Ohio State Football: Know the Opposition...Penn State

Mascot: Nittany Lions
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
2009 Record: 11-2 (Defeated LSU 19-17 in Capital One Bowl)
2010 Record: 6-3
Head Coach:  Joe Paterno (45th year at PSU, 400-132-3; vs. OSU, 8-13).
Lettermen Returning: 37 (21 lost)
Returning Starters: Offense - 8; Defense - 5; Specialists - 1
Base Offense: "I" formation and Ace (3 wide receivers)
Base Defense: 4-3
Returning Stars: RB Evan Royster (pictured above), WR Derek Moye & DT Ollie Ogbu

Notable Alumni:

Tom Verducci, Senior writer for Sports Illustrated
Adam McKay, Screenwriter and director of Anchorman and Talladega Nights
Richard T. James, Inventor of the Slinky
Jack Ham, NFL Hall of Famer
Mike Scioscia, MLB catcher and manager
Guion Bluford, Astronaut, first African-American in space
Todd Blackledge, NFL quarterback and TV sports analyst
Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Famer
Lara Spencer, TV host of The Insider

Cheerleading Scouting Report:

Penn State Preview:

Ohio State's neighbor to the East comes calling at 3:30 PM Saturday, with a ton of tradition and a newfound confidence.  A week after earning his 400th victory, Joe Paterno brings in a Nittany Lion team that struggled early in the year, especially on offense, but is coming off three straight victories, buoyed by the play of quarterback Matt McGloin who has supplanted heralded but ineffective freshman Rob Bolden. 

The pieces may be falling into place at just the right time for Penn State, which probably targets the Buckeyes more than any other Big Ten team. 

On offense, the Lions' struggles have been well documented, as they scored but three points against both Alabama and Iowa, and only 13 versus Illinois.  However, the past three weeks PSU has scored 33, 41 and 35 points, and although it has been against some of the worst defenses in the conference, there is no doubt that the line has played better, tailback Evan Royster is in a groove, and the team has responded to McGloin. 

While Bolden is supposed to play in this week's game, Paterno will start McGloin who is 41-of-70 for 551 yards, with seven touchdowns and only one interception.  While he has not faced a defense anywhere near as fierce as Ohio State, McGloin has taken care of the ball, as opposed to Bolden who has a 5:7 touchdown to interception ratio.  Neither is a threat to run, although both have found the end zone once.  It will be interesting to see how the young quarterbacks perform versus a stingy defense. 

The best player on the Penn State offense is senior tailback Evan Royster who entered 2010 with nearly 3,000 yards but got off to a rough start this year, partially due to the lack of a passing game. 

However, in recent weeks he has been up to his old tricks and has rushed for 734 yards on the season at 5.2 per carry.  His backup was supposed to be ultra quick junior Stephfon Green, but lately he has been replaced by true freshman Silas Redd who has rushed for 328 yards (7.1 ypc). 

None of the three is particularly big, with Royster having the most size (6'1", 218) and strength.  He is also the best receiver of the trio.  Fullbacks Joe Suhey and Michael Zordich are good, physical blockers and while neither has done much running the ball, Suhey is a nice receiver out of the backfield. 

Penn State was excited entering 2010 about the duo of Derek Moye and Graham Zug at receiver, but of the two, only Moye has duplicated his success of a year ago.  A big option (6'5", 202), Moye has nice numbers (33 catches, 615 yards, 4 TD's), but Zug has disappeared.  A year ago he had 46 catches and seven touchdowns, but this year Graham has only nine catches and one TD. 

Others have risen to the occasion, though, especially huge wideout Brett Brackett (6'6", 242).  After sitting on the sidelines for three years, Brackett has burst on the scene as a senior with 28 catches, 385 yards and four touchdowns.  Other options at receiver are sophomores Justin Brown and Devon Smith, the latter of whom is tiny (5'7", 157) but possesses incredible speed, Look for PSU to run a reverse or two with Smith.  Overall, this unit has good depth, and the size of the starters presents some matchup problems.

Tight end is a weak spot on the Lion roster, as last year's starter, Andrew Quarless, is playing in the NFL, and this year's top player was lost to injury.  That leaves true freshman Kevin Haplea as the starter and he has but two catches.  Due to this, PSU often goes with a fullback and three receivers, with no tight end on the field.  When they want to play smashmouth football, coverted guard Nate Cadogan enters the game at tight end. 

