Preview: #10 Ohio State vs. #3 Penn State
Evan Royster: He Good
 #10 Ohio State 7-1, 4-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
October 25, 2008 8:00 PM ET – ABC —— Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH |
 #3 Penn State 8-0, 4-0 Big Ten Roster | Schedule |
College football is a wonderful thing. Just six weeks after being completely humbled by Southern Cal and thinking the Buckeyes’ season might as well have been over, here we are staring down another huge game.
In Penn State, the Buckeyes welcome the #3 team in the country and that’s with the handicap of playing in the Big Ten and its perceived lack of skilled players. 35 first half points on that Oregon State team that beat the mighty Trojans? 48 in Madison? 46 against Michigan last week? (And yes, those two teams aren’t exactly the class of the Big Ten this season, but 48 and 46?!)
The catalyst for this explosion are the two rocky offseasons that featured back-to-back top-eight finishes in the Fulmer Cup and a punchy Joe Paterno getting grilled by ESPN, the "Joe-Must-Go" chorus was reaching a deafening level in and around State College.
Then came the announcement. The team would be breaking out a new offense called the "Spread HD". At first, it was nothing more than a punch line or a diversion from the off-field problems, but that offense has been a smashing success — and then some. Though Paterno will be confined to the booth for the game, that offense is in more than capable hands with Galen Hall. The Buckeye defense is going to have its hands full.
My goodness do the Buckeyes ever have a game to get up for. A chance to play spoiler and move into a better bowl by possibly changing some minds around the country. And it’s the de facto Big Ten championship. The weather is looking more and more like it might cooperate and stay dry for kickoff, but regardless, the Horseshoe will be ringed with scarlet hooliganism propped up by a long sauce-fueled day. And WE GOT FREAKIN’ LIGHTS!!
Opponent
Credit for Penn State’s offensive turnaround really must be split primarily between quarterback Daryll Clark and running back Evan Royster. Both first-year starters, even Lion fans would be hard-pressed to tell you which one has been more valuable to the team’s success this year.
Clark, a native of The Yo, has really been the anti-Morelli. Whereas Morelli was the highly-touted high school recruit that turned in a rather forgettable career at Penn State, Clark kind of arrived at Penn State under the radar a little. He has Juice size (6-2/231) and is making the most of his first season as a starter and is killing teams with his arm and his legs. He’s sporting a 11/2 touchdown to interception ratio, eight rushing touchdowns and like his counterpart with the Buckeyes, a flawless record as a starter. He’s had a bit of a fumble problem as of late and plays with emotion that sometimes leads to mistakes, but he’s also a huge reason the Nittany Lions are so darn good on third down.
Royster has been just as good. He’s failed to crack the century mark in only three games this year — and all three were 40+ point Penn State victories. Fresh off an 18 carry, 174 yard day against the Wolverines, he’s good for a little over a touchdown a game. And he’s fresh. Despite putting up 893 yards in only eight games, he’s yet to carry the ball even 20 times in a contest. He gets his yards behind a unit that Marcus Freeman called "the best offensive line we’ve seen,", led by senior A.Q. Shipley, quite possibly the best center in the nation. The line has been extremely good, but not quite perfect. Guard Stefen Wisniewski has a hobbled ankle and there is some concern amongst the faithful over their third-and-short performance lately, which was 0-3 against Michigan and similarly bad against Purdue. But when you’re complaining about that after a 46-7 win, you know things really can’t be all that bad.
Through the air, Penn State will go the senior triumvirate of Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams. The three received adequate amounts of hype as freshman when they burst onto the scene and helped the team to that BCS bowl bid following the 2005 season. None of the three have Nintendo numbers, but Butler and Norwood have doubled-up Robo and Hartline’s numbers, and Williams is dangerous in the backfield as well as in the return game.
