Penn State Football: Keys to the Game (Game #9 – Purdue Boilermakers)
By Corey Hunter
Rubbing is Racing!
Oct 27, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (7) and linebacker Mike Hull (43) combine to sack Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) during the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-US PRESSWIRE
Alright, I’m not a NASCAR aficionado, but I was trying to find a clever way to say that the Penn State defense MUST apply pressure! On the defensive side of the things Penn State needs to activate their linebackers. The math here is quite simple: Purdue has been allowing an average of 2.25 sacks per game good for 11th in the Big Ten + Penn State has been getting an average of 2.75 sacks per game which places them 2nd in the Big Ten. Add the caveat that Purdue is starting a quarterback that has had a chronic history of knee problems that render him nearly immobile in the pocket, and voila, you have the best Boilermaker cocktail of all time…and that’s a drink worth imbibing (You knew I was going to have a shameless Boilermaker drink plug somewhere didn’t you?)!
In all seriousness, look for Penn State and defensive coordinator Ted Roof to dial up the pressure on Saturday. The recipe is there for him to bring pressure. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hull, Mauti, and Hodges combine for 3-5 sacks on Saturday. On the season Penn State has accumulated 22.0 sacks which is good for second in the Big Ten, but Purdue has only recorded 13.0 sacks (T-8th).
Why else is pressure key? It keeps Purdue from being able to effectively utilize their outside playmakers in Antavian Edison and O.J. Ross. Edison is their primary receiving weapon. He is tied for the team-lead in receptions (38) with O.J. Ross, but he has 6 receiving TDs which leads the team. Besides Edison, the Boilermakers also like junior O.J. Ross. Unfortunately for Purdue, their second-leading wideout is likely to miss the Penn State game, as he did with Minnesota last week, due to a turf toe injury. That leaves junior wideout Gary Bush as next in line. Bush has 24 receptions on the year including 5 for TDs. The tight ends, Gabe Holmes and Crosby Wright have combined for 29 receptions for 224 yards and 1 score.
With Ross out of the lineup and Penn State likely to bring pressure, look for Purdue to involve their running backs Akeem Shavers and Akeem Hunt more in the passing game. The Boilermakers like to put their quarterback in the shotgun position with the backs split next to them. That places them in the ideal position for swing passes, screen passes, and passes just over the line of scrimmage. Shavers and Hunt have totaled 19 receptions and 2 scores. Quick passes are one way to slow down hard-charging pass rushers.