So the Buckeyes opted not to publish a depth chart this week and we're left with but one assumption to make. Tressel is unveiling the Bauserman/Delande option attack on the unsuspecting Nittany Lions!
Scariness: Team 1, Logo 0That's cool, because instead of listening to me tell you who I think might see time as the 8th lineman onto the field, we've invited Mike from Black Shoe Diaries over to tell us how to beat his team. He's so kind.
So who would have thought when the season started that our game this weekend would likely decide the Big Ten championship? I must admit that Penn State fans had this game circled as the biggest game of the year. But I suspect that if you are like the writers, you didn’t have Penn State listed in the top three of the preseason favorites. Wisconsin and Illinois? C’mon. When will writers learn to stop making such ridiculous predictions?
Anyway, Jason asked me to come on Eleven Warriors and share my thoughts on how to beat Penn State. So I’ll share what I can on the Nittany Lion offense and defense and tell you how I would attack them.
When Ohio State Has The Ball
Last year Ohio State embarrassed the Penn State defense in Happy Valley. After the game the Penn State players admitted the Buckeyes were doing a lot of things they hadn’t seen on film. It also didn’t help that Boeckman put on his Peyton Manning underoos and had the best day of his career. But I think for Ohio State to duplicate that success they will have to give Penn State some new looks.
I actually caught the first quarter of the Ohio State/Michigan State game. (And really, was there any point in watching the rest?) What I saw was a lot of Pryor right, Wells left, Pryor left, Wells up the middle. Just a lot of running between those two. I suspect Penn State will stack the box and challenge Pryor to beat them throwing the ball. Of course I thought they would do this against Michigan, but they came out playing nickel and Michigan scored 17 points in their first three drives. If Pryor can connect on a few longer passes early that will open things up for the running game, and Penn State will be in trouble.
It may say strange to say this considering our tradition at Linebacker U, but the way to challenge Penn State is to attack the linebackers. The front four is stellar no matter which members of the eight man rotation are playing, but if you can get past them the linebackers can be exploited. We’re starting a walk-on junior in the middle who has been the subject of a lot of criticism in Happy Valley. Josh Hull just isn’t on par with 2005 Butkus Award winning linebacker Paul Posluszny. (I’m sorry. I had to get that in there.) He’s a step slow and gets gobbled up in traffic. He’s a decent run stopper, but teams that can throw effective screens and slants over the middle kill us.
When Penn State Has The Ball
Honestly, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not saying that to be cocky either. I honestly don’t know how to stop this offense. They are highly diverse and can seemingly adjust to anything the defense throws at them. If you sit back in nickel to take the Butler-Williams-Norwood trio out of the game, Evan Royster and the offensive line will run you over. If you stack the box like Wisconsin did, you will get torched. You can try to blitz, but Daryll Clark will roll out of the pocket and throw a 25 yard dagger through your heart. Or Stephfon Green will take a screen pass and go 80 yards with it. They can spread you out and pick you apart or they can line up in the Power I formation and get yards the hard way. There seemingly isn’t anything this offense can’t do.
My one knock on them would be short yardage situations near the goal line. They are getting a little too predictable with the quarterback draws inside the ten. If Penn State gets a first and goal on the five you can bet first down will be a run to Royster up the middle followed by a quarterback draw. If they manage to get it down to the one or two they will run the quarterback draw again. It’s like Tim Tebow of the North. I wish they would be a little more diverse down around the goal line. It has worked so far, but I can’t see Ohio State getting pushed around like that.
If any team that had the best blueprint for success you would have to say it was Purdue. Afterall, the Boilermakers held Penn State to just 20 points. Purdue was able to keep the score down by sustaining a few long drives and limiting our possessions. They got enough yards they could pin Penn State deep and make them go the length of the field to get their points. It also helped that someone conveniently turned the sprinklers on in Ross-Ade and watered the field all night long. Penn State players were slipping and falling down every time they went to cut. The sloppy field thwarted at least two touchdowns limiting Penn State to field goals and it also cost us several big plays where guys just fell down in open space. So there’s something I guess.