Maybin has been a pleasantsurprise for Penn State
The injury to captain Sean Lee was huge in the spring and Linebacker U hasn’t exactly found that next superstar backer yet, so they’ll continue to rotate bodies, though sophomore Navorro Bowman figures to see a lot of time. The defensive front, however, is making up for any uneasy linebacker play and is phenomenal. Tackle Jared Odrick is solid and the ends feature Maurice Evans and his 12.5 sacks of a year ago and Aaron Maybin and his 10 sacks of 2008. Due to academic problems, Maybin wasn’t even on the roster back in August, but once cleared, he stepped into Evans’ role during his suspension and quickly mastered the position — his three sacks against Wisconsin attest to that. Both ends are fast and fast ends help contain quarterbacks that like to run outside.
Just to give you one more thing to worry about, the Penn State secondary is right up there with the Buckeye secondary at the top of the conference in pass defense. Part of their schedule is complete crap, but 11 interceptions against only four touchdowns allowed is pretty fresh no matter which way you cut it. The star of the unit is senior safety Anthony Scirrotto. He suffered a concussion against Michigan last week, but is expected to be play Saturday night.
NOTES: Penn State is playing its 4th road game in five games… Joe Paterno is 7-12 against Ohio State… Joe Paterno first started coaching when Truman was still in the White House… Ohio State is the only Big Ten school with a better record than Penn State over the past four years… Penn State is seeking its 10th 9-0 start under Paterno… There are eight Ohioans on the Penn State roster.
Buckeye Breakdown
Though he’s had his share of rookie mistakes and growing pains, Terrelle Pryor has stepped up each time he has been asked to do so. First was the game-winning drive and touchdown to pull out the victory in Madison and then, in his 2nd game worthy of Mark May’s scrutiny, he kick-started the 45-7 romp against Michigan State last weekend. If he gets off to a similar start at home against Penn State, the results could be glorious.
I am worried about a couple of things, however. First, I think the pressure of playing in front of the quick-to-boo home crowd gets to this team. They are definitely a much looser team on the road (save for one terrifying night in mid-September). Second, lost in the tale of Pryor’s request for Tressel to bench him last weekend if he didn’t start hot was Tresel’s witty quip that if he threw an interception, he’d take care of that. This gels with what others have said about the Vests insistence on avoiding turnovers coming at the expense in the growth of quarterbacks. If Pryor comes out and plays loose, he’s one of the top two or three players on the field. If not, we’re in for some of the tentative, long sack stuff which causes mass stomach pains in Franklin County.
Beanie was nicely primed last week with his 31 carries in East Lansing. I’d love to see him get 30 more this weekend, nursing an early two touchdown lead, but whatever his touches, Penn State has not seen a back of his level since, well, the last time these two teams met. I promise high quality stills of the moment he plants his hand into Scirrotto’s grill because it will happen. Still, the Penn State defensive front will make him work. If he can get to the next level, there will be mad yardage because their linebackers are not what they usually trot out, but he’ll have to get through that line first and hope the Buckeye line can do its job helping him do so.
Speaking of the line, it looks like we’re closer to nailing down the starting five. After getting a surprise start at right guard last weekend, Rehring is now penciled-in as the starter for that spot in the most recent depth chart (PDF). Person is listed as his backup and though earlier in the year, I personally would have probably taken Person over Rehring, Big Steve was pwning Spartans last weekend. Boone and particularly Browning will get a workout with Penn State’s ends. I really expect the Lions to attack Browning as often as possible, so he’ll need to come ready to play.
The receivers have been sitting on ice as of late, but they will be needed to have any chance at a victory. I’m not sure 11 attempts will cut it this weekend. We’re still tracking the emergence of Posey and Flash and Saturday would be the perfect breakout opportunity for one of them.
Raise your hand if you thought the starting defensive ends heading into this game would be Rob Rose and Thaddeus Gibson. As crazy as that would have sounded back in July, the new blood has definitely provided a spark to a defensive front that was sputtering just three weeks ago. Gibson has been a force and Rose set the tone early against Sparty by getting into the backfield on Michigan State’s first play of the game. Curtis Terry and Nathan Williams will continue to provide depth at end and I feel good about all four of them going into this game.
