Penn State Potential: Offense- The Really Good

It’s about that time again, Penn State football is just around the corner, even though we still have 5 weeks, 4 days, and 18 hours (and counting) until kickoff against Kent State, it’s never too early to talk about how the upcoming season might go. Most team’s seasons could go one of two ways, either good or bad. In the case of Penn State this season could be really good or really bad. We discuss both sides.

We start with the really good: 

I try and be optimistic when it comes to Penn State football but recent years have made it tough to do so. I’m going to focus on how Penn State’s season could end up being something fans can be ecstatic about. Let’s start with the offense.

• When you have a player like sophomore running back Saquon Barkley, you need to expose how much of a threat he can be. Barkley is a Le’Veon Bell type-of-back who can not only make plays running the ball but he can catch it out of the backfield. If Barkley can build off his fantastic freshman season then we could be in for a historical season. Get your Heisman ballots ready. There are other names behind Barkley that fans should keep an eye on: redshirt sophomore Mark Allen and true freshman Miles Sanders. Allen is a small, shifty, back who is a threat catching the ball as well. His quickness could also be a factor in the return game. Sanders is a highly-touted recruit who Penn State’s strength coach Dwight Galt says is ready for the college game. Sanders could also be a name you see returning punts/kicks.
• Ideal Situation: Barkley compiles around 1,800 total yards with 15 total touchdowns. Allen and Sanders compile 800 total yards between them.
• For the first time in a long time Penn State has a deep receiving core who can all contribute. You know the names DaeSean Hamilton and Chris Godwin, both All-Big Ten selections in the last two season, but who are the other guys? Saeed Blacknall has had flashes over the last two seasons but with the shaky offensive line and former quarterback Christian Hackenberg not having enough time, the 6’3” junior was never a ‘go-to’ target. Those three will be the top targets for whoever is taking the snaps. Keep an eye on the names, Brandon Polk, DeAndre Thompkins, Juwan Johnson, and Irvin Charles. Johnson and Charles both stand 6’4”, 220-pounds and pose as redzone threats.
• Ideal Situation: One of the first three names I mentioned go over the 1,000-yard mark, OR, the distribution is spread among the 5-6 receivers that could see significant playing time. Polk and Thompson see time at receiver but more time in the return game because of their speed.
• Mike Gesicki is a big target, 6’6”, 252-pounds, and some have said one of the more athletic players on the roster. He had issues with drops last season which he’ll have to eliminate if he wants to be one of the go-to targets for Penn State’s quarterback. Nick Bowers and Jonathan Holland are two other names in the tight end group to keep an eye on.
• Ideal Situation: Gesicki becomes the All-American tight end Penn State hasn’t had since Kyle Brady in the early 90’s. Compiles 800-yards along with 10 touchdowns. 
• Penn State’s offensive line over the last two seasons has been nothing short of pathetic. And I’m being nice when I say that. They’ve given up 83, yes, 83 sacks over since 2014. Including 10 in one game against Temple in 2015. A staggering number I still try and wrap my head around. The offensive line has been a result of guys going from defense to offense, high school football to Big Ten football, or junior college to starting left tackle. The unit must get better, and I mean dramatically better than last year. If they can make the jump from really bad to average, the offense can be a real threat.
• Ideal Situation: The offensive line gives up 20 sacks and opens up massive holes for the running backs. 
• The quarterback situation at Penn State is up in the air according to head coach James Franklin. To be quite honest, whoever is taking snaps for Penn State will have a pretty easy job if you will. The things I’ve previously listed about the offense, if all goes like I’ve spelled it out, will help whoever the quarterback is a significant amount. Trace McSorley came in to replace future second-round pick in the NFL Draft , Christian Hackenberg, in the team’s bowl game against Georgia. The junior threw for 142-yards and 2 touchdowns along with 31 yards on the ground. McSorley seems to be the right fit for new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead and the way things will be for Penn State’s new offense. As I mentioned, having the talent at running back and at wide receiver will only help the quarterbacks. Keep an eye on redshirt sophomore Tommy Stevens as well who will compete with McSorley for the starting job. Stevens is the bigger of the two (6’4”, 215 to Trace’s 6’0”, 190) but we have yet to see what he can do on the field. Time will tell.
• Ideal Situation: McSorley is the starter is the dual-threat quarterback that Penn State hasn’t had since Michael Robinson. He throws for 2,300 yards and 20 total touchdowns. Trace has more escapability than Hackenberg so if the offensive line sucks he’ll be able to avoid those unfortunate sacks.

Penn State enters their third year under James Franklin but this is really his first year. It’s his first year with a full roster and the first year he has the type of players he needs at most positions. Fans expect the results to show that and while I don’t believe his job will be in question, fans will get restless.

'Tis the Season?

When week one rolls around on that opening Saturday against Kent State, the James Franklin era will finally begin. What do I mean by that? I mean that this season is the season that Penn State fans should have been looking forward to since Franklin stepped foot on campus. Franklin is the type of coach who needs to have his team on the field. He needs to have every position filled with players that will buy into what he’s selling in those living rooms. He’s starting to get that and in an upcoming season that isn’t necessarily a make or break, but this might be the biggest season since 2005. Here’s why.

