Sights and Sounds of Akron / Penn State
Pictures brought to you this week by Borelli Designs
We have Jeff over at Nittany Lounge to thank for this week’s Blue/White roundtable questions.
1. Coach Paterno says the biggest improvement in a team happens between week one and week two of the season. What area needs most improvement? What facet of play needs the least improvement?
The defensive line needs the least improvement. Wow, what an utterly dominant performance. In fact, they were so dominant against the Zips that as fans we could not really gauge how good our new secondary is. Even the interception in the first half could not really be attributed to the secondary especially when the front four consistently applied so much pressure on the QB that he basically forced all his throws in the first half. I don’t even recall a defensive down when our DTs or ends did not penetrate the back field.
The offensive line on the other hand was severely lacking in the run game. Pass protection was adequate, but the second half was exactly what we needed to expose our offensive line and allow them to improve their run blocking. With a backfield tandem of Evan Royster and Stephfon Green, it is simply unacceptable to be held to just about 150 yards rushing and no points in the entire second half when our first team offense was still in for a majority of time. I realize that Akron loaded up in the box to cheat against the run, but that is still no excuse for having no success whatsoever in driving down the field using the run when you are playing against an opponent fielding undersized defensive fronts and linebackers.
2. Syracuse is running what it calls the Stallion, a form of the Wildcat offense. It appeared to be effective against Minnesota. At one point during the Minnesota game, Syracuse had run the Stallion seven times, averaging over six yards per play. What does the PSU rush defense need to do break the Stallion?
For those unfamiliar with what Jeff is talking about, the Stallion is basically Syracuse’s version of the Wildcat. Syracuse coach Marrone lines up both his tailbacks, Antwon Bailey and Delone Carter in the backfield and his backup quarterback Ryan Nassib split as a wide receiver. In the Stallion, HB Bailey would take snaps directly out of the shotgun and run the option with fellow HB Carter. Against Minnesota Bailey would immediately run or choose to hand off the ball to Carter depending on how the Gopher defense reacted. Backup QB Nassib was essentially a decoy and last week, starting QB Greg Paulus would reenter the game immediately after each play out of the Stallion formation.
The point of the formation/play was to help put Greg Paulus in short yard situations as clearly evident when it was used primarily on first down and in the second half against the Gophers. How effective was it? HB Bailey was used only out of the Stallion formation and rushed for 31 yards on five tries. That’s 6.2 yards per carry essentially asking Paulus to gain 4 yards in 2 plays for the first down.
So yes, it was quite effective against Minnesota. If we learned anything from the Akron game, it was Penn State’s dominant front four. In the first half when it really counted, our defensive front consistently applied pressure against both the pass and run, stuffing Akron in the backfield for an entire half.
Defending this gimmicky Stallion formation will be much like defending any version of the Wildcat even Penn State’s when Derrick Williams took direct snaps in previous seasons. The front four will play a big factor in defending the Stallion. To make things easier on the secondary and linebackers, any defensive penetration will take away the running lanes in the middle of the formation giving the defense the advantage of pushing the runner toward the sidelines. That means more ground and less space for the runner to cover, and more time for the defense to react.
But the most important factor in defending the Stallion/Wildcat is recognition. It might seem easy to us fans when we can clearly see all 11 players on offense, for a defense on the field, it is tougher to realize when the opposing team is actually in this Stallion/Wildcat formation especially when they are peppering it in throughout their regular offensive formations/personnel. Against Minnesota, Syracuse would line backup QB Nassib as a wideout, which will be a quick indication the Orange are in the Stallion. When that happens defensive fronts, and linebackers need to quickly recognize whether multiple tackles are lined up on one side to avoid being overpowered. Know whether HBs Bailey and Cater can throw and avoid panicking and making uncharacteristic defensive mistakes which are usually the main reason for big gains out of this gimmicky offense.
So as long as the front four has as much success against the Orange as they did against Akron last Saturday, our defense should have a much easier time stuffing the Stallion back where it came from.
3. Minnesota squeaked out a win against the Orange(men). What expectation does this create for Penn State when playing Syracuse? And perhaps more importantly since it is a conference game, Minnesota?
I really don’t believe Penn State will have as much trouble against the Orange as Minnesota did. Defensively you can’t even compare us to the Golden Gophers and with Daryll Clark, Evan Royster, Stephfon Green and our countless wide receivers, we will simply be too much for Syracuse to handle for four quarters.
Luckily Syracuse already revealed their “secret weapon” that is the Stallion. Minnesota struggled to handle it which is not surprising for a team that did not prepare for it. Penn State will have an entire week to tweak their defense in anticipation of the Stallion which should hopefully help this Saturday.
What does this mean for Minnesota? Penn State fans should rejoice in Minnesota’s struggles this past Saturday while still escaping with the win. While this does not affect our strength of schedule in any way considering we play both teams, it still makes the Big Ten seem remotely better (if beating Syracuse is even an achievement these days). But it should also mean Penn State will have little resistance from the Golden Gophers this season.
4. This week next year Penn State will be playing Alabama on the road. What do you think about State playing Bama instead of the Cuse? Would you rather be tailgating in Happy Valley and attending another FCS beat down? Or sitting at home watching the game on the big screen? Should the Big Ten play at least one OOC game per year with the SEC or Big 12?
When a team like Penn State is already in the position to reach the title game by simply going undefeated, there is simply no reason to put ourselves in a position Virginia Tech, Oregon, Oklahoma and Georgia is today. Penn State even jumped a few spots following our week 1 beatdown of Akron while the teams I just mentioned can only hope for all the teams above them to lose a game (or two) essentially putting their own seasons in other teams’ hands.
Just ask yourself, if Penn State goes into Tuscaloosa and loses next year, would the fact we played a big name opponent matter to you then?
Extra Points
1. The current line is -28. Cover or Not?
No
2. Does Penn State show up for the second half?
Yes
3. True/False: Syracuse is a better opponent than Akron.
Yes, still a BCS conference team
4. Fact or Fiction: Sue Paterno once painted the Nittany Lion statue orange.
Fact. Which by the way, you students better be guarding that statue this week.
Releated Posts:
- Penn State Zips by Akron 31-7
- Previewing Akron: Breaking Down the Zips
- 2009 Akron @ #8 Penn State
- Sights and Sounds from the 2010 Capital One Bowl
- Penn State picks up uninspiring win against Syracuse
