OSU -v- PSU: How we got here

Before getting to the game analysis for Ohio State-Penn State, it’s worth taking a look at how we got here. First, the Nits as prepared by special Guest Contributor Klo (and fellow lover of Pabst Blue Ribbon apparently):

Team JoeJoe of the Paternos
Penn State entered the 2009 season riding the quasi-momentum of a 2008 season that saw the team rise into the Top 5 in the rankings, lose on a last second field goal to a scrappy Iowa team, then get their brains bashed in by USC in the Rose Bowl. I still loathe the thought of Mark “Dirty” Sanchez raising his NFL draft slot by 15 spots on that game alone….not to mention the “matter-of-fact” egotist Pete Carroll with his wee beady eyes and that smug look on his face (see the dad in “So I Married an Axe Murder” - terrible movie, great character.

That aside, 2008 was something of a surprisingly strong performance after what many Penn Staters refer to as the “Morelli Dark Ages”. Much like medieval Europe which after the heights of Roman times fell into a period of plague, infighting, and incest that lasted 1200 years, the Penn State program went from the overachieving days of 2005 and Michael Robinson’s BCS berth to the completely infuriating bad decisions and underachievment of Anthony Morelli.

Even the mere mention of Morelli makes me reach for the nearest intoxicant, whether that be a delectable can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, a bottle of bourbon, or a Zanex. PS Buckeye fans - when Pryor made his now-proven-blessed decision NOT to attend Penn State, I said he was the best QB recruit from western PA since Anthony Morelli. Turns out he’s still trying to fill those shoes, let alone Vince Young’s.

The 2009 Penn State team returned 6 offensive starters and 4 defensive starters, which was none too shabby. Entering the season, these were some thoughts and headlines, mostly remembered by me, which is all that matters when I’m rolling…

1.) There were massive-O questions about the offensive line.

2.) Could the defense recover from the loss of a completely graduated secondary? I stress graduated there, as I pridefully enjoy the glow of Joe Pa’s proper focus on developing men and not athletes.

3.) how on God’s green Earth could Terelle Pryor be voted the Preseason Player of the Year over Daryll Clark? Whether you’re judging by 2008 stats and record, muscle mass, passing accuracy, or eye black politics, it’s not even a contest in favor of Clark’s asskickery of Pryor. That vote should be a Harvard business school case study and proof positive that the media (and by extension, the BCS) are idol-worshiping baby-sacrificing pagans that are just as susceptible to uninformed hype and hyperbole as any fan blog (such as this).

So, 2009 got going like the training montage from Rocky IV, with some confidence-building stompings of non-conference opponents. Music starts playing, no dialogue, Rocky starts doing the Siberian mountain jog in heavy boots and a parka, Ivan Draggo starts doping and bench pressing bulldozers, the feast commences at the Akron/Syracuse/Temple Buffet…….in short, full steam ahead into the conference schedule.

Actually, to the critical eye, there were some causes for concern against those early layups, namely in the O-line’s ability to dominate what was inferior competition and open up running holes. We know Evan Royster is a stud when given room and Stefon Greene is wicked fast, so those early struggles were bonafide reasons for concern. But final scores swept away those concerns as superior talent prevailed.

AND THEN CAME IOWA.

That’s right, time for payback….time for Clark to exercise the demons and drop kick those Hawkeyes like you hoped the priest would do to that brat from the Exorcist. Time for a night game in Beaver Stadium with the compulsory “white out” and 105,000 screaming half-drunken fans to blow a Kirk Herbstreit’s mind.

That was the plan anyway as I sat down in my lucky spot - the tried and true couch cushion that saw such miracles as “The Fumble” (Tamba Hali on Troy Smith, 2005 http), “The Fumble” (Pryor on 3rd and 1, 2008) and “The Drive” (Ben Roethlisburger’s Super Bowl winning masterpiece - props on the catch here to ex-Luckeye Santonio Holmes).

The Iowa game opened up with a bomb TD for Penn State, and the rest of the night was a disaster… Not since Howard Dean have I seen momentum change direction so quickly. I have always wanted to throw a rental car in reverse on the freeway…..just to see what happens. Now I know what that looks like on a football field.

To be fair and balanced a la Fox Opinion News, the Penn State defense did its’ best with the countless short fields and time on the field. That game was much closer than it was later written, owing to 2 fourth quarter picks and a late fumble by Royster on the Iowa 18.

