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Nittany Lions' unit, like that of Buckeyes, ranks among top 10 in nation
By George M. Thomas Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
The last time Ohio State lost a regular-season football game was more than two years ago in a little place called Happy Valley, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
The scenario hasn't changed much in that span. OSU comes in with national championship aspirations, and coach Joe Paterno's crew is looking for an upset.
This is a Big Ten series in which drama and tension have dripped from most of the plays. The 28-6 OSU victory last season wasn't the blowout the score indicates, with the Buckeyes needing two interception returns for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put Penn State away. In 2005, the Nittany Lions beat the Buckeyes in a defensive showdown, 17-10. Many expect the game today to follow that script.
And why not? OSU ranks first in the nation in defense, giving up 208.5 yards per game. It also leads in scoring defense. The Nittany Lions' defense ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally, giving up 279.5 yards per game, and ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense.
''Well, I think they will play the defense they've played the last couple years,'' Paterno said of the Buckeyes. ''They hustle. They've got some people that are really quick and aggressive. I think it will be a tough football game. I wouldn't expect anything less.''
In some respects, it will be as if each offense is squaring off against its team's defense. That's how similar the teams are in that respect.
''I think if you stepped back and looked at Ohio State and Penn State and said what makes them most similar, I would say two things,'' OSU coach Jim Tressel said. ''One, they both pay very close attention to special teams. And they both play excellent defense.''
For the Buckeyes, stopping
Penn State begins with its senior quarterback, Anthony Morelli, who plays as if he has grown into his role as a leader. But there also remains a hint of the inconsistency that led to his tossing two interceptions in the fourth quarter last season.
Against Florida International and Buffalo, he has played lights out. Against stiffer competition, he has proved less effective. That doesn't worry him.
''The Ohio State game from last year is long gone. We've won a ton of games since then. I'm not going to worry about (any) picks,'' Morelli said in a conference call this week. ''You don't live and die by interceptions. You're a quarterback, you're going to make mistakes.''
Morelli said he expects to see plenty of Buckeye zone blitzes the ones that have kept opponents off balance most of the year.
''Anytime they're blitzing and sending a couple of guys, they're leaving someone open so there's an opportunity for a big play,'' Morelli said. ''That's something we've been looking at, and we're going to try to put a couple things together this week in practice.''
To the Buckeyes, it doesn't matter whether Morelli is inconsistent again tonight.
''We have the mind-set and expect that he's going to play his best,'' junior defensive end Vernon Gholston said. ''We can't go up there thinking of his mistakes. We look at the things he does well, and those are the things we have to worry about.''
As much as these teams resemble each other on defense, likenesses exist on the other side of the ball as well. With Morelli, Penn State runs a balanced offense, averaging 186.2 yards rushing and 219.6 passing.
The Buckeyes hammer out 199 yards rushing and 215.6 yards courtesy of quarterback Todd Boeckman's passing. Although Heisman-winning signal caller Troy Smith graduated, Paterno said little has changed with OSU in offensive efficiency.
''They've changed their game a little bit in order to take advantage of a couple of really good wideouts and a heck of a tight end,'' he said. ''And a couple of big, strong running backs and an outstanding offensive line and a very, very smart, poised quarterback.''
In effect, this one reads like a stalemate, but some OSU players, such as junior defensive back Malcolm Jenkins, can't help but look back to 2005.
''Anytime you lose to a team, you want to redeem yourself, and I think Penn State and Ohio State, the last couple of years, have developed a little bit of a rivalry,'' he said. ''They beat us, then we beat them, so this year there's going to be a lot of hype around the game. It's going to be a very intense environment, so I think this will be the tiebreaker.''
Only the score and level of play will determine whether another sequel will come.
George M. Thomas can be reached at gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/sportsblitz/.
The last time Ohio State lost a regular-season football game was more than two years ago in a little place called Happy Valley, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Get the full article here.
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