Penn State Week Mic Check: School of Hard Knox

With an extra week of practice to prepare for No. 2 ranked Penn State, Urban Meyer's 6th-ranked squad now sits just three sunrises away from a heavyweight bout brimming with College Football Playoff implications. 

The pressure associated with such an important matchup is magnified by recent big game struggles including losses to Oklahoma earlier this year along with defeats at the hands of Clemson and Penn State last season. 

Specifically, Buckeye fans are interested in seeing if the passing offense, on fire of late, will be effective against a Penn State pass defense ranked 8th-best in the land (173.5 ypg). 

While the lion's share of that responsibility falls on quarterback J.T. Barrett and his receivers, the lack of consistent pass protection against elite opponents also contributed to aerial failures. 

Improved over last year but still with much to prove against better-than-average pass rushers, Isaiah Prince must step up Saturday night. Additionally, against a blitz-happy Penn State defense, newly minted (well, one start then an off week) starting right guard Demetrius Knox must be ready for prime time. 

Urban Meyer met with the assembled media on Monday. What did he have to say about Knox? 

Q. You had bye week. Is Demetrius Knox definitely your right guard right now? Is that settled?
COACH MEYER: It's settled. It's day to day. I'd like to think there's other guys on the program that are going to keep swinging and fight as hard as they possibly can for that spot. He did grade a winner. This will be hell of a challenge this week.

 

First of all, LOL at the vintage Meyer-speak saying the starting job is settled but noting it's day to day in the same breath. 

It certainly feels like Knox is the man at right guard after his Champion effort versus Nebraska and now the Buckeyes need an encore performance against a Penn State defense hell bent on creating havoc and certainly capable of smothering an offense. 

A few stats to consider:

• Penn State sent extra rushers on 62% of first down plays versus Michigan.
• Michigan quarterback John O'Korn was sacked at least once on every second half possession.
• Eight of 11 Michigan possessions featured at least one Penn State TFL.
• Penn State sits No. 1 nationally at 3.54 sacks per game. 
• The Nittany Lions rank No. 8 nationally with 8.15 TFL per game. 

With those stats as a backdrop, it's no secret the team winning the line of scrimmage typically emerges victorious (although last year was an exception thanks to OSU special teams) meaning Knox, Prince and the left side of Ohio State's offensive line needs to show up in spades. 

Solid pass pro could go a long way in determining whether or not Ohio State keeps its title hopes alive. Barrett, like every other quarterback alive, is much more accurate when given time to throw as we've seen the last month as he's shredded defenses while calmly scanning the field from the pocket. 

That said, the onus will be on Knox and company to give Barrett time to operate. If they do, Ohio State will vault into the CFP conversation. If they don't, and Barrett has no time to operate, things could get very hairy in Columbus for both Meyer and his signal-caller.