This has the makings of an all time classic game. If you want to see my prediction for the game make sure you check out Black Shoe Diaries on Friday afternoon.
Comments
It's Penn State weekend and you know what that means it's supposed to rain on Saturday. That could/will slow down the spread HD and turn the game in to a who can run the ball. You stop the spread by either out scoring it (big twelve) or by playing man to man and hitting the QB until he is afraid to throw it. If Heacock plays the spread like he usually does the tOSU will have a tough time, but if he can get pressure with 4 tOSU can win as long as Tressel lets the offense play and not run QB draws on 3rd and 8.
The weather bodes well for the Buckeyes!!! “I love the smell of napalm [rain] in the morning…. Smells like Victory…”
Im confused. Penn States and OSUs offenses are very very similiar. Rain is not going to give a significant advantage to any one team. They both love to run the ball with their QBs and RBs. The only difference is Darryl Clark is a btter passer than TP (well time will tell on that statement, just based on experience)
I think OSU should file a class action lawsuit against Joe Paterno, PSU, and anybody who refers to Penn State as "Linebacker U." I think we know the real linebacker U sits on banks of the Olentangy.
Don't get me wrong in saying this, because Michigan day will ALWAYS hold a special place for me, but man every year I really look forward to this PSU v. OSU game. Its always circled on the schedule for me. Soooo many classic games, and they always play us tough. I cant wait til Saturday!!!
Kyle-
I've been sayin that for years. Head to head they barely match up with our big dogs. But you gotta give them SOMETHING to hang their hats on. Its not like they have a Heisman threat every couple seasons like we do.....LOL
GO PSU (or PUS): When all things are equal, I will take our power running game over yours any day of the week.
I'm hoping for a tough game. A fellow here in the office who's something of an insider thinks OSU wins by 14. I think that's crazy. I won't expect OSU to win (I rarely do these days), but I certainly hope that there's something in the 'Shoe that will make this a competitive game.
That p*nn st*t* team looks very, very good.
If our D can come up with a few 3 and outs in the first couple series, I really like our chances. OSU fans in the stands are never out of the game, and if they thought the white out at state college was rockin last year, wait until they get hit with the Scarlet Fever.
On a sad side note, I was all set to use my "Economic Stimulus Check" to purchase tickets to THIS game back in April, take a train from NY and go to my first game at the 'Shoe. Damn bills, I hate being an adult.......
I'm not too optimistic about this game either. For me it's just a matter of whether OSU can keep up with PSU, because as BSD implied above, the Nits will get theirs. I hope I'm wrong. I hope that our D can get in lockdown mode. That PSU hasn't faced a defense like ours yet. That our OL will show up and protect.
I think the reason that I'm not predicting/looking forward to anything is probably because of our inconsistent play this season. If we show up like we did against Minnesota or Michigan State or start of 1st quarter/end of 4th quarter against Wisconsin, we will dominate. But if we see the sloppy O-line we saw at USC and the pressure affecting TP's decision making against Purdue, it will be a very ugly game.
think BG Buckeye is dead on: it depends on which team shows. we get the Purdue bunch and we're gonna get steam rollered. if the Minne/Michigan State team (AND COACHING STAFF) drop by the Shoe Saturday night it could be a very very good evening for the Scarlet and Gray.
Rain on that turf will suck. As the better team I want good weather. We run the ball better for sure with Beanie and Pryor. You could say that give us an advantage if it rains, but I really think we beat them down at home just like we always do. Penn ST is about to run into a buzzsaw this weekend. I was at the Bucs game sunday night and I ran into a couple of penn st fans they seemed cocky. I thought to myself who has penn st beaten? Is Oregon St any good on the road? Wisconsin just lost to Iowa. Michigan put 17 on them.
