2018 NFL Draft Positional Rankings -- Offense

It's natural for most of the attention in this year's draft to gravitate toward the quarterbacks, but that can be attributed more to team needs than true franchise talent available. There are some real offensive gems available in this year's draft, and a deep receiving corps means that value can be had at that position. There aren't a lot of difference-makers on the offensive line, continuing a trend that has been going on for three years.

The following is our ranking by position of the offensive talent in the 2018 NFL Draft, with round grade in parentheses. That isn't the round we believe the player will be drafted, but is where we rate their talent. There are 10 true round one talents on offense this year, at least to these eyes. The top five at each position have comments about their play.

QUARTERBACK

Josh Rosen (Palm Beach Post)

1 Josh Rosen/UCLA (1)
Strengths: Excellent mechanics and exemplary footwork make Rosen the most naturally gifted thrower in this draft. Great poise in the pocket, very good identifying defenses and pre-snap reads. Anchors himself well in the pocket, but can climb the pocket when necessary. Isn't afraid of pressure, will hang on to the ball in the face of a rush (completed 63 percent vs. the blitz in 2017). Can throw receivers open, and has excellent touch. 
Weaknesses: There are questions about his leadership, about whether he is passionate enough about football to be truly great. Durability issues, was hurt often at UCLA. Has not been great on deep throws, needs to drive the football more in that area. Arm strength just average. Not mobile, so will need to go to a team with great protection or creative protection schemes.

2 Baker Mayfield/Oklahoma (1)
Strengths: Has a gunslinger mentality and led the nation in yards per attempt as a senior (11.8). Excellent mobility, able to keep plays alive and find open targets. High football IQ, able to process reads very quickly. Quick setup in pocket. Good at moving safeties with his eyes. Better than expected arm strength and talent. Gets added zip on the ball by utilizing his lower body on throws. Top-end production as a red zone passer. 
Weaknesses: Could be scheme dependent. Gets a lot of passes batted down at line of scrimmage, largely due to his drop-down release. Has to improve consistency of footwork. Sometimes creeps up into pressure. Makes too many back foot throws. Must find a way to put more zip on his deep passes as they have a tendency to hang in the air.

3 Sam Darnold/USC (1)
Strengths: Prototype NFL build and arm talent. Better athlete than his frame indicates. Excellent mobility in the pocket and can read the field as well as any of this year's prospects. Great velocity. Keeps his eyes downfield, looks off safeties and takes what the defense gives rather than forcing the issue. Excellent anticipation. Fearless with his throws. Can make the deep out throw with ease, is precise with his timing. Has been lauded for his toughness and leadership abilities. 
Weaknesses: Propensity for turnovers (13 INTs, 11 fumbles) is a worry, much of it due to ball dropping to his waist on setup. Has a very elongated release. Turnovers more a product of poor decision-making than bad throws. Zips short passes too often. Doesn't always do a great job leading his target, and his deep touch could be better.

4 Mason Rudolph/Oklahoma State (1-2)
Strengths: Excels at downfield throws and off of play-action. Solid at reading defenses and very good with his timing. Lets routes develop and receivers get clear. Keeps his eyes downfield. Good at reading safeties and going through his progressions.
Weaknesses: Ball will sail due to lack of drive from lower body. Arm is accurate, but lacks velocity. Gets thrown off rhythm when he has to scramble. Was assisted at times on downfield throws by receivers willing to fight for the ball. Can be lacking in ball security.

5 Lamar Jackson/Louisville (1-2)
Strengths: Though there are concerns about his accuracy, he improved each season. Off the charts athleticism. Has a lively arm, and a delivery that is very smooth. Despite operating in an RPO offense he has pocket poise. Excellent improvisational skills, can keep plays alive. Will be dangerous option in the red zone, more with his legs but also with his quick delivery. 
Weaknesses: Doesn't always drive the ball, and his wrist flick allows deep balls to hang in the air. Has a very thin base, and his footwork leaves a lot to be desired. At times flips the ball rather than throwing it. Is reluctant to challenge safeties down the seam. Despite his height he gets an alarming number of passes tipped, due mainly to a low release point. Athleticism belies the fact that his rollout accuracy is poor. Does not have great touch on intermediate passes over the middle.

6 Josh Allen/Wyoming (2)
7 Kyle Lauletta/Richmond (3)
8 Chase Litton/Marshall (3-4)
9 Mike White/Western Kentucky (4)
10 Logan Woodside/Toledo (4)
11 Kurt Benkert/Virginia (4-5)
12 John Wolford/Wake Forest (5)
13 Nick Stevens/Colorado State (5)
14 Riley Ferguson/Memphis (5-6)
15 Nic Shimonek/Texas Tech (6)
16 Luke Falk/Washington State (6)
17 JT Barrett/Ohio State (6-7)
18 Jeremiah Briscoe/Sam Houston State (7)

RUNNING BACK

Saquon Barkley (Cleveland.com)

1 Saquon Barkley/Penn State (1)
Strengths: Outstanding speed (4.4) for his size (233 pounds). Excellent speed and vision in the open field. A volume ball carrier, gets stronger as the game progresses. Very good footwork, explodes off of cuts. Breaks ankles with his start-stop ability and jump cuts. Excellent lateral burst. Very good as a pass catcher and was elite in the return game for Penn State.
Weaknesses: Not as powerful as his size would dictate. Didn't break a lot of tackles. Has to go north/south more often and not dance behind the line. Often does too much juking instead of running, allowing tacklers to get to him. Not consistent in pass protection.

