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Written by Duane Long   
Friday, 06 November 2009 14:42

I do not feel good about this game. I think we have a decent shot but we have to be better than we have been recently. Consistency is an issue, not just for Pryor but overall. I think fans are getting too excited about having Larimore back. Being back and being healthy are two different things. He has been off for so long I can't imagine he is going to step in and play at the same level he was when he went down. A tackle pushing the pocket back is as important to the pass rush as the ends coming off the edges.

Keys to victory:

- We have to protect Pryor. Penn State is 4th in the nation in sacks. We have been vulnerable. I am very worried about left tackle. I argued for years with fans that Alex Boone was a solid tackle. Now we are seeing that he was. More Miller is a good thing. Cordle is lost out there.

- We have to get to Clark. He has yet to be good in a big game but recently he looks like he might be on the verge of changing that. He is playing really well. Sacks are great but pressure seems to bother him. Ohio State is 3rd in the country in interceptions. Getting one early could shake his confidence.

- Evan Royster runs for 100 yards, we will not win this game. Penn State has done a great job running the ball against the Buckeyes in recent years with our undersized tackles and no thumper in the middle. All year the key to Rolle being effective has been keeping him clean. It is tough for a linebacker his size to play the run clean, let alone with a guards helmet in his chest.

- A back, any of our backs, needs to have a good game. When Penn State feels like they can tee-off on Pryor, the offense stops.

- Pryor must step up. He does not need to be Vince Young but he needs to be better. No turnovers. If he does not turn the ball over we stay in the game.

So many of the numbers show two very similar teams. Penn State  is 5th in total defense and rushing defense,12th in pass defense. Ohio State is 6th in total defense and rushing defense, and 14th in pass defense. Penn State is 1st in scoring defense, Ohio State 6th. Big play defense, both have their big pluses. Penn State is 4th in sacks, 2nd in tackles for loss. OSU is 20th and 46th, but third in pass interceptions. Where is goes south is in the passing game. Penn State is 34th in passing, Ohio State 94th. Ohio State is 50th in pass protection. That is scary going up against the 4th best pass rush in college football.

The importance of the interception issue cannot be underscored enough. I don't know if you have seen Penn State but their receivers do not impress. I like our defensive backfield on the ball versus their receivers. I think getting after Clark many be the single most important factor in the game. I watched the Iowa game. He was awful. If we can make him be awful again we can win this game.

 

 


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Comments (10)Add Comment
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written by Oswald, November 06, 2009
Newsome? LOL, predicting the future games Duane. I think you mean Clark.
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written by alfey45, November 06, 2009
The thing I see is that Penn State's ol is not good. It hasn't been as bad as ours but we match up better. Our strong spots are the ends and their weak spot is tackles. Their strength is tackles and the center of the ol is the strength of the line.

I think we are the more talented team. Have the better defense and it's really not that close. More playmakers and a better secondary. Clark did nothing vs us last year. It was a 4th quarter drive when he wasn't in. Put pressure on him and see what he does. This is also the gameplan for Pryor. If he breaks contain a couple times it could really put Penn State off balance. Pryor has had this game circled for a year and I think he comes out ready to go. Make a couple big plays, sustain a couple long drives, and limit the mistakes and we easily win. Easily.

This Penn State defense is good not great. It's Pryor and Posey time. Can they get it done? Can Small or Carter spark a big play? Can a back bust off a long run? This is why we watch the games.

24-14 Bucks. A little optimistic but I don't expect to lose to these girls.
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written by RipsManifesto, November 06, 2009
We'll see Alfey. I assume Pryor had USC circled too. His problem anyways is his inability to stay cool and focused. I think if he could do that the spotty footwork would go away, but he gets lost in the moment and his decision making and mechanics seem to go out the window. I just hope he isn't so hyped for this he loses his composure.

That said, something about PSU doesn't scare me. Maybe it should. But I've seen a few PSU games now and I just don't see a terrific team--I see a decent team beating up on bad teams. Actually that's kind of what OSU's managed to do this year too (minus the Purdue anomaly), so maybe I should be more worried.
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written by dumbme, November 06, 2009
Big man, would you say Cordle lost his position to Browning or they feel they need him at LT?
Agreed on all counts.
written by Tibor04, November 06, 2009
...that we're looking at 2 similar teams on defense, but drastically different on offense. Penn State is confident in executing their game plan. OSU is not. OSU's offensive tackles are turnstiles, which has been our killer in several big games. This will be no different.
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written by Hilltopbass, November 06, 2009
I see a good Penn St. team here but not even as good as some recent years, I think the stats are padded by a soft non-conference. Meaning I don't think the defensive comparison is that close. I think the key here is who keeps thier QB cleaner, Clark & TP both can be rattled but I'll keep TP on this one if only because he's a better athlete and would do more damage if he get's loose. Most teams get 3 points for home field, Penn St. gets 6 that could be a bigger factor than most of the road games on our schedule. I have more concern playing in happy valley than I do the big house. Turnovers will rule the day here, win that battle win this game. I don't see a big margin but OSU can win this game.
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written by buckeye2001, November 06, 2009
Defense just needs to keep doing what they are doing. Offense needs to have a coming out party. Hall needs to get the ball a lot. He's the only back we have that can make people miss and make big plays.
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written by Duane Long, November 06, 2009
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written by Oswald, November 06, 2009
Newsome? LOL, predicting the future games Duane. I think you mean Clark.


Miss Cleo told me.

I went back and fixed it.
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written by Duane Long, November 06, 2009
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written by dumbme, November 06, 2009
Big man, would you say Cordle lost his position to Browning or they feel they need him at LT?


I don't think we can say that. He was moved to right tackle and if anything he lost his job to Shugarts.
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written by O-State, November 07, 2009
Agreed on Miller. He's a really solid pass blocker when healthy. Huge upgrade over Cordle and a more consistent player than Adams.

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