Overall, I thought the play calling kept Illinois off balance... and finally leveraged PSU's re-invigorated running game into big plays and scores... cases in point... fake to Barkley into the line, then IMMEDIATELY hit him with a short pass over the rush for about 20-25 yards... 2nd, a fake jet sweep to Polk (might not have been Polk), a look downfield, and then hit him down the sideline. I know we've seen that play before, but only once I believe.
ALSO, I think the coaches are getting their "fix" of running some "spread" and "read option" play calling, by getting Barkley in there taking the direct snap... WHICH I have no problem with... I would LIKE to see Barkley and Hack line up in a side by side set in the backfield, where we don't know WHO is going to get the snap until it happens... coupled with a WR or RB in motion, it MIGHT actually a viable way to run EITHER, at ANY time... but, I might be getting ahead of myself.
The point? when the running game is working (and even when it's not), using fakes freezes the LB's and allows guys to break wide open. There were other examples as well, and I know Hack was just SHARP, but the improved play calling DEFINITELY added to the success, and FINALLY, the PSU offense looks to be gelling...
ALSO, I think the coaches are getting their "fix" of running some "spread" and "read option" play calling, by getting Barkley in there taking the direct snap... WHICH I have no problem with... I would LIKE to see Barkley and Hack line up in a side by side set in the backfield, where we don't know WHO is going to get the snap until it happens... coupled with a WR or RB in motion, it MIGHT actually a viable way to run EITHER, at ANY time... but, I might be getting ahead of myself.
The point? when the running game is working (and even when it's not), using fakes freezes the LB's and allows guys to break wide open. There were other examples as well, and I know Hack was just SHARP, but the improved play calling DEFINITELY added to the success, and FINALLY, the PSU offense looks to be gelling...
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