It will be interesting to watch the linebackers as they were getting handled early last year by the Penn State offensive line before the score got out of hand and the Lions had to abandon the run. Laurinaitis is coming off his finest game of the season wants to continue to prove us naysayers wrong for saying that he might have been a tad overrated heading into the season. Freeman may see some spy duty on Clark (along with Hines), but clearly for the Buckeyes to have a chance at slowing down Royster, they’ll need to be on.
Not much to worry about in the Buckeye secondary. Partly because that’s been the best-performing unit the past few weeks (Jenkins for team MVP? He’s good-best!) and also because Clark won’t kill a team through the air. He’s effective, but he’s not going to go Graham Harrell on anybody. Having Chekwa available is big, but I sleep better at night knowing that if for some reason he can’t go, the backup has two MNC starts under his belt.
NOTES: Note 1… Note 2… The home team has won 12 of 15 games in this series… Ohio State is 63-18-5 in homecoming games; Tressel’s only loss at OSU in a homecoming game came in 2001 against Wisconsin (20-17)… Musberger, Herbstreit and Lisa Salters will be calling the game for ABC… The JHC will be honored at halftime for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame on 12/9.
Prediction
I feel good about this one. I hope it’s not misguided swagger and I realize that this is the best Penn State team Tressel has faced at Ohio State, but the teams match-up from a talent perspective and I believe they have a mental edge over the Lions — especially in Columbus. The Buckeyes have done an excellent job this season creating turnovers and I know it’s something they worked hard on during the offseason, but they’ll need to do more of the same Saturday. I’m really hoping for clear weather and maybe a Flash kickoff return to get things started.
Ohio State 26, Penn State 20
I am so ridiculously hyped up for this game. It’s been a while since the Buckeyes have had to play as underdogs in the Big1T1en, let alone at home, so it’s got the makings of a classic. Forgetting about that one Saturday in SoCal, this is OSU’s biggest game of the season… and PSU’s only game of the season. I’m ready to play spoiler for the MNC hopefuls.
Great analysis. Very true about the criticisms of this Buckeye team playing at home… they might be better playing elsewhere because lately they seemed too comfortable at home and don’t seem to play with that chip on their shoulder.
RE: the poll
I normally prefer taking the ball at the second half, but so far it has worked for JT and the gang. They have been able to take an early lead and control the tempo of the game, then go into the second half and force a punt on the opponent’s first drive. They’ve been able to do that consistently so if it’s working then run with it.
But if it were my call I’d defer.
if we can somehow get a 21-28 point lead, i want to see titus and peters.
Look for Terrelle in Hightops to be cheering on LeBron in Cleats tomorrow.
http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2008/10/osu_insider_lebron_eager_to_su.html
Ridiculously hyped doesnt even begin to describe tomorrow’s anticipation for me. I might go to sleep early tonight, just to catch GameDay with a brewski and a bowlpack to start the morning off right.
I agree w/ flip in that usually I’d advise deferring to the second half, but it has been working. Pryor doesn’t have, or at least doesn’t show, any signs of “first drive jitters” ever.
Can’t wait to see some Silver Bullets flying Saturday night in the mighty ‘Shoe….hell I cant wait to hear Herbie and Musberger trying to talk over the O-H…..I-O!!!! chant before kickoff!!!!
Nice, Morgan..Me, too, because neither are afterthoughts!
PSU has never scored more than 10 pts in the Shoe since becoming a Big-11 member and they have had some pretty good teams in the past. Stop the run and force Clark to throw…….. we win if that happens. Beanie left, Beanie right….. goes for 150
OSU 23 PSU 13
Read this in the Scouts, Inc. preview at espn.com:
“Neither of the offensive tackles is especially athletic and RT Dennis Landolt can get pushed back into the quarterback by a strong bull-rusher like Michigan DE Brandon Graham, who worked Landolt over last week. ”
I read this and immediately thought of Nathan Williams. I’d like to see d-line disruption this week.
