1 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,160 Speaker 1: Welcome back into the Penn State Pulse. I'm your host. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: Still in Dawson. Penn State has an enormous Game seven 3 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: this weekend as they traveled to Madison for another tough 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: road test, this time against the Wisconsin Badgers, a team 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: that has really started to hit their stride recently. And 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 1: of course, this game is sandwiched right between a chaotic 7 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: Game six at USC and the looming gate Game eight 8 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: matchup with the Buck guys in Beaver Stadium. We'll kick 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: off at seven thirty Eastern time on NBC, and the 10 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 1: spread is sitting at PSU by six and a half 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: right now on this thing. According to Andrew Banstra, sorry 12 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: if I'm saying that wrong, I believe he just covers Wisconsin, 13 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: but according to him, Wisconsin is ten and one in 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: their last eleven night games in Camp Randall Stadium. This 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: has trap game written all over a guys, but so 16 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: much so that it almost cancels out, if that makes sense. 17 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: Penn State's coming off a big emotional win obviously at USC. 18 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:10,320 Speaker 1: They're also coming off of a bye week and PSU 19 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: hasn't typically performed well in that situation under Franklin. And 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 1: then you have the look ahead factor with the Ohio 21 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,759 Speaker 1: State tilt coming up. Trap games, in my opinion, are 22 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:20,639 Speaker 1: called that for a reason. 23 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 2: They're a trap. You don't see them coming. 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: There's just no way that PSU's players and especially staff 25 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: are overlooking this thing. 26 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:29,959 Speaker 2: I'm not saying they're gonna go in there and dominate. 27 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: This is a tough opponent and an extremely tough environment 28 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: that the Allions are entering into, and it should be 29 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: a dogfight. But I do think our guys will be 30 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: focused and ready to go well prepared up there in Madison. 31 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: This team is road tested to an extent as well, 32 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: which also makes me feel a bit better about this one, 33 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: as they topped both both West Virginia and USC on 34 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: the road this season thus far. In order for Penn 35 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: State to win this game, I think we need to 36 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: see a big performance from the wide receivers. Tyler has 37 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: been picking up more and more attention from defenses as 38 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: the season has progressed. After his monster performance against USC, 39 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: I think that's kind of shifted now to where he's 40 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,679 Speaker 1: not a guy that you need to gain plan for 41 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: as a defensive coordinator. 42 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:14,359 Speaker 2: He's the guy. 43 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: So we're gonna start seeing teams trying to chip him 44 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: at the line, a bunch, double team him, maybe even 45 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: bracket him when he's lined up out wide, and that 46 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: should be starting this weekend with Wisconsin. 47 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:27,639 Speaker 2: I think we'll see Weisco stack the box. 48 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: When they can to try and defend the run as well, 49 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: and they'll leave their cover guys out there in space 50 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: with the PSC wide receivers. So I think this game 51 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: comes down to the execution from Drew Aller and the 52 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: wide receivers. They should be presented with quite a bit 53 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,239 Speaker 1: one on one situations, so can they win them? I 54 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 1: think that comes down A lot of this game comes 55 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: down to that. I also think this could be a 56 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: pretty get big game from the Backs in the past game. 57 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 2: Nick Singleton in particular. 58 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,799 Speaker 1: Of course, with his explosiveness, I think Kyler Nicky will 59 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: really push for Singleton in the pass game this Saturday. 60 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: Again due to the attention that Tyler Warden will be garnering. 