Penn State Practice Highlights: Ohio State week

Get an inside look at Penn State open practice from Blue White Illustrated. Below is a transcript of the video which is viewable on the BWI YouTube Channel. Subscribe to BWI on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3KzEcqK

Penn State open practice highlights

Every position group will be tested on Saturday, but today we’ll focus on the players that will help determine the success or failure of the offense and defense on Saturday.

We’ll start with the offensive line. Penn State’s big men up front protected Sean Clifford and opened up holes for the running game last week, but it came at a cost. Both Sal Wormley and Caedan Wallace left the game, with Wallace never returning. In addition, the team was already without left guard Landon Tengwall, whose status for this weekend is up in the air.

Protecting Clifford so that the senior quarterback can attack the Ohio State secondary downfield is key. This group is one of the few positions groups that Penn State has a chance to attack on Saturday. However, with a renewed emphasis on the run game by Ohio State, Penn State may very well have to throw its way to a victory.

Receivers will need to come through in a big way

Speaking of points, the Penn State pass catches need to come up big on Saturday. Tight ends Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren had breakout performances against Minnesota, which opened up the passing game for Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley. Penn State will need to score points against Ohio State to the Nittany Lions will need the very best from this group.

On the defensive side of the football, the linebackers are once again under the microscope. The Nittany Lions have done a fine job shutting down most zone-rushing attacks this year, which is the basis of the Ohio State ground game. But if the Buckeyes begin to pull their linemen as Michigan did, it will force Tyler Elsdon and the rest of the unit to run to the sideline against Ohio State’s elite athletes.

The secondary will also have its hands full. This unit, led by Joey Porter Jr and Kalen King, has a chance to play with Ohio State’s receivers. How much they handle will determine how well Penn State can hang with the high-powered Ohio State offense.