What A Difference A Year Makes

For the Spartan faithful, playing in Happy Valley is the prize for a successful season. Now if State can beat Penn State, then they will prove to the unfaithful that they can actually close a season. 

Penn State/State decided on playing the last game, for precisely the reason they will have this Saturday. Michigan/Ohio State (sorry but Michigan’s biggest opponent is them) has historically owned the last game, but not this year. 

Some thoughts: 

1. Try not to be too conservative.
2. Target Penn State’s defensive line for the first part of the 1^st. quarter. State matches up well with them.
3. Hit Penn State’s receivers as soon at they cross the line. My observations have been that most teams, with the exception of Ohio State have not been physical.
4. State will have to do a masterful job of hiding and otherwise designing defensive schemes for containment.
5. And lastly, the obvious facts would be to minimize turnovers and jump on them early.

If you watched the Michigan game, Penn State seems to come out slowly and State must take advantage of this. Further, Penn State has excellent pursuit, and seems to be vulnerable to screens and/or bootlegs.