Through the first seven games this season Penn State's offense has failed to establish its identity. True there has been a number of reasons why that has taken place. There have been inconsistencies on the offensive line partially because both Penn State's starting RT Andrew Nelson and starting C Angelo Mangiro have missed playing time because of injuries, plus Penn State has had to replace its starting 2014 LT Donovan Smith, who now starts for the Tampa Bay in the NFL, with JUCO transfer Paris Palmer.
Penn State has also had injury problems in its backfield with its two leading candidates at running back Akeel Lynch and Saquon Barkley not playing the second half of the game against San Diego State and missing the entire games against Army and Indiana. Those injury problems by themselves can make a legitimate claim for a large part, but not the total reason why Penn State's offense has struggled to establish any consistency and really failed to come close to providing the offense with any resemblance of an identity.
Except for the improvement that has been established with the running game, almost every aspect of Penn State's offensive performance statistically this season through seven games compared to the 2014 season has shown a drop in performance as a team and individually. In 2014 Penn State's rush offense ranked last [14th] in the Big Ten averaging just 101.9 YPG. This season with the emergence of Barkley, who is the 5th leading rusher in the Big Ten with 567 yards on 68 carries averaging a conference high 8.3 YPC, Penn State's rush offense ranks 9th in the Big Ten averaging 162.3 YPG.
The rest of Penn State's offensive performance through the first seven games this season compared to the 2014 season has been on a downward spiral or remained flat both as a team or individually. Penn State's pass offense in 2014 was ranked 5th in the Big Ten, it averaged 233.4 YPG. Christian Hackenberg threw for 2,977 yards and completed 55.8-percent of his passes with 12 TD passes and 15 interceptions.
Despite having eight of its top 10 leading receivers back from the 2014 season, through seven games this fall, Hackenberg has passed for just 1,206 yards and completed just 53.1-percent of his throws. The one area where he has made a major improvement is with his TD pass--interception ratio. Hackenberg has eight TD passes and just two interceptions.
In 2014 Penn State had the leading receiver in the Big Ten. Then Rs.Fr. DaeSean Hamilton had 82 catches for 899 yards averaging 6.3 CPG. To date through the first seven games this season Hamilton has just 19 catches for 220 yards. Except for the performance of So. WR Chris Godwin, who has 30 catches for 493 yards and is averaging 16.4 YPC this season compared to his 25 receptions for 321 yards in 2014, both the wide receiver and tight end positions have seen a major drop off in receptions this fall compared to last year. Penn State's tight ends [Jesse James, Mike Gesicki, Kyle Carter and Brent Wilkerson] totaled 57 receptions for 681 yards and five touchdowns in 2014. Through seven games this season, Carter [9] Gesicki [9] and Wilkerson [2] have 20 catches for 199 yards with one touchdown reception.
The same type of scenario exists at wide receiver. In 2014 Eugene Lewis had 55 catches for 751 yards with two touchdown receptions, this season he has six catches for 65 yards. Saeed Blacknall had 11 catches for 112 yards with one TD reception last fall, through seven games Blacknall has four receptions for 101 yards. In 2014 Penn State's wide receivers had 173 receptions for 2,083 yards. Through seven games this season Penn State's wide receivers have posted 63 receptions for 929 yards.
That type of loss of statistical production at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end can't just be explained away because of the inconsistency problems that exist along the offensive line, injuries to players like Barkley, Lynch, Mangiro and Nelson, when Hackenberg and eight of Penn State's top ten receivers returned from the 2014 season, along with four returning starters on the offensive line.
What also has been missing from Penn State's offensive performance in its first seven games this season is its identity on offense. Right now James Franklin and his offensive coaches haven't seemed to have made a final decision of what type of offensive system is the best fit for the personnel that exists on offense. Should it be a truly balanced pro-style offense with a play-action passing attack or a form of a "read-option" offense similar to what seems to be dominating the college football scene at the present moment.
Personally, right now I would describe it a little bit of a mixture of both. I wonder if that is the type of offense Hackenberg can operate the best under. If you closely analyze Hackenberg's career at Penn State you'll notice that Hackenberg seems to operate best under a pro-style offensive attack with a play-action passing offense. One that allows him to get into a rhythm throwing the football. One that at times operates at an uptempo "NASCAR" type of offensive rhythm.
Two of his best performances under those type of conditions of his Penn State career took place in the final game of the 2013 season against Wisconsin and last year's Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
In the game against Wisconsin Hackenberg completed 21 of 30 passes for 339 yards with four TD passes and zero interceptions. Hackenberg against Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl completed 34 of 50 passes for 371 yards with four TD passes and zero interceptions. Once Hackenberg gets into a rhythm throwing the football he becomes almost unstoppable.
