After having watched the game last night a few things stood out. TTUN was outmatched, not in athletes but coaching, and PSU will not be the pushover most of us were hoping.
PSU wasn't vastly superior to TTUN but they did on multiple occasions out-scheme them. The first run or offensive snap was a bust by the linebackers yes, and once Barkley gets into the open field, its goodnight. That could happen to anybody, after that they fairly contained Barkley on the ground the remainder of the game. He finished with a decent stat line 15 carries 108 yards, but minus the 69-yarder he would have had 14 carries for 39 yards.
Where PSU completely outmatched TTUN was in TTUN's linebackers. They had probably they're worse game of the season. Time after time Barkley would be matched up in coverage with McCray, and McCray wouldn't have a chance in the world to stick with him 1vs1.
On the PSU run/pass options we've been hearing about in the BH all week, the linebackers would bite hard leaving an easy pass right behind them on a slant. Where TTUN really made there mistake was in the defensive gameplan. After the first run of the game (touchdown run) Don Brown completely sold out on trying to stop Barkley. The problem was that PSU has just enough offensive weapons to take advantage of UM overplaying to Barkley. Also PSU found the weak links in UM's defense (Kinnel and McCray in coverage and attacked those two all night)
When PSU did get behind the chains, McSorley would arm punt and with Gesicki and Hamilton, they have the ability to come down with a few of those balls.
What we need to do is play sound defensive football. We won't be able to afford to bring help from the secondary or the backers to bite hard on the play action. The front seven will need to play their run fits perfectly. Keep Barkley and McSorley contained rather than trying to come downfield hard, and gang tackle.
Similar to the gameplan against UW in 2014 we need to play 9 strong this game, and I would tackle or hit Barkley EVERY SINGLE PLAY, whether he has the ball or its a fake. Play press man coverage on the outside, and Gesicki should NEVER have a free release, we need to pound him every play as well. Our defensive line should produce a lot more pressure than UM's did last night, they did unitize a few twists and stunts effectively.
If we can do these things I predict we can walk away with a win at night in the shoe. Our offense is 10,000x better than UM so we shouldn't have so many three and outs.
I predict we win 38-24
