Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544665
M A Y 2 0 2 6 3 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State's offensive line was one of the more consistent and talented units on the practice field in recent seasons under former position coach Phil Trautwein. While the group did not live up to expectations last year, it improved from the beginning of Trautwein's tenure in both performance and talent, thanks in part to his recruiting. Now, former Iowa State assistant Ryan Clanton is in charge of the posi- tion group. We're still getting to know Clanton's philosophy, but there are early indications that it will differ from Trautwein's. While speaking to report- ers this spring, Clanton said his players have needed to unlearn some old habits. When asked to elaborate, he offered a brief explanation of offensive line tech- niques and the philosophy behind them. "We're trying to get across running off the ball and running through contact," he said. "There are specific O-line tech- niques that are different per scheme. It's not right or wrong." The shift can be described as speed versus power. The more traditional ap- proach to O-line play that Trautwein taught emphasized positioning to gener- ate force. His units were focused on gain- ing ground and driving defenders back. Clanton, however, wants his linemen to "run" off the ball, an approach that emphasizes quickness off the snap to gain leverage. Zone plays, in particular, aim to "steal a gap" from the defense, something that becomes easier when linemen attack space with speed rather than methodically pushing forward. "It's just way more of an NFL model, certain zone plays that we have," he said. Trautwein's approach leaned more toward power principles, even when he was working with OC Andy Kotelnicki, whose scheme often stretched defenses laterally with outside zone concepts. With a greater emphasis on speed and edge threats, run-pass options on the backside of run plays could become more effective, forcing defenses to react more aggressively. Neither Penn State nor Iowa State heavily relied on RPOs in recent years, but the contrast between the two teams is notable. Over the past two seasons, the Cyclones averaged 11.5 yards per com- pletion on outside zone RPO concepts with 2 touchdowns, while the Nittany Lions averaged 5.6 yards per completion with 1 interception. By comparison, it's easy to frame the previous approach as inferior, but that's not the case. Trautwein emphasized detail and fundamentals, helping play- ers refine hand placement, footwork and body positioning while identifying ten- dencies and inconsistencies. Clanton's approach, by contrast, cen- ters more on the big picture — under- standing why things are done. "We're trying to teach defense first — coverages, alignment," he said. "Once you have a greater understanding of why you're running certain plays, you play faster." Understanding defensive coverages is critical for offensive linemen because it helps them identify how defenses will al- locate manpower to stop the run. For ex- ample, offensive coordinators will typi- cally respond to two-deep safety looks by leaning on the run game. But which safety will fill in run defense? One has to attack the line of scrimmage based on the numbers needed to fill every gap. Since most defenses rely on a limited number of base coverages, recognizing those structures allows linemen to an- ticipate where extra defenders will come from. That same principle applies to blitzes. When a cornerback or linebacker rushes, another defender, typically a safety, must replace that responsibility in coverage. If players can identify those rotations pre-snap, they can react faster and play with more confidence. Memorization plays a role in football, but Clanton is pushing his players to move beyond it. By holding shorter, more efficient meetings and cross-training players at multiple positions, they come to fully understand the system rather than relying on repetition alone. Memorization still matters in weekly preparation, such as studying opponent tendencies, but Clanton wants his line- men to internalize their own offense. All of this mental development feeds into Clanton's ultimate goal for the PSU offensive line: He wants it to be violent. A common misconception in football is that intelligence and physicality are separate traits. "Finesse" offenses are often labeled as cerebral but soft, while power schemes are viewed as simple but aggressive. In reality, the best teams combine both. "You're a human shield, just standing in front of the quarterback or in front of the running back," Clanton said. "Or you can be the hammer, you know what I mean? ... That's what I believe line play should be. I love watching the O-lines in the NFL and in college that are racing off the ball." Knowledge builds confidence, and that trait enables consistent aggression and speed. Under Clanton's leadership, the Nittany Lions' offensive line will look to exhibit both. ■ PSU's Offensive Line Aims To Be Fast And Physical A Bakersfield, Calif., native and Oregon graduate, Ryan Clanton spent three seasons as offensive line coach at Iowa State before accompanying Matt Campbell to Penn State this year. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS Upon Further Review O P I N I O N THOMAS FRANK CARR T F R A N K .C A R R @ O N 3 .C O M