Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/847744
P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> we're pressing to get more 10-yard com- pletions and fewer 60-yard comple- tions, I don't think we're aiming to do that, but ultimately it's about scoring points, creating explosive plays, elimi- nating turnovers. If it's [by using] a se- ries of 10-yard completions, fantastic. If it's one 60-yard pass down the field, that will work, too. Whatever it takes. BWI How did you evaluate the turnover numbers? MOORHEAD Obviously, you want zero. From a ball-security standpoint with the quarterback position, I thought our in- terception ratio was relatively low. Un- fortunately, they came in bunches and they came at inopportune times, i.e. USC and the one at Pitt. After the Pitt game, we made a concerted effort to make sure we were better with our ball security in the pocket and not fumbling the ball there. Our running backs, our receivers and tight ends – I think we did a good job protecting the ball there. We didn't turn it over a ton, but our timing and situational awareness – we certainly have to be better with that. BWI Trace led the conference in passing efficiency, touchdowns, yards and points responsible for. Can he improve on that? What do you see as his trajectory? MOORHEAD I think he can absolutely improve, and I think that's one of the things that's most impressive about his performance last year, that it was a first- year college starter in a brand new sys- tem, so I think that speaks to his preparation, his leadership and how hard he worked to understand the offense, the hows and whys and the ability to execute it at a high level against very good de- fenses. The thing with Trace and the other quarterbacks is that we wanted [them] to be self-aware and, I won't say critical, but not just looking at the film as if they were a detached spectator, but instead having a plan when they were going through game film and the cut- ups. What was the play? What was I supposed to do? What did I do and what can we do to make it better? So I think there's an increased focus on fundamen- tals and technique, increased focus on understanding the offense, and an in- creased focus on our execution in both the run game and the pass game. You'll hopefully see a continued upward tra- jectory in his performance. BWI He seems to have an ability to stay composed in the face of mayhem. Is that a learned trait, something you really try to instill in your quarterbacks? MOORHEAD I think some of it is learned and some of it is instinctive. The big thing that we talk about in the quarter- back room is, feel the rush, see the cov- erage. As he's going through his progressions, I want his eyes not on the rush. We want him to be able to maneu- ver within the pocket and still go through his reads. If there's an opportu- nity to escape and get out of the pocket, we still want him going through the routes. I think the knack that he has to extend plays with his feet or extend plays by design or improvisation is something that allows us to get to some of the deeper routes downfield where maybe he's not necessarily throwing them off with the footwork that he's LETTERMEN RETURNING 20 QB Trace McSorley OL Ryan Bates, Steven Gonzalez, Brendan Mahon, Connor McGovern, Andrew Nelson, Zach Simpson, Chasz Wright TE Mike Gesicki, Jonathan Holland, Tom Pancoast RB Mark Allen (2015), Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders WR Saeed Blacknall, Irvin Charles, DaeSean Hamilton, Juwan Johnson, Brandon Polk (2015), DeAndre Thompkins LETTERMEN LOST 5 OL Tom Devenney, Derek Dowrey, Brian Gaia, Paris Palmer WR Chris Godwin STARTERS RETURNING 9 >> Saquon Barkley (14 starts in 2016), Ryan Bates (14), Saeed Blacknall (7), Mike Gesicki (14), DaeSean Hamilton (13), Brendan Mahon (9), Connor McGovern (9), Trace McSorley (14), Andrew Nelson (6) OTHERS WITH STARTING EXPERIENCE 6 >> Mark Allen (1 career start), Steven Gonzalez (2), Juwan Johnson (1), Brandon Polk (3), DeAndre Thompkins (6), Chasz Wright (4) STARTERS LOST 2 >> Brian Gaia (14), Chris Godwin (14) O F F E N S E F A S T F A C T S POINTS/GAME 37.6 (3rd Big Ten; 21st FBS) YDS/GAME 432.6 (2nd; 49th) RUSHING YDS/GAME 171.9 (7th; 66th) PASSING YDS/GAME 260.7 (3rd; 36th) PASS EFFICIENCY 156.60 (1st; 14th) FIRST DOWNS/GAME 20.4 (8th; T-47th) 3RD-DOWN CONVERSION PCT. 32.6 (11th; 117th) 2016 STATISTICS