61 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: That should open up opportunities for other guys, and that 62 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 1: pass game should be there for the Backs just leaking 63 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: out into the flats, maybe little screens thinking dunk that 64 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: could turn into a big play with a guy like 65 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: Nick Singleton. I'd mentioned earlier that Wisco is starting to 66 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: hit their stride. This needs to be taken with a 67 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 1: grain of salt because they didn't exactly play the top 68 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: of the conference in that stretch Perdue Rutgers Northwestern, by 69 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: the way, for those wondering, that was their last three 70 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: in that stretch. Though the Badgers put up thirty nine 71 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: points per game and allowed five point three. They've really 72 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 1: had the run game on another level, in particular, going 73 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,880 Speaker 1: from one hundred and ninety four team rush yards per 74 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: game in their first four games to two hundred and 75 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: forty five in their last three, and most of that 76 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 1: success can be attributed to running back Tawie Walker, who 77 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: is my first player on the Badgers to watch. So 78 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: let's jump into this segment starting with Walker. Don't really 79 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: need to tell you how good he is. I'll just 80 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: give you his tatlines from his last three games four 81 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: point nine yards per carry, ninety four yards and three 82 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: touchdowns versus per Due, eight point three yards per carry, 83 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,160 Speaker 1: one hundred and ninety eight yards and three touchdowns versus Rutgers, 84 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 1: and then last weekend versus Northwestern, he went one hundred 85 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: and twenty six yards on five point five yards per carry. 86 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: The Oklahoma transfer is clearly coming into form here, settling 87 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 1: into his new conference in the Big Ten, of course, 88 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: with some help from that Whiskey O line. He's a 89 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: very physical runner who doesn't shy away from contact. He 90 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: also has some decent speed and elusiveness. Just a very 91 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: good all around back. So Wisconsin's going to try and 92 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,080 Speaker 1: get this kid going early and often on Saturday. So 93 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,720 Speaker 1: shutting that down and making their offense one dimensional will 94 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: be the number one priority for the Penn State defense. 95 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 1: Wisco has had a healthy amount of explosive plays in 96 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 1: the pass game this season, but most of those have 97 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: been play action, just kind of playing off of the 98 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: run game, drawing the defense in and then leaking a 99 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: guy out in the flat on a wheel route or something, 100 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: and just kind of playing off of the run game 101 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: getting guys open. Based on that, I think if Brandon 102 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: Locke is forced to drop back and go head to 103 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: head with PSU's secondary, we will see a very good 104 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: showing on the defensive side of the ball for Penn State. 105 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: And that is the next name that we'll be looking at, 106 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 1: which is Wisconsin quarterback Braiden Locke. Miami transfer Tyler Van 107 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: Dyke went down in the Badgers game against Alabama, and 108 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: he is now out for the season. 109 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: Locke has been pretty solid for the Badgers. 110 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 1: He's been generating a lot of explosive plays, as previously stated, 111 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: but he is also very prone to the big mistake 112 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: as well. He's made four starts now and has thrown 113 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: at least one pick in all of them. On the year, 114 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: though about four and a half games in, Locke is 115 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 1: at one thousand and sixty four yards, seven touchdowns, and 116 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: five interceptions. He's completing just under sixty percent of his passes, 117 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: which is not bad. It's about average for college quarterback, 118 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: so not a Heisman contender, but he will beat you 119 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: over the top if given the opportunity. He is definitely 120 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: above Wisconsin's recent standards at the position. In my opinion, 121 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:17,480 Speaker 1: this isn't just another Jack Cone wide receiver. Vinnie Anthony 122 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,520 Speaker 1: the Second is their big play guy. He has just 123 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: thirteen catches on the season, but for three hundred and 124 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: fourteen yards and two touchdowns. That is twenty four point 125 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: two yards per catch, folks. He's also a dynamic return 126 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: man for the Badgers. He lines up back there at 127 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: both kick return and punt return at times Anthony is 128 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: averaging thirty two yards per kick return and he took 129 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,080 Speaker 1: one back. Can't think of which game off the top 130 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 1: of my head, but he took one back like seventy five. 131 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,279 Speaker 2: Yards on one of those games. 132 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: Linebacker Jaheim Thomas, that's the first guy we'll mention on 133 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:53,719 Speaker 1: that defense. 