Illinois has some options if Penn State stacks the box

CHAMPAIGN - It seems only logical.

As Illinois' offense continues to pile up the vast majority of its yardage on the ground - 73 percent during its three-game win streak - some defensive coordinator will decide it's time to start stacking the box and stuffing the run.

No. 21 Penn State seems like the team to know how to pull off such a scheme, seeing as how the Nittany Lions show up at Memorial Stadium on Saturday with the nation's sixth-best rushing defense.

Joe Paterno's guys are surrendering just 54.8 yards per game and 1.5 yards per carry - and they apparently have learned things from studying Illinois videos.

"It's a very, very explosive offense,"Paterno said, "and I think we'll have to make some adjustments."

But here's the catch for Penn State or anyone else remaining on the schedule:

Illinois' spread option attack, as operated by sophomore quarterback Juice Williams, doesn't allow defenses the luxury of putting eight or nine guys near the line and teeing off on running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Not only do opponents have to honor Illinois' four receivers, but they have to assign a defender to Williams to cut off that first option.

"In a normal, pro-style man-blocking or zone-blocking scheme, the extra guy will be unaccounted for,"said Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. "When you run option football, you're usually going to be able to eliminate the extra guy by not having to block him at the line of scrimmage (that's the guy assigned to the quarterback).

"That gives you the numbers advantage you want to have."

Then it's simply a matter of who's better.

Will Illinois' blockers whip their guys and provide lanes for Mendenhall, who ranks No. 8 nationally with 134.0 rushing yards per game?

And don't forget, when doling out credit for the blocking that has generated 943 rushing yards over the last three games, to credit Illini receivers for their work.

"All of our receivers have taken blocking to a new level," Locksley said. "Last year, we had some balls on the perimeter and we'd come up a man short.

"Obviously, if we're going to have to run the ball, the receivers blocking on the perimeter are just as important as the offensive line upfront."

That factor becomes more magnified this week thanks to Penn State's magnificent back seven, which features future pros like middle linebacker Dan Connor, outside linebacker Sean Lee, cornerback Justin King and safety Anthony Scirrotto.

Will they become the first Illini opponents this year to control the perimeter?

"They're the best team we're going to face thus far,"Locksley said. "They've got players over there at all positions - and they have all the built-in advantages that a team with the tradition Penn State has should have.

"Last year, it was (Paul) Posluszny and Dan Connor was his sidekick. This year, it's Dan Connor and Sean Lee's his sidekick. And next year, I expect Sean Lee will probably be the guy next year and they'll have somebody ready to groom to be the weak-side backer."ˆÅ¥

Penn State (3-1, 0-1) at Illinois (3-1, 1-0)

When: 11 a.m. at Memorial Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network Radio: WIND 560-AM. Series: PSU 12-2

Coaches: Joe Paterno (366-124-3, 42nd year at Penn State); Ron Zook (7-20, third year at Illinois; 30-34 overall).

Players to watch: Illinois owns the nation's No. 5 rushing attack (265.5 ypg). Rashard Mendenhall can become the third player in school history to string together four consecutive 100-yard games. MLB J Leman leads the Big Ten in tackles (12.3 per game) while DE Will Davis ranks fourth nationally with 5.5 sacks.

Penn State's big-play defense, as led by potential All-America LB Dan Connor, already owns 45 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and 10 turnovers. Senior quarterback Anthony Morelli has been decent (70 of 118, 797 yards, 8 TD, 1 INT), but didn't produce in last week's loss at Michigan.

The skinny: The Illini, riding their first three-game win streak since 2001, are seeking their first home win over a ranked opponent since 1995 (Arizona). Illinois fans are pumped and may produce three sellouts in the next four weeks. Illinois nearly doubled No. 21 Penn State in total yards last year at Happy Valley, but turnovers and special teams killed that upset. If the Illini can limit those problems Saturday, a victory could be theirs.