2 Ronald Jones II/USC (1)
Strengths: Slasher, with explosiveness to take any carry to the end zone. Trusts his blockers and doesn't tip off his cutback intentions. Puts his foot in the ground and goes. Has the quickness to get out of traffic and make something out of nothing. Isn't afraid to take on contact. Ball security a plus, fumbled just twice in nearly 600 carries at USC. Willing blocker. 
Weaknesses: Lean frame means his touch count needs to be monitored. Doesn't always run with a plan, too much improvisation. Sometimes is impatient behind his blockers. Takes too many hits in quest for extra yardage. Need to improve in setting up cutbacks on stretch plays.

3 Sony Michel/Georgia (1-2)
Strengths: Good vision and physicality. At his best when running north/south. Very decisive with his runs. Excellent on inside zone plays. Good acceleration at the second level allows him to make big plays. Can break tackles. Very good in blitz pickup and isn't afraid to block in pass protection. 
Weaknesses: Not terribly agile, which affects his late cutting ability. Some of his runs were scheme related, he didn't create a ton of his own yardage. Inconsistent with open field balance. Needs work catching passes.

4 Derrius Guice/LSU (1-2)
Strengths: Violent runner, loves taking on contact. Excellent combo of speed, balance and power. Very good vision for a power runner, can make sudden cuts. Sets up his blocks. Adept at getting out of trouble with spin move. Home run threat in the open field.
Weaknesses: Even with his power, he needs to be more decisive through the line. Average burst. Tends to duck head at contact rather than getting low pad level. Isn't great at eluding tacklers when running downhill. Doesn't always finish his blocks in pass protection.

5 Nick Chubb/Georgia (2)
Strengths: Powerful, does a good job running through arm tackles and first contact. Low center of gravity makes him hard to bring down at point of contact. Has one-cut ability. Good at staying disciplined between the tackles. Patient runner, good ball security. 
Weaknesses: Explosion isn't what you would want from a feature back. Lacks elusiveness in tight quarters. Vision isn't anything special. May not have much value on third downs as he wasn't used in the passing game at Georgia. Is sometimes hesitant in reading his blocks.

6 Rashaad Penny/San Diego State (2)
7 Royce Freeman/Oregon (2-3)
8 Kerryon Johnson/Auburn (2-3)
9 Nyheim Hines/NC State (3)
10 Ito Smith/Southern Miss (3-4)
11 Kalen Ballage/Arizona State (3-4)
12 Darrel Williams/LSU (3-4)
13 John Kelly/Tennessee (4)
14 Mark Walton/Miami Fla (4)
15 Josh Adams/Notre Dame (4-5)
16 Justin Crawford/West Virginia (4-5)
17 Dalyn Dawkins/Colorado State (4-5)
18 Roc Thomas/Jacksonville State (5)
19 Jordan Wilkins/Ole Miss (5)
20 Justin Jackson/Northwestern (5-6)
21 Boston Scott/Louisiana Tech (5-6)
22 Jeffery Wilson/North Texas (5-6)
23 Chase Edmonds/Fordham (6)
24 Bo Scarbrough/Alabama (6)
25 Phillip Lindsay/Colorado (6-7)
26 Chris Warren III/Texas (6-7)
27 Lavon Coleman/Washington (6-7)
28 Mike Boone/Cincinnati (7)
29 Jarvion Franklin/Western Michigan (7)
30 Martez Carter/Grambling State (7)

James Washington (Getty Images)

WIDE RECEIVER
1. James Washington/Oklahoma State (1)
Strengths: Good athletic background, played tennis and ran track in high school. Great body control, especially on sideline routes. Excellent ability tracking the football. Gets faster as routes progress. Downfield threat, averaged over 20 yards per catch for the last three seasons at Oklahoma State. Can create space on his own, especially deep. Has long arms and excellent catch radius. Was comfortable working outside or in the slot. 
Weaknesses: Didn't face much press coverage, will have to show he can get off. Limited route tree. Frame keeps him from sinking into cuts. Route running not consistent, lacks smoothness and fluidity. For his size, not great on contested catches underneath.

