PSU / Illinois

[The Ancient Enemy]

Well, this is my second attempt at this, since the first one wouldn't post and got lost.

How Illinois Beats Penn State:

By taking the crowd out of this early, and by hitting PSU in their confidence that was built on garbage scheduling. Offensively, Illinois needs to create space between the DTs and the LBs. This wont be too hard considering Bradley's LB coverage retardation. If Williams can get Hull in one-on-ones, its over. Josh Hull is very heady player who is a great tackler and stays in position pretty well. But he is realistically flat-footed. I am worried about QB draws and RB draws where the OLBs can't help the MLB. To me, if a DC doesn't blitz, that means he doesn't trust the secondary. They better realize it will be a long time until they have the luxury of kids like Scirrotto and Rubin and Tony Davis. Juice Williams has a cannon for an arm, worked out with McNabb in the offseason, but he has a tendency to throw too hard, inaccurately. If Williams can take advantage of the insane CB cushions that are a Tom Bradley staple, it might be a long night for the Lions. As far as the line goes, I think Illinois is outmatched. I'm not scared of Dufrene running the football in any other capacity than draw plays. I think Illinois needs to attack these CBs with full force, and I think they will have success doing it. Defensively, Illinois needs to set the tone in the trench. They need to get Clark rattled, a QB who has not had much pressure as yet. They also need to take advanatge of PSU's ridiculous determination of running Green between the tackles. The Illini special teams units have a real chance to make an impact on this outcome. Utilizing Benn on returns is pivotal.

How PSU Beats Illinois:

By keeping the crowd in the game and making it miserable for the Illini to hear themselves think. PSU has a ton of offensive weapons but they are all untested this season. They need to take advantage of their strength, namely the o-line, and allow Clark to get his composure against a team who is not Coastal Carolina. I would also like to see the Lions implement some sweeps and pitches to keep the defense spread. Illinois has decent LB'ing but I feel the Tackles are outmatched against PSU's front. Penn State just needs to keep spreading the ball around and taking advantage of their wide array of weapons. And they need to stay the hell away from that CB, i cant remember his name, but he's a 1st rd pick in April. Defensively, what do you do? Pressure a QB who throws erraticly, pushing him out of the pocket where he's way more dangerous, or do you let Williams try and kill you with his arm? Stopping the middle is where PSU wins this game. Taking advantage of line mismatches. Forcing Williams outside where the middle has OLB help from fast LB's like Gbadyu and Bowman. Forcing Willaims to throw is where PSU should be able to stop the Illini offense. But those quality Safeties are worthless if you don't let them play more aggressively. Penn State also needs to really step it up on the special teams coverage, because Arrelious Benn IS a lot better than Derrick Williams and Jordan Norwood and whoever else, despite what Bowman said this week in that interview.


This was way longer before it got deleted.

[deliverance]

PSU by 7.

[WPIAL~Titan]

How PSU only loses to Michigan and tOSU for the 47th time in the last 10 years by 2+ TDs: Hide the dope OR pray for depth chart justice. Then, hope JOKEPA forgets his Depends, gets sent home to SuePa, and can't take over for Big Red and Galen...

[Coach]

I honestly think Titan has a penn state disease or something. Honestly it is so bad that it could probably be diagnosed if he went to a doctor for it.

[WALTER4]

I think Tommy Lee had a case of that, a shot of pennicillian should clear that up pretty quick.

[deliverance]

He has a lot of hate. It's understandable from a Pitt fan. You guys rip on each other and many years ago I would have been in on this. Penn State is not bad this year. They are running a nice Texas offense. They have a good shot at a BCS game, as long as JoePa doesn't blow it for them.

[The Ancient Enemy]

I seem to recall about 80 teams running that offense before Texas.

[deliverance]

80 teams? Can you name them all?

[The Ancient Enemy]

How about 2? V-Tech and Nebraska.

They did the same thing Virginia Tech did. "Okay, drop back like you are gonna throw... AND THEN RUN WITH IT!!!" That's a hell of an "offense". Now, as far as PRODUCTION goes, obviously Young did a great job. I just dont think that you can consider it an "offense" the same way you can call the Wing T or Triple-Option an offense. That's not to discount anyone's value, though.

[deliverance]

Two isn't very many teams to name. I don't think PSU would go out of their way to watch an offense if they didn't think it would work. That was the smartest move they have made in a lot of years. Michael Robinson ring a bell? 1 loss that year and that could be a repeat or better this season. I still believe the SEC and Big 12 are better conferences. The top 1-4 in these conferences would more than likely beat anyone in the nation.