The real problem was the offensive line’s utter submission to Iowa’s pass rush. We gave up the goods the way Detroit surrendered to an outnumbered and ill equipped British army in 1812 (take THAT, middle school teachers who think you can’t sleep through history and get an A).

Penn State was dismissed, JoePa and Co. fell to quasi-nemesis Iowa again, and the Sunday hangover hurt that much more.

Since then, Penn State has rebounded with some solid wins against middle of the road Big Eleven competition.

Against Illinois, a team clearly underachieving this year, PSU handed them their ass in the 2nd half.

A shutout is always a tasty defensive morsel, and Minnesota was no different.. Would have been nice to see PSU put up more than 20 points, but hard to find faults in this game.

More payback the next week in the Big Haus, as PSU dropped Michigan on every drive except the opener which saw the Wolverines O march down the field like Sherman through Georgia.

The Northwestern game concerned me a little as Kafka moved the ball nicely with his arm and feet. Fortunately, no need to worry about OSU moving the ball through the air.

In short, since the Iowa loss, the Blue and White have responded with both the defense and offense turning it up. A Big Eleven championship is possible by winning out and hoping OSU can find some semblance of a passing game against Iowa at home next weekend.

Can’t wait to see which Penn State and Ohio State teams show up on Saturday……too bad it’s not a night game.

Thanks to the literally tens of Red Renee readers who take the time to read the offensively long and partly informed ramblings of a Penn State fan.

Team Tressel


The story of 2009 Ohio State starts before the season actually began. Massive losses to graduation/early entry to the NFL, following a crushing bowl loss to Texas set the stage for the ‘09 Buckeyes.

Though the quarterback position was settled, the quarterback’s performance was far from settled. An offense that struggled for much of 2008, entered 2009 without a game changer at tailback, youth at receiver and an offensive line that has been average at best, and often completely inept.

Despite having to replace stars in the secondary and at linebacker, expectations were that the defense would help soften the learning curve for the offense. Unfortunately the losses on defense were made worse with the loss of linebacker Tyler Moeller who would have likely been a captain this year, and then later Andrew Sweat who would have provided further depth.

The season so far for the Buckeyes can be summarized by five headlines.

Navy
Scheduling Navy as a lead-in to USC, while good for fans, was not what a young Buckeye team needed to start the season. Rather than getting a cupcake in week 1 and being able to gameplan significantly for USC, the Bucks were forced to prepare for a very unique offense and a dynamic team capable of coming into Columbus and winning. Not only did the Buckeyes lose preparation time for USC, but they also lost the continuity of playing similar teams in consecutive weeks.

Constant shuffling on the offensive line
Similar to Penn State earlier in the year, Ohio State has juggled personnel on the offensive line all season long. Between injuries, illness and just plain poor execution, the offensive line has been a patchwork from one week to another and it shows. The running game isn’t consistent (injuries there too) and pass protection has been a disaster. At least half of the crap Terelle has taken this year is attributable to problems with the offensive line.

Offensive collapses (USC, Wisconsin, Purdue)
Staying with the offense, their inability to convert key third downs, control the clock, and ultimately score points is why this team has two losses and should have a third. It will be the offense that will make or break the rest of the season.

Defensive line dominance
The most exciting thing about this football team in 2009 has been the performance of the defensive line. Nothing controls the outcome of a football game more effectively than a strong defensive line. When a team can rush four and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, it allows six or seven to drop back into coverage and it allows linebackers more space to play run or pass. And when a team gets pressure on the quarterback, it disrupts their offensive timing and puts them into difficult down and distances.

Three defensive shutouts
As young as the defense is in places, three shutouts so far is something to be very impressed with. Even though the shutouts have come against inferior competition (Toledo, Illinois and New Mexico State), it is difficult to shut anybody out. Three in one season is the mark of a special defense.

The tale of the 2009 Buckeyes will be decided in their final three games. The Rose Bowl is still attainable. A 5th consecutive Big Ten Championship is possible, or a berth in the Alamo Bowl is also out there. It will be decided by how Ohio State plays in their final three games starting with Penn State this week.

And for Terrelle Pryor, this game in particular will build upon his legacy, either positively or negatively. There is no doubt he possesses the athletic ability to take over the game, and there’s also no doubt he will be looking to redeem himself after last year’s costly turnover. He’s an emotional guy and redemption will play a big part in his effort on Saturday. Pryor came to Ohio State to play in these games, to be on the national stage, to be a game-changer. Let’s hope he is a game-changer, and in a positive way Saturday.

You’re welcome.