It's Thursday and I imagine people are itching for some football talk. I am going to walk through some of the PSU offense and give a breakdown of what to expect and how I see Iowa adjusting for this game. We'll kick this off with some background for those who don't follow PSU that closely:
Offensive philosophy: Spread, Run-Pass Option
Returning starters on O: 9
Key players: Barkley (#26), McSorley (#9), Geskiki (#88), Hamilton (#5), Bates (#52), and McGovern (#66)
Penn State runs an RPO style offense out of primarily (read: 99% of snaps) an 11 personnel group (1RB, 1TE, and 3WR) with the main goal being optioning certain conflict players such as an OLB or Saftey depending on the play call and or defensive alignment. It's almost exactly the same as a traditional triple option but with the forward pass wrinkle instead of a pitch read. If the conflict player commits to the run, McSorley pulls the ball and throws over the top, if the conflict player drops back in coverage McSorley then has the option to keep or give to Barkley. That's a watered down explanation but here's what it looks like in action:
Pitt OLB comes up to defend the run and McSorley pulls it for an easy score.
So with all that above, how does a team effectively defend the RPO? Couple ways but it all starts with very, very, very, disciplined football. IMO, have the OLB/Saftey play flat and not actually commit to the run or pass, anything you can do to "string out" an option play bodes well for a defense. I would also say play more to protect the pass than the run, this should minimize those huge open pass plays. Attack the mesh point and hit the QB every single time he gets the ball. McSorley is not a big QB and he is a tough kid, but it does get tiring getting popped every single play.
Because this RPO doesn't really have plays designed to get a certain yardage, Penn State still struggles to get the ball into 3rd and manageable, one of the main reasons they have the 91st ranked 3rd down conversion percentage is because they put themselves in those positions. One wrinkle when defenses get a 3rd and long is a 4 man pressure with only two down linemen. Two examples below:
As you can see, 3rd and long and Pitt looks like they are bringing 6 man pressure but only bring 4 - the rest drop into zone coverage. Confuses our line and McSorley's hot route is covered very well.
This one is another 3rd and long-ish and Wiscy does a similar stem with 6 showing a rush but only 4 commiting.
I bring up the lack of 3rd down conversion and these pressure packages because this is what is going to hurt PSU going into the rest of the season - especially playing traditional pro-style offenses like Iowa - who want to control the clock and our offense not being able to move the sticks. I expect Iowa to install some type of look like this. Now, you guys might keep all your DL in three-point stances, but one or two might drop into coverage. Something like that.
From a coverage standpoint, what killed PSU was man-to-man jam outside - UM, OSU, USC. When PSU sees jam, we like to audible to a 9 route (fade) because it's a "good matchup." This causes longer throws, longer throws are tough to complete. Nothing Earth shattering here. Our X receiver Johnson (#84) is a very solid receiver but has yet to really breakout - especially considering the weaker schedule we have played. I think zone is tough, Moorhead loves route combos which normally are a pretty good counter to typical zone looks, you might be able to get away with pattern matching but I don't know how often you guys run that. Man with maybe cover 1 or cover 1 robber is probably the best bet.
With all that said, what I would like to see more of are designed runs with lead blockers for Barkley. I know the play below is technically a read option, but it is fun for me as a Penn State fan - who doesn't love this offense - see 26 run with a lead blocker.
Our RT, Chasz Wright (#77), pulls and does a great job kicking out Akron's play side OLB. McGovern (#66), has a good double team and quickly moves to the second level and takes out the Mike leaving it to a footrace for Barkley. There was another good example of a QB ISO but I couldn't find the play.
Barkley might not break off an 80-yard touchdown like that, but if PSU can get 3 or 4 yards more consistently on 1st and 2nd I think it's an easy win for PSU. If they continue to struggle on 3rd down, are not able to properly ID pass rush, and Iowa is able to possess the ball (and scores) then this game will be much closer. The best way I have heard all RPO offenses described is: "Great against the bottom 85 teams, inconsitent agaisnt the top 25 teams." Iowa could very well be a top 25 team. And that statement was true for PSU last year - we were 2-3 vs RPI top 25 teams, McSorley avg QBR was 50 for those contests.
TL;DR: Iowa's defense should play to protect the pass to make McSorley's read longer. If you get PSU into 3rd and long, just rush 4 in an exotic look. Expect a lot of Man on Iowa's side with maybe a little cover 1 or cover 1 robber. Play keep away with PSU, tough to score all those points when they are not on the field.
