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Game Thread Ohio State vs Penn State, 10/28/17 @ 3:30 ET (FOX)

I am really looking forward to this game. Assuming we get the yips out of our offense and the DBs come along, the roles are reversed from last year. Ohio State loses early like PSU did last year, and they can just work on themselves without the pressure of national expectations. Penn State has to deal with everyone talking about how awesome they are and how they should be able to go into Ohio Stadium and win - because they are clearly the better team. Their RB and QB are way better. We will see.

There are more parallels. Last year Ohio State played Wisconsin the week before, and when you play Wisconsin, you still feel them a week later. This year, Penn State plays Michigan the week before, and they will feel that defense a week later. Last year Penn State had a bye before playing Ohio State, got healthy and had extra preparation. This year Ohio State has the bye.

I like how the whole thing sets up for the Buckeyes. I think they are going to win this game solidly without needing miraculous plays. I expect a great game, but a 10 point Buckeye win. If it goes the other way, it's not going to be pretty in Buckeyeland. So, it has to go the way I want it. Lol.

I love to read the cockiness of the PSU fans. They were emboldened by the Oklahoma loss and were laughing at Ohio State. He who laughs last, laughs best.
 
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Special teams still concern me. It's the only reason we lost last year. Barkley can take it to the house in a heartbeat so our guys need to stay in their lanes and wrap up. No arm tackles. And no blocked field goals please. My other concern is pass defense. We have improved quite a bit and hopefully we can shore up some things over the next couple weeks. If we can prevent big plays and shut down Barkley it will be a long night for PSU.
 
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Special teams still concern me. It's the only reason we lost last year. Barkley can take it to the house in a heartbeat so our guys need to stay in their lanes and wrap up. No arm tackles. And no blocked field goals please. My other concern is pass defense. We have improved quite a bit and hopefully we can shore up some things over the next couple weeks. If we can prevent big plays and shut down Barkley it will be a long night for PSU.
This is what scares me most. That we are going to kick it to him. I've just come to accept that but I have no doubt he's going to have a big return at some point. I kind of hope if he has to break one he does it on the opening kick for like 50-60 yards and then we just never kick it to him again. If he breaks one and we still kick it short to him as a warning I will melt down ala early season Bukipower.

Well it's a little slow on this page for my liking so I'll start us off early...So what do we need to do to win this game? Here's mine.

1. Don't give any short fields- This means contain the kickoff, don't turn the ball over, and either have tremendous punting or have sustained drives that allow for punts to be downed inside the 10-20.

2. Limit the big plays- I personally do not feel PSU has the Oline to methodically move the ball down field. That said we cannot give up the big play over the top and we cannot spring Barkley loose in the passing game.

3. Get after McSorley- I'm confident that Ped is going to have a hard time running the ball so it will boil down to can we affect McSorley. The defensive back is much improved but if we don't get pressure the backs can't hold up forever.

4. Complete 3rd downs- This will keep them off the field and will do two important but obvious things. We either will score (duh) or we will be punting the ball to a short field which will enable us to pin them deep and force them to drive the field.

I guess my main objective is win field position, win TOP, and limit the big plays. Last year our front 7 ate them alive and with both teams being basically the same (Ped maybe even slightly worse) I honestly would be shocked if we don't shut down the run. At this point it becomes what our pass rush/pass pro will accomplish against their skill.

When we are on offense I like our prospects of running the ball as Ped is roughly 20th or so in the country giving up I believe over 130 a game which IMO isn't a great look considering they haven't played a team yet that is truly a running team. I am so anxious to see our offense against their defense but I just have this feeling we are going to treat them very rudely to be honest. Sure Ped gets after the passer better then anyone we've played the past few weeks but they do so by bringing LB's. They don't have that pass rusher that can get pressure all game like a Sickel from the past few seasons. If they're bringing LB's they that'll leave someone open and even then they still have to get JT to the ground which isn't the easiest thing.

I'm sensing a 45-31 type win.
 
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I'm sensing a 45-31 type win.
After watching Northwestern totally shut down Barkley for a full half and Iowa hold them to 13 offensive points for the first 58 minutes of their game, I don't see how anyone would expect them to score 31 in The Shoe....they've scored 20 points in The Shoe exactly one time since joining the conference in 1993 (20 points in 2011).
 
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After watching Northwestern totally shut down Barkley for a full half and Iowa hold them to 13 offensive points for the first 58 minutes of their game, I don't see how anyone would expect them to score 31 in The Shoe....they've scored 20 points in The Shoe exactly one time since joining the conference in 1993 (20 points in 2011).
We should hold them to below 17 points but I'm at least personally a little concerned with them getting yards through the air. Particularly if they have to try and keep pace with our offense.
 
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