Most pundits are describing Penn State's shutout win over Minnesota as "near perfect." Well, they're probably correct in their assessment of the Nittany Lions' performance in snow-covered Happy Valley Saturday. Penn State has shown incredible progress the last three weeks, since the bad loss to Iowa under the lights. This week's game ball would have to go to the defense. But you could say the night-and-day improvement along the offensive line has been the difference for this team.
In today's game review, we'll break down Penn State's unit by unit performance. I apologize for the delay in getting this posted. I mean geez, even TNL got theirs done before me! Calm down, I'm just kidding. On with the show.
Offense
• Offensive Line: Penn State held the ball for 41:59, the highest time of possession since 1991. There were several penalties by the line, but this was one of the two best performances by this unit this season (at Illinois). One could argue that the Minnesota win was the best overall day for the line this season, particularly looking at the sustained drives and time of possession.
A grinding, pounding effort wasn't the only one given by the offense. The line was a big part of Penn State's season-high eight plays of at least 20 yards. The pass protection gave Daryll Clark time to make big plays, and the run blocking opened holes all day for Evan Royster and the backs. Like many pundits out there, I have been hesitant to say the offensive line has totally turned the corner, but after their most recent outing, I might be ready to make that leap.
Stats: 4.1 yards per rush; NO sacks allowed
• Receivers: If Daryll Clark is named First Team All-Big Ten again this season, he should send his receiving corps a fruit basket. Against Minnesota, Penn State's receivers had their best game of the year, making fantastic catches all day. Derek Moye (6/120, TD) turned in his second 100-yard day of the year (vs Akron). But this time, it was against a conference foe with a winning record. Penn State hasn't had a big-time receiver like Moye since probably Bryant Johnson in 2002. But Moye is only a sophomore, while Johnson didn't emerge until his senior season.
It wasn't only Moye's effort this week that made Clark look like a world-beater. Chaz Powell (2/24) and Graham Zug (5/52) each made some really athletic catches, including some on third down and near the goal line. The tight ends also got into the action, with Andrew Quarless (3/35) and Mickey Shuler (2/27) churning out some big plays of their own.
Stats: 18 receptions, 258 yards, TD
• Running Backs: Welcome back, Evan Royster! Joe Paterno said following the game that Royster (23/137) ran a bit harder against Minnesota, with a little extra spring in his step. Paterno attributed Royster's lowered level of play this year to his suffering from the flu for a few weeks. It now looks that he is healthy and ready to pace Penn State's ground attack the rest of the season.
Stephfon Green (4/0) didn't get much going for the day, and is apparently injured, according to Paterno's post-game press conference. We'll see if that becomes a bigger issue this week going into Michigan. But I have been very pleased with Brandon Beachum (4/20) so far this year. He runs in similar fashion to Tony Hunt, more power than finesse. Brent Carter was out this week with an injury, so Beachum got the nod as the No. 3 back.
Stats: (RB/QB only) 41 attempts, 169 yards, TD
• Quarterbacks: Daryll Clark started a bit slow, but had a very nice day overall. Again, much of that had to do with the outstanding performance by Penn State's receivers and offensive line. Clark (21-32/287, TD) had the luxury of throwing the ball up a few times with a prayer. But there were plenty of really sharp tosses, even a few that weren't caught. One of the most impressive plays by Clark was on third down and 12 midway through the third quarter, when he rolled to his right to find Chaz Powell on a crossing pattern for the first down. He made something out of very little for a big conversion.
Clark and the offense did not commit a turnover for the first time this season, which is a huge stat going into two consecutive Big Ten road games, then Ohio State at home. Clark is looking better, more confident than earlier this season, allowing him to concentrate on just being the leader of this offense.
Stats: 21-32, 287 yards, TD
Defense
• Defensive Line: When the line wasn't making plays on its own, it was doing what it could to allow other defenders the chance. Jared Odrick (4 tkl, 1.5 TFL, Sack) is pushing hard for All-Big Ten again this season, and has had two outstanding games in a row. Plus, had it not been for Adam Weber's nifty footwork, Odrick might have had two more sacks for the day. His partner in crime, Ollie Ogbu (3 tkl, TFL) chipped in another solid outing.
I said the line allowed other units to make big plays. That directly refers to the goal-line stand by the Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter. From the one on fourth down, Minnesota ran a toss to the wide side. While Navorro Bowman and AJ Wallace made the tackle, it was Jerome Hayes (Tkl) that made the difference. He jammed up two of the lead blockers on the play, preventing them from engaging Bowman or Wallace. Hayes didn't make the play, but he allowed his teammates the opportunity. They took it.