It will be interesting to see what type of offensive approach Franklin and Penn State's offensive coordinator, John Donovan, decide to use in Saturday's game against Maryland at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. Franklin in his press conference at 12:40 this afternoon stated that everyone associated with the offense, the coaches and the players, have to be more aggressive with their approach then were were in last Saturday's game against Ohio State.
Whether that means doing those things necessary on the field that Penn State can establish an identity with either an offensive system that emphasizes a pro-style attack with a play-action passing game or one that incorporates a more option style of offense. What needs to be done is come up with an aggressive approach that has a clear cut mission and has a real opportunity to build some consistency on offense and one that has a truly recognizable identity that balances the offense between the run and the pass.
Personally, I believe that is a pro-style offensive system with a play action passing game that best fits the talents of Penn State's skill position players on offense, especially the running talent of Barkley and the passing talent of Hackenberg. Personally, I'm excited thinking about how effective Penn State's offense could be in its final five Big Ten games this season against Maryland, Illinois, Northwestern and even Michigan and Michigan State, with an offense where Barkley spearheads an explosive and potent running game and Hackenberg plays off that running game with a play-action pass game that uses the entire field to operate.
There are those that have told me seven games into the season is to late of a date for Penn State to establish that type of identity on offense. I don't agree with that assessment. It's my opinion that Penn State's game against Maryland this coming Saturday, provides Franklin and his offensive coaches with just that type of favorable and unique opportunity.
Penn State in my mind is the healthiest and in its best physical shape since the start of the season. Some would say Maryland's football program is in a state of disarray since the Terrapins head football coach, Randy Edsall, was fired back on Monday, Oct. 12 the day after its 49-21 loss to Ohio State. In its last three games the Terrapins' defense has lost to Ohio State [49-21], Michigan [28-0] and West Virginia [45-6]. It's defense is ranked 14th in the Big Ten in total defense giving up 457.7 YPG, 11th in pass defense [260.8 YPG], last [14th] in pass efficiency defense with a rating of 87.5, 13th in rush defense [196.8 YPG] and 13th in scoring defense 34.7 YPG.
It is the perfect type of scenario for Penn State's struggling offense to find consistency and the beginnings of a solid form of identity. It's what must happen with Penn State's offense against Maryland this Saturday, if the Nittany Lions hope to enter its final five Big Ten games this season with a chance of doing something special and putting itself in a position to play possibly in a quality New Years Day Bowl game.
If it can accomplish this goal I'm convinced Penn State will enter its Nov. 21 game with Michigan on a three-game winning streak over Maryland, Illinois and Northwestern. One that puts them in a position where they believe they can play with and compete against Michigan and Michigan State.
It is the type of opportunity Penn State can't let its offense slip through its fingers.
Penn State has also had injury problems in its backfield with its two leading candidates at running back Akeel Lynch and Saquon Barkley not playing the second half of the game against San Diego State and missing the entire games against Army and Indiana. Those injury problems by themselves can make a legitimate claim for a large part, but not the total reason why Penn State's offense has struggled to establish any consistency and really failed to come close to providing the offense with any resemblance of an identity.
Except for the improvement that has been established with the running game, almost every aspect of Penn State's offensive performance statistically this season through seven games compared to the 2014 season has shown a drop in performance as a team and individually. In 2014 Penn State's rush offense ranked last [14th] in the Big Ten averaging just 101.9 YPG. This season with the emergence of Barkley, who is the 5th leading rusher in the Big Ten with 567 yards on 68 carries averaging a conference high 8.3 YPC, Penn State's rush offense ranks 9th in the Big Ten averaging 162.3 YPG.
The rest of Penn State's offensive performance through the first seven games this season compared to the 2014 season has been on a downward spiral or remained flat both as a team or individually. Penn State's pass offense in 2014 was ranked 5th in the Big Ten, it averaged 233.4 YPG. Christian Hackenberg threw for 2,977 yards and completed 55.8-percent of his passes with 12 TD passes and 15 interceptions.
Despite having eight of its top 10 leading receivers back from the 2014 season, through seven games this fall, Hackenberg has passed for just 1,206 yards and completed just 53.1-percent of his throws. The one area where he has made a major improvement is with his TD pass--interception ratio. Hackenberg has eight TD passes and just two interceptions.
In 2014 Penn State had the leading receiver in the Big Ten. Then Rs.Fr. DaeSean Hamilton had 82 catches for 899 yards averaging 6.3 CPG. To date through the first seven games this season Hamilton has just 19 catches for 220 yards. Except for the performance of So. WR Chris Godwin, who has 30 catches for 493 yards and is averaging 16.4 YPC this season compared to his 25 receptions for 321 yards in 2014, both the wide receiver and tight end positions have seen a major drop off in receptions this fall compared to last year. Penn State's tight ends [Jesse James, Mike Gesicki, Kyle Carter and Brent Wilkerson] totaled 57 receptions for 681 yards and five touchdowns in 2014. Through seven games this season, Carter [9] Gesicki [9] and Wilkerson [2] have 20 catches for 199 yards with one touchdown reception.
