Barrett Subplot Turns Bizarre as Buckeyes Win Again
J.T Barrett's Surge has the Buckeyes Thinking Playoffs Jay LaPrete/Associated Press
No. 12 Ohio State (5-1) is riding high as it heads to Penn State (4-2) on Saturday for an 8 p.m. ET prime-time game in Beaver Stadium.
The Nittany Lions are limping into the game after back-to-back losses to Northwestern and Michigan, but this is a perfect test for the Buckeyes: a road game, at night, in a hostile environment against a team seeking to avenge last season's 63-14 thumping. Penn State also has a new coach looking for his first significant Big Ten win. This is exactly the type of game the Buckeyes need to help them prepare for their November 8 showdown with Michigan State in East Lansing.
Can they continue their march back into playoff contention and leave Happy Valley with another decisive win? Here are three keys to the game.
Offensive Line
Quarterback J.T. Barrett has earned the praise that is being bestowed upon him right now. Who can argue with 1,176 yards passing with 17 touchdowns and 263 yards rushing and three touchdowns over the last four games? His production has him in the discussion as a potential Heisman candidate. Not bad for someone who was supposed to keep the seat warm for Braxton Miller until he returns from injury next season.
While Barrett has been the star, the key to Ohio State's surge has been the offensive line. Line coach Ed Warinner is clearly demonstrating once again why he is the best in the business. The protection has been substantially better since the loss to Virginia Tech, and you can see the confidence level of this unit rising every week.
The line passed a huge test last week against Rutgers, which came into the game ranked No. 2 in the FBS in sacks with 24. It allowed zero in a dominating performance where the offense racked up 585 yards and 56 points. Continued improvement is needed this week against a stout Penn State defense.
The Nittany Lions may be struggling offensively, but their defense is extraordinary. They rank No. 6 in scoring defense, allowing just 15.2 points per game, and are yielding just 283 yards per game. The stats are inflated a little because the competition has been average, but this unit is fundamentally sound. It will be ready to stop Barrett and his army of weapons.
Penn State's leader is senior linebacker Mike Hull, who leads the team with 64 tackles. He is a prototypical linebacker; he'll be wherever the ball is making a tackle or disrupting the play. Hull knows the Buckeyes will provide the biggest test of the season, telling Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch,"We're going to have to have a great effort. But I think we're going to be up for the challenge and we're going to do everything in our power to hold them in check."
Warinner will have the line ready. It will give Barrett time to work his magic. The Nittany Lions have not faced an offense as diverse as the Buckeyes'. The blocking up front and the speed on the edge will keep Penn State defense guessing all night.
Avoiding Turnovers
Protecting the ball is always important, but it is even more critical to success when playing on the road in front of 104,000 rabid fans looking for any reason to yell.
Penn State's offense does not have the depth or skill players to match the Buckeyes yet. It is ranked No. 108 in scoring offense, averaging just 21.2 points per game. The offense will need help to keep the team in the game, and Penn State coach James Franklin agrees, telling Baptist:
I think our defense has played extremely well, but getting some of those game-changing plays can help. The interception returns for touchdowns, the punt returns for touchdowns, setting up our offense with great field position … you always want more.
The good news is the Buckeyes have largely avoided costly turnovers since the nightmare against the Hokies, and Penn State is not particularly strong at creating them. The Buckeyes don't need to provide Penn State with any opportunities to swing momentum, so taking care of the ball is a must.
This is Barrett's first significant game away from the Horseshoe. His poise will set the tone for the night. Expect head coach Urban Meyer to get him into a comfortable rhythm early in the game. When this happens, the Buckeyes' offense will roll.
Attack Christian Hackenberg
Hackenberg has passed for just 1,637 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He's better than the stats suggest, but he's lacking both confidence and playmakers right now. If Penn State has any chance to hang with the Buckeyes, Hackenberg must play his best game of the season. To do this, he'll need the line to step up, which is something it has been unable to do lately.
Undoubtedly the Nittany Lions' offensive line is suffering the consequences from the sanctions and injuries. The offense ranks No. 116 in the FBS allowing 3.33 sacks per game. Coupled with the inability to run the ball consistently, this unit is mostly one-dimensional and predictable. That's a recipe for disaster against an Ohio State defense that is getting into championship form.
An interesting subplot to this game is it marks Ohio State line coach Larry Johnson's return to Happy Valley. After a remarkable 18-year coaching stint with Penn State, Johnson left last January when Franklin was hired. It might be strange for Johnson to be heading back to his old stomping grounds as a visitor, but he's ready for the challenge, telling John Kampf of The News-Herald:
It will be different. First time (back there). You spend 18 years at one place for a long time, then you walk back in there, different sideline, place you've been for 18 years. But I'm looking forward to going back.
The playbook on Saturday night for the defense won't be any different than it was last year when it battered Hackenberg into his worst collegiate performance. Johnson will put full pressure on Hackenberg to keep him uncomfortable and force him into mistakes. The Buckeyes' defense will reap the benefits of Penn State's offensive disarray.
Analysis
Meyer's young team is playing with tremendous confidence heading into the stretch run in conference play. Franklin is trying to hold the ship steady while he recruits more elite-level athletes into the program. His team is a year or two away from being competitive in the Big Ten East Division.
The "White Out" crowd will be energized on a pleasantly warm and dry night in State College. It will inject energy into the team early, but the Buckeyes have too many weapons for Penn State to contain the whole game.
Ohio State has won four out five against Penn State, mostly in convincing fashion. The Buckeyes have also won their last three trips to Happy Valley; they will make it four this Saturday. Ohio State wins 31-10.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2243259-ohio-state-football-3-keys-for-ohio-state-to-beat-penn-state-in-happy-valley
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