Preview: Penn State @ Wisconsin - October 11th
By #1 Sports
Penn State (6-0, 2-0 Big 10) maintained their standing as the Big 10’s #1 offense and #1 defense in a grind it out 20-6 win at Purdue last week, the first of 4 road trips over 5 weeks that will be critical to the Lion’s National Championship hopes. Balance is the key for Coach Joe Paterno’s (378-125-3 in 43rd season) offense with 256.7 yards of rushing (at 6.1 yards per carry and 21 TD) versus 243.0 yards of passing (at 8.6 yards per attempt and 12 TD) combining for the nation’s 7th best mark of 44.8 points per contest. With first year starter 6’2” 235 junior Daryll Clark (80 of 124 for 1116 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT) at the trigger, offensive line play was going to be key and this crew is one of the better in the country. 6’1” 300 senior C A.Q. Shipley leads a squad of 4 returning starters joined this season by 6’3” 294 sophomore RG Stephan Wisnewski who brings the same intensity as his father and uncle (Raiders standout Steve) – each former All Americans. Both 6’1” 211 sophomore RB Evan Royster (84 for 659 and 8 TD) and 5’10” 294 freshman RB Stephon Green (53 for 368 and 4 TD) have run wild behind this crew but it’s the trio of veteran Nittany Lion senior receivers that set this offense apart. 6’0” 190 Derrick Williams (19 for 240 and TD), 5’10” Deon Butler (19 for 311 and 2 TD), and 5’11” 171 Jordan Norwood (18 for 318 and 4 TD) have combined for 422 career catches and each has a season to set the school record before season’s end. The game plan so far has been conservative to allow QB Clark the opportunity to develop but these kids without a doubt represent another gear that will be unleashed down the homestretch and gives Paterno a legitimate shot and going out on top.
Coordinator Tom Bradley’s defensive unit has been stiff throughout, allowing the nation’s 9th best mark at 11.7 points per game on 80.2 rushing yards (2.5 yards per rush and 4 TD) and 170.2 passing yards (5.4 yards per attempt and 4 TD), despite being without one of the country’s most productive players much of the young season. 6’2” 262 junior DE Maurice Evans (7 T, S) tallied 21 ½ tackles for loss and 12 ½ sacks in 2007 but a marijuana bust benched him for 3 games. In his absence, 6’4” 245 sophomore LDE Aaron Maybin (23 T, 9 TFL, 7 S) has exploded opposite of 6’1” 273 senior RDE Josh Gaines (20 T, 5 ½ TFL, 3 ½ S) leaving Evans in a part-time role since his return – likely costing him millions. Tackles Odrick and Ogbu each tip the scales around 300 pounds plus 6’2” 238 senior OLB Tyrell Sales (31 T, FF) and 6’2” 239 junior MLB Josh Hull (32 T, INT, 2 TFL) are each strong tacklers but the young kid to watch this front 7 is Navorrow Brown. The 6’1” 228 sophomore OLB has seemingly been everywhere with 52 tackles, 7 ½ tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a pick! Get past these kids and a dynamite secondary is waiting led by 6’0” 197 senior FS Antonio Scirrotto (29 T, FR, INT). 6’2” 220 senior SS Mark Rubin (24 T, TFL, INT), 5’10” 192 senior LCB Tony Davis (13 T, INT), and 6’1” 197 junior A.J. Wallace (11 T) round out the base set but Penn State might be even better in the nickel. Sales comes out and 5’10” 190 sophomore CB Drew Astorino comes in where he has racked up 21 tackles including one for loss plus 2 of the team’s 9 interceptions.
Wisconsin (3-2, 0-2 Big 10) lost a 4th quarter lead for the second consecutive week against conference rivals, this time falling 17-20 to Ohio State while losing at their home Camp Randall Stadium for the first time in 17 contests and tumbling out of the AP’s top 25. The Badger defense has piled up the big plays with 9 sacks, 7 interceptions, and 6 fumble recoveries while limiting opponents to just 83 total first downs but have still given up a pretty pedestrian 17.6 points per game on 123.6 yards rushing (3.9 yards per carry and 6 TD) and 186.2 yards passing (5.8 yards per attempt and 4 TD). One of the issues is a pretty light line by Big 10 standards. Junior LE O’Brien Schofield (15 T, 3 S), senior LT Jason Chapman (15 T, 3 TFL, S), senior RT Mike Newkirk (18 T, 4 ½ TFL, S), and senior RE Matt Shaughnessy (16 T, S) bring experience with 102 career combined starts but at 6’4 ½” 242 pounds at the ends and 6’3 ½” 274 pounds at the tackles they can get pushed around. Shaughnessy in particular has been off his game with a single tackle for loss versus 18 in 2007. The Badger backers are also a little light in the anchor. 6’3” 228 senior SLB DeAndre Levy (33 T, 6 TFL, 2 S, FR, INT), 6’2” 226 senior WLB Jonathan Casillas (19 T, INT), and 6’3” 220 junior MLB Jaevery McFadden (44 T, 2 ½ TFL, FR) – who is playing with a cast over a broken hand - cover a ton of ground but will heavily tested in the run game this week. The defensive backfield is led by a couple of dynamite experienced players in 5’11” 189 senior RCB Allen Langford (17 T, INT, FR) and 6’2” 202 junior FS Shane Carter (18 T, 2 INT), who bagged 7 picks in 2007, but their mates are still learning. Sophomore SS Jay Valai (20 T, 2 TFL, S, 2 FF), sophomore Niles Brinkley (13 T, 2 INT), and freshman NB Mario Goins (14 T) have filled the highlight reels but have also been had many times.
Under Offensive Coordinator Paul Chryst (2005-present) Wisconsin has averaged 30.8 points per game but has been hampered injuries to a couple of key weapons. Working off a typically powerful rushing game, the mid-range pass is the bread and butter of this crew but 6’4” 237 junior TE Garrett Graham (11 for 154 and 3 TD) missed both conference games with injury and 6’4” 235 senior H-back Travis Beckham (12 for 128) has also battled injuries missing most of 3 games. This pair has combined for 136 receptions, 1885 yards, and 11 scores over the last 2 seasons and are finally healthy together this week for the first time in 2008. This should certainly open things up for sophomore receivers 5’11” 165 David Gilbreath (14 for 176 and TD receiving, 8 for 75 rushing) and 6’5” 175 Kyle Jefferson (11 for 159 yards) who have been batting double coverage plus make things easier for 6’2” 212 senior QB Allan Everidge (69 of 122 for 899 yards, 5 TD, 4 INT) who has not lived up to expectations so far and could be feeling the heat from junior QB Dustin Sherer. Pre-season Heisman hopeful 5’11” 236 junior RB PJ Hill (108 for 512 yards and 5 TD) has also been off the pace of each of his last 2 season, despite rushing behind a line that averages 6’6” 319 and has 129 career starts under their belts, but keep your eye out for the big freshman kid. 5’11” 207 sophomore Zach Brown (34 for 174 and 2 TD) is second on the depth chart but it has been powerful 6’2” 237 freshman RB John Clay (39 for 260 and 4 TD) that has caught our attention with a NFL-caliber explosion/power combination.
FREE SELECTION: The Nittany Lions have been brilliant in the Red Zone with 25 touchdowns and 6 field goals in 33 trips and have a real shot at the National Championship but you just cannot lay points on the road in the Big 10 – especially against Buckey at Camp Randall. Take Wisconsin + 5 ½!