First Down rushing key for Penn State, Ohio State

The superb site CFB Stats offers some fascinating insights into Saturday's showdown...

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• Evan Royster, First Down Rushing: 77 carries, 515 yards, 6.7 yards per attempt
• Ohio State, First Down Rushing Defense: 146 attempts, 410 yards, 2.8 yards per attempt
• Brandon Saine, First Down Rushing: 58 carries, 330 yards, 5.7 yards per attempt
• Penn State, First Down Rushing Defense: 122 attempts, 377 yards, 3.1 yards per attempt

We don't really expect either team to successfully establish a running game, as both teams are ranking in the Top Ten nationally in Rushing Defense. However, if one team starts to earn a lot of offensive wins (4+ yards) on first down rushes, look out.

Our biggest fear is that JoePa will play turtleball instead of putting the ball in Daryll Clark's hands. Penn State has the talent edge to win this game by 10+ points. If we throw the ball early and often we can get there. But if we go turtle we may allow the Buckeyes to hang around and steal the game at the end.

Third-and-short will be telling. Last night we watched the Northwestern game again. There were a couple of early third-and-short runs that were stuffed. We also picked up a key third down late in the third quarter on an Evan Royster run - but only because the Wildcats missed two tackles. Which is two more than the Buckeyes would have missed.

Joe, please spread the field or go play-action on third-and-short. Trying to go mano a mano against the Ohio State front seven is stubborn and fruitless. Our offensive line isn't going to suddenly turn into brutes this week.

We have the quarterback and receivers to play pitch-and-catch in short yardage situations, so why try to slug it out? Yards and first downs gained from smart play are just as valuable as those gained through physical play.
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