Review: Penn State 35, Michigan 10

Penn State, at long last, beat Michigan in the Big House. But the real thrill might not have been where the Nittany Lions won, or who they beat. It was that Penn State came out to win the game on the road, and didn't let off the gas until victory was well in hand. This game was a far cry from past performances on the road, particularly in Michigan Stadium.

In today's game review, we'll break down Penn State's unit by unit performance.

Offense

• Offensive Line:It's easy to come down on this unit, particularly after it committed so many penalties, had trouble containing Brandon Graham, and wasn't exactly explosive in run blocking schemes. However, I really thought that the line played well at Michigan, coming up with enough key blocks to allow the Penn State offense to work its way to 33 points. I discount the safety, since it wasn't via the offense.

Just imagine what this team could do down the road if the line continues to improve. It can't be forgotten that RT Ako Poti is THIRD on the depth chart. He was the glaring weak spot on the line, but what else should be expected? Penn State really likes to run off the right tackle, which was unfortunately not the line's strongest side this week. Yet on pass plays, Daryll Clark had plenty of time to throw, which made all the difference through the first three quarters Saturday. I like this unit to come on even stronger once DeOn'Tae Pannell and Nerraw McCormack return at RT.

Stats: 4.2 yards per rush; 2 sacks allowed

• Receivers: I'm still waiting for this unit to have one of "those days," but it hasn't come so far this season. This is one of the most impressive units on the team, considering all three of last year's starters had to be replaced. I know I harp on this each week, but it can't be overlooked. Graham Zug (5/59, 3 TD) and Derek Moye (6/53) had a field day when Michigan went into soft zones and man coverage. Did anyone else notice that Penn State ran the same play twice to Zug in the end zone, both times resulting in touchdowns? It was all set up by Moye's ability to catch and run with the quick bubble routes, which eventually drew the Michigan corners upfield, allowing Zug to run open in the corner of the end zone.

With all that, Penn State's most impressive play call was the seam route to Andrew Quarless (2/91, TD) for a 60-yard touchdown. It came right after the safety, and was easily the most aggressive I've seen Penn State attack Michigan in the Big House. Quarless was also one of the best blockers on the field when it came to running plays. He was instrumental in allowing Evan Royster to rumble for 41 yards on the second offensive play.

Stats: 13 receptions, 203 yards, 4 TD

• Running Backs: The running lanes weren't always wide open, but Royster (20/100) and Brandon Beachum (7/23) made the most of what they had, usually running for extra yards on their own strength. Not to come down to much on the run blocking, but it did directly affect how this unit performed. Royster seemed to gain an extra two yards when it looked like he would only get three or four. Beachum and fullback-turned-running back Joe Suhey (3/18) did a great job on run plays designed to hit the line quickly. The call to Suhey early on for 13 yards really caught the defense off guard, and displayed Suhey's deceptive quickness up the gut.

The backups were key to Penn State's ground game. They really stepped up to the plate this week. With Stephfon Green hopefully returning by the Ohio State game, this unit is growing deeper by the week.

Stats: (RB/QB only) 38 attempts, 153 yards

• Quarterbacks: While not the best game of his career (that would be Michigan State '08), Clark put up the best numbers this season. The yardage might not look like much on paper, but Clark was razor sharp inside the red zone and on quick hitting pass plays, like the touchdown strike to Quarless. I was very impressed by Clark's ability to see the winnable matchups, and take what the defense was giving him. In Saturday's case, what the Wolverines' defense gave Clark was a lot of open space to exploit.

Earning Big Ten Offensive POW shouldn't warrant much criticism, but some is due here. Clark was off on more throws than I was comfortable with. He forced two very bad throws deep into double and triple coverage. Against a better defense, those would've been picked off. I know Clark can't be perfect on every play, but with two of the better Big Ten defenses waiting down the road, gift-wrapped interceptions aren't an option.

Stats: 16-27, 230 yards, 4 TD

Defense

• Defensive Line: Last season, Michigan ran the ball for more than 200 yards on Penn State, including a 100-yard, two-score day by Brandon Minor. Things didn't work out quite so well this time around, at least not right away. Penn State fans were cringing once again as Minor and the Wolverines stormed down the field for a 70-yard touchdown drive, 39 of those yards coming on the ground. But that would be the last of any Michigan offensive firepower, as Penn State's front seven clamped down, limiting the Wolverines to a paltry 71 rush yards the rest of the afternoon.

