GBMWolverine: Preview PSU – Michigan — An Atypical Match-up
Posted at 8:00am — 10/29/2010
GBMWolverine: Preview PSU – Michigan — An Atypical Match-up
Usually, in the past, when Michigan has played Penn State, two highly ranked teams with good line play have made for some tough, down in the dirt games. Michigan, with a standard pro set, was viewed as the more modern offensive set. Galen Hall demonstrated last year that PSU has left the era of isolation right, isolation left, play action, and throw the bomb now and then. PSU continually had two relics of the past golden era; linebackers and strong line play on both sides of the ball. The linebacker play is still solid (but not spectacular) but the line play is mediocre on the offensive side of the ball and still pretty good (but not spectacular) on the defensive side. This year’s match-up is new and probably not improved, but it may be exciting. It may take 30 or more points to win.
Penn State has lost many high level players from last year’s team. Compound this impediment with severe injuries that continue to mount and inexperience at the quarterback position and Penn State is off to a so-so start.
But hold the press on the demise of Penn State, and as Mark Twain stated these long decades ago the news of the demise is premature. Penn State plays three more winnable games and could come away with a better record than teams and fan bases providing the lions little current respect. Not surprisingly both fan bases believe the other team is far inferior to their own. But the obvious takes preference; that either team can win and a win by either side is nothing close to an upset.
The biggest difference for the Lions this year is the running game. Like any demise of a usually strong presence, more than one factor is likely involved. The guys receiving the most heat are the offensive linemen. In Penn State’s offense, blocks must be sustained, and simply put this has not happened up to this point of the season. One injury took out a starting tackle and depth is not in great abundance. The group may or may not be capable of quicker Michigan like blocks that favor getting to the second level after a brush and emphasizing the offense that goes along with the flat game. The running backs, as always, come under a little fire when the blocking is less than ideal. Evan Royster will become PSU’s all-time rusher but Jo-Pa is not providing glowing press concerning his tailback. Some believe Silas Redd is a better outside option and needs to be used more. This may happen Saturday since Michigan has done a poor job of containment on the edge. Or Royster simply may be good enough to break contain against Michigan. One thing for certain, keep PSU running inside and it gets tough for the Nittany Lions.
Of no help to the running game is the injury to Fullback Suhey, who may or may not play Saturday.
The blame game has not ended with the line and running backs. Freshman Robert Bolden has been somewhat inconsistent. Part of this is due to a lack of a running game causing predictable passing situations. Know this, Robert Bolden is a very good true freshman quarterback. He is much better than some fans have opined and his future is bright, assuming the necessary personnel will surround him. Bolden has been cleared of concussion issues and may or may not play Saturday. His speed could cause UM problems. It is no secret that PSU is not going gaga over Kevin Newsome and he may be by-passed for Matt McGloin, a sophomore, Saturday night.
The receiver corps still has talented Derek Moye, a player who can hurt Michigan on one play, and do it more than one time a game. Graham Zug. Chaz Powell, and Brett Brackett are very solid receivers who have had some dropsy’s this year. But against a bad secondary, and with the help of a quarterback who receives time, this group could do damage.
The Michigan defense, a unit that has significant trouble stopping anyone will match up against the PSU offense, a group that has struggled to score touchdowns. The obvious choices against the Michigan defense are to attack the edge and the flats. PSU has been stubborn about doing either and instead has kept with the standard tackle and inside power game. Michigan will see both parts of the running game as Galen Hall will hunt for a weakness that the Lions can exploit at will, a very uncommon occurrence for the PSU offense this year. Last year Penn State took advantage of UM corners that were playing 8-11 yards off of the ball, allowing for a skilled senior quarterback to have an easy and productive day.
So, many questions emerge: (1) can Michigan stop PSU up the middle with a base defense, or will the Wolverines need to load the box, daring PSU to take to the air; (2) will Michigan again play way off the receivers, helping out a young quarterback’s reads, and (3) will Penn State come out with new offensive schemes based on Michigan weaknesses, or go with what it knows best? There will be play action and some misdirection, and Penn State uses the oldie but goodie end reverse that takes time to develop (but could run UM defenders further away from the play). Penn State usually values execution and situation over deceit.
The Michigan offense will not use much, if any, deceit either. It is an absolute guarantee that Jo Pa is far more worried about the speed advantage of the Michigan offense more than any other factor in the game, especially the speed of Denard Robinson. Penn State usually covers well in the flat, but if Michigan can draw the linebackers outside the hashes and control the edge, look out good things may happen for Denard. Historically, Penn State’s outstanding linebackers can cover, fill the hole, and tackle. One thing Michigan’s game planners better account for is the outstanding deep drops PSU linebackers take into the hook and slant areas. Of course PSU will focus extreme effort on Denard, making it imperative to have someone else run the ball successfully. The question will be who will the lone ranger be?
Special teams go hands down to PSU in every stage of the game. Nothing further needs to be stated.
So, an atypical scenario emerges; can a Michigan defense that cannot stop hardly anyone stop a Penn State team who cannot move on hardly anyone? This is Michigan’s chance to play on the big stage and take care of business by eliminating self-inflicted wounds.
Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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