Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1514597
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 41 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M O P I N I O N THOMAS FRANK CARR T F R A N K .CA R R @ O N 3 .C O M P enn State head coach James Franklin bristled at the question when it was asked earlier this year. Was sophomore quarterback Drew Al- lar playing with confidence? That's what a reporter wanted to know after watching Allar vacillate throughout the season, looking skittish in the pocket one week, throwing for 300 yards the next. "I think he's been confident each week," Franklin responded. "I think his numbers back that up. His num- bers are really good. Have there been times when he hasn't been in rhythm? Yes. Have there been times when he's missed some throws that he would like to have back? Yes. Have there been times when we didn't protect him as well as we should have? Yes. Some- times we didn't create enough separa- tion in the passing game." Whether you call it rhythm or confi- dence, Allar didn't have it in the Peach Bowl. Critics will point out that he went 0-3 in big games this season and looked bad doing it. Among some Penn State watchers, the high hopes that greeted his arrival as a five-star pros- pect have been eroded. Allar played relatively well early in the year, keeping the team in favorable down-and-distance situations despite bad completion-percentage numbers and a low yardage output. But the re- verse happened in PSU's three losses, the most recent being the 38-25 set- back against Ole Miss. One of the first plays from scrim- mage against the Rebels offered a glimpse of things to come. Allar was careful to avoid high-risk throws throughout the regular season, but sometimes the design of the play leads you to a pass that requires some moxie. On this play, redshirt sophomore tight end Khalil Dinkins lined up as the "wide receiver" in the boundary. Ole Miss dropped into a standard cover three, meaning that Dinkins was run- ning down the seam of the defense between two defenders on a vertical route. The middle safety trailed slightly into the middle of the field, opening up a window for Dinkins to catch the ball between defenders. Allar didn't like the look and went to his second read, junior tight end Tyler Warren. Despite falling down, Warren got the first down. Was it a bad decision by Allar? No. It would have required timing, preci- sion and anticipation to hit Dinkins between two defenders. But the point goes back to something Allar said him- self a few weeks earlier. "Obviously, 'college open' and 'high school open' are different," he said. "You have to throw guys open and throw footballs into tight spaces. I learned that through trial and error in practice and games this year." That play was technically open and describes a disconnect in Allar's game as he enters 2024. It was his first read, and the offense got a favorable cover- age. It wasn't perfect, but the window opened for a pass with timing and an- ticipation — the kind you want a five- star passer to make. You don't practice that play and call it early in the game, only for the quarterback not to throw it. Making things easier on Allar now falls to Penn State's new offensive co- ordinator, Andy Kotelnicki. Based on what he said during his introductory press conference, the former Kansas assistant coach sees great potential in his new quarterback. "He's in, wants to sit in on meet- ings, wants to be involved with game planning, wants to know the why of things," Kotelnicki said. "He's the kind of guy who's a coach on the field, and you could give him plenty of responsi- bilities, too, to make sure you're in the right place." Kotelnicki offers fresh hope for Penn State's offense. He will simplify the Lions' approach and give Allar the con- fidence to rip the ball into larger win- dows. He's certainly the man to get the best from the rising junior, because he's elevated other quarterbacks without Al- lar's mental and physical abilities. And Allar does things that pull you back in just as you're about to lose faith. For example, he had two impres- sive throws late in the Peach Bowl. Allar tossed a dart to Dinkins over the middle between zone coverage that would have been a first down if the ball hadn't been dropped. Later, he hit redshirt sopho- more receiver Liam Clifford on a similar route for a third-down conversion with a free rusher bearing down in the pocket. When speaking with reporters after the game, Allar was visibly emotional about the loss. His voice broke when he talked about his teammates. He clearly cares, wants to be good, and feels the pressure of being the face of Penn State. The question has never been about his work ethic or desire to be great. The question this spring is all about execu- tion. When he has Dinkins streaking down the field, poised for a big play, will he have the confidence and belief in himself to take his shot? ■ Allar threw for 295 yards in the Peach Bowl, but several of his best passes came after PSU fell far behind in the second half. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Offensive Changes Will Create Opportunities For Drew Allar Upon Further Review