Penn State and head coach James Franklin are nonetheless trying to break by into the School Soccer Playoff, and it was fairly clear what they wanted to repair coming into the 2024 season to lastly get there.
Their offense.
Particularly, they wanted to capitalize on quarterback Drew Allar’s pure capability and large arm and repair what was one of many least explosive passing video games in the complete nation in 2023.
They took an enormous step towards that by bringing in some of the revolutionary offensive minds in school soccer by hiring Andy Kotelnicki to be their new offensive coordinator.
If their 34-12 Week 1 win over West Virginia on Saturday is any indication, they undoubtedly appear to be heading in the right direction.
Penn State’s offense seemed prefer it was able to doing something it needed all day, whereas Allar himself seemed like a totally completely different passer. Whereas his 2023 stat line was spectacular when it comes to touchdowns (25) and defending the soccer (solely two interceptions), the Nittany Lions nearly by no means requested him or let him take possibilities downfield. They had been close to the underside of the nation when it comes to downfield passes, and the offensive limitations actually held them again towards elite competitors and stored them out of the playoff dialogue.
Allar solely accomplished 11 out of 17 passes on the day, however these 11 completions accounted for 216 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s over 12 yards per completion, a quantity that he topped simply 4 occasions in a recreation throughout the 2023 season.
Penn State has an elite protection and excellent talent place gamers everywhere in the offense. If it could possibly reap the benefits of Allar’s bodily instruments and open the downfield passing recreation it would give it an opportunity to beat the Ohio States and Michigans of the convention. That’s the solely hurdle the Nittany Lions should clear to get their playoff spot.
This might need solely been one recreation towards a run-of-the-mill crew with a median protection, however it was nonetheless an encouraging begin. Not simply when it comes to the outcomes, but in addition the method behind that consequence.