I'm not worried about this game if we show up ready and the crowd is ape shit I think we win easy. I think this Buckeye team is coming together at the right time.
Flip? You really think penn st. gets theirs? I'm not feeling that at all. I don't think they will be able to run the football on first down, and if we get a lead early they will be forced to throw. The haven't face a corner combo Like Chekwa and Jenkins not to mention the front four are getting push up front like someone has wrapped a big juicy steak on the QB. I see 17 points from Penn St at the most and that won't be nearly enough.
Tampa, Wisky was able to run it down our throats ... the Penn St. O-line could possibly run it right down our throats again. We'll have to see. maybe with Gibson and Rose in there now we have some men on the line.
hopefully we are able to stop them. I am more worried about how in the world we are going to move the ball on them if they crowd the line. We are LAST in passing in the conference and they are basically awesome back there.
We'll see ... I think we can win but it will be close and we are gonna have to score points.
Penn St will be exposed like a roll of film. Purdon't held the "HD Spread" to 20. Oh boo hoo they watered the field the night before. These penn st fans win a few games and all of a sudden they are world beaters. I got news for ya your not as good as you think penn st fans. Your fans that show up for the game are risking their health as well and I'll tell you why. We haven't forgot the way your fans treated us last year(see youtube.com) and their will be hell to pay. Night game in columbus with gameday there at 10am. That place will be loud and mean but that my friend will be the least of your concerns as THE REAL LINEBACKER U will show you what being a powerhouse program is all about. Buckeyes roll and Penn St fans will get rolled on. GO BUCKS!
This Buckeye team is a different buckeye team now. They have got the swagger back. The d-line is getting push. The new line up is a big part of that but if our lines play well or just hold their own the linebackers and backs will make penn st look very avg.
I look at penn st and I look at Ohio state and I ask myself would I rather have....
Beanie or Royster?
Beanie
Pryor or Clark
Pryor, and Black Shoes the kid can throw. If penn st doesn't respect him he will throw for 4td's
We could go down the list here but Ohio State has the better talent. I believe Tressel lets Pryor Throw deep early and often and penn st won't know what hit them. You almost have to spy Pryor every play but at the same time watch for Beanie. This opens up play action and the Tight ends. Bottom line is we have something special going and only bad play calling can stop our offense. Tight end delay route is golden. Play action on first down will get huge yards. The crowd will be a huge factor and I hope they are loud from the first snap to the last. I'm ready to hit somebody is it saturday?
Buzzsaw-
You got me ready to throw some knees and elbows, MMA style. Let's do this!
That's a lot bravado from a team who's probably had more bad games this year than good. I'm as encouraged as anyone that OSU from the Michigan State team, but I think dismissing Penn State like some of you are doing is pretty crazy.
Will weather help us? I think so. But it's not like PSU will be lost out there, they have an incredibly balanced offense that averages more rushing yards per game than ours does. I really hope that they've turned the corner, but the last time we thought that was when they came back at Wisconsin, only to put up an absolute sham of a game against Purdue. A little premature to be so confident.
Has anyone heard anything about Chekwa? I would think he'd be crucial in our plans on defense, having him Jenkins, and Washington basically cover the receivers man-to-man most of the game, so we can cover more ground defensively.
But as always, it's going to come down to the line of scrimmage, especially in the weather that's being forecasted. If the o-line and d-line don't get the pushes we need against their veteran opposing lines, it's going to be a long day.
Go Bucks.
The mood of the fans from week to week is hilarious. Last week you would have thought MSU was going to beat tOSU by 100, now its like OSU is going to CRUSH PSU. cracks me up
BuckeyeSki
"some knees and elbows, MMA style" - Ground & Pound with a rear naked choke hold on Clark.
From what I gathered from the postgame presser, it's Chekwa's shoulder. Not sure what the extent of the injury is but when Tressel asked him, Chekwa said he was "OK".
rationalOSUfan;
I have been upbeat for sometime and was talking some serious trash before & during the Wiscy game.