2. Michael Gallup/Colorado State (1)
Strengths: Has burst and agility to get himself open. Light on his feet. Can get off press coverage with quick hands. Has speed to second level that allows him to climb over corners. Improved route runner. Good leaper, wins most contested balls. Adept at the back shoulder catch. 
Weaknesses: Doesn't always get his head around fast enough on downfield throws. Inconsistent adjustments to poor throws. Too cognizant of midfield safeties, loses focus. Looks overwhelmed at times as a run blocker.

3 Calvin Ridley/Alabama (1-2)
Strengths: Expansive route tree, excellent route runner. Elite separation. Looks effortless running routes. Excellent in and out of breaks and can open throwing windows. Hands catcher on the move. Very good after the catch. 
Weaknesses: Thin build, concerns about getting off of press coverage. Can get easily knocked off route by contact. Needs to improve body control to gain leverage on deep sideline routes. Drops too many passes when he senses a defender. May have trouble catching the ball in traffic. Goes down often on first contact. Had 20 drops in three seasons at Alabama.

4. Courtland Sutton/SMU (1-2)
Strengths: Size and frame to excel as a possession receiver. Wins contested passes. Can get off contact and continue route. Isn't afraid to operate over the middle. Excels at slants and crosses. Willing to work back to quarterback on underthrows. Very good blocker, physical at point of attack. Inviting red zone target. 
Weaknesses: Lacks top end explosiveness, which could limit his ceiling. Sometimes relies on size over technique in route running. Doesn't have much separation on first and second levels. Limited in yards after catch.

5. Anthony Miller/Memphis (1-2)
Strengths: Played out wide and in slot, versatile performer. Can get open and work all three levels of the field. Good head fakes. Accelerates out of cuts. Ultra-competitive, originally a walk-on. Tracks the ball well in flight. Good body control on tougher catches. Will help out his quarterback outside the pocket. Good yards after catch. 
Weaknesses: Hands inconsistent. Can often be herky-jerky in routes, too much wasted motion. Loses focus on shorter routes. Didn't always secure the football.

6. DJ Moore/Maryland (2)
7. Auden Tate/Florida State (2)
8. Cedrick Wilson/Boise State (2)
9. Christian Kirk/Texas A&M (2-3)
10. Marcell Ateman/Oklahoma State (3)
11. Keke Coutee/Texas Tech (3)
12. Tre'Quan Smith/UCF (3)
13. Equanimeous St. Brown/Notre Dame (3-4)
14. Dante Pettis/Washington (3-4)
15. Cam Phillips/Virginia Tech (3-4)
16. Deontay Burnett/USC (3-4)
17. DJ Chark/LSU (3-4)
18. Allen Lazard/Iowa State (4)
19. Jaleel Scott/New Mexico State (4)
20. Deon Cain/Clemson (4-5)
21. DaeSean Hamilton/Penn State (4-5)
22. J'Mon Moore/Missouri (4-5)
23. Trey Quinn/SMU (5)
24. Richie James/Middle Tennessee (5)
25. Simmie Cobbs/Indiana (5-6)
26. Javon Wims/Georgia (5-6)
27. Korey Robertson/Southern Miss (6)
28. Daurice Fountain/Northern Iowa (6)
29. Justin Watson/Penn (6-7)
30. Darren Carrington/Utah (6-7)
31. Steve Ishmael/Syracuse (7)
32. Jake Wieneke/South Dakota State (7)
33. Antonio Callaway/Florida (7)
34. Dylan Cantrell/Texas Tech (7)

TIGHT END

Dallas Goedert (Mitchell Daily Republic)

1. Dallas Goedert/South Dakota State (1-2)
Strengths: Has made eye-popping catches look routine. Possesses the size, speed and ability to make a real impact. Can work all three levels of the field. Can get off jams and disengage from defenders in space. Very good body control, basketball background. Understands positioning, uses frame to seal off defenders. Wasn't asked to block very often, but has good pad level and knee bend to be successful in that area.
Weaknesses: Level of competition. Doesn't sell routes very well. Sometimes has trouble getting secondary separation. Isn't great runner after the catch. Questions about effort level in blocking. Tries too hard to make the highlight reel catch.

2. Mike Gesicki/Penn State (1-2)
Strengths: Excellent at finding soft spots in coverage and getting open. Wins contested balls, background in basketball and volleyball. Excellent body control. Creates separation on second and third level routes. Has the ability to run complex patterns, not just a seam guy. Leaping ability creates rare catch radius.
Weaknesses: Frame lacks bulk, could get pushed off routes at the next level. Doesn't have a lot of quickness in and out of breaks. Seemed to lack willingness as a blocker. Below average play strength.

3. Mark Andrews/Oklahoma (2)
Strengths: Excellent route runner, started career as receiver. Great feel for route adjustments and kills it in zone coverages. Can make catches in tight windows. Excellent in the red zone. Very good at route adjustment. Has the frame to provide a mismatch against defensive backs. Footwork and athleticism stand out in this tight end crop.
Weaknesses: Doesn't play as fast as his frame would dictate. Inconsistent beyond the second level. Does not have quickness or acceleration to shake man coverage downfield. Has not shown willingness as a blocker. Seems to be missing a nasty streak. Will be a liability in the run game, limiting his usage.

