Penn State took a real hit last year vs Temple but looks better this year. (Photo by: Michael Corsey @ Michael Corsey Photography)

By Tim Blasco

Last year I sat at the beginning of the season in the press box of Lincoln Financial Field watching hopeful Owls fans act a little to excited for what I thought was a melee about to take place. My dad always used to joke “If most of these D1 schools knew of a more disadvantaged team, they’d play them.” I thought my editor had sent me to cover a slam dunk of a game. Yep, it didn’t get much easier than watching Penn State win their first game of the season. Or so I thought. What a difference a year makes, and for that matter one day in that year.

Thursday, less than one year later — on the same field but now in a green uniform — Jets Rookie QB Christian Hackenberg had another bad performance. Saturday, Sam Bradford won’t be wearing green in Philadelphia anymore, that news started the day off. The Temple Owls —Nationally ranked at 61—lost to Army West Point ranked nationally at 95. There were a few other things that happened but nothing as major. Football is fun when it changes because it gives me something to write, and the reader something to read. Speaking of change Penn State has made a few.

Offense
I discussed with Garry Cobb over the summer the new QB for the Nittany Lions Offense. Garry was right and I will probably end up admitting that more than a few times in my life. Sophomore and rookie QB Trace McSorley got the start over Freshman Tommy Stevens. What baffles me about that decision was that the new Offensive Coordinator Joe Moorhead’s spread offense presents the read and the QB takes a lot of hits in those situations. Stevens (6’4 219 lbs) looked like the better choice over McSorley (6’0” 196 lbs). Besides how much talent was needed to hand the ball to RB Saquon Barkley for half the plays. Well there’s a lot to be said about making assumptions, especially in a changing environment like college football. McSorley passed for 209 yds but took some hits yesterday. I think he had to clean Kent State DE Terrance Waugh’s jersey number off his blind side after a sack/fumble that resulted in a TD for the Golden Flash. The Lions otherwise, for now have a good QB in there. He could be less erratic but he played a good game.

The Offensive Line could be better but shows marked improvement. Despite the aforementioned sack/fumble recovered for a touchdown, there wasn’t 11 sacks and a disoriented sometimes lost unit on the field. As a former O-Lineman myself I like to let the run game speak for their performance. RB Barkley ran 22 carries for 105 yds and 1TD. He also saw one called back after a penalty. All said the Offensive Line has improved they have proven to put Penn State’s running game in the top 20 ranks. The line held together enough to offer WR Chris Godwin 67 yds receiving. Penn State has one of the top 10 receiving corps in the nation, it has yet to be fully utilized.

Defense
If you were looking for a who’s who of Penn State Defensive Line players this was the game. The future looks bright for more of the same too. D-Line Coach Sean Spencer like to carousel players a lot! Kevin Givens .5 sacks and 3 tackles, Parker Cothren, Antoine White 5 tackles, Robert Windsor an Tyrell Chavis all rotated in at Defensive Tackle. Garret Sickels, Ryan Buchholz 1 sack (Malvern,PA), Evan Schwan 4 tackles, Torrence Brown, Shareef Miller 1.5 sacks and 5 tackles (Philadelphia, PA), all rotated in at Defensive End. That’s a lot of people in 4 positions, crazy right? Wrong! It works to the tune of 7 sacks in one game, the most since Penn State played Northwestern in 2011. The Defensive Line looked ferocious, it was a blood bath.

LB Brandon Bell looked phenomenal, I guess that easy with a competent D-Line. He made it look easy anyway. He had 8 tackles, 1 Int (3rd Int in his career). Sophomore CB Amani Oruwariye notched the first interception and first touchdown of his career early in the third quarter. Junior S Marcus Allen forced the third fumble of his career and recovered the second of his career in the second quarter.

We all knew that the defense was good. Today they proved it, next week will really be a test for them.

Special Teams
True freshman P Blake Gillikin was a first-time starter, punting six times with an average of 47.0 yards per punt, including a long of 58 yards. This kid looks amazing. The walk-on punter is pretty awesome.

K Joey “Big Toe” Julius made a hit yesterday that is real click bait.

Junior PK Tyler Davis was 2-for-2 today on field goals, and is now 10-for-10 In his career, going 8-for-8 last season.

The Special Teams needed to show marked improvement for a better average ability.

Penn State showed some ability yesterday, but what will a markedly improved team show up against Pitt next week. I think so. Although Pitt has an amazing O-Line. They have 16 starters back and the most experienced team in the ACC. Penn State looks good but needs some shining up to be more than bowl eligible this year.