Penn State’s offense has looked plenty sharp through three games, but the cracks have been easy to spot if you’ve been watching closely.
The Nittany Lions have piled up 127 points, an average of 42.3 per game, which is the kind of production most teams would gladly take and run with. Even so, the details haven’t been spotless.
Penn State is tied for 52nd nationally in third-down conversion rate, and it sits 102nd out of 137 FBS teams in red zone efficiency. The red zone ranking is a little distorted because the top 49 teams are listed at 100%, but the bigger point is the same: Penn State has left points out there.
That showed up in the Week 2 win at Temple, when the Lions reached the red zone three times in the first half and came away with only three total points from those trips. Against Buffalo, the red zone work was better overall, with five touchdown drives, but there was still a first-half sequence where Penn State got to the Buffalo 7, had first and goal, and settled for a field goal.
Those issues didn’t keep Penn State from handling Temple and Buffalo. The opener against Wisconsin could demand more.
Head coach and quarterback addressed the offense’s cleanup work Tuesday, with Campbell emphasizing the importance of the details.
“It’s critical. Situational football, talk about it all the time.
Two minute offense, two minute defense, red zone offense/defense, third down. They’re all critical.
Campbell then described the flow of Saturday’s game offensively as “a little goofy on the third down piece.”
Penn State went just 2-for-10 on third down, and Campbell made it clear that won’t be enough in Big Ten play.
“(I) thoughts execution - a few penalties, playing for fourth down opportunities a few times - but you’re constantly evaluating those things and it’s critical this week.
Campbell then said Penn State “needs to score points in the red zone and continue to possess the football.”
The Lions won the time-of-possession battle against Buffalo, but only narrowly, 31:23 to 28:37.
“Were dynamic first two weeks and took a step back last week,” Campbell said, “and have to be much better this week.”
Becht sounded calm about it all, saying he isn’t worried and expects the offense to sort itself out.
“I’m not worried about it,” Becht told reporters Tuesday. “We have really good coaches, a really good staff that has a really good game plans week in and week out. I think we just been a little slow on our things, and so obviously that’s on us players to go out there and make the place happen.
So I have all the full trust in our ability to go out there against Wisconsin, our first Big 10 opponent and go out there and play ball. Obviously, the first three games you’re kind of, you know, seeing what the offense can do, seeing what different players can do, trying out different plays, and then once you get in the Big 10 play, that’s when you open up the playbook a little bit.
So I’m excited about it, but I have no worries. Obviously, the red zone needs to be cleaned up for us, but that’s on us players and we’ll get that fixed.”
In Other News...
Penn State Staffer Faces Serious Off-Field Legal Trouble
A Penn State football staffer is facing serious off-field legal trouble after police in downtown State College found Jordan Lucas asleep in a vehicle under circumstances that quickly turned into a legal issue. Lucas, an assistant cornerbacks coach, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI along with three summary traffic violations after the stop, which also involved a suspended drivers license and expired vehicle registration.
Penn State has already acknowledged the charges and said Lucas remains with the program while the legal matter continues. For a coaching staff that has spent much of the season trying to keep the focus on the field, the situation adds an unwelcome off-field storyline involving a relatively new face in the defensive room. [Read more 🡒]
Penn States Offensive Line Just Got Thinner At The Worst Time
Penn States offensive line took another hit at a bad time, with coach Matt Campbell announcing that Will Tompkins is done for the season because of injury. Tompkins had been part of the early rotation, logging 31 snaps over the first three games after transferring in from Iowa State, and he gave the Nittany Lions another experienced body in a group that can rarely afford to lose one.
The longer-term picture still offers something for Penn State to work with, since Tompkins is expected to keep four years of eligibility after this season. For now, though, his absence leaves the staff with one less option up front as the season keeps moving and the line depth gets put under more pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Just Lost A Dangerous Weapon Before Wisconsin
Penn States receiving group took a hit in the Week 3 win over Buffalo, and it comes at an awkward time with Big Ten play beginning. Koby Howard suffered an injury in that game and head coach Matt Campbell confirmed he will be out for an extended period, leaving the Nittany Lions without their most productive pass catcher heading into Wisconsin.
Howard has led Penn State in receiving yards through three games, so his absence forces a real adjustment in how the offense attacks the field. The injury is not season-ending, but missing him for the opener changes the shape of the passing game and puts more pressure on the rest of the receiving corps to fill the void. [Read more 🡒]