4. Ian Thomas/Indiana (2)
Strengths: Has a passion for the game. Prototype frame for the position. Can create space coming out of breaks and turns. Has the speed to be a downfield option. Will not shy away from contact with the ball in his hands. The best blocker in this class, works well on the line and can seal off defensive ends. Better as an in-line blocker, but solid all around in that aspect.
Weaknesses: Technique is sometimes lacking when blocking, especially hand placement. Doesn't always have optimum play speed. Raw. Limited route tree at Indiana, will need to learn more complex schemes. Sometimes will take on a defender instead of running away from them, sacrificing yardage for contact.

5. Hayden Hurst/South Carolina (2-3)
Strengths: Size and quickness combination makes him dangerous. Was used all over the field. Has a quick release into his routes. Pass catching threat at all three levels. Very good at snatching the ball out of the air. Runs with power after catch. Plays like his hair is on fire.
Weaknesses: Limited window as he will be 25 years old when season starts. Sometimes tips his routes. Needs work as an in-line blocker. Below average on out-breaking routes.

6. Troy Fumagalli/Wisconsin (3)
7. Durham Smythe/Notre Dame (3-4)
8. Jaylen Samuels/NC State (3-4)
9. Jordan Akins/UCF (4)
10. Tyler Conklin/Central Michigan (4-5)
11. Christopher Herndon/Miami (5-6)
12. Marcus Baugh/Ohio State (6)
13. Ryan Izzo/Florida State (6-7)
14. Dalton Schultz/Stanford (7)

Mike McGlinchey (USA Today)

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
1. Mike McGlinchey/Notre Dame (1)
Strengths: Technique is almost flawless. Fluid athlete, former tight end. Good knee bend. Very balanced at point of attack. Ideal form in pass sets. Good instincts. 
Weaknesses: Lacks ideal strength. Doesn't always finish. Pads get too high when asked to be a move blocker. Too easily pushed back into pocket by strong rushers.

2. Connor Williams/Texas (1-2)
Strengths: Will make a living as an elite run blocker. Technically sound, good lateral footwork and slide steps. Sustains blocks, has powerful hands. Good finisher. Excellent body control in pass sets.
Weaknesses: Wasn't as good in 2017 as he was the year before. Lateral quickness was lacking. Does not have ideal length for a tackle. Gets too straight-legged on initial bull moves.

3. Orlando Brown/Oklahoma (2)
Strengths: You don't see his size and length very often, and he knows how to use that to his advantage. Has a nasty demeanor and a solid physical skill set. Engulfs linebackers when he gets to second level. Arm extension makes life difficult for pass rushers. Keeps his feet moving in pass protection. 
Weaknesses: Woefully unathletic. Plays too straight-legged and lacks good footwork. Bigger than he is strong. Balance is sometimes an issue on redirect. Slow laterally off the snap.

4. Tyrell Crosby/Oregon (2-3)
Strengths: Mean streak, nasty as a run blocker. Has length and strength. Straight ahead bulldozer in run game. Very good drive blocker. Can play on either side of the formation. 
Weaknesses: Technical issues aplenty. Does not have great initial quickness, and finesse game is lacking. Did not make many pure pass sets in college. Footwork is spotty. Average body control. Could move inside to guard if he can't get more consistent in pass protection.

5. Jamarco Jones/Ohio State (2-3)
Strengths: Long arms, good technique. Solid lateral movement and slide quickness. Improved in pass protection in 2017. Plus agility.
Weaknesses: Height and length combination not optimum for position. Plays too high, not great with his hips. Below averge body control. Could play tougher. Poor combine showing casts questions about athleticism.

6. Kolton Miller/UCLA (2-3)
7. Martinas Rankin/Mississippi State (2-3)
8. Chukwuma Okorafor/Western Michigan (3)
9. Will Richardson/NC State (3-4)
10. Desmond Harrison/West Georgia (3-4)
11. Brandon Parker/North Carolina A&T (4)
12. Geron Christian/Louisville (4)
13. Joe Noteboom/TCU (4-5)
14. Brian O'Neill/Pittsburgh (4-5)
15. Toby Weathersby/LSU (5)
16. Archie Lewis/Boise State (5-6)
17. Greg Senat/Wagner (6)
18. Cole Madison/Washington State (6-7)
19. Zachary Crabtree/Oklahoma State (6-7)
20. David Bright/Stanford (7)
21. Alex Cappa/Humboldt State (7)

OFFENSIVE GUARD

Quenton Nelson (NBC Sports)

1. Quenton Nelson/Notre Dame (1)
Strengths: Elite power, good size and a first-rate finisher. Technically sound, intelligent. Good pad level off the snap. Aggressive at point of attack and will block until the whistle. Excellent lateral movement. Wide base on pass sets.
Weaknesses: Occasionally has a hitch when coming out of his stance on pulling plays. Doesn't always play fast. Has been injured a bit. Good pass blocker, but not elite against athletic rush men.