I can’t wait to see Beanie under lights. I am calling for the Silver Bullets tomorrow night and we are going to see Bucks be the most physical they have been the whole year. I can’t see a team with Maurice Wells sized wideouts beating Jenkins and Company. I am sure we will get the ball first and to script it out, I see Thomas getting us out to the Forty then a mix of Pryor and Wells down to the 15 then Pryor hits Robo on a deep out then its on.
I’m lovin’ the Terrelle in HighTops support, nice find flip
My biggest fears for this game is a repeat of Illinois 2007 with Clark playing Juice and Royster playing Mendenhall. My other fear is Heacock getting into his “big Game conservative” mode where we play safe zones and get chewed up by the underneath passing routes.
Great write-up. I’ve always enjoyed the previews best.
The game will determine the front-runner for the conference, but I think all three of Ohio State’s remaining games are fraught with peril. The Purple Kitties can cause problems on the Lake; we always – always – seem to lay an egg in Champaign, and a season finale against an archrival can’t be sneezed at – regardless of how paltry m*ch*g*n’s offense looks.
Let’s hope OSU straps it on and lays a whipping on p*nn st*t*. Next to m*ch*g*n and Bucky, this is the team in the Big T(elev)en I dislike the most.
(If Paterno survives this game, he still has a road trip to Iowa. Iowa hasn’t played anyone, but they can run a little, and you never know. Lots of games left to be played.)
Not to look ahead and be Nostradomus like, but Shonn Greene def. runs for over 100 against PSU. He is sick. And PSU’s D will be all sorts of beat up after tomorrow night.
Where did they get Greene? I thought Iowa was all but running back-less coming into the season? Is he a position convert?
Give ‘em hell, Buckeyes! Do the Trojan fans a favor, and have PSU beat by early 3Q, so we can watch USC-Arizona uninterrupted. I actually may be more excited for tOSU & PSU game, than I am for USC tomorrow night. Nah…that’s impossible.
Fight On!
WeAreSC,
Out of curiosity, why are you pulling for OSU? Any implications of the Rose Bowl or the title game behind it?
Flip, the better we look, the better 35-3 looks for them.
Chief
Hey Flip,
I’d love to see tOSU completely redeem/vindicate themselves and shut the experts up, who questioned whether you were a national contender, as well as those that wanted Jim Tressel fired. Tressel has always struck me as 100% class. And when he could have played Chris Wells at <100% against us, he considered the kids future and sat him. I think that says a lot about Tressel’s character.
And frankly, we need 3 of the 4 teams ahead of us in the BCS to lose for SC to get back to the national championship, and tOSU beating PSU would be a great start. Obviously, by stumbling against the other OSU, we may have shot ourselves in the foot, but Trojans are sick of the Rose Bowl.
I would love to get back to the Fiesta Bowl or even a Rose Bowl…if we lose this, Capital One, here we come…
rose bowl would still take a 10-2 big ten team because penn st would be a lock for the title game.
“if we lose this, Capital One, here we come…”
Actually, beating the devil out of an SEC team in that game would do the program a lot of good. I’d rather beat a Florida or LSU in the Capital One Bowl than beat always-choking Oklahoma in the MNC.
Why don’t Bob Stoops and Oklahoma get a reputation for choking? Their bowl record stinks.
I’m oddly confident about this game, too. I shouldn’t be. I’ve been a Cassandra most of the season, but for some reason, I see the defense forcing turnovers early and often and the offense actually putting it in the end zone. Sorta like last week but not a rout in any sense of the word.
I was actually surprised by this stat: Darryl Clark has passed for only 11 TDs. I know they’re a run-based team but I figured he had a lot more than that, given his receivers and the supposed balance of the offense.
Because they haven’t been hyped to heaven like OSU has in the past decade. Familiarity breeds contempt.
Win or lose, I think we’re a lock for the Rose Bowl. A win would be safer, because you knock PSU out of the title picture, and USC just might get into the NC, and we’d end up facing a weak Pac10 #2 team instead. But how impressive would that be?
