“I hope it’s hard to hear. I hope all they see is red…I hope it’s a tough environment.” — Jim Tressel
At yesterday’s press luncheon, Coach Tressel, dressed in a bright red sports jacket, called for Ohio State fans to give Penn State a taste of their own medicine Saturday night as the Nittany Lions attempt to do what they have never done before – win in Ohio Stadium.
Aside from the crowd, Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark hasn’t faced a test like the Ohio State defense yet this season. At this point, PSU has faced a schedule ranked at 100th and as a result, Clark has yet to prove that he can perform under pressure. So far Penn State has performed well both in the air and on the ground. The Ohio State defense needs to turn the Nittany offense into a one dimensional attack forcing them to pass and in turn, forcing turnovers.
Last week, the Buckeye defense held Javon Ringer and has allowed an average of only 97 yards rushing per game. Step one to winning this game is to stop the run and force Clark to throw under pressure.
Pryor of course faces the same test. He hasn’t faced a defense like this since USC but there is no question the Ohio State team we saw against USC is not the team that will meet Penn State Saturday night. However, it’s not like the OSU offensive play book has been too complicated so far — give the ball to Beanie…hold the ball…give the ball to Beanie…hold the ball.
This brings us to the offensive line which performed much better against MSU last weekend. If the O-line can open the lanes giving Pryor and Wells room to break out, then long slow drives may be the key to an Ohio State victory. However, if Pryor can find his throwing arm, and you know he’s working on it, all the better for the Buckeyes. He’s got the ability to stay mobile and look down field. The question remains if he can get the ball to the receivers under pressure.
When you look at it, both teams balance out well on both sides of the ball. So that leaves special teams — also an area where both teams do pretty well. Penn State has broken out for a couple of touchdown returns this year. If they are going to run the return, the Buckeyes need to make them work for it forcing them to come out of the end zone or deep in their own territory.
We also saw our first blocked punt last weekend resulting in a touchdown. A play like that at the right time against Penn State could bring the crowd to a feeding frenzy initiating momentum that will be hard to stop.
Finally, there’s actually been some excitement about Penn State overcoming a 17-7 deficit against the Mac conference slumpbust last. I didn’t catch the first half of that game but I did watch most of the second. Like they did against Toledo, Michigan did as much to lose that game as Penn State did to win it. Either they played amazing football during the first half or Penn State played really, really bad, the only thing Penn State should be excited about is the fact that they got down by that much to begin with.
If the Buckeyes can get Penn State down early, run a first quarter like they did against MSU, Penn State won’t have the easy road back that they did against UM. They won’t have the white out on their side. Building a momentum will be an entirely different story because at that point, they will be lucky to hear anything over the crowd noise they will be facing. That look to the stands for those reassuring white shirts will be all for naught. It’s homecoming weekend, it’s a night game, this is going to be a very tough environment for Penn State.
In the end, both teams will need to hang it on the line this weekend. A win for Penn State pretty much clears the path to the BCS Championship. A win for the Buckeyes and a Rose Bowl and a spot in the record books for three straight Big Ten titles is theirs to lose. However, if Ohio State can score the blowout (sorry SEC et. all) they will have to be considered for a final game in Miami.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
a win for Penn State i’d say
one correction…. PSU has won in the horsehoe, but you have to go back to 1978 when Art Schlicter threw 5 int’s and the Buckeyes Lost 19-0 in his freshman debut.
Yeah, I thought about that after I wrote it. I think I was thinking that they haven’t won in the Shoe since joining the Big Ten.
Wow, five interceptoins. No wonder Woody was frustrated by the bowl game.
Thanks for the clarification.
Jim
Well I don’t see TP throwing 5 INT’s this Saturday. Heck, if the running game is going he might not have 5 pass attempts.
This is Penn States third “first real test” this year. I see no reason to believe that they won’t pass this one as easily as they passed the first two.