| This is what Auburn ran off Bo Nix for? T.J. Finley has been, I guess, efficient, but he's also thrown 3 picks in just 34 attempts, against Mercer and San Jose State. Is Robby Ashford the answer? On 23 combined running and passing plays, Ashford is averaging 10 ypp, 10.1 through the air, and 9.9 on the ground. But he's also only completed 5 of 10 passes, including a pick. For now, Finley is the safer pick, particularly if Tank Bigsby keeps running the ball like this, 6.8 ypc, with 3 touchdowns. He's got friends, with Jarquez Hunter's nose for the end zone (4 TDs on 16 carries), and Damari Alston's 7.8 ypc. Freshman Nick Singleton provided hope that for the first time since the Penn State running back room got decimated by injuries to start the 2020 season, the Nittany Lions could be effective on the ground. Granted Ohio isn't Auburn, but putting too much on the shoulders of Sean Clifford the past two has hampered this offense. That Ohio defense is ranked #114, allowing 5.5 ypc, the Tigers are in the top 10 in both ypg and ypc allowed, giving up under 2 ypc. Again, against Mercer and San Jose State, but Auburn did shut down Penn State on the ground last year in Happy Valley. The problem was the pass defense, allowing Penn State to complete 29-33 passes for over 300 yards. Penn State escaped in Week 1 in a tough environment in Ross-Ade, so Jordan Hare shouldn't catch them completely off guard. Although, I think SEC fans would be appalled to hear an SEC stadium compared to Purdue in terms of hostility. I think that, and having a 6th year quarterback, will be just enough. |