The other scenario would be a loss to PSU, and in that case I see the Lions as a lock for the title game, making us #2 Big 10 and going to the Rose Bowl likely against USC. Unless Texas/Bama manage to stumble along the way. Bama I see that happening to. Texas looks like it just can’t be outscored unless someone breaks Colt’s fingers.
Hell a rematch of USC v Texas just might happen… which is fine with me. As long as their fans don’t start any funny conference chants.
Beating the SEC in the Cap One bowl would be great. I just want to win out. Michigan and the Bowl game especially…
Chanting the conference name was a sign of pride to be playing in the best conference in college football. Why would that be dumb? You all get angry about how everyone says the big ten is weak but it is. I guarantee you that you weren’t rooting for Michigan over Florida last year. Yet, you are upset that people think the big ten is a second rate conference.
I actually do root for the B10 teams in the bowls. Why wouldnt you?
“I guarantee you that you weren’t rooting for Michigan over Florida last year.”
I swear to GOD I was.
As much as we hate Michigan, they are my favorite team compared to any SEC team. Ok, thats a bit extreme, but I would take the fuck-squad up north over bama, georgia, or florida ANY DAY
Don’t understand the Buckey faithfull. Y’all have deified a nut that plays in a “horeshoe”. Your ego’s are bigger than Joepa’s glasses. PSU may have convicts…but OSU is not lilly white either…Maurice the “I don’t know how the gun got in my back seat” Clarette, whom Tressel aloud to play to win the MNC even though he knew him to be a thug….to Woody “I’ve got a right better than you” Hayes…to lets not forget…the Gambling Guru, Art Schlister.
Ok I do have respect for those who said they were rooting for michigan. MAD respect even though reading the last couple articles people were blogging about many of you said you werent rooting for michigan over psu which wouldve helped your cause. Hmmmm but with these computer systems maybe not
All of whom are not currently on the roser or the sideline Southerlion.
Keep smoking the weed you bought from your defensive line. And please don’t send Scoirotti and the boys after me either.
Ditto Joe, Jason does a sweet job on the preview. I hope coach listens to our stats on first down when Pryor passes. First down passes will be huge for us, espically when you know they will be playing the run. All tihs being said i think Pryor will have a chip on his shoulder and i think he will play a little bit looser and take some chances. The second quater will be the key to game and Heacock needs to make Clark make quick decision and make his arm beat us. This will be the game to see what kind of charcter we have and to get the Buckeye Swagger back and make sure everybody knows we own the Big Ten!
Within the Big10 Michigan is always the enemy. When it comes to nonconference I think the majority of the OSU fanbase roots for the Big10. Everyone I know celebrated when Michigan beat the Florida SuperTebows and gave them much respect for doing so. But when the Big 10 returns to a power conference status, trust that we won’t be pathetic enough to puff our chests out as the best conference in the universe and be all WE ARE! BIG 10! or whatever chant you can come up with.
Root for your team. There is no University of SEC.
And way to change your name, SEC/GO PSU. Such a winner that continues to peruse a blog that doesn’t even concern him just to insult everyone.
SEC,
EVERY Buckeye fan I know was rooting for scUM to beat Florida last year. We just didn’t claim superiority over the college football world because someone in our conference won. While we root for Big Ten teams out of conference, we don’t chant “Big Ten” “Big Ten” and claim success for what other Big Ten teams did like the do down in the SEC.
As for last week. We rooted for Penn St. because the higher they are, the better we look when we beat them. That is why we want scUM being 11-0 every year going into THE GAME, because it makes us look better when we win (and seeing the anguish on their faces is priceless!). You get it?
Sourtherlion,
Really!?! Do want to start comparing rap sheets? State Penn has had more arrests this year than Tressel has had at all his years at Ohio State combined. No Shit. You have a damn good football team, I’ll give you that, but the facts say this is an argument you can’t win.
I’d be making excuses if my team lost everytime at Ohio Stadium.
Yeah, I was a Michigan fan myself for one day in January. Only time in my life I’ve ever cursed when Mike Hart fumbled the ball.