I called the score 41-17 douche bag.
Buzzsaw, ease up on the Andro. I was at Happy Valley during the white out when Tamba Hali lit up Troy Smith in the back and ended the game for us. Except for a few drunk students, their fans weren't that bad. It was all in good fun. We even had a buddy in his OSU jersey (#13 that read 'Unemployed') having his name chanted in Paternoville. Of course we had to pick him up from the hospital down the road the next morning. He had his pocket full of cash still on him, although he did have some blue 'whiskers' drawn on his face and a note from campus police to call them.
Just don't be 'that' guy cussing out every PSU fan with no regards to whose around you, especially kids. Wisky is the worst. Every student there has a mouth no mother would want to kiss.
Chaos--
I know, some have been upbeat the whole time. But the general mood swing of the fans has been about as drastically inconsistent as the teams play. Justifiably so too I guess.
Chaos-
I'll jack up Derrick Williams with a guillotine choke hold until he doesn't even wanna try to return kicks. LOL
Actually, I'll just send Beanie to do it............
Let's not forget that State Penn has a SOS ranked 82nd (OSU is 8th). Who have they beaten up on? Nobody. That doesn't mean they aren't for real. It just throws a little perspective into the discussion.
Get 'em EMAC.....GET EM!!!!
I'm not going to dismiss PSU, but I think we can all agree that they haven't faced a team as good as OSU. The disclaimer on this is that I expect us to play to our potential and expect Tressel to actually use the other 80% of the playbook.
This game will be close, but I just think OSU's the better team. Are you really going to bet against the Bucks in a Big 10 game, nationally televised, at home? I'm not.
Oh, and if you think this PSU team is as good as their 2005 team, you're crazy. Not a chance. That team was, in my opinion, had a much better defense.
OSU 34
PSU 30
You say that last year Boeckman had his career game against PSU but for OSU to duplicate their success this year we will need some "new looks". I'd say TP is a "new look" and a scary one at that! Good luck containing both of them this year. As I recall, you guys had no answer for Beanie last year, especially late in the game as he abused your LB's and d-backs.
BUZZSAW GOT ME CRUNK UP IN DIS WEBSITE YEAHHH YEAHH HOOT HOOT O H I O
Tampa Buckeye my question to your first post is who has OSU beaten this year? Wisconsin on a last minute drive? An overrated MSU team? Purdue? Oh to buzzsaw did OSU even score a touchdown against that pathetic Purdue D youve been talking about that held PSU to a measley 20. Some of you on here are delusional. I heard this all before the USC game as well
MSU wasn't overated until AFTER we beat them, which oddly seems to happen to every ranked team we beat..."Well garsh, if the Buckeyes beat a ranked team, they must be overated, I mean the suckeyes dont beat anybody good" Well FUCK THAT!
Not to discredit PSU, because they are without a doubt a great team, just not tested, and last time I checked they are choke artists in the 'Shoe. Enough shit talking, I wish saturday was here right now!
My question for Go PSU has Penn St ever beaten Ohio State at Columbus since joining the Big Ten?
Isn't this a better Buckeye Team with Pryor and Beanie in the Backfield then the team that was in SO Cal?
Don't you believe your fans have some payback coming after the way they treated those kids last year?
Bottom line is Ohio State just blew out a top 20 one loss team one the road that took Cal to the brink on the road.
These are also the same teams that matched up last year with except for the Qb's. Now I don't know about you but I like Ohio State's Qb alot better than Penn State's. I guess we will see come Saturday. Ohio State has the better playing team right now and you know it to be true.
Penn St gets exposed sat. night under the lights in the shoe' Go Bucks.
Buckeye fans check out the Penn St youtube vid of them throwing beers at our fans for walking down the wrong street. I feel like we need to welcome them to columbus properly after watching that.
I am stoked...Is it Saturday yet...
