Northwestern Preview By The Numbers
by BSD on Oct 28, 2009 9:09 AM EDT
in Game Previews
22 comments
Legend
Difference <25 in National Rank = Push
Difference >25 in National Rank = 
Difference >50 in National Rank =
Difference >75 in National Rank =
Differences >100 in National Rank =
Note: The Redzone TD% and Redzone TD% Defense are calculated by me and not ranked by the NCAA. Determining who has the advantage in these categories is strictly my arbitrary judgement.
More analysis after the jump.
Worst Matchup
Both teams are terrible in the punting game. This is nothing new for Penn State, but maybe they can improve their numbers this week against the Wildcats.
Best Matchup
Northwestern has a surprisingly potent passing attack. Believe it or not, Northwestern is the highest rated passing team Penn State has faced this year. Unlike Michigan and Illinois who run the spread to set up the running game, Northwestern uses the spread to set up the passing game. This will prove to be the new secondary's toughest test to date.
Advantages for Northwestern
Kickoffs...AGAIN!
Just like every week, Penn State is at a disadvantage in returning kickoffs. Thankfully, due to the defense not giving up a lot of points, they only have to return two or three kicks per game. So this isn't a huge advantage.
I was pretty impressed with Northwestern's stingy redzone defense ranked #15 in the nation, but when I broke it down to see what percentage of opponent trips came away with touchdowns I wasn't so impressed. Three out of every five trips for the opponent ended in six points. That's not very good.
Advantages for Penn State
Pretty much everything on offense and defense. Northwestern is a very good 5-3 team, and they have the stats of a 5-3 team. Nothing attrocious, but nothing they can clearly dominate you with either.
On offense, Daryll Clark should have success in passing the ball against a less than average Wildcat secondary. This should open things up for Royster to have a pretty good day, though probably not spectacular.
On defense, I don't see any point in Northwestern even trying to run the ball. They are not very good to begin with, and against the Penn State defense it will basically be a wasted down.
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Kafka is starting right?
So we should basically go with the same D theory as against “The Best QB in the Big Ten” and use the four down linemen to collapse the pocket, but contain him in it, and blitz on occasion to shake things up.
On a side note, does anyone else think of Kefka from FFVI when they see this dude’s name?
by psume06 on Oct 28, 2009 9:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We haven't played "The Best QB in the Big Ten" yet.
That’s November 7.
by PSUJunny05 on Oct 28, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's a good thing we play the real best quarterback in the Big Ten every week
by PSUisMyHeart on Oct 28, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too bad real best quarterback and "The Best QB in the Big Ten" aren't the same thing.
Wasn’t Pryor already named BTPOTY? Or was he already named preseason BTPOTY for next year? I get confused easily. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli.
by PSUJunny05 on Oct 28, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dumbest award ever
Do we really need a preseason player of the year? What is the purpose? The only thing it can do is blow up in your face.
Mike
Black Shoe Diaries
by BSD on Oct 28, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That IS the purpose
It’s all a practical joke
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Oct 28, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
In that case...
it’s HILARIOUS.
May no act of ours bring shame.
by mushdamma on Oct 28, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dumbest award
Isn’t that the modern Heisman?
by STU Boy on Oct 28, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We should change our name to "Bowling Green"
That way it becomes a win-win situation.
DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?
by ReadingRambler on Oct 28, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Matt Millen
dis-respectfully disagrees with you
We decide when you hear the snap count...
by thedrizzle on Oct 28, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nope, I think of Franz Kafka.
I imagine the entire offensive line waking up Saturday morning to find that they have turned into a monstrous insect.
by Cairo on Oct 28, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
-1 for 9th grade English class reference.
by NoLimitLion1 on Oct 28, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh.
I read it has a college sophmore. I can’t imagine reading it when I was 14.
by Cairo on Oct 28, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kafkaesque = jNW
The adjective refers to anything suggestive of Kafka, especially his nightmarish type of narration, in which characters lack a clear course of action, the ability to see beyond immediate events, and the possibility of escape.
Sounds about right for a jNW QB.
by Aaron PSU on Oct 28, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I pretty much
expect to see opposing team pictures on most/all of the special team categories. (Barely) Pleasantly surprised.
by GreatScawt on Oct 28, 2009 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If ever there was a week to get our punt return game going
this would be it. Also, does PSU still remember how to play in weather other than cold rain? They may be confused by the shiny sphere in the sky.
by cpm126 on Oct 28, 2009 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
zOMG what's that flaming ball of fire hovering over us
EVERYBODY RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!
"Every player we have, someone—maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone—poured their life and soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world." - Joe Paterno
by Horse N Buggy on Oct 28, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES" means taking a kick return to the house
then +1 for the flaming ball.
by dawsonPSU10 on Oct 28, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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