Offensive philosophy: Spread, Run-Pass Option
Returning starters on O: 9
Key players: Barkley (#26), McSorley (#9), Geskiki (#88), Hamilton (#5), Bates (#52), and McGovern (#66)
Penn State runs an RPO style offense out of primarily (read: 99% of snaps) an 11 personnel group (1RB, 1TE, and 3WR) with the main goal being optioning certain conflict players such as an OLB or Saftey depending on the play call and or defensive alignment. It's almost exactly the same as a traditional triple option but with the forward pass wrinkle instead of a pitch read. If the conflict player commits to the run, McSorley pulls the ball and throws over the top, if the conflict player drops back in coverage McSorley then has the option to keep or give to Barkley. That's a watered down explanation but here's what it looks like in action:
Pitt OLB comes up to defend the run and McSorley pulls it for an easy score.
So with all that above, how does a team effectively defend the RPO? Couple ways but it all starts with very, very, very, disciplined football. IMO, have the OLB/Saftey play flat and not actually commit to the run or pass, anything you can do to "string out" an option play bodes well for a defense. I would also say play more to protect the pass than the run, this should minimize those huge open pass plays. Attack the mesh point and hit the QB every single time he gets the ball. McSorley is not a big QB and he is a tough kid, but it does get tiring getting popped every single play.
Because this RPO doesn't really have plays designed to get a certain yardage, Penn State still struggles to get the ball into 3rd and manageable, one of the main reasons they have the 91st ranked 3rd down conversion percentage is because they put themselves in those positions. One wrinkle when defenses get a 3rd and long is a 4 man pressure with only two down linemen. Two examples below:
As you can see, 3rd and long and Pitt looks like they are bringing 6 man pressure but only bring 4 - the rest drop into zone coverage. Confuses our line and McSorley's hot route is covered very well.
This one is another 3rd and long-ish and Wiscy does a similar stem with 6 showing a rush but only 4 commiting.
I bring up the lack of 3rd down conversion and these pressure packages because this is what is going to hurt PSU going into the rest of the season - especially playing traditional pro-style offenses like Iowa - who want to control the clock and our offense not being able to move the sticks. I expect Iowa to install some type of look like this. Now, you guys might keep all your DL in three-point stances, but one or two might drop into coverage. Something like that.
From a coverage standpoint, what killed PSU was man-to-man jam outside - UM, OSU, USC. When PSU sees jam, we like to audible to a 9 route (fade) because it's a "good matchup." This causes longer throws, longer throws are tough to complete. Nothing Earth shattering here. Our X receiver Johnson (#84) is a very solid receiver but has yet to really breakout - especially considering the weaker schedule we have played. I think zone is tough, Moorhead loves route combos which normally are a pretty good counter to typical zone looks, you might be able to get away with pattern matching but I don't know how often you guys run that. Man with maybe cover 1 or cover 1 robber is probably the best bet.
With all that said, what I would like to see more of are designed runs with lead blockers for Barkley. I know the play below is technically a read option, but it is fun for me as a Penn State fan - who doesn't love this offense - see 26 run with a lead blocker.
Our RT, Chasz Wright (#77), pulls and does a great job kicking out Akron's play side OLB. McGovern (#66), has a good double team and quickly moves to the second level and takes out the Mike leaving it to a footrace for Barkley. There was another good example of a QB ISO but I couldn't find the play.
Barkley might not break off an 80-yard touchdown like that, but if PSU can get 3 or 4 yards more consistently on 1st and 2nd I think it's an easy win for PSU. If they continue to struggle on 3rd down, are not able to properly ID pass rush, and Iowa is able to possess the ball (and scores) then this game will be much closer. The best way I have heard all RPO offenses described is: "Great against the bottom 85 teams, inconsitent agaisnt the top 25 teams." Iowa could very well be a top 25 team. And that statement was true for PSU last year - we were 2-3 vs RPI top 25 teams, McSorley avg QBR was 50 for those contests.
TL;DR: Iowa's defense should play to protect the pass to make McSorley's read longer. If you get PSU into 3rd and long, just rush 4 in an exotic look. Expect a lot of Man on Iowa's side with maybe a little cover 1 or cover 1 robber. Play keep away with PSU, tough to score all those points when they are not on the field.
