Last Edited: 8/31/2012 11:18:24 AM by Ted Thompson

Last Edited: 8/1/2012 1:41:22 PM by Mike Bundt WHIZ

Last Edited: 8/1/2012 9:11:12 PM by mf279801

Last Edited: 8/5/2012 12:04:02 AM by Tyler

Last Edited: 8/6/2012 5:47:00 PM by 71 BOBCAT

Last Edited: 8/11/2012 12:58:23 PM by BurninateTheMAC

Last Edited: 8/13/2012 9:51:09 PM by L.C.

L.C. wrote:

I decided that the recruiting numbers were way out of date as a way of comparing individual talent, so I looked at nfldraftscout.com as a more current indicator of talent. In some positions, Ohio matches up pretty well, in others, not so well: Offensive line - fairly even. At center, Allen is 34/88, there center Stankiewitch is higher, at 10/88. at OG, Lechner is 41/174 for 2014, and they have Gress and Urshel at 35/174 and 51/174. Meanwhile Herman is 34/203 and Carlotta is 67/203, while their Mangiro is 23/139. At OT, they have Farrell at 66/150 and Cadogan at 20/144, which Prior and McGrath aren't rated yet. I think both will be rated well when they do get rated, however. TE - Advantage Ohio - Thompson is 29/92, and they do not have one that is rated QB - Advantage Ohio - tettleton is 34/137, while McGloin is 46/134 FB - advantage PSU - thye have 2 very good ones - Zwinek at 4/33 and Zordich at 7/77, while Ohio doesn't use one RB -probably even - With Redd gone, they have Belton at 39/167 and dukes at 52/172. None of Ohio's RB's are rated, but when they do get rated, they will probably be in about that range. WR - Probably even - Foster is 54/277 while Dovell is 102/277, while they have Smith at 74/372 and Kersey at 82/277 Overall the offensive talent is really pretty close. Defensive Tackle - Advantage PSU - Hunyh rates well at 36/193, while Jones isn't rated. They have HIll at 6/193 and James at 58/193 DE - Advantage PSU - Scott rates 50/205, while Hastings isn't rated. They have Massaro at 17/205 and Stanley at 53/205 OLB - Advantage PSU - Lewis ranks 65/232, while Woseley isn't ranked. They have Hodges at 3/232, Hull at 11/179. ILB - Advantage PSU - Ohio has none rated. They have Mauti at 7/129 and Carson at 18/92. By comparison Keller was 13/101 CB - Even - Carrie rates 25/218, and no one else is rated, while Thomas is 26/216 and Morris is 78/218 S - Slight advantage to PSU - Ohio has no one rated, though Moore and Hughes are good. They have Willis at 9/104, and the other safety is not rated. Judging from these ratings, Penn State lives up to their reputation of "Linebacker U", The defenses are not that different except at linebacker and DE. On the whole, Penn State does seem to have the higher talent level, but not by as much as you might think. Penn State will have a very good defense, particularly at LB.Thinking about the matchups: 1. The new offensive tackles are going to face some very good DE's, not the easiest job for a first start. This matchup will be a key to the game. If they can't get Tettleton some time, it will be a very long game. 2. With such good linebackers, and a good defensive line, rushing yards will be hard to come by. Ohio's spread package will be an advantage here, as they may need to replace one of their outstanding OLB's with a not as good corner.. If Tettleton can get time to throw, and that's a big if, then moving the ball by air may be possible, and may keep them off balance enough that Ohio can get a few rushing yards, too. 3. Ohio's defense will match up OK with Penn State's offense. With big fullbacks and RB's coming at you, in old style football, it will be very different than the spread offenses Ohio sees in the MAC - depending on what O'Brien does, of course. It will sure be a good test for Jones/Huynh/Crutcher up front, and the various middle linebackers. I'd feel better about this game if Kellter were back one more year. I doubt Ohio scores more that 1-2 TDs, plus some field goals. They are probably going to have to hold Penn State under 20 to win.

Last Edited: 8/13/2012 11:43:04 PM by Bcat2

Last Edited: 8/14/2012 9:40:54 AM by Mike Coleman