Screw Mike Hart. I laughed when he fumbled… oh wait, so did he. What a soldier.
OSU 76 (Missed extra point) Penn State 2
Love the optimism Palm Beach Buckeye! Looking forward to Beanie and the introuduction of his stiff arm Steve by Mussberger in Prime Time!
Look at the common opponents, and you can say “Wisconson mailed it in after we beat them” but it was still camp randell at night same as the bucks. You can say “PSU hasn’t beaten anybody yet” and your right every team on our schedule so far that was supposed to be good has shat the bed, but we have pretty much blown them all out and that is what good teams do. I know you are all OSU fans so I respect and expect you to pick your team, what i don’t understand is no one respecting a good PSU team? This team is better than the 2005 team becasue it has a better lines and more senior leadership. Pick the bukceyes because you are fans and they have a great team this year but respect the lions and eat crow sunday if they pull it out in the shoe.
PSU 24 OSU 21 OT
I think we have a decent chance to beat PSU, but frankly would not be surprised if we lost by 3 TDs. Until someone stops that Offense, I’m not convinced they can be stopped. As always, turnovers and special teams play can decide things. But I think we’re going to need a few of each to be competitive.
Oh, I worship the tree, not the fruit.
I agree with PSUell on one point. Although they haven’t beaten anybody very good yet, that’s out of their control. What they can control is humping all of them by large amounts. That’s what the Buckeyes did last season and in 06 (and what they haven’t done this year- see Purdue, Ohio U, etc.).
Tyler yes i get it. did you not read my post thoroughly. If you did then there was no need for you to waste your time writing to me. The SEC chant was in regards to their dominance over every other conference in the bowl games. I’m 100% positive they also chanted LSU.
Great post as always…
I like JoPa (hell, I hope I’m still able to even remember who I am when I get to be his age) and he and his team deserve all the respect in the world. Anyone who says PSU isn’t a good team this year doesn’t know shit from apple butter.
However, I think OSU wins it by a nut
Senator McVest 31
Fightin’ JoPa 28
Word is Terrelle in Hightops gave the football team a peptalk today. To be a fly on the wall….
“… Buckey faithfull … in a “horeshoe”… Your ego’s … OSU is not lilly white either… Maurice Clarette, whom Tressel aloud … lets not forget… Art Schlister.”
I can’t count the errors. Maybe it’s close to quitting time on a Friday, but I should surely be able to count the spelling and punctualization errors here, and I can’t.
I sincerely hope this is just a Paterno Fan Boy trolling, because if this yutz really is a Southerner, I’m quite embarrassed to be a Southerner myself.
Honestly, folks: Southerners can spell.
Let’s get back to basics here. This is after all a Buckeye sports blog. Not a conference supremacy blog, nor a commentable Ohio State article on ESPN.com.
That being said, there’s three possible ways I see this game playing out:
1. Much like Michigan in ‘06 this game could turn into a good ol’ fashioned Pac-10 shootout if both of these high powered offenses gets rolling. Simply put, when either of these offensive 11’s gets going, I don’t think there’s a defense in the world that can stop them for maybe a series here or there. This is also the kind of game where penalties can be killer and whoever gets into the most 1st and 15s or 1st and 20s could very well end up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, as neither team likes to pass very much. That being said, if this game turns into a shootout, either team could come out victorious and there’s really no way of saying who will.
2. Seeing as how this is the best defense PSU will face all year (with the exception of their bowl game) OSU’s D could shut them down, or at least limit them under the obscene points averages they’ve been putting up all year. If this is the case look for OSU to win by some score like 21-10 or 21-13.
3. OSU’s defense could step up under the lights and limit PSU’s offense to some meager yards and limited points while our offense struggles under the pressures of playing at night in primetime in front of 105,000 fans who would go crazy at the first sight of a red-zone field goal. This scenario would probably end in a score like 10-7 or 7-3, with either side winning.
