Mini Scouting Report: Penn State

This is only from a couple quarters of the Purdue game and what I remember from Illinois.  Didn't get a chance to watch that much this week.

PSU offense

• They will run out of a lot of different formations.  They run the power I, regular I form with double tights, and some spread formations.  They also like a tight bunch formation which allows them to motion Derrick Williams into the back field.  Out of the power I, they like to run some inside zone lead which was very effective against Purdue.  They also like to run some play-action out of that formation.  Out of their spread formations, they will run some zone read option, QB draws, and will throw the ball.
• The offensive line looks pretty good.  Purdue had some success slanting on them.  They were able to get some penetration on run plays.  However, the o-line looks like a good combination of Wisconsin and Illinois.  They are as athletic as Illinois, and are looking to bury people like Wisconsin.  This area will be a real challenge. 
• Darryl Clark is pretty good.  He can run and throw, and is tough to bring down.  However, he does lose some accuracy when getting pressured and is forced to stay inside the pocket.  We really need to get after him and hit him all day. 
• Royster is a also very good.  He is big and fast and does not usually go down after first contact.  We have to be fundamentally sound in our tackling on Royster.  This worries me as we have not been a great tackling team all year. 
• As for the receivers, they are trying to get the ball to Derrick Williams.  If he is lined up as the tailback, he is getting the ball.  However, they also like to line him up as the third back in the power I and use him as a lead blocker.  From the tight bunch formation, they like to motion him into the back field and fake an end around and run a dive, or hand the ball off to thim.  They like to run some three step, and off their play actions, they like to flood one side of the field.  Against Illinois, they ran a play action with williams and sent Williams down the sideline for a big play.  We have to know where Williams is every play, and if we can, hit him right off the line of scrimmage.  He is very difficult to cover one on one.  If we can disrupt some of their routes by being physical off the line, and get pressure on Clark, we can slow down their passing game. 

PSU defense:

• They base out of a 4-3 and run a 4-2 nickel against spread formations. They start out of a two shell, and rarely leave a receiver uncovered.  They blitz a fair amount, but not every down.  When they do blitz, they like to bring their outside linebacker through C gap and bring down the opposite safety playing man or 3 behind the blitz.  In the Purdue game, they ran Cover 4 vs. trips.  They may run this coverage against us to help on the run and short passes.  This can be beat by running a post by the #1 receiver and getting behind the safety.  It could be a big play if we run it and hit it. 
• The D-line is pretty good.  The DE's like to get upfield.  Purdue was able to just ride them out of some of their zone running plays.  They DT's do not get driven back easily and stand up well to double teams.  This is going to be a very difficult match up for our o-line. 
• The linebackers are very good against the run.  #43 Josh Hall? finds the ball quickly and tackles well.  Purdue was only successful running the ball when they got a lineman on this guy at the second level.  We have not been good at doing that this year, so this is not a good matchup for us.  However, the linebackers are not great in their zone drops.  They bite hard on play action and do not find receivers in their zones well.  Purdue was able to move the ball with short option routes where the reciever just sits in between linebackers.  They hit these quick for 6-7 yard gains.  If Purdue could have put some points on the board, that game could have been interesting.  Unfortunately, we have not executed these types of routes very well this year. 
• The secondary is also pretty good.  They didn't seem to run a lot of man coveage, but were able to stay with Pudue's receivers pretty well when they did.  Purdue's tight end was able to run by #7 Scirrato on one play, so a big play down the seam may there.  They looked good in coverage, but none of them looked like great tacklers.  They came up on some of Pudue's short passes out of control, and one little side step sent the DB running by the guy.  Our recievers are going to have to break some tackles and get yards after contact to move the chains. 

Purdue was able to keep that game close by holding ball and getting first downs on short routes between linebackers.  If they hit on a couple missed field goals, that game is more interesting in the second half.  If we can get first downs consistently on offense and hold the ball, then we can keep ourselves in it.  Unfortunately, we have not consistently done this all year.  Our D-line can match up with their O-line, but can our LB's make plays behind them?  Our O-line does not match up well against their D-line and line backers so can we hit some three step passes and break some tackles?  If we can do those things, I think we can stay in the game.  Hopefully, it doesn't get ugly.