Stats: 2.1 yards per rush allowed; 12 tackles, 3.0 TFL (-15), 1.0 sacks (-11)
• Linebackers: Sean Lee took the field early on, but I'm not sure the crowd noticed him, because there wasn't an extra cheer to be found. That was remedied a few plays later when Lee (2 tkl) leveled a Gopher on third down. Although he was flagged for some bogus high hit penalty, Lee made it known that he was back. He was being gradually eased back into playing, but we should see more of him this week at Michigan.
Of course, this shouldn't at all take away from the top-notch performances by Josh Hull and Navorro Bowman. It would be Hull's first-quarter interception that seemed to set the tone for the rest of the game, that Penn State's defense came to play. Hull (6 tkl, INT) finished the day as the second-leading tackler. The team leader was Bowman (8 tkl, 2 TFL), who seemed hell bent on crushing the Minnesota offense all by his lonesome. With Bowman at 100 percent, and Lee poised to follow suit, this unit can reclaim its position as the No. 1 linebacking corps in college football.
Stats: 19 tackles, 2.0 TFL (-4), INT
• Defensive Backfield: Tom Bradley said it was the defensive plan to pressure Adam Weber so much, he wouldn't have time to get the ball to Eric Decker. It worked to near perfection, but the Penn State secondary mopped up any left overs. This unit is coming along each week, and despite some skeptics still lurking out there, have not had a bad day yet this season. We all figured Minnesota would be a great test, but the Lions' defensive backs surely aced it.
AJ Wallace (2 tkl) was assigned to cover Decker exclusively. Due to Wallace's size at 6'1", he was the only corner Penn State had who had a shot to match Decker on jump balls. He ended the day limiting Decker to a single catch, albeit for 42 yards. But that one catch was the result of Penn State's safeties not making a play. I was very impressed by Wallace this week, and hope he can continue his high level of play. Expect Penn State to run much more nickel coverage against Michigan's multiple-receiver sets.
Stats: 10 Tkl, PBU
Special Teams
• Kicking/Punting: Colin Wagner (2-3, lng 47; 2 TB) had a very good day, missing only on a 49-yarder that even the best kickers would have trouble with. But more impressively, he was able to contribute to holding down Minnesota's fantastic return game, by booting two touchbacks on kickoffs.
Jeremy Boone (34 YPP) had an off day, but he's allowed one every so often. Still, none of his punts were shanked, so it wasn't necessarily a "bad" day.
• Returns/Coverage: This might have been the difference-maker for the game. We found out on Friday that Paterno called an unusual Friday practice to just work on kicking and coverage. That's how much respect Minnesota's return game garners from opposing coaches.
The Nittany Lions' extra work did the job, as Minnesota was held without a single long return, with the biggest being a 19-yarder. Penn State did not allow the Gophers to return a single punt, either. Basically, Penn State completely neutralized a major weapon in Minnesota's arsenal.
Overall
Penn State announced a crowd of 107,981. Yeah, right. If there were 90,000 in the stand, I'd be impressed. I'm only addressing the crowd thing not because of the lack of butts in the seats, but because of which butts weren't in said seats. The students section never reached 3/4 full, and that's despicable. The south end zone was the other lightly-populated section of the stadium, but you have to consider that most of those folks were coming from hours away with nowhere to park their cars. Where were the students coming from? Minutes away. I get it; the new ticketing system makes it harder to sell your tickets, especially if you're coming from a branch campus. But it was an embarrassing statement to send on national television that the supposedly "best student section in the nation" can't even show up to watch their nationally-ranked defending Big Ten champs take on a conference foe entering with a winning record. Ok, my rant on that is done.
The team overall played great this week, and looks like its growing stronger every week it plays. One also can't ignore that Iowa is now 7-0 and ranked in the top-10 of every major poll. Penn State has the talent and the schedule to finish the season very strong, possibly positioning itself for another BCS run. But first is a trip to Michigan, followed by Northwestern and then home for Ohio State. The coaching staff has worked wonders since the Iowa loss. The team has created its own identity the past three weeks, due in no small part to its senior leaders and maturing depth. The Nittany Lions are on the right track, but can they stay there?
• Official Stats, via GoPSUSports.com:
Full Box Score
Post Game Quotes
Post Game Notes
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