In honor of Ohio State week I've decided to release my new weekly feature explaining the things I feel Penn State needs to do to see results. I have not reviewed game tape or tendencies for either team, and frankly wouldn't know what I was looking for if I tried. Thus, these are my genuinely uninformed opinions which I intend to pass off as analysis. Here's what I think a successful approach looks like:
1. Slow the game down - Everyone talks about how 'fast' the game is and it's all about how 'speed kills' and it 'could be a track meet.' This means that people are buying low on a slow and plodding approach to get the other team (and fans) to just relax and maybe forget about the game for awhile. We shot out of the gate against Michigan and what did it get us? 14 points? How long did that last? Nay says I, this is a chance to surprise Ohio State with a "walk don't run" pace which they simply won't have prepared for. It's unorthodox, but against the best opponents you need wrinkles like this to make your mark. I'd like to see Penn State open the game by taking all 3 of their time-outs, and even make a special request that the refs allow us to immediately use our second half TO as well. In support of my thesis, I've found a clip suggesting how this approach has worked throughout history.
Like the boastful hare, they'll tire quickly and think nothing of taking a few plays off, and thats when Trace can walk (literally) into the end zone. Turn it into more of a 'Buddy Walk' than a 'Fun Run' and I think Penn State has the horses to trot to victory.
2. Make long-snapping great again - Trace has been under pressure against some great defenses, so the best way to give him more time and space is to extend the snap. Rather than the traditional shotgun approach, have him lined up in what I call the 'long-barrel shotgun', which lines him up approximately 2.5 times further back than the traditional shotgun alignment. It won't matter how fast those 4 DEs are because he'll have plenty of time being so far away. Additionally this will wear out that vaunted DL who will have to run a country mile every time he drops back to pass. It's not unheard of that some of these guys will give up chasing and just wait to see how the play develops (I certainly don't like running more than is necessary). I know we've had trouble with the snap some this year so this gives our guy some much needed game experience as well. Just strikes me as a win-win-win which could lead to a win. I don't have film of this but here's how I think it could look:
Where P = Trace and PP = Stevens, lined up to take a short snap out of the same formation as a trick play. The best part is that Ohio State only uses 10 men to defend this so we get an added bonus according to the picture.
3. Punt on early downs - Blake Gillikin has been a ST player of the week multiple times this season and he's one of the best on the team at his position. If you have a Ray Guy clone, you get him involved. This is both about putting the ball on the foot of your best extremity-based player and making OSU use an unfamiliar player package when the punts are happening -- a true double advantage. If we punt on second down of a no-huddle, what will Ohio State do to defend it? We could absolutely destroy them with field position and maybe get an unfamiliar PR to drop one for us, giving us the chance to punt again immediately. Again, this is a mismatch I think most coaches overlook but I trust Franklin and Co. have ideas about how to make this work. Here's some cats wrestling to distract you:
4. On defense, get ALL of the safeties involved - This isn't some trope about how Marcus Allen is the heart and soul of the defense or how Apke and Scott have really emerged as the season carries on. The play here is to get as many safeties on the field at one time as possible. Get 14 men in the box. Overload the line and leave them with an impossible choice about whom to cover. I think this is the game where every redshirt is burned in the interest of creating problems for Ohio State. Sean Clifford, Journey Brown, you name it. Now, I realize they throw a flag for "12 men on the field" or in the huddle, but have you ever seen one for 14? 15? Refs run out of time to count and just say "Okay there are several defensive players in the huddle" which isn't actually illegal. There's a big loophole waiting to be exploited and if we've practiced everyone at safety Ohio State won't have time to adjust. Here's how I imagine this looking:
Alright, that does it for now. If you have other ideas or questions, I'm happy to answer them in riddle form.
1. Slow the game down - Everyone talks about how 'fast' the game is and it's all about how 'speed kills' and it 'could be a track meet.' This means that people are buying low on a slow and plodding approach to get the other team (and fans) to just relax and maybe forget about the game for awhile. We shot out of the gate against Michigan and what did it get us? 14 points? How long did that last? Nay says I, this is a chance to surprise Ohio State with a "walk don't run" pace which they simply won't have prepared for. It's unorthodox, but against the best opponents you need wrinkles like this to make your mark. I'd like to see Penn State open the game by taking all 3 of their time-outs, and even make a special request that the refs allow us to immediately use our second half TO as well. In support of my thesis, I've found a clip suggesting how this approach has worked throughout history.
Like the boastful hare, they'll tire quickly and think nothing of taking a few plays off, and thats when Trace can walk (literally) into the end zone. Turn it into more of a 'Buddy Walk' than a 'Fun Run' and I think Penn State has the horses to trot to victory.
2. Make long-snapping great again - Trace has been under pressure against some great defenses, so the best way to give him more time and space is to extend the snap. Rather than the traditional shotgun approach, have him lined up in what I call the 'long-barrel shotgun', which lines him up approximately 2.5 times further back than the traditional shotgun alignment. It won't matter how fast those 4 DEs are because he'll have plenty of time being so far away. Additionally this will wear out that vaunted DL who will have to run a country mile every time he drops back to pass. It's not unheard of that some of these guys will give up chasing and just wait to see how the play develops (I certainly don't like running more than is necessary). I know we've had trouble with the snap some this year so this gives our guy some much needed game experience as well. Just strikes me as a win-win-win which could lead to a win. I don't have film of this but here's how I think it could look:
Where P = Trace and PP = Stevens, lined up to take a short snap out of the same formation as a trick play. The best part is that Ohio State only uses 10 men to defend this so we get an added bonus according to the picture.
3. Punt on early downs - Blake Gillikin has been a ST player of the week multiple times this season and he's one of the best on the team at his position. If you have a Ray Guy clone, you get him involved. This is both about putting the ball on the foot of your best extremity-based player and making OSU use an unfamiliar player package when the punts are happening -- a true double advantage. If we punt on second down of a no-huddle, what will Ohio State do to defend it? We could absolutely destroy them with field position and maybe get an unfamiliar PR to drop one for us, giving us the chance to punt again immediately. Again, this is a mismatch I think most coaches overlook but I trust Franklin and Co. have ideas about how to make this work. Here's some cats wrestling to distract you:
4. On defense, get ALL of the safeties involved - This isn't some trope about how Marcus Allen is the heart and soul of the defense or how Apke and Scott have really emerged as the season carries on. The play here is to get as many safeties on the field at one time as possible. Get 14 men in the box. Overload the line and leave them with an impossible choice about whom to cover. I think this is the game where every redshirt is burned in the interest of creating problems for Ohio State. Sean Clifford, Journey Brown, you name it. Now, I realize they throw a flag for "12 men on the field" or in the huddle, but have you ever seen one for 14? 15? Refs run out of time to count and just say "Okay there are several defensive players in the huddle" which isn't actually illegal. There's a big loophole waiting to be exploited and if we've practiced everyone at safety Ohio State won't have time to adjust. Here's how I imagine this looking:
Alright, that does it for now. If you have other ideas or questions, I'm happy to answer them in riddle form.