Offensive struggles usually begin with poor line play, and it is true that this has not been a vintage Penn State O-line.  Experienced tackle Lou Eliades was injured early in the year and that certainly didn't help. The best player on the line is right guard Stefen Wisniewski, who was first team Big Ten in '09.  The other guys on the interior, center Doug Klopacz and left guard Johnnie Troutman are veterans who have played pretty well, but tackles Quinn Barham amd Chima Okoli have not been stellar. 

Overall the team is averaging only 150 yards per game on the ground, and while the line seems to have jelled in recent weeks, it faces an uphill climb this week.

Defense is usually a given at State College, but this unit has had it's problems in 2010 as well. The line really misses Jared Odrick, the first-round pick of the Miami Dolphins.  They do have nice size in the middle with senior Ollie Ogbu, who has 37 tackles including 7.5 for loss, and Devon Still who has chipped in with 29 tackles and leads the team with 4 sacks. 

Injuries have hurt the Lions at end, and the two players penciled in to start against OSU, Pete Massaro and Jordan Hill, are solid, but not great.  It is possible that both Jack Crawford and Eric Lattimore will return to action this week, which will be a boost to the line. 

Linebacker is probably as weak as any I have witnessed at Penn State, as the Lions had to replace all three starters from last season.  The standout has been senior MLB Chris Colasanti who leads the team with 83 tackles, with seven for loss.  He is big (6'2", 241) and physical. 

Outside backers Bani Gbadyu (35 tackles) and Michael Mauti (60 tackles) are okay, but not up to the standards expected in Happy Valley.  Look for Nate Stupar to play a good deal, as well, and he is by far the best linebacker in pass coverage, and makes some big plays (4.5 tackles for loss and an interception). 

A key injury has hurt Penn State's secondary, although they have not experienced the level of devestation that has hit the Buckeye defensive backs this year.  Nick Sukay, who had three interceptions in the first six games tore a pectoral muscle and was lost for the year.  Redshirt freshman Malcom Willis (FS) starts in his spot, and Ohio State may try and exploit him. 

The other three likely starters include two veterans and a "rookie": junior Drew Astorino (Hero), tied for lead among DB's with 50 tackles; junior D'Anton Lynn (CB), who also has 50 tackles and 2 picks; and, speedy Chaz Powell (CB), a converted wideout, who is playing due to an injury to Stephon Morris.  Powell is green and the Bucks may go after him early and often, although Morris may play some, too.

Special teams are one of the strengths of this Nittany Lion squad.  Kicker Collin Wagner is 16-of-20 on field goals with a long of 49, and punter Anthony Fera averages 41.2 per boot. Opponents have had little success returning his punts.  Penn state has some nice returners, incuding Chaz Powell, who averages 28.1 per kick return with a touchdown, and Devon Snith, who averages 12.8 per punt return.  Both are very fast, and if OSU reverts to early season form here, they could surrender another big play.

Game Outlook:

It is usually a hard-hitting affair when these border rivals face each other, and this year should be no different.  Penn State is still angry about losing Pryor to the Buckeyes and will have a chip on their shoulder.  Ohio State, on the other hand, should be motivated by some bulletin board clippings thanks to the motor mouth of Lion quarterback Matt McGloin. 

The game means a great deal to both team's bowl destiny, and getting up for this one should not be difficult.  Three weeks ago I would have pegged it as an easy victory for the scarlet and gray, but PSU has some momentum, to say nothing of Tressel's woes following a bye game.  PSU's special teams advantage may also help them make this game competitive.

Ohio State will seek to be balanced, and certainly wants to establish the run, as Penn State has been gouged on the ground this year.  But I think it is Pryor's arm that will prove to be the greatest weapon, as the Lions secondary is very average.  Terrelle has yet to have a big game against his home state team, and not only will he be motivated, he should also be the healthiest he has been.  I think he will use his arm and legs to post some big numbers.  If OSU avoids turnovers they will be very hard to stop.

Penn State will want to feature Evan Royster, whom Ohio State shut down last year.  If he can have some success on the ground it will make things a lot easier for McGloin.  The Silver Bullets were gashed by Wisconsin on the ground, but outside of that have done well.  Look for them to try and make PSU one dimensional.  If that happens, McGloin may find life on the road quite difficult. 

If Heacock dials up some blitzes like he did against Minnesota I would expect some sacks and interceptions. Although the young quarterback is likely to hit a couple big plays, it is hard to believe he will be able to move the ball consistently.  He needs to play a near perfect game for his team to have a chance to win, and I think the Buckeye defense will not allow that to occur.

Father vs. Son Prediction Battle:

Drew: OSU 31-14
Dave: OSU 31-17