2. Isaiah Wynn/Georgia (1)
Strengths: Technically sound, great attitude. Top-level athleticism as a run blocker. Above average in pass protection as he started his Georgia career at tackle. Fluid, good knee bend. Solid finisher. Good body control and balance, handles counter moves very well.
Weaknesses: Questions about how well he can handle power rushers. Arm extension could be better. Sometimes impatient, doesn't wait for defenders to come to him.

3. Will Hernandez/UTEP (1-2)
Strengths: Good blend of power and athletic ability. Excellent run blocker and has sufficient footwork to be an asset in pass protection. Good movement for his size. Explodes at the point of attack. Very aggressive, plays to the whistle. Surprisingly quick feet.
Weaknesses: Height (6-3) is not ideal. Has short arms, and defenders with long arms are able to get into his body. Initiates contact without getting set. Pad level is sometimes deficient.

4. Braden Smith/Auburn (2-3)
Strengths: Has the desired frame for the position. Excellent power. Plays strong. Can be a mauler, comes off the ball very well. Good drive blocker. 
Weaknesses: A beat behind in picking up defensive line twists. Feet aren't super quick, can be had by counter rush moves. Has trouble getting to second level. Looks stiff at times.

5. Wyatt Teller/Virginia Tech (3)
Strengths: Excellent body control and hands. Very good frame, hard to move. Excellent hand placement. Maintains balance through contact. Has a mean streak. 
Weaknesses: Did not play nearly as well last year as he did in 2016. Questions about consistent effort. Good straight ahead, below average laterally. Has trouble when call on to pull.

6. Tony Adams/NC State (3)
7. Tyrone Crowder/Clemson (3-4)
8. Colby Gossett/Appalachian State (3-4)
9. Jamil Demby/Maine (4)
10. Sam Jones/Arizona State (4)
11. KC McDermott/Miami Fla. (4-5)
12. Skyler Phillips/Idaho State (4-5)
13. Taylor Hearn/Clemson (5-6)
14. KJ Malone/LSU (7)
15. Sean Welsh/Iowa (7)

Frank Ragnow (ArkansasRazorbacks.com)

CENTER
1. Frank Ragnow/Arkansas (1-2)
Strengths: Very physical. Takes good angles to blocks. Very good quickness on down blocks. Strong hands, can ride out blocks to completion. Has played both guard and center, so versatility is there. Can go from first to second block with good timing. Good leader. 
Weaknesses: Not terribly athletic. Doesn't always drop pads to desired level. Is on the ground too much. Defenders with quick get-off could be a problem.

2. Billy Price/Ohio State (2)
Strengths: A mauler, but can also be effective on the move for traps. Excellent explosiveness off the snap. Great power and leverage. Excellent on the redirect. Flexibility in hips, excellent drive blocker. Coaches loved his leadership and intelligence. Mean streak. Has played both center and guard. 
Weaknesses: Impatient as a blocker. Has a tendency to lunge and lose balance against shade defenders. Footwork isn't always consistent. Not a long frame, so sustaining blocks is sometimes an issue.

3. James Daniels/Iowa (2)
Strengths: Very fluid in movements. Initial quickness helps him win in positioning on zone blocks. Good quickness off the snap. Technically sound, slides feet and turns hips when securing blocks. Excellent finisher. Has a wide base on pass sets.
Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger. Average power off the ball. Struggles against bull rushers. Wasn't used a lot as a drive blocker, will need more proficiency.

4. Bradley Bozeman/Alabama (4)
Strengths: Proficient at getting to second level. Size is a plus, difficult to move. Plays with toughness. Good hand placement.
Weaknesses: Quickness off the snap is lacking. Not athletic. Not as powerful from his lower body as his size would indicate. Can be thrown off balance by bull rushers.

5. Will Clapp/LSU (4-5)
Strengths: Very steady performer, played both center and guard at a high level. Consistent in his footwork. Good hand strength, sustains well. Great recognition against blitzers.
Weaknesses: Short arms. Athletic ability is suspect. Doesn't always do well at the second level. Heavy feet in pass sets, a liability against speedy interior defenders.

6. Coleman Shelton/Washington (4-5)
7. Austin Corbett/Nevada (4-5)
8. Brian Allen/Michigan State (5-6)
9. Scott Quessenberry/UCLA (6)
10. Austin Golson/Auburn (7)

MONDAY: Defensive Positional Rankings




 

B1G Supremacy On The Line Saturday In Columbus

Now it gets real.

There's an old saying about November is when you separate the contenders from the pretenders, but this B1G battle is happening a week early, with the winner getting a big leg up in the race to the East Division title and a berth in the College Football Playoff. 