Overall, I think this is going to be a great game, probably one of the best regular season games we’re going to see this year. Hopefully we see one of those good ol’ fashioned Big Ten smash mouth games that comes down to the wire. Believe it or not, I find those prime time SEC games which normally end in the mid-30s with one team coming from behind after being down from halftime rather boring. Not that its not exciting, it is, but I find them very predictable in that the team that looks worse in the first half will probably turn it around in the 2nd while the other team collapses and loses. (Sans UF-LSU). I’m not ragging on the SEC, they have very exciting games, but I just prefer those grinding B10 games.
Its nice to know we are in the Penn st fans heads. The should be scared it gets ugly on campus after dark. This has to be the biggest game since michigan 06′. They think our offense sucks basicly. They also think Terrelle can’t throw for shit. They also think this Buckeye team isn’t as good as the teams in the past. Well they are right about that we are better. Does anyone just have the feeling like when Troy was here that T.P won’t let this team lose?
I remember when we were down at wisconsin just thinking no big deal TP will bring it home. Bottom line is Penn St should be worried because the pressure is on them to win. That being great news for Ohio State because when they go into a game relaxed and focused its fun to watch.
I think the “Scarlet Fever” crowd is going to be so jacked that the Buckeyes won’t have to be worried about Boos. I think there is going to be so much adrenaline flowing that the Buckeyes will only be nervous and tight until the kickoff.
If it rains, this game reminds me a little of when the #1 Iowa Hawkeyes, under Hayden Fry, came into Ohio Stadium and got beat by Earle Bruce and the Buckeyes in 1987(? – I think)
The biggest key is the defense waking up. Before it seemed to go through the motions. Now they are actually crushing teams. Kurt Coleman had a brutal hit! KURT COLEMAN. Now I want to see Anderson Russell beat up some dudes.
Buckeye Blitz can suck my balls, by the way.
If this defense can assume a menacing personality, and keep it, we should roll.
PSU fan here, but not here to troll. I see a lot of folks here predicting a complete shutdown of the PSU offense. Well, I can’t honestly say who will win, but I doubt OSU will keep Penn State under 20 points. This is a very balanced offense, especially in the red zone. One poster noted that Clark ‘only’ has 11 TD passes, but he has 8 on the ground as well. For the most part these are from rums inside the 10. PSU’s offense tends to get 20-30 yard chunks between the 20s, then finish inside the 20 largely because Royster, Clark or a receiver is an option to get the call.
OK, I don’t see PSU’s offense rolling up more than 400 yards of offense. If OSU scores early and can keep pounding PSU on the ground, OSU could even win comfortably. But this offense is somewhere between the ‘94 and ‘05 offenses in terms of its efficiency. I would be very surprised to see PSU scoring in the teens (with the possibly exception of OSU also scoring in the teens because of several 6-10 minute drives).
Well Purdue held you to 20 so why would a better defense with a ball control offense hold you to less then 20?
SEC,
I didn’t hear any “Big Ten” “Big Ten” “Big Ten” chants after any of the 3 victories the Big Ten had over the SEC in the last 2 years of bowl games. Moreover, I didn’t hear any “Big East” “Big East” “Big East” chants after last night’s DRUBBING of Auburn at the hands of WVU. If you guys are so much more superior, how come you guys don’t chant it when you get embarrassed on national TV? The SEC is overrated this year by a lot, games like Tennessee/UCLA and Auburn/WVU make that clear. You’re in for a rude awakening after this years’ bowl season when you’ll lose 2/3 of your bowl games in your own territory.
WeAreSC, I know you’re a classy fan and all, but keep in mind that this team you’re watching tomorrow night is not the team you beat in September. I know that’s not translating well in the polls, but considering how Ohio State plays with Todd Boeckman and without Beanie Wells, SC doesn’t have a single quality win this year in my opinion. I don’t think your win over us should boost your national standing when you’re getting beat by the likes of Oregon State, and winning in a conference that has gone 1-6 against the MWC, and beating teams that are down to their 4th string QBs. Likewise, losing to USC by 32 points should keep us out of the title game, as well, regardless what happens against Penn State tomorrow.
