Five observations from Penn State’s gut-wrenching 27-26 loss to Ohio State
The Nittany Lions need to tackle better and add a screen pass to their playbook, but no one can question the ability and determination of quarterback Trace McSorley.
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Five thoughts a few days after Ohio State silenced Beaver Stadium with a late comeback that dealt Penn State a 27-26 loss:
Where would Penn State be without Trace McSorley?
Playing on the big stage of Saturday night's primetime game on ABC, in what turned out to be the highest-rated game this season to date, McSorley did everything he could to impress Heisman Trophy voters. He rolled up 461 of Penn State's 492 yards of total offense, including a career-high 175 yards on the ground. He personally accounted for 17 of the Nittany Lions' 22 field downs, eight via the run, which makes James Franklin's decision to run Miles Sanders on fourth-and-5 with 1:22 to play even more of a head-scratcher.
Of course, Penn State did not win the game, but that is no reflection on McSorley, whose winning credentials were established in high school (three state championships) and whose value to his team cannot be measured.
Penn State needs to add a screen pass to its playbook.
McSorley was pressured repeatedly by Ohio State's pass rush. He was sacked four times and only his ability to scramble and maneuver in the pocket kept that total from being doubled. He also had two passes deflected at the line. A screen pass might have been helpful in slowing down the rush but the Nittany Lions never showed one.
On the other sideline, the Buckeyes dialed up conventional screen passes and bubble screens, especially in the second half. A 35-yard screen pass from Dwayne Haskins to J.K. Dobbins from their own 4 kicked off Ohio State's winning TD drive. Maybe the Penn State coaches saw it. It sure would help down the road.
After five games, the Nittany Lions’ tackling fundamentals are still poor.
With the emphasis toward safety at all levels of football these days, Franklin and other coaches agonize over how much tackling to do in the spring, in training camp and in practice sessions during the season. Apparently, whatever work the Nittany Lions have done hasn't been absorbed by some of their players. Missed tackles absolutely killed the Lions in the second half, allowing Ohio State to pick up yards in bunches after the catch.
Surely an emphasis on tackling and proper technique will be a conversation during this bye week.
Are James Franklin’s players too comfortable?
Franklin said he thinks his team is too comfortable being a great team, and his plan is to make them more uncomfortable in the Lions' push for elite status. The frustrated head coach talked about that for more than half of his post-game press conference with a roomful of visiting high school recruits watching from the lounge that overlooks the media interview room.
Bet that the comfort topic will be discussed this week. If anything, it will give the team leaders, like McSorley, safety Nick Scott and wide receiver Juwan Johnson, an opportunity to make sure their teammates are buying in.
The Tommy Stevens “package” needs more work.
Stevens, the Lions' backup quarterback/receiver/running back/gadget-play master, made his 2018 debut in the first quarter after missing much of training camp and early season with an undisclosed injury. The results of his three plays, however, weren't good — two of them lost yardage including a minus-13 on a backward pass that Stevens couldn't handle.
The thought was that Stevens could have played against Illinois and taken his first hit there, but Franklin decided to hold him on the sideline for one more week. The timing and execution were lacking Saturday night, sending offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne back to the drawing board.