Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1480138
3 4 O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M After a two-year lull, Penn State's offense regained its stride in the nonconference season T he initial numbers spoke volumes. Posting 35 points at Purdue in the opener, then 46 against Ohio at home, and 41 at Auburn in successive weeks, Penn State was doing something it hadn't done in either of the past two seasons. For the first time since 2019, the Nit- tany Lions were scoring points. Penn State had ranked 15th in the FBS in scoring offense during Sean Clifford's first season as starting quarterback, av- eraging 35.8 points per game. Then, dur- ing the COVID-shortened 2020 season, its average dropped to 29.8 points, and, somewhat incredibly, to 25.0 points in 2021. The Nittany Lions didn't exceed 28 offensive points against any of their 10 Power Five opponents a year ago. Stung by injuries and a stubbornly in- consistent rushing attack, Penn State re- lied heavily on the pass and, in the process, won only seven games in Mike Yurcich's first season as offensive coordinator. This year, however, Penn State has Clifford back for his super senior sea- son, along with a group of experienced receivers and tight ends and an improved offensive line. In addition, it has added a pair of game-breaking true freshman running backs. The results have spoken for themselves. NAT E BAU E R | NATE.BAUER@ON3.COM Trending Up "You have to be balanced," Clifford said following the team's 41-12 win at Auburn. "That was the goal in the offseason. The O-line, the running backs, they set their minds to it. They said, 'We're going to change the narrative. We're going to run the ball.' We've been consistent with it, but we've just got to keep stacking. It's coming full circle, but we've just got to keep going." To do so, Penn State will need to build on its strong start to the 2022 campaign. Here's a posi- tion-by-position evaluation of the Lions' offense through the first four weeks. Quarterback In many ways, Clif- ford is picking up where he left off before suffering an unspecified injury in Penn State's Oct. 9 loss at Iowa last season. Before getting hurt, he had been the fifth-year senior provid- ing steady performances, efficient passing, just enough running to keep defenses off-balance, and the leadership that Penn State needed. Now, Clifford is a sixth- year senior doing the same. While he's no threat to upend the Heisman Trophy race, Clif- ford's numbers — a 64.1 percent completion rate, 222.5-yard passing av- erage, 8 touchdowns and just 1 intercep- tion — have been good enough to produce wins for Penn State. Reversing the trend of lackluster performances that contrib- uted to last season's downturn, Clifford is off to a solid start and wants to build upon it in the weeks ahead. Super senior quarterback Sean Clifford was tied for third in the Big Ten with 8 passing touchdowns through the first four weeks of the season. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE