Penn State Football: 5 Keys to Victory Against the Cornhuskers

Whether we want it not, the Penn State Football season moves forward this Saturday against the No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Amidst a massive sexual abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky that is rocking the Penn State community, the Nittany Lions must find strength to play 60 minutes of football.  

This challenge would seem difficult, even against a mid-level Big 10 team such as Purdue or Northwestern, nevertheless a perennial Top 25 team in Nebraska.  If Penn State wants to spend the first weekend of December in Indianapolis, they must win this game.

Penn State has to play above the emotions that have engulfed State College, Pa. this week.  

The Nittany Lions can't play for Paterno or for the football program.  The Nittany Lions must, for once, play for each other and find strength in knowing that they will weather this storm only if they band together.  

There are five things the Nittany Lions must do if they are to weather the storm known as the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the black shirts.  

If you want to find out the five Nittany Lion keys to victory, then read on.   

No. 5: Run the Ball with No. 25 RB Silas Redd Early and Often

No. 25 RB Silas Redd owned the month of October.  Redd totaled 703 yards in the month of October on only 133 caries, earning a stellar average of 5.3 yards per carry.  Penn State has been riding the success of Redd to close victories the past three weeks, and that won't change this week.  

While Nebraska's "Black Shirt" defense gives up 160.1 yards per game on the ground, I don't see Redd hitting quite that mark.  The purpose of getting Redd the ball early and often in the game is for the purpose of opening up the passing game for the Nittany Lions.  Once Nebraska's secondary begins to key in on Redd, No. 11 QB Matt McGloin will take advantage of the one-on-one coverage on his wideouts.  

I can see Redd totaling 100 yards in the first half for the first time in his career in this game.  If Redd is given the ball at least 25 times in this game, the Nittany Lions will come out on top.  Nebraska has a stout defense, but Redd will expose the run defense like Monte Ball of Wisconsin did, who rushed for 153 yards against Nebraska.

Less than 25 carries for Redd and Penn State loses.  More than 25 carries for Redd, and Penn State moves one step closer to the 2011 Big Ten Championship.      

No. 4: LBs and CBs Must Maintain Discipline on the Option

The one aspect of Nebraska's offense that at times looks near impossible to stop is their ability to run the option.  With the speed of QB Taylor Martinez and the physicality of RB Rex Burkhead, the Cornhusker's option attack is the foundation of their offensive attack.  

If the Nittany Lions want to stop or even slow down the Cornhusker's option attack, they must play disciplined defense, specifically at the linebacker and cornerback positions.  While the OLBs Gerald Hodges and Khairi Fortt both have the athleticism to run with QB Martinez, the real challenge exists within the cornerbacks ability to not overcommit.  Cornerbacks D'anton Lynn and Adrian Amos must force the option game back to the interior part of the field where Hodges and Fortt can contain and ultimately stop the option attack.  

It only takes one or two lapses in defense for the Cornhusker's to take advantage and get on the scoreboard early.  If the Nittany Lions lose containment on QB Martinez and RB Burkhead, they will also lose the game, giving up multiple long touchdown runs.

Containment is the name of the game if Penn State is to win this matchup with Nebraska.   

No. 3: Involve No. 20 WR Devon Smith in the Running Game with Trick Plays

No. 20 WR Devon Smith has the world-class speed that can be a difference maker on the football field.  Unfortunately, up until this point in his career, he has been severely underutilized in the Penn State offense.

What better way to stretch the field and keep the Cornhusker's overly aggressive defense on their heels than by putting the ball in the hands of the fastest player?  The Nittany Lions need to work Devon Smith into the offense early in a few end-arounds and/or bubble screens.  If Devon Smith can break off a 25 or 30-yard run within the first quarter, the defense of the huskers will be forced to key on him throughout the rest of the game.

Keeping the Cornhuskers defense guessing is a must if Penn State is to win this game.  The moment Penn State's offense becomes one-dimensional will be the moment when the Cornhuskers take over the game.

It's interesting that the smallest guy on the field, 5'7'' 155 pounds, will make the biggest difference in this matchup between two perennial powerhouses.   

No. 2: Force QB Taylor Martinez to Win the Game Through the Air

Remember back in 2008 when the then No. 3 Nittany Lions traveled into Columbus to take on the then No. 9 Buckeyes?  The Nittany Lions stopped the rushing attack of the Buckeyes and forced the young QB Terelle Pryor to win the game through the air, which he ultimately could not do.  

If Penn State can force sophomore QB Martinez into the same situation, his inability to throw the football will be put on display.  

I know some of you will argue this point because—statistically speaking—Taylor Martinez looks better than Matt McGloin, but you have to remember that McGloin was the second-string quarterback until two weeks ago.  

Taylor Martinez is not incapable of passing the football, but when he is pressured he inevitably will make weak and questionable throws.

If the Nittany Lions can hold the 13th ranked Cornhuskers rushing attack to under 180 yards in the game, Martinez will be forced put the team on the back of his passing game.  Martinez will slowly fall apart as the pressure mounts on his shoulders, ultimately throwing two big interceptions late.  

Taylor Martinez will develop into a great Big 10 quarterback by the end of his career, but this game will serve as a lesson for him on the necessity to develop into a legitimate passer.     

No. 1: Remember What This Game Means: One Step Closer to a Big 10 Championship

If the 2011-2012 Nittany Lions want to raise the Big 10 trophy like Daryll Clark did in 2008, they must win this game.  Amongst all the distractions with Joe Paterno and the administration at Penn State, it would be easy for the Nittany Lions to lose sight of the importance of this game.  

A win for the Nittany Lions in this game puts them securely in the driver's seat of the Big 10 Leaders division.  A loss for the Nittany lions still leaves them in the driver's seat, but places them in a fight between a rock (Ohio State) and a hard place (Wisconsin).  

If Penn State can't find motivation to win and get amped up for this matchup, they don't deserve to be on the field.      

Penn State has the ability to move one step closer to securing a spot in the 2011 Inaugural Big 10 Championship game, and that should be the reason to play this game like it's their last.  Penn State must focus on what takes place on the field on Saturday and what the game means, and forget about all the horrendous off-the-field accusations at least for 60 minutes.

Penn State will ride the emotions in the stadium for the first quarter, getting out to an early 14-3 lead, but that emotion will ultimately wear thin.  If Penn State wants to win they must focus on the five key aspects of this matchup mentioned in this article.

Prediction: Penn State 27 Nebraska 24