Penn State defense focused on Pryor

Jeff Rice

- jrice@centredaily.com

The who is easy. The how is what has Penn State's defense on edge this week.

AP photo/Jay LaPrete

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is also the Buckeyes’ leading rusher heading into Saturday’s matchup against Penn State at Beaver Stadium.

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Will PSU beat Pryor and the Buckeyes?

The Nittany Lions know that Ohio State sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who leads the Buckeyes into Beaver Stadium this Saturday, is the key to an offense as explosive as it is erratic.

But Ohio State’s coaches have often struggled this season to turn Pryor’s considerable talents into consistent results. The Buckeyes enter Saturday’s game ranked sixth in the Big Ten in total offense (376.1 yards per game) despite playing the porous defenses of Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois, all ranked in the bottom half of the conference in total defense (the Boilermakers held Ohio State to 287 yards and forced five turnovers in a 26-18 upset of the Buckeyes on Oct. 17).

If Ohio State is going to move the ball on Penn State, which leads the Big Ten in most major defensive categories, it will need at least solid play from Pryor.

“I think they’ve done some things a little differently in the offense to take advantage of his tremendous ability,” Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. “He started a little bit slow, to be frank with you, but the last few games he’s been very, very overpowering, really.”

Longtime Ohio State coach Jim Tressel has won five of his last seven games against Paterno and the Nittany Lions primarily with tough defense and an offensive game plan reliant on power running and play-action passes. But with the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Pryor, who is built like a wide receiver and runs like a tailback, taking the snaps, the Buckeyes have shown hints of expanding their playbook in recent weeks.

“They’re gonna be running the option, QB keeps, and zone reads with their running backs,” Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick said. “Nothing we haven’t seen before.”

Pryor leads the team with 554 yards rushing and 110 attempts. Injuries have been a problem for Ohio State’s running backs this season, but the Buckeyes expect to have both Brandon Saine (439 yards, one touchdown) and Dan Herron (307 yards, six touchdowns) available Saturday.

“Both their running backs that they’ve used so far are very athletic, big guys that can run,” Penn State linebacker Sean Lee said. “We’re going to have to get a square hit on them. Then you add options, keepers, sweeps and the draw with (Pryor), and it’s very effective.”

Where Pryor is most dangerous, however, is the plays in which he forces defenders to choose between committing to stop his run or stay in pass coverage.

“Sometimes we have to take our eyes off of reading routes,” Lee said, “And sometimes that opens up routes behind us.”

Pryor’s accuracy has been his biggest problem — at 55 percent, he ranks last among Big Ten quarterbacks — but his ability to throw the deep ball must not be ignored. He has completed nine passes to his wide receivers for more than 30 yards this season, including strikes of 76 and 56 yards to Dane Sanzenbacher and a 62-yarder to DeVier Posey.

“It can definitely be a challenge just because of the wear and tear of supporting the run,” cornerback A.J. Wallace said. “Then you have to turn around and do a full-out sprint to cover a receiver.”

Wallace was in the lineup last season when the Nittany Lions beat Pryor and the Buckeyes 13-6 in Ohio Stadium. Pryor threw for 226 yards on 19-of-25 passing, but 37 of those yards — and his interception to Lydell Sargeant at the goal line — came during a last-minute drive against a prevent defense.

Pryor has thrown for more than 200 yards just three times this season, but Wallace believes he has made strides as a passer.

“His passes are more on point and more on time,” Wallace said. “It will be a nice challenge going against him and his group of receivers.”

To simulate the size and athleticism of the quarterback they’ll face on Saturday, the Nittany Lions enlisted freshman linebacker Gerald Hodges, who goes 6-2, 220, to play the part of Pryor on the scout team this week.

“He’s done a great job of using that stiff arm,” Lee said.

The Nittany Lions are trying to prepare for anything this week. They realize that, not unlike last Saturday, when Mike Kafka and Northwestern’s fast-paced spread attack put the Nittany Lions on their heels early on, there is only so much they can do before the game.

“We know that some point in the game we’re going to have to make adjustments,” Lee said. “But I think we’re old enough where we can recognize something and adjust to it pretty quickly.”