After that first Michigan drive, the defensive line changed its approach to stopping the Wolverines, by attacking up-field and straight ahead, instead of allowing blockers to stretch the play and allow runners to cut back. Once Penn State was able to penetrate and disrupt Michigan's backfield, allowing the linebackers to attack the open gaps, it was all over. But run defense wasn't the only highlight of the Nittany Lions' performance up front. Pressure all day on Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson forced them out of the pocket, usually into the waiting arms of more Nittany Lions.

Stats: 2.8 yards per rush allowed; 13 tackles, 6.5 TFL (-21), 3.0 sacks (-16), Forced Fumble, Pass Breakup

• Linebackers: Statistically, Penn State's linebackers were the best of all the units. Navorro Bowman (11 tkl, TFL, Sack, INT, FR) and Josh Hull (10 tkl, 2.5 TFL, Sack) decided early which defense would control the game... Linebacker U's. Both performed like players possessed, as if the Big Ten title itself was on the line (in a way, it is every week for PSU).

I have to say, Bani Gbadyu (5 tkl, FF, PBU), filling in most of the game when Sean Lee (3 tkl, PBU) was out, played a great game. I'd gladly challenge anyone in the nation to name a better, deeper linebacking corps than the one Penn State is fielding right now.

Stats: 31 tackles, 3.5 TFL (-13), 2 Sack (-10), INT, Fumble Forced, 2 Pass Breakups

• Defensive Backfield: Penn State couldn't have asked for a better performance from its secondary against one of the better passing attacks in the Big Ten. Did Michigan's receivers help out a bit by dropping some passes? Of course. But dropped passes don't cause coverage sacks or breakups. Penn State did both, and more in the Big House.

When the entire defense is playing so well, it doesn't take much for one unit to play well off another. That's exactly how the Nittany Lions' secondary played so well this week. Michigan has little time to throw the ball, but when there was, Penn State never broke coverage on the receivers. Forcier had no one to throw to when a play broke down. Apart from a few missed tackles, and some soft spots in the zone coverage, Penn State's defensive backfield played a great game.

Stats: 13 Tkl, TFL, INT, Fumble Recovered, Pass Breakup

Special Teams

• Kicking/Punting: Colin Wagner (2-2, lng 34; 2 TB) came through with a great game all around, giving Penn State some crucial points while keeping Michigan's return game in check. But Jeremy Boone (35.8 YPP, 1 blk) had another punt blocked, the second this season. Some of that can be attributed to poor protection, but some also falls on Boone, who hasn't adapted to his protection by speeding up his motion. It wasn't all bad, though, as Boone dropped the one punt inside the 15, which eventually led to the safety.

• Returns/Coverage: The kickoff returns are steadily getting better. Chaz Powell's 54-yarder to start the second half was a big money play, keeping the spark lit for Penn State's offense. But... the punt return unit is still the worse part of the entire team. I'd rather Penn State just go for the all-out block every time, and just let it roll dead where it does. Not being able to gain back a decent amount of yards per return could really haunt Penn State the next few weeks. Ohio State loves them some good defensive field position, just like Iowa did four weeks ago.

Coverage of both punt and kickoffs was decent to good this week.

Overall

Iowa might be the scrappiest team in the Big Ten right now (not to mention, undefeated), but Penn State could be the most dangerous. This week's dominating performance in Ann Arbor has pushed the Nittany Lions into leading the conference in every major defensive statistic, to go along with the No. 1 scoring defense in college football. Penn State hasn't turned the ball over the last two games, and only twice in the last four, as the offense is hammering out a league-best 428 yards per game. I thought this week would be the summit of Penn State's season, and that it would just be a matter of how long this team could stay atop the mountain. But after seeing the offense and defense just have their way with Michigan, in the Big House, there might be greater heights for Penn State to reach this season.

With two-thirds of the season gone, Penn State enters the back portion of its schedule facing four teams with .500 or better records. Northwestern just came off a gutsy win over Indiana, while Ohio State put a solid beatdown on Minnesota. And who could forget Michigan State's effort against Iowa this past weekend? If Penn State makes it through the end of November unscathed, it will say more about this team than the previous eight games combined.

• Official Stats, via GoPSUSports.com:

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