134 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: He is their top tackle guy. 135 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: He has forty three total tackles so far this season, 136 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: as well as a sack and attack for loss. He 137 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: is an experienced veteran, as this is his fifth year 138 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: in college football, just his first with Wisconsin, though. He 139 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: began his career at Cincinnati and after three years there, 140 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: transferred to Arkansas and then last year in Fayville, he 141 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: posted ninety total tackles, seven tackles for loss in three 142 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: and a half sacks. So he's been a productive guy 143 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: for a while now, and he now finds himself in 144 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: Madison where he's leading that big, physical defense. The other 145 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,040 Speaker 1: guy on that defense that's definitely worth mentioning his safety, 146 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: Hunter Rohler. Speaking of tackles, this guy had his fair 147 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: share of them last season. One hundred and twenty total 148 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: tackles posted in twenty twenty three with the Badgers for Roller, 149 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: along with six tackles for lost, six passes defense, two interceptions, 150 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: and a sack. Very productive guy in Waller as well. 151 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: He's continuing that productive trend in twenty twenty four, as 152 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: he has already posted thirty seven tackles, six passes defense, 153 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: and a tackle for loss. He was playing in the 154 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: box a ton line last year, and they still line 155 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: him up there on occasion, but the Badger's staff has 156 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: sort of allowed him to sit back and coverage and 157 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: make more plays on the ball in the pass game. 158 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 1: This year, He's definitely made a significant step up in 159 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: that department. So let's jump into some game predictions now. 160 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: I'm not gonna lie. This has been a pretty hard 161 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: game for me personally to get a read on, but 162 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: let's see how close we can come here. First up, 163 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: Wisconsin's defense in particular has been on a heater recently. 164 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,240 Speaker 1: As previously mentioned, they have allowed two hundred and thirty 165 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: two total yards of offense on average in their last 166 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,640 Speaker 1: three games. So I'm gonna say that Penn State basically 167 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 1: doubles that this Saturday with four hundred and fifty plus 168 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: yards of total offense for the Midy Lions. 169 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 2: All right. 170 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: Next, I also mentioned that Wisconsin quarterback Braden Locke has 171 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: been struggling with those interceptions at least one in all 172 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 1: four of his starts. Penn State can shut down the run, 173 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 1: especially early in the game, they will be able to 174 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: pin their ears back and just go after this kid. 175 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: Locke is bottom ten in all of college football quarterbacks 176 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:07,840 Speaker 1: in completion percentage when throwing under pressure. He's completing about 177 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: thirty eight and a half percent of his passes when 178 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: under pressure. So I think guys like Abdul Carter, Saint Durant, 179 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: and Idennis Sutton, they'll be able to make this a 180 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: pretty uncomfortable game for Braden Locke and we will see 181 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: that payoff on the back end with two plus interceptions 182 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:24,320 Speaker 1: for the Penn State defense. 183 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 2: Right. And then finally, I think this game. 184 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: Sets up really well for PSU's backs in the past game. 185 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: I talked briefly about that as well earlier. This one's 186 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: pretty bold, but give me Nick Singleton to lead the 187 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,560 Speaker 1: team in receptions against Wisconsin. And then finally, for the 188 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 1: score prediction, I am, after a lot of thought going 189 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: with Penn State thirty Wisconsin twenty. I do think the 190 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: Navy Lions can cover. I think we'll see a slightly 191 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,319 Speaker 1: better start from this team this weekend. It's something that 192 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: James Franklin and the coaching staff have really been harping 193 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: on since that USC game and how they tugged themselves 194 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: in a huge hole and I had to climb back 195 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: out of it, thankfully still securing a win. So that'll 196 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: just about do it for today's episode of the Penn 197 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: State Pause. I have a eleven twelve hour drive early 198 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: tomorrow morning, so hopefully you guys will be listening to 199 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: this episode by then. Me and some friends are going 200 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: up for this game in Madison, so I can't wait 201 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: for that. Thank you guys so much for tuning in, 202 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 1: and I will see you shortly after the game to 203 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 1: break it down.