We’ll come to that bridge when it arrives, but for now, if Ohio State wins out, they will have beaten ranked Minnesota, (possibly) Northwestern, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Penn State teams. USC will only have one win over a ranked opponent by season’s end and has a loss to an unranked team.
Alright on to the Buckeyes. WE’RE GOING TO CRUSH PENN STATE!!! They think they know what Ohio State is all about, but it doesn’t matter. Beanie and Terrell are unstoppable.
I always wondered what Lebron James would look like in the Shott. Looks good on that floor.
Now that I think about it he did play there in the state finals. WHERE ARE ALL THE FANS FOR THIS GAME?Way to represent cbus
Its Friday, we’re getting ready to get drunk, leave us alone.
Love ya Bucks fan, have not beaten a decent team for 5 years and yet this years team shows promise(please put the bong down). Classic, Beanie might be unstoppable expect you call run plays everytime ,guess thats why you have one solid victory where you looked like the better team not counting non divison 1 teams. Keep believing and we will see if you can hang: my guess same old 1920 game plan cannot throw won’t be able to win. I see why everybody hates the SEC its hard to to like a conference when you have yet to beat them ever. Karma that will always be your problem!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it is great that the PSU posters have so much confidence in their team this year, especially after the beatdown that the Bucks delivered in un-Happy Valley last year. They are hungry for a victory in the “Shoe”, a conference championship and a possible berth in the NCG. If they lose they could be on suicide watch this Sunday like they were last year. I won’t predict a score but I expect an explosive game with lots of big plays. Turnovers and special teams will rule the night, IMHO. I think we finally see TB play a significant role in a big game tomorrow night. Surprise…Surprise!!
Tampa Buckeye, I think the Purdue game is abnormal as far as this season goes. PSU didn’t finish off drives well and largely was content to suck up the clock running the ball. There are counterexamples like the Oregon State and Michigan games where PSU absolutely lit up decent defenses. I’m looking at the season as a whole, not one game.
I take the same view on Ohio State. The USC loss was one game. The MSU game was one win as well. Penn State’s defense has been average to very good, while the offense has been good to unstoppable. OSU’s defense has been good to awesome, the the offense has been mediocre to very good. Looks like a balanced matchup to me. There have been games like OSU-Florida that looked completely lopsided on paper that turned out the other way; the game ain’t played on paper!
As for confidence in the PSU team, there’s offensive leadership now. The O-line and Clark have shown the ability to bounce back from a bad stretch. Clark has shown leadership abilities similar to Troy Smith, and his ascension to starter is not all that different. Morelli never had the mindset to recover from mistakes or lead late in the game. Clark is untested late, but he has responded well to the few tough stretches the team has faced.
IF you win by 10+ points, by all means, bragging right are well earned. But I don’t see a big OSU blowout happening.
For SEC, your conference is the third best conference. Jeff Sagarin says so. Quit living in the past.
About the game, It seems like it is going to come to the OSU offensive line and how much they have actually improved over the last few games. Motion penalties, missed assignments and general poor play seemd to be the problem the first 3 games. Are they finally finding their groove with the new starters?
Whats Funny is how all these douche bags will go away after saturday night.
Tampa, it’s OSU fans like you that give all OSU fans a bad name. If y’all win tonight, I’ll give credit where it’s due. Clearly trying to discuss the game in terms other than “Buckeyez is rulz” and “Lionz FAIL” was expecting too much.
Just some simple Math:
PSU > Oregon St > USC > OSU
Damn, Doc’s right. I don’t know why I don’t take his equation to Vegas and clean house.
Tampa Buckeye–you were right about PSU scoring low, I’ll give you that. But I also allowed for the possibility of a low-scoring ball control game, which is what we actually got. And notice PSU took advantage of its opportunities.
You’re right, us douche bags will be gone after tonight. No need to listen to bandwagon fans like you rationalize a loss. It was a big time game and one error that was duly capitalized upon decided the game. Don’t rationalize or make excuses, just learn to accept OSU is not the best team in every game.