First, I'll start with a disclaimer for the nervous Nellies out there. Any team can lose a football game on any given Saturday. Yeah, I get it.
Good, now that we have that out of the way, here's how I see it.
Michigan comes into this game with a lot of hype, but not a lot to back it up. They have a good defense, but I'm not ready to coronate them the next '85 Bears like some people. Hell, Indiana at times on Saturday went right through them and Indiana's offense is just okay, not great. Witness their first drive of the 2nd half. Penn State will move the ball surprisingly better than some people think on Saturday night. Why?
Because the skill players on our offense are excellent. Yes, excellent! We have a really good and smart QB paired in the backfield with the best Penn State offensive football player I've ever seen in my 45+ years of following this team. There are very few athletes who can impose their will in a game. Very few, but Saquon Barkley is one of them. I don't give a crap how he gets his yards like some of you do. If he gets them rushing, fine. If he gets them receiving, fine. If he gets them returning kicks, still fine. The thing is that he gets them. I don't know what form it will take, but be prepared to see Saquon do something very special Saturday night. Not only is he supremely talented, he's also a supreme competitor. We can talk about Michigan's defense 'til the cows come home, but the fact of the matter is that every time the Penn State offense is on the field with the Michigan defense, by a pretty good margin the best player on the field will be #26 in blue and white.
Let's look at the other side of the ball. I've been hearing for 2 weeks about how the Penn State offensive line will get destroyed by the Michigan defense. Well even if I was willing to stipulate that as being true (I'm not), then Michigan's offense is in an even worse position. Penn State's defense is just starting to get some recognition and they are very, very good. When's the last time you saw defensive speed on the Nittany Lion's defense like this team has? I tell you it's been a while. Our secondary is excellent. Our d-line while not splashy is deep and talented. Our LBs have stepped up as the year has progressed. So take that defense and put it against Michigan's offense. O'Korn is not good. He just isn't. If he plays the game of his life, it still probably won't be good enough, because he likely won't be able to lift his game high enough. Who would be shocked by a Penn State defensive score in this game? Not I. If Penn State mitigates the Michigan running attack, it will be very long night for the Wolverines.
If this becomes a field position game, PSU will have a huge advantage there as well. On special teams, our guys fly down the field and make plays. Ask that talented Indiana return man about that and he'll agree. We have a terrific punter as well. If O'Korn is asked to drive the ball 80 yards every time, he's going to have a long night.
Lastly, the atmosphere in Beaver Stadium is going to be out of sight loud and supportive of our team. If Penn State plays to its capabilities and doesn't help Michigan out with turnovers and dumb penalties, we will all be feeling comfortable by the time the 4th quarter rolls around. This team will play its best game of the season to date, Saturday night.
For the glory! We Are.......Penn State!!!
Good, now that we have that out of the way, here's how I see it.
Michigan comes into this game with a lot of hype, but not a lot to back it up. They have a good defense, but I'm not ready to coronate them the next '85 Bears like some people. Hell, Indiana at times on Saturday went right through them and Indiana's offense is just okay, not great. Witness their first drive of the 2nd half. Penn State will move the ball surprisingly better than some people think on Saturday night. Why?
Because the skill players on our offense are excellent. Yes, excellent! We have a really good and smart QB paired in the backfield with the best Penn State offensive football player I've ever seen in my 45+ years of following this team. There are very few athletes who can impose their will in a game. Very few, but Saquon Barkley is one of them. I don't give a crap how he gets his yards like some of you do. If he gets them rushing, fine. If he gets them receiving, fine. If he gets them returning kicks, still fine. The thing is that he gets them. I don't know what form it will take, but be prepared to see Saquon do something very special Saturday night. Not only is he supremely talented, he's also a supreme competitor. We can talk about Michigan's defense 'til the cows come home, but the fact of the matter is that every time the Penn State offense is on the field with the Michigan defense, by a pretty good margin the best player on the field will be #26 in blue and white.
Let's look at the other side of the ball. I've been hearing for 2 weeks about how the Penn State offensive line will get destroyed by the Michigan defense. Well even if I was willing to stipulate that as being true (I'm not), then Michigan's offense is in an even worse position. Penn State's defense is just starting to get some recognition and they are very, very good. When's the last time you saw defensive speed on the Nittany Lion's defense like this team has? I tell you it's been a while. Our secondary is excellent. Our d-line while not splashy is deep and talented. Our LBs have stepped up as the year has progressed. So take that defense and put it against Michigan's offense. O'Korn is not good. He just isn't. If he plays the game of his life, it still probably won't be good enough, because he likely won't be able to lift his game high enough. Who would be shocked by a Penn State defensive score in this game? Not I. If Penn State mitigates the Michigan running attack, it will be very long night for the Wolverines.
If this becomes a field position game, PSU will have a huge advantage there as well. On special teams, our guys fly down the field and make plays. Ask that talented Indiana return man about that and he'll agree. We have a terrific punter as well. If O'Korn is asked to drive the ball 80 yards every time, he's going to have a long night.
Lastly, the atmosphere in Beaver Stadium is going to be out of sight loud and supportive of our team. If Penn State plays to its capabilities and doesn't help Michigan out with turnovers and dumb penalties, we will all be feeling comfortable by the time the 4th quarter rolls around. This team will play its best game of the season to date, Saturday night.
For the glory! We Are.......Penn State!!!
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