs and they still made the play, it happens(what can you do when a 6'4' WR grabs a ball off balance with one hand). I think Johnson and Schiano/Grinch have the DBs improving
  • I can't say enough about how big Haskins stepped up! This was a game where he could've folded after the first half and let the hostile crowd in a hostile environment get to him. Yet he kept steadying the offense, didn't rip into his OL who was having major problems with communication and a heavy blitzing defense trying to throw him out of rhythm. One word to describe his game: POISE (22/39 270yds 3TDs 1INT, very good numbers)
  • The running game did enough to pace the passing game. JK Webber 8D, combined for 108yds 1TD, but came up on crucial first downs, and set up short(er) 3rd and 4th downs. Neither is going to be a Zeke/Hyde/Wells/etc type, but we don't need them to be when the offense can take what the defense gives, and right now, a QB as good as Haskins can lead the offense, and RBs can still provide a threat
  • Zone 6 also stepped up when need be, and made not only pivotal catches, but many big blocks to free their position mates. KJ Hill is such a consistent threat, and hats off to Bin Victor, who has been written off multiple times, but in a crowded WR room like OSU has, your number can get called at any time, as we'll hardly ever see a truly dominant WR1, because of the constant rotation. Campbell still does what he does best, and that's catch short routes and make something out of them, but it was clear that Ped St was targeting him all night
  • The OL was up and down but stepped up in the 2nd half when it mattered. I'm sure the crowd noise was insane, and getting the play calls was daunting, as was the constant pressure, as they seemed overwhelmed in the 1st half. But boy did they step in the 2nd half and give Haskins a little more time to make decisions, and make those holes just a little bit bigger for Dobbins/Weber. It's not easy to play in Beaver stadium already, but they were doing it at night, in a white out on primetime TV, and they finished strong at the end
I don't foresee a let down game like last year with the Iowa game next week. I think the coaches will have the players up and ready for the task and constantly reminding them about what Iowa did a week after an emotional Ped St game. I think we can handle IU(who barely beat Rutgers yesterday), get some of the stars healthy, play Haskins for a half or 3QTs and play Tate. Rest as much of the DL as you can. And someone have the LBs and Davis watch game film
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top