Second-ranked Penn State, fresh off of a 42-14 demolition of Michigan, comes in to Columbus to take on No. 6 Ohio State, which had the week off. This is the first time both teams have been ranked in the top 10 since 2008, when No. 3 Penn State topped No. 10 OSU 13-6 in Columbus. The game kicks off at 3:30 in Ohio Stadium, where the Buckeyes have lost just once in Big Ten play under Urban Meyer.

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley has the attention of Ohio State's defense (Sports Illustrated)

The Nittany Lions upended No. 2 OSU last year in Happy Valley, blocking a punt and a field goal, the latter being returned for the game-winning score in a 24-21 victory. That really got things going for Penn State, which won out and ended up winning the Big Ten and going right down to the wire against USC in the Rose Bowl before falling 52-49.

"I don't think there's any doubt when you find a way as an organization to beat the No. 2 team in the country, I don't care where you're at in your program's development, things like that, those wins have a big impact from a lot of different perspectives," Penn State coach James Franklin said.

Meyer remembers last year's game very well, and while he stopped short of saying that it is a driving force in OSU practices this week, it can be used to good effect at times.
 

"Sure. Revenge is a motivator, hell yeah it is. I'm not saying this will be it," he said. "But there's times where we've used it and looked silly using it. There's other times it's worked. It's about execution of a game plan more than anything else."

Both teams enter the game with impressive stats, Heisman candidates and admiration from the other side. 

Penn State leads the country in scoring defense (9.6 points per game) and pass defense (94.02 opposing passer rating, nine interceptions), while the Buckeyes are first in scoring offense (47.3) and fourth in passing (171.3 rating).

All eyes will be on Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley, the Heisman leader at the turn, and though he has never scored a touchdown in two games against the Buckeyes, he has averaged over eight yards per carry. Barkley has 12 touchdowns for the season, in nearly every fashion imaginable -- rushing, receiving and returning. He will be first, second and third in any game-planning the Buckeyes do.

"He's the best all-purpose guy we've faced in probably, maybe my career," Meyer said. "He's obviously a great running back. But they do a good job using him and creating matchup issues. You have different ways to bottle up great running backs, but this guy, it's hard. The fact they motion him out and create matchup nightmares, that's what makes this guy -- he's as good an all-purpose running back we've seen. And that's 30 years." 

OSU quarterback J.T. Barrett has rebounded from a slow start, and now ranks fourth in the country in passer rating. His decision making has been off the charts, tossing just one interception to 21 touchdowns.

Franklin knows that his pass defense, led by shutdown corner Grant Haley and safety Marcus Allen, will be tested by OSU's passing attack.

Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett is one of the top dual threats in the nation

"J.T. Barrett has been playing at Ohio State for … I think this is his 16th year maybe going on 17,” Franklin joked. "He's one of the most successful quarterbacks in school history, if not the most. He's one of the most successful quarterbacks in Big Ten history and nationally. I mean you got to just completely respect everything that that guy's been able to do in his career and everything I know about him and have heard about him, he's a class act. So that's going to be a challenge for us because he can beat you with his legs, he can beat you with his arm, he can beat you with his mind."

Both defenses love to pin back their ears and make plays in the opposing backfield. Penn State is fourth in the country in sacks, Ohio State is fifth in tackles for loss. Buckeyes sophomore Nick Bosa has been a real force, recording 10 tackles for loss and four sacks despite averaging just 34 snaps per contest.

Penn State has been humming offensively for much of the season, but the Buckeyes have just started to find their footing in the last month. Some will say OSU's improvement is tied to playing some of the sad sacks of the conference, and there is some truth to that. But as much as the execution has improved, so has the philosophy. No longer are the coaches attempting to fit square pegs into round holes, and the results have been proven on the field.

"We all know Kevin Wilson is a really, really good offensive coach and been successful wherever he's been and I think early in the season they were still trying to kind of find their offensive identity," Franklin said. "And they found it now and they're putting up big time points and yards on everybody and you knew it was just a matter of time because Kevin's such a good coach and they got so many good players."

The Buckeyes are coming off of a bye week, which has typically been a good thing for Meyer coached squads. Meyer teams are 21-1 following an off week, and that includes three victories over top-10 teams.

Penn State had a bye before last year's contest and won the game, so there do appear to be obvious benefits.

"There's no doubt about it," Franklin said. "You just have more time for everything. More time to recover, more time to get healthy, more time to watch film and plan. It's valuable. I think it's probably the most valuable thing we have on this earth is time and a bye week creates that."    

There are plenty of statistics that can lead fans to think one team has an edge over the other -- the home team has won 10 of the last 17 meetings, the higher ranked team is 19-3 since Penn State joined the conference in 1993. 

But numbers and stats won't determine the winner on Saturday. 

Confidence and execution and lack of fear will. Is someone willing to take a risk, to throw caution to the wind, to stamp themselves in history? 

"I know some people call it a process, some people call it whatever, and it's all true," Meyer said. "I call it a culture within a program. And culture is driven by leaders. If you have very strong leaders on the field and very strong leaders in the coaching rooms, you tend to have great performances against great teams."     

