How Ohio State football intimidated, dominated, and subdued Penn State

How Ohio State football humiliated and dominatedCLEVELAND, Ohio — In Saturday’s 20-12 victory, Ohio State football’s defense allowed Penn State to only 3.5 yards per play, sacked quarterback Drew Allar four times, and converted fifteen of sixteen third-down opportunities.

During that group performance, new people kept volunteering to perform plays. Several of those one-on-one scores occurred on third down or at pivotal times that put the Nittany Lions behind the chains in order to create the conditions for that third-down triumph.

After a second viewing, the following three plays jumped out as illustrations of how much this defense improved in the course of a season under coordinator Jim

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1. Last season, the Buckeyes’ all-out blitzes usually had a worse outcome for them than for the opponents they were up against.

This season, the defensive coordinator has been more deliberate in his spot selection. It only appeared on one Saturday and caused a significant halt.

Early in the game, Ohio State gave off an empty stare but eventually settled for a three-man rush. The pre- and post-snap perceptions of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar were significantly altered.

Early in the third quarter, after Penn State had advanced to midfield and faced a third-and-2, OSU adopted the same stance. But it came on the zero blitz this time. There was no high safety help available, but Nicholas Singleton took over after Allar did. Josh Proctor, a safety, brought him down for a 3-yard loss, forcing the punt.

Following the game, Ohio State coach Ryan Day stated that Knowles has grown more acquainted with the Big Ten and his own team members. If the blitz fails to get home, he knows this group of cornerbacks can handle those one-on-one situations better.

But in this instance, it ended up being one of the fifteen instances that OSU thwarted a third-down attempt.

. Penn State had to be motivated to limit J.T. Tuimoloau after his game-wrecking performance in Beaver Stadium a year ago. He did not fill up a box score Saturday, but he maintained a consistent presence.

Early in the game, Tuimoloau lined up almost exclusively against right tackle Caedan Wallace. As the game progressed, however, he lined up more and more over Olu Fashanu — one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Penn State came out in a double-tight formation for the first play of the fourth quarter. Tuimoloau lined up on Fashanu’s side, outside of tight end WTyler arren’s left shoulder. Warren did not engage Tuimoloau, which left the responsibility to the other tight end. Theo Johnson. Coming from the opposite side of the line, he could only helplessly lunge as Tuimoloau sacked Allar unimpeded.

On the next Penn State possession, Allar’s fourth-and-3 pass attempt failed when Tuimoloau drove Fashanu back with one hand and swatted at the quarterback’s elbow during his windup with the other.

Later in the fourth quarter came a play they’ll show on Tuimoloau’s NFL Draft highlight package. On fourth-and-30, he manhandled Fashanu, driving him back into Allar’s chest for his second sack of the final 15 minutes. That one essentially finished off the Nittany Lions, again.

3. Sonny Styles’ unique set of skills do not yet equate to an every down role. Ohio State continued to use Jordan Hancock as the nickel safety on passing downs. That meant a big role for freshman cornerback Jermaine Mathews, playing in place of an injured Denzel Burke.

Styles, though, still had plenty of opportunity to remind everyone of his promise.

Singleton broke off 36 yards on two runs to start Penn State’s third possession, reaching the OSU 26 yard line. On almost every possession, though, OSU eventually made a first-down play that shifted play back in its favor. This was no exception.

Styles blitzed from the nickel safety spot off the right side as linebacker Tommy Eichenberg also came through the interior. Allar stepped up into the pocket and might have snuck away. Styles, though, used the obvious reach and surprising strength of his 6-4, 230-pound frame to lasso the 6-5, 242-pound Medina product and drag him down for the sack.