The way our fans were treated in State College last year was deplorable, and I know plenty of PSU fans that thought so too. Give visitors hell, whatever, but let's not get down to the level of those guys.
And FYI the main perpetrator in the video is a Pitt student who likely had nothing to do with PSU or OSU and was just drunk.
Even we held Michigan to 10 in the big house. I know, I know N. Illinois Just killed us by 30 points. So I bet Penn St. has a great D just like us since they were able to somehow hold them to 17. Go Rockets!!
Has anyone seen my depends?
I saw that Youtube video last year. How about the Buckeye fans act classy toward visiting PSU fans? Otherwise they will have their own Youtube footage.
the kid on Youtube got arrested - and was a Pitt student not a PSU student.
but it doesn't make any difference if he was the President of PSU: ACTING LIKE A CLASSLESS IDIOT IS FOR JERKS not true Buckeye fans!
what is this "they acted like jerks toward us so we'll show them what real jerk behavior looks like this year!" thinking? if you can see that kid was a loser in how he acted WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BE LIKE HIM OR EVEN OUTDO HIM? who even wants to compete in the "biggest loser" contest? can't we leave that for scUM, Wisky and State Penn to play for?
get a LIFE! it's just a game. win, lose or draw we always want to be the classiest fans on the planet. we'll welcome you to our place, razz you a little in good fun, play as hard as we can and be the first to shake your hand and say "good game" when the clock says zeroes. that's the BUCKEYE way. that's paying forward - starting a cycle of sportsmanship instead of jerk-man-ship.
Yeah, just like the commercial says!
I was thinking maybe the PSU fans can take a quick stroll though Buckeye Grove, but they would miss the game seeing as how it would take them all day.........
Its that kind of thinking that lost us the war in Viet Nam. Your voting for Obama for sure. Go get your wife's purse and grab your balls out of it.
Had we said "Oh well we don't want to be jerks like the Japs" after the bombing of Pearl Harbor I believe we would have lost some respect in the eyes of the world. This is on a smaller scale but It wasn't just one kid it was hundreds. So im not saying throw beer at people wearing Penn St colors. However verbal abuse is totally within the realm of reason, and god forbid those beavers get mouthy. GO BUCKS!
Is this the dairy queen?
Brutus-
So what you're essentially saying then is if someone commits a crime, it is perfectly alright for you to commit a crime against that whole group of people. Even if that person doesn't represent that group? Hmmm sounds logical, I'm sure that's how societies are sustained.
And somehow this is ALL connected to which presidential candidate one votes for... and Vietnam.
Just because some people have fingers and are able to somehow type out words, doesn't always mean they should.
The reason why all these teams are overrated is because MSU doesnt play anybody till OSU. They have weak out of schedule games just like wisconsin just like minnesota just like northwestern. yes they are ranked until they play the real teams in the big ten and then you see them fall fall fall. I'm sure must worse has happened to an opposing fan going to the Shoe. Don't act like you all are the standard for sportsmanship. The only fans that could even compare to be the worst in the country are WVU and lets be honest we are talking about a bunch of inbred hicks there
I'm glad Brutus is our mascot because he is old school "eye for an eye." That being said, lets not take pot shots at JoePa. The man is an institution and has done a lot for the game of football.
Its perfectly ok to laugh at his BTN commercial, but not at crapping your pants. Who hasn't thought they had to fart but got a not so sweet surprise? Nobody else? Oh.... nevermind.
Brutus, you're being an idiot.
Even after the way we treated Texas fans in Cbus they treated Ohio State fans wonderfully in Austin. It's simple, two wrongs don't make a right.
Let's get back to the game...
JoePa saw the Passion of the Christ live.
