PSU vs. Illinois thoughts...

Tonight the Penn State stands were a sea of white. A soothing color to many of the Penn State faithful but a veritable nightmare for whatever visiting team unlucky enough to enter the confines of Beaver Stadium for a prime time match up with the resurgent Penn State Nittany Lions. Despite their best efforts Ron Zook and his Illinois Fighting Illini simply couldn't silence the raucus Penn State crowd and stop the efficient Penn State offensive attack.

First off the Penn State defense. They did not look like the same stout defense that Penn State has sported in recent years but that is not to say they are bad by any stretch of the imagination. They are fundamentally sound and have good players on that side of the ball.

I was a little surprised by the success that Illinois had on the Penn State defense sure but the surprise was more the production of junior Illinois running back Daniel Dufrene (14 carries, 97 yards). This is an area that Penn State certainly will have to address going forward but I'm confident they won't have such troubles against more conventional attacks like Wisconsin. I think this season the Penn State defense doesn't yet have a player who is really a superstar like a Paul Posluszny or a Dan Connor. Defensive end Maurice Evans has the opportunity to be in consideration as the defensive superstar if he gets back into the swing of things now that he is back from his suspension. Overall it was a decent night by the Penn State defense when one takes into account that Illinois has a pretty good offensive attack.

Evans looked a little rusty tonight which is to be expected from a guy coming off a suspension. Penn State gave up 372 yards of offense to the Illini but they forced two turnovers. They also held Illinois to under a 50% conversion rate on 3rd down. (5 for 12) If one considers how the Penn State defense has been over the past few years one can only expect that the Nittany Lions will sure up some of the problems they had tonight and really do their best to be as equally dominant as the Penn State offense is right now.

Speaking of which it was an efficient night from the Penn State offense and Penn State quarterback Darryl Clark continues to play solid football. He has mobility in the pocket and makes good decisions. He isn't a true "burner" by any stretch of the imagination but with a solid running back like Evan Royster and a great trio of wide receivers in Jordan Norwood, Deon Butler, and Derrick Williams gives opposing defenses so many things to take into account it naturally leaves running lanes for a guy like Clark (though Norwood sat out this game due to injury). Tonight the Illinois defense simply had no answers for the Nittany Lions offensive attack but the Fighting Illini have had few answers for any offense thus far in the season. They have given up a whopping 163 yards per game on the ground (10 out of 11 in the Big Ten) and 208 yards per game passing (6th in the Big Ten)

The Penn State offense simply came in and got the job done. The proof is in the pudding as Penn State put up 422 yards of offense this evening. Defenses around the Big Ten will certainly be studying the Penn State offense closely as they look to be a solid offensive unit that will give almost every team fits. Derrick Williams is finally living up to the lofty expectations the Penn State faithful had for him when he signed with the Nittany Lions a few years ago. You could see the light going on for Williams the second half of last year and if not for some really suspect quarterback play from one Anthony Morelli maybe, just maybe, Williams starts the season with a little Heisman pub? 133 yards and one touchdown on special teams, six catches for 75 yards receiving, and he chipped with with six carries for 33 yards and a touchdown. 241 total yards on the night with three touchdowns... yeah that isn't too shabby.

Special teams also was surprisingly good for the Nittany Lions tonight... key kickoff return for a touchdown, Kevin Kelly hit field goals when he needed to and they contained the kick returns of Arrelious Benn. Special teams was the deciding factor in this game when one considers Evan Royster fumbled the ball in Penn State territory and Illinois missed a field goal try to close the gap to seven points. Illinois hits that field goal it is a different game.

More important than anything tonight for the Nittany Lions is they took care of business in much the same fashion they have been taking care of business thus far in the season. That is more that can be said for several other top teams around the country. Just ask USC or perhaps Florida not to mention Georgia. Right now Penn State remains the class of the Big Ten and should be favored, barring a sudden collapse, in every game from here on out with MAYBE the exception of their trip to Columbus.

Just from what I have seen this evening I may go as far to have them favored even in that game as Ohio State still has several things they need to work out. It will be interesting to see how those two top teams, Ohio State and Penn State, fare in the next few weeks before their matchup in Columbus. There is no doubt this game will have national title implications for Penn State. With the loss of several top teams this evening it looks as if the new polls will have Penn State firmly entrenched in the top ten. If Penn State keeps doing what they need to do it is very possible a national title matchup is in their future. It is still a difficult task for any team in the SEC to remain undeated this season. Alabama has the best chance at running the table but they are a young team. It will be difficult for even them to run the table down south.

Looks like a possibility that Oklahoma or even darkhorse Texas could run the Big 12 table undefeated. (Missouri doesn't have the defense to run the table.) With USC already with a loss and no marquee matchups really on the horizon, not to mention their one loss coming to a team that Penn State beat, they are out of the equation if Penn State wins out. Penn State wins out, they win in Columbus, looks like they could possibly play Oklahoma for the national title... a bit early for such crazy talk sure but it is a real possibility.

Final Score: (#24) Illinois - 24 at (#12) Penn State - 38

Box Score Here