This is the worst that the defense has played all year long, and it still only yielded 10 points to a team that was playing in the comfort of its home confines.  But there were still two sustained scoring drives for PSU, both of which resulted from the PSU offensive line getting bodies on OSU’s linebackers.  The Defensive Line needs to do a better job keeping up the pressure on the offensive line so that they are so concerned with protecting their QB and against penetration that they don’t have the time to get downfield and block for their RBs.

The book on PSU QB Anthony Morelli was that if you get pressure on him, he overthrows even short passes and becomes ineffective as a QB.  During the first drive of the game, OSU did not get pressure on him and PSU marched down the field and scored.  But after that, it was pressure cooker time for Morelli.  The Buckeyes made a good and a fast adjustment and got pressure even without blitzing, which is one of the hallmarks of a great defense.  DE Vernon Gholston was after Morelli all day, and consistently beating whatever blocker PSU put in front of him.  It is also noteworthy that the defensive line was doing this without DE Lawrence Wilson and without DT Todd Denlinger.

At linebacker, it’s not easy to play better than James Laurinaitis, but in this game Marcus Freeman had more tackles.  I’m thinking that teams are starting to key on Laurinaitis more and that leaves Freeman with a route to tackles that is a bit less cluttered.

In the secondary, CBs Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington both had turnovers, Washington alertly picking up a fumble caused by Kurt Coleman and Jenkins a nice int for a td.  Washington is likely kicking himself as he watches tape of this since he had a clear path into the endzone for six points, but lost his balance while scooping up the ball.

Chimdi Chekwa had a nice pass breakup in the endzone that saved a touchdown but he also had me nervous when he clearly tugged at a receiver who had beaten him downfield.  Fortunately, Morelli had already overthrown that ball by about 10 yards and the referees ruled the ball uncatchable.

This game showed a defense that has a chink or two in its armor.  But that “exposure” if you want to call it that, comes at the perfect time, one week before the Wisconsin game.  Rest assured that Jim Tressel will be working on that matter during the week.  If we get Todd Denlinger back for Wisconsin, things could get ugly up front for the Badgers.  Wisconsin’s offense is built around executing in the fundamentals like running the ball.  No one has been able to consistently run the ball against OSU without Todd Denlinger, and no one is going to do anything against them with him back.

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