As i read the post's the Buckeye fan can yet realize Tressel is not a elite coach, just look at the team you are playing, they have half the talent, half the returning starters but yet are the better team 1+1=2 or in this case coaching. I feel bad for Pryor because he has a coach that won't let him play and makes him scared and has Tress ever produce a NFL QB and the one year you had a great offense was all about talent and not coaching. I really think Tressel should be coaching in the MAC, hate all you want the year you were National Champs you almost lost three times that was piss poor coaching you could have had one of the greatest runs in history but got outcoached everytime and now no matter what you are ranked outside of Ohio you are made fun of and that is the truth. Buckeye fans if you can't see coaching is a problem then wait and see, also you thought what a great game against MSU you better check that, MSU is not a good team they lost to CAL and have not beaten a decent team guess there is the problem the Big Ten is weak like your coach so you think unrational and don't realize Tressel has been so lucky that the conference sucks but you do have the punt down to a Science!!! Good luck this weekend if you think you can throw ten passes and win good luck its 2008 not 1968.
Alright, sorry Kyle...
"COME TO PENNNNN STTAAAATTEEEE!!!"
My last post until I hear another outrageous comment. PSU hasn't played anyone but they have kicked the dog snot out of everyone they have played. They didn't squeek by wisconsin or anyone else for that fact. OSU has been tested once and they were destroyed (insert the cries about no pryor and no wells). But the fact is do you honestly believe those two would make up for that 32 point deficit. I highly doubt that. So don't bring up this PSU hasn't beaten anybody non sense cause neither have you
Look, Les Miles is back under the name Todd Blackledge.... has some originial thoughts this time too!!!
Anybody remember when Penn State joined the Big 10 with chests puffed out crowing about how they were going to dominate? How has that worked out for you?
All I'm saying is I can't wait to put up ANOTHER picture for my computer background of Beanie "Stiff Arm of Justice" Wells....Go PSU...which one of your DB's would you like Mr. Wells to make look childish? He took MSU's corner right off his feet and didn't break stride....and MSU has a WAAAY better secondary than State Penn. God I hope its anthony Scrotum or Sciratto or however you spell that saftey's last name.......
After you do that i'll put up my picture of royster running right by laurinaitis untouched or a pic of clark with no one in the background just standing in the endzone
i don't know if anyone else has brought this up, but can we nominate the "2thelionfootball" blog as the definitive penn state blog.
no anonymous, we cant. that chick is UGLY
I think Ohio State will have me working hard all night.
You own us Ohio State.
Brutus --
somewhere a village is missing its idiot and you are badly needed.
this isn't war and the people from Penn State are AMERICANS and they are coming to see a football game not take our civil liberties from us.
please don't EVER denigrate our soldiers and the cause of freedom by comparing football to war again. such is a disservice to men like JOHN McCAIN (who will receive my vote) who really went to battle.
as for verbal abuse - keep it clean for the sake of kids and be sure to wear your maize and yellow colors so everyone knows exactly who the drunk jerk really cheers for.
I found this video check it out Fellow Penn State fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
So what you’re essentially saying then is if someone commits a crime, it is perfectly alright for you to commit a crime against that whole group of people. Even if that person doesn’t represent that group? Hmmm sounds logical, I’m sure that’s how societies are sustained-
--BG Buckeye.
So I guess since all the people that acted out 9/11 died during the attack that means we shouldn't go after their people? It sounds like the American way to me. You do love your country, don't you?
You would either be a pussy like those kids that got beer thrown on them or you would stand up and fight for Buckeye fans. I know I would of been down to throw but I guess thats why this country is so fucked up.
No, what he is saying is, just because a Pitt student acted like an a -hole toward Ohio State fans last year in State College is NOT a reason to treat PSU fans like crap when they come to cheer their team in Columbus. It doesn't have anything to do with 9/11 or Afghanistan or defending your country or getting revenge when someone commits a crime. Come on, get a grip!
Let's keep politics bullshit out of this please.
Win or lose one thing is certain your town will look like this after the game. Good going OSU! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
[...] of a crowded city. Not what I anticipated when reading comments like these at Mike's guest post on 11W.. Cont... __________________ Oderint dum [...]