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Penn State Football: keys to success for the Nittany Lions against Michigan

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 01: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions huddles with teammates before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 01: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions huddles with teammates before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 01: Hakeem Beamon #51 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 01: Hakeem Beamon #51 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at Beaver Stadium on October 1, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Key to success on defense #1 – slow down Blake Corum

It’s no secret that Michigan’s offense runs through Blake Corum. To beat them, you’re going to have to minimize his impact.

Corum is averaging 6.2 yards per carry on the year and has already found the endzone 11 times. He has carried the ball 25 or more times in each of the Wolverines’ three Big Ten matchups so far this season, so it’s quite clear what Michigan’s gameplan is on offense.

The lowest scoring game of the season for the Michigan offense has been when they scored 27 points at Iowa. That also just so happens to be Corum’s least productive game of the season, as he averaged just 4.6 yards per carry in that one and found the endzone just once.

Their next lowest point total? Last week at Indiana when they scored 31. Once again, Corum averaged 5.0 yards per carry in that one: his second lowest mark of the year in that department.

It’s not a coincidence that the games in which Corum has been least productive are also the games where the Wolverines have scored the fewest points.

If the Nittany Lions can hold Blake Corum to less than five yards per carry, and no more than one touchdown, the Michigan offense likely won’t score very many points.

The offense runs through him. Slow him down and you give yourself a great chance to come away with a win.

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