Penn State Sports Magazine
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N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 3 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M M eeting with reporters ahead of Penn State's bye weekend, defen- sive coordinator Manny Diaz was asked what his unit was gaining from its relatively light workload for top-line players. The Nittany Lions were leading the FBS in yards allowed, passing yards al- lowed and pass-efficiency defense. They were ranked second in points al- lowed, with no opponent exceeding the 15 points that West Virginia managed to score on opening night. In short, the Li- ons had exhibited few weaknesses in the early going. And yet, given the opportunity to dis- cuss those strengths, Diaz immediately turned his attention outward. "Our offense has had a big role in that, with the way that they possess the foot- ball," Diaz said. "Ideally, that just keeps us fresher for the second half of the season. We've got some guys who have played 75 percent fewer snaps than they played this time last year. There's a real added benefit to that." The Nittany Lion offense has indeed been a significant part of the equation this season, but its performance has been harder to assess, both externally and internally. Concerns about Penn State's big-play capabilities, or lack thereof, have dominated the conversation about the team. Boasting a gifted quarterback in soph- omore Drew Allar, two elite tailbacks in sophomores Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, a pair of game-breaking tight ends in juniors Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren, and at least one outstand- ing, established receiver in junior KeAn- dre Lambert-Smith, the Nittany Lions have taken an unanticipated route to of- fensive success this season. Ranked 44th in the FBS in total offense at 430.4 yards per game heading into its nonconference finale against Massachu- setts, with the passing offense sitting at No. 67 and team passing efficiency at No. 49, coordinator Mike Yurcich's out- fit has taken statistical steps back in all three categories from the year prior. Ac- knowledging the need for improvement, particularly in the category of explosive plays, he spent the Nittany Lions' bye week balancing competing storylines. On one hand, Penn State's offense hasn't been what many expected it to be this season. On the other hand, it has still achieved much of what PSU has wanted it to do. "We have to continue to improve. And the areas that we need to improve on are more explosive plays. We know that," Yurcich said. "At the same time, we're doing some good things. And I think our offense has to understand that we're do- ing a lot of difficult things well. "We're putting long drives together. We're keeping the defense off the field, which helps them play better. We're playing team offense, but we do need to improve in certain areas." One of the most notable develop- ments for the Nittany Lions has come in their control of games so far. In a game of statistical anomalies, Penn State held the ball for 45:27 in its 31-0 win over Iowa on Sept. 23. Averaged out over five games, the ball-control dominance of the offense had given PSU the best time of possession in the nation at 36:07 per game. Even without an abundance of high- light reel plays, the offense was inflict- ing its will on its opponents. That was evident in the Lions' 90-17 scoring advantage in the second halves of its four games against Power Five opponents. So, even though the longest run by either Singleton or Allen through five games covered just 19 yards, the Nittany Lions had improved in rushing offense, ranking No. 26 nationally at 194.8 yards per game. A year ago, PSU finished 44th at 181.1 yards per game. Most important of all, the Lions were up to No. 11 in scoring offense at 40.6 points per game. That was the best aver- age in the Big Ten and an improvement of nearly five points per game over the 2022 season. Keeping perspective through it all, Yurcich has presented the Nittany Lions with a picture of what has worked thus far and what will be necessary in order to continue the team's success. "We have to keep very important things important," he said. "Not to say that our area where we're short is not important. It is, and we're going to ad- dress those things. But we're playing winning football right now, and if we can just continue to make strides and get better and accelerate, I think with time that will happen, especially with some inexperience at wide receiver and the quarterback position. "We will continue to get better as long as our confidence continues to grow. Our offense does need to understand that they've done certain things very well. We have to face the facts of what we need to get better at, and honestly self-evaluate and attack those areas. That's how you get better." Bracing for the most challenging por- tion of its season, Penn State isn't going to tamper with the formula. What the Lions need instead are tweaks to achieve their full potential. The path to future success looks similar to what has trans- pired to this point. ■ Coordinator Mike Yurcich's offense has been holding onto the ball for just over 36 minutes per game, the best rate in the FBS through the first six weeks of the season. PHOTO BY GREG PICKEL O P I N I O N NAT E BAU E R N A T E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M HOT READ Complementary Football Keeps PSU Pointed In Right Direction