Studs And Duds -- Sept. 24

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley came up big at crunch time (The Big Lead)

Every Sunday we take a look back at the good and bad of the college football weekend, and we have found this week's winners -- and non-winners.

STUDS
Stanford QB KJ Costello -- The Cardinal may not be serious contenders in the Pac-12 -- or may be, it's hard to tell with this group -- but they may have found a quarterback. With starter Keller Chryst ailing and backup Ryan Burns not really moving the team, Costello came into the game and was wildly effective, going 13-of-19 for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He presented enough of a passing threat for Bryce Love to rush for 263 yards, and for UCLA to be completely outclassed defensively. Costello had a nine-yard scoring run in the first half, and showed that he is more than capable of running the offense long-term if he has to.

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley -- The mark of a great player is stepping up when his team needs him the most. Barkley did that, rushing for 211 yards and a third quarter touchdown in the Nittany Lions 21-19 squeaker over Iowa. He also had a possible Heisman signature moment in the fourth quarter, and wasn't afraid to do the heavy second half lifting for Penn State. Barkley carried four times for 56 yards on its go-ahead drive and caught two passes on the game-winning drive, helping Penn State escape with its season intact. Nittany Lions fans, enjoy him while you can, because Barkley has roughly 10 games left in his college career.

TCU -- Almost no one was talking about the Horned Frogs heading into their showdown with Oklahoma State, and that's just how coach Gary Patterson likes it. Relishing the underdog role, TCU was the more physical team, rushing for 238 yards and converting 11-of-19 third downs to upset the Cowboys 44-31 in Stillwater. It was an old-fashioned butt-kicking as TCU forced four turnovers, frazzled the normally efficient Cowboys into eight penalties and made quarterback Mason Rudolph look human. Yeah, Rudolph finished with 398 yards through the air, but other than an on-the-money 86 yard TD strike to James Washington, Rudolph appeared bothered and off his game. Travin Howard had eight tackles and Nick Orr chipped in six more and an interception as TCU became the chief competition for Oklahoma in the Big 12 race.

DUDS
Vanderbilt -- This was the year. It was going to be 1969 all over again for the Commodores, who entered their game with Alabama unbeaten, with a snarling defense and feeling pretty good about themselves. There was a lot of talk about the Tide heading into the game, but Vandy was silenced as Alabama unleashed a righteous anger (can you tell I've been watching Pulp Fiction a lot lately?), winning 59-0 and erasing all doubts about the door being cracked open in the SEC. Vanderbilt ran just 40 plays, netting 78 yards, and going just 1-of-11 on third down. The vaunted Commodores D allowed Alabama to pile up 677 yards, including 496 on the ground, in a game that was basically over when Alabama took a 21-0 first quarter lead.

Purdue offense -- The Boilermakers were one of the feel-good stories of the season, taking Louisville to the wire in the opener and giving people reason to believe that maybe, just maybe, the B1G West Division had another contender for Wisconsin to deal with. Um, no. Purdue managed just 189 yards and failed to convert on 12 third down chances, falling 28-10 at home to Michigan. It was there for the taking as Purdue led 10-7 at halftime, but the Boilermakers managed just 15 second half yards, fumbled once and punted five times. Only one second half series wasn't a three-and-out.

Oregon -- Everyone was touting the Ducks, saying "they're back, they're back," and looking ahead to tasty Pac-12 showdowns against some of the best teams in the league. Well, maybe the Ducks were looking ahead because they lost to one of the poorer teams in the conference, Arizona State. The Sun Devils rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense and kept the vaunted Ducks attack to 401 yards, its lowest total of the season. Oregon did itself no favors by committing 14 penalties, and converted just 1-of-11 third downs. With Cal, Washington State, Stanford  and UCLA up next, it appears safe to say that Oregon still has work to do to be a legitimate Pac-12 threat.

Iowa Looking For Redemption, Upset Against Penn State

 Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been in the game long enough to know that sometimes you just can't get anything positive out of a loss.

 Some coaches will spin it and say this unit was solid, that the offense was just a couple of plays away -- but not Ferentz. He knows that last year's 41-14 annihilation at the hands of Penn State was one for the trash heap as the Nittany Lions outgained the Hawkeyes by 365 yards, amassing 599 yards of offense and averaging nearly seven yards per carry.

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is an explosive weapon (Getty Images)

"The only thing we might have been all right with was the coin toss, and I'd have to look it up -- we probably lost that, too," Ferentz said. "There wasn't much out of that tape that we can take, and that's one of the tricks right now. We're looking at it, but there's just not a lot there. All I know for sure is that we're playing a team that's really good and we're going to have to play better than we did last year."

 Penn State (3-0) is ranked fourth in the country on the heels of three impressive non-league victories, while Iowa has had to work a bit harder for its success -- including an overtime 44-41 road victory against in-state foe Iowa State.