The same type of scenario exists at wide receiver. In 2014 Eugene Lewis had 55 catches for 751 yards with two touchdown receptions, this season he has six catches for 65 yards. Saeed Blacknall had 11 catches for 112 yards with one TD reception last fall, through seven games Blacknall has four receptions for 101 yards. In 2014 Penn State's wide receivers had 173 receptions for 2,083 yards. Through seven games this season Penn State's wide receivers have posted 63 receptions for 929 yards.
That type of loss of statistical production at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end can't just be explained away because of the inconsistency problems that exist along the offensive line, injuries to players like Barkley, Lynch, Mangiro and Nelson, when Hackenberg and eight of Penn State's top ten receivers returned from the 2014 season, along with four returning starters on the offensive line.
What also has been missing from Penn State's offensive performance in its first seven games this season is its identity on offense. Right now James Franklin and his offensive coaches haven't seemed to have made a final decision of what type of offensive system is the best fit for the personnel that exists on offense. Should it be a truly balanced pro-style offense with a play-action passing attack or a form of a "read-option" offense similar to what seems to be dominating the college football scene at the present moment.
Personally, right now I would describe it a little bit of a mixture of both. I wonder if that is the type of offense Hackenberg can operate the best under. If you closely analyze Hackenberg's career at Penn State you'll notice that Hackenberg seems to operate best under a pro-style offensive attack with a play-action passing offense. One that allows him to get into a rhythm throwing the football. One that at times operates at an uptempo "NASCAR" type of offensive rhythm.
Two of his best performances under those type of conditions of his Penn State career took place in the final game of the 2013 season against Wisconsin and last year's Dec. 27 Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
In the game against Wisconsin Hackenberg completed 21 of 30 passes for 339 yards with four TD passes and zero interceptions. Hackenberg against Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl completed 34 of 50 passes for 371 yards with four TD passes and zero interceptions. Once Hackenberg gets into a rhythm throwing the football he becomes almost unstoppable.
It will be interesting to see what type of offensive approach Franklin and Penn State's offensive coordinator, John Donovan, decide to use in Saturday's game against Maryland at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. Franklin in his press conference at 12:40 this afternoon stated that everyone associated with the offense, the coaches and the players, have to be more aggressive with their approach then were were in last Saturday's game against Ohio State.
Whether that means doing those things necessary on the field that Penn State can establish an identity with either an offensive system that emphasizes a pro-style attack with a play-action passing game or one that incorporates a more option style of offense. What needs to be done is come up with an aggressive approach that has a clear cut mission and has a real opportunity to build some consistency on offense and one that has a truly recognizable identity that balances the offense between the run and the pass.
Personally, I believe that is a pro-style offensive system with a play action passing game that best fits the talents of Penn State's skill position players on offense, especially the running talent of Barkley and the passing talent of Hackenberg. Personally, I'm excited thinking about how effective Penn State's offense could be in its final five Big Ten games this season against Maryland, Illinois, Northwestern and even Michigan and Michigan State, with an offense where Barkley spearheads an explosive and potent running game and Hackenberg plays off that running game with a play-action pass game that uses the entire field to operate.
There are those that have told me seven games into the season is to late of a date for Penn State to establish that type of identity on offense. I don't agree with that assessment. It's my opinion that Penn State's game against Maryland this coming Saturday, provides Franklin and his offensive coaches with just that type of favorable and unique opportunity.
Penn State in my mind is the healthiest and in its best physical shape since the start of the season. Some would say Maryland's football program is in a state of disarray since the Terrapins head football coach, Randy Edsall, was fired back on Monday, Oct. 12 the day after its 49-21 loss to Ohio State. In its last three games the Terrapins' defense has lost to Ohio State [49-21], Michigan [28-0] and West Virginia [45-6]. It's defense is ranked 14th in the Big Ten in total defense giving up 457.7 YPG, 11th in pass defense [260.8 YPG], last [14th] in pass efficiency defense with a rating of 87.5, 13th in rush defense [196.8 YPG] and 13th in scoring defense 34.7 YPG.
It is the perfect type of scenario for Penn State's struggling offense to find consistency and the beginnings of a solid form of identity. It's what must happen with Penn State's offense against Maryland this Saturday, if the Nittany Lions hope to enter its final five Big Ten games this season with a chance of doing something special and putting itself in a position to play possibly in a quality New Years Day Bowl game.
If it can accomplish this goal I'm convinced Penn State will enter its Nov. 21 game with Michigan on a three-game winning streak over Maryland, Illinois and Northwestern. One that puts them in a position where they believe they can play with and compete against Michigan and Michigan State.
It is the type of opportunity Penn State can't let its offense slip through its fingers.
