I tried to ask Rich Ohrnberger to fill in for me and write this column, but he apparently has his line in the sand.

That line must be when he's filling in for teammates on conference calls.

Ohrnberger, as most know by now, apparently did a stand-up impersonation of center A.Q. Shipley Wednesday morning.

Ohrnberger kept a straight face throughout and even answered a question about himself.

Ohrnberger was his usual character.

This is the same guy who says he kisses teammate Quinn Barham, and it's the same guy who says the Hollywood celebrity he would most like to be with is George Clooney because the two share gray hair.

Good for Ohrnberger for keeping things light leading up to Saturday's game at Wisconsin, the team's biggest test of the season. If the rest of the Penn State players are as loose, the Nittany Lions should be in good shape.

Now the coaches need to be as lighthearted as Ohrnberger was and open up the playbook.

Penn State has notably put the locks on the playbook when there's even a hint of the game being difficult. Michigan stands out last season when Penn State opened its first drive of the game with Austin Scott running up the middle.

The second play was even less innovative: The coaching staff called on Matt Hahn for a fullback dive.

This was the same Michigan team that lost to Appalachian State and Oregon, which both spread the field and embarrassed the Wolverines.

Similar play-calling against Wisconsin will put this offense in a difficult spot. The Badgers love nothing more than to have a power running attack and grind the other defense down.

Their style usually works, but it won't work if Penn State can jump on the board by scoring often and quickly. Wisconsin's offensive style isn't suited for playing catch-up or getting in a shootout.

The Badgers also are reeling after losing two consecutive games after being ranked No. 8 in the country at one point, so an early deficit would add to any doubts lingering in Wisconsin's mind.

Penn State's offense also needs to know if it can fully incorporate the "Spread HD" that has been all the talk since spring practice began. The offense has been more versatile through six games this season, but the versatility has largely been built on weaker opponents.

To the Lions' credit, there hasn't been a need to open the playbook entirely. But at some point, the offense needs to prove it can execute any new wrinkles, and those training grounds can't be when Penn State is trailing significantly or when the Lions are on the road in Columbus, Ohio.

Saturday would be the ideal time to unleash the offense.

Maybe Ohrnberger can pull out his Galen Hall or Jay Paterno imitation if the clamps are put on Penn State's playbook.