 Iowa is just 4-8 against ranked teams since 2012, but did upset second-ranked Michigan at home last season.

 So the Nittany Lions know they aren't going to just waltz in and take over the Hawkeyes territory without a fight.

 "We have tremendous respect for their program," PSU coach James Franklin said. "When you look at coach Ferentz, their record against top 10 opponents at home, especially playing at night, you know this is going to be a challenge.

 "You look at what they've been able to do, not only against Penn State in our last 10 games, but against ranked opponents. You're talking about a blue collar team that takes pride in their fundamentals, their techniques, being sound and playing hard. Really, in some ways, similar to our tradition and history."

 Penn State has won the last three in the series, and holds a 14-12 edge. But the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last 12, and PSU has taken just one game in Iowa City since 2000.

 Franklin, in his fourth year on the Penn State sidelines, said that traveling to Kinnick Stadium will be a first for many players on his team, and for him, as well.

 "I've never been there," he said. "I want to educate myself on what to expect. That place is going to be rocking Saturday night. Their sidelines are very tight. Their fans are going to be right up against you. We want to get our players prepared for that. We've got to get ready for the noise."

 It all starts for Penn State with junior running back Saquon Barkley, an explosive, track-fast runner with the ability to cut on a dime. He rushed for 1,496 yards and 18 scores a year ago, and has over 300 yards and three scores this season, averaging a hefty 8.1 yards per carry.

 Barkley was limited to just 47 rushing yards last week against Georgia State, so Penn State got him the ball in the passing game. Barkley had four catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, so it's easy to see why the Hawkeyes want to focus their attention on stopping him.

 "Everybody has to be on the same page," Ferentz said. "All that being said, when you play a guy like (Barkley), he's going to make some plays on his own because he's not your average back. So if it happens, it happens. You've got to keep playing. What we can't do is give him yards that are uncontested. If we do that, I can tell you what the result is going to be. It's easy to predict."

 While Barkley is the engine, Penn State has a lot of other moving parts that are dangerous, including quarterback Trace McSorley. A dual threat, McSorley went 18-of-23 with five touchdowns through the air, and averages nearly six yards per carry on the ground. McSorley is completing 67 percent of his passes and isn't afraid to go deep, averaging 9.9 yards per attempt.

 McSorley has myriad weapons, including All-America candidate tight end Mike Gesicki (four TDs) and receivers DaeSean Hamilton (18.1 ypc) and DeAndre Thompkins (6 catches, 66 yards).

 "We realize we have to play our best and at our highest level possible if we're going to be competitive in this game," Ferentz said. "That's where we're focused right now."

Linebacker Josey Jewell is the heart of Iowa's defense

 Iowa (3-0) has a bit of its own juice in the form of running back Akrum Wadley, who has 258 yards and a score in three contests. Understudy James Butler won't be available for this game, so Ferentz will spell Wadley, who left last week's game early, with freshmen Toren Young and Ivory Kelly-Martin.

 Nathan Stanley hasn't been spectacular at quarterback (61.4 percent, 10 touchdowns), but hasn't made mistakes, either. Stanley has just one interception, but will face his toughest challenge to date against a Nittany Lions defense that has already picked off nine passes. PSU has scored 49 points off of turnovers, so Iowa will need to be sound at hanging on to the football and grinding out possessions.

 Iowa loves to run the inside zone with Wadley, and have for years been one of the best at running the stretch play. An experienced offensive line is the key, so Penn State will need to have linebackers Manny Bowen and Jason Cabinda played disciplined, sound football, and not go for Iowa's heavy play-action.

 The Hawkeyes hang their hat on defense, ranking in the top 25 nationally against the run and allowing just two touchdowns. If they are to stop Barkley, it will be because linebacker Josey Jewell, who has 28 tackles and a pair of sacks in three games, was his usual self.

 Franklin knows that his team will have to account for Jewell on every play.

 "Josey Jewell is their bellcow and the leader of their defense," Franklin said. "A very instinctive player, a very physical player, a very productive player. I don't think there's any doubt about it, he makes their defense go from a leadership and playmaking perspective."

 Penn State is just 8-5 on the road against unranked Big Ten foes since 2012, and Ferentz likes the fact that Hawkeyes fans will have the entire day to get ready for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

 "You can't help but be excited," he said. "There's something about night games. I don't know if it takes you back to when you were in high school playing, but I think it's a lot of fun for everybody to be involved in."

 While some might say that all of the pressure is on Penn State, Franklin disagrees. He believes in putting it out there, warts and all, and gravitating toward people who aren't afraid to be themselves -- much as his Nittany Lions aren't afraid to be what they are.

 "One of the things I love about being a head football coach is all of the different personalities that I get to deal with every single day," Franklin said. "One of the things I've always been attracted to is people that own who they are. They're either really cool or really weird, and I love those people. I love the people on the extremes that kind of own who they are and are very comfortable in their own skin. I think that's what we have to do on offense, on defense and on special teams."

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