The Movement. Since 2006 the SEC has won 8 National Titles. But their influence stretches far beyond people’s hatred for the conference. In today’s college football world, you need to have an SEC-like program. You need to have the speed and athletes on the field. You need to have the facilities that when recruits step on campus their reaction is speechless. Most importantly, you need to have the fans buy in. The fan bases in college football are restless and ruthless and the slightest bit of discomfort will cause them to let out a soul-crushing post on the message boards. (I’ve seen that first hand from Penn State fans.) The two non-SEC teams who’ve captured titles, Florida State and Ohio State, had one thing in common, they were built like an SEC team. Let’s look at Ohio State; Urban Meyer, who coached two championship teams at Florida, had essentially the same team in Columbus as he did in Gainesville: an option attack, strong running game, speed on the outside, and a strong defense littered with NFL talent. It’s a ‘keeping up with the Jones’’ scenario where in order to compete with the best of the best you need to have the best of the best and. Example A: Alabama  

‘Tis the Season? This is the third season under James Franklin and it could be the most important one out of any season he coaches in Happy Valley. In the early 2000’s the Nittany Lions went through a stretch of two seasons in 2003 and 2004 where the product on the field was unbearable at times, much like it was the last two seasons. But in 2005 that all changed and Penn State was back on the map and made it up to 3^rd in the rankings. This season has the feeling of the one that could turn the program around. Franklin is starting to get his guys on the team and get them acclimated into what he is trying to do and this season you could start to see glimpses of the direction the team is going, and that’s back to the top.

Heisman Material. Every so often a team has a player come around that for the 3 to 4 years they’re on campus they have all eyes on them and are the focal point of the football program. If that player comes on strong as a freshman they will certainly catch the eyes of coaches, players, and fans across the country. Many believed that former Penn State and now New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg was that player. Before, during, and after his freshman season the hype meter rose to heights that few Penn State players have been at, but with coaching and offensive changes he failed to meet those expectations which many believed would end with Big Ten Championships and a potential Heisman Trophy. Enter Saquon Barkley. The sophomore burst onto the scene as a true freshman last season setting the Penn State freshman rushing record with 1,070 yards and 7 touchdowns. Although many people across the country know who Saquon Barkley is, he will have to compete with the likes of Heisman favorites Leonard Fournette of LSU and Christian McCaffrey of Stanford for the title of best running back in the country. With the uncertainty at quarterback heading into the 2016 season Barkley will be called upon to lead the offense and while last season was as much of a coming out party as you could ask for, this season can ultimately put him on the Heisman map for good.

Outlook. James Franklin is starting to get the pieces in place to compete with the likes of the Ohio States, Michigan States, and now the Michigan’s of the Big Ten. Saquon Barkley is the cornerstone of the football program now and will be called on to be the man going forward. Something all Penn State fans should be excited about.

Penn State Defensive Breakdown

PENN STATE POSITION BREAKDOWN: DEFENSE

When you think of Penn State football you typically think of defense. That’s because the Nittany Lion defense is usually at the top of the lists for total defense, last year was no exception; the unit was 14^th in total defense and also finished third in the country in sacks with 46, defensive end Carl Nassib had 15.5 of those sacks. Former defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is off to Tennessee and linebackers coach Brent Pry taking over the role, the defense will look the same but will have to replace some big time players.

There are some big holes to fill with the departure of four potential NFL draftees in the aforementioned Nassib, Austin Johnson, Anthony Zettel, and Jordan Lucas. Here’s a breakdown of those empty positions and who could step in and fill the gaps.

DEFENSIVE LINE:

The defensive line is normally the position where Penn State doesn’t need any help but this season might be a little different. Fans could tell you who the starting front four will be but heading into the spring that’s up in the air. Having to replace those names above is not going to be easy but the “next man up” mentality could be a season-long storyline. On the outside is are ‘veterans’ Evan Schwan and Garrett Sickels who have been behind guys like Carl Nassib and Deion Barnes in recent years so this is their unit now and their time to shine. In the middle, which fans will also tell you might be the strongest position over the last 10 seasons, will have new names for Penn Staters to grow accustom to. Antoine White and Curtis Conthran (who moved inside due to lack of depth) are the likely anchors for the front four with Parker Conthren looking to be key contributor.  Sickels and Schwan will be called upon to be leaders of the defense as seniors so hopefully that leadership can rub on.

• Evan Schwan: 6’6”, 252
• Garrett Sickels: 6’4”, 251
• Parker Conthren: 6’4”, 302
• Curtis Conthran: 6’5”, 262
• Antoine White: 6’2”, 283
• Torrance Brown: 6’3”, 257

LINEBACKERS:

This might be one of the more athletic group of linebackers that Penn State has had in a while. Headlined by Brandon Bell and Jason Cabinda who came on strong after the loss of Nyeem Wartman-White (who should be ready by week one), the linebackers are going to be a valuable part of this defense. With the uncertainty of how the defensive line will play, the linebackers will have to play a step up to take pressure off both the line and secondary. The loss of Troy Reeder to a transfer hurts the depth of the position so names like Manny Bowen, Jake Cooper, and Von Walker are going to have to play a key role in 2016. Brandon Bell was the emotional leader for this defense last season and he’ll have to be that leader again once the Nittany Lions take the field September 3^rd against Kent State.

• Brandon Bell: 6’1”, 231
• Nyeem Wartman-White: 6’1”, 252
• Jason Cabinda: 6’1” 237
• Jake Cooper: 6’1”, 224
• Von Walker: 5’11”, 214
• Manny Bowan: 6’1”, 214

SECONDARY:

It’s been a while since Penn State has had this much talent in the secondary. You might be able to go as far as to say that the second string, whoever that might be, could be as good as the starters. It’s still a relatively young group but it’s a group that has plenty of talent and showed some flashes of that talent last season. It all begins with another guy who has become an emotional leader for the Nittany Lions, Marcus Allen. Allen is a big kid at 6’2”, 208 pounds who sets the tone. He’ll need to stay under control but if he can harness that energy you could be looking at an All-American type of safety. The loss of both Jordan Lucas and Trevor Williams is tough but they’re not losses Penn State can’t replace. Sophomore John Reid showed why he is going to be a starter and a really good one last year as a true freshman with 3 passes broken up and 2 interceptions. On the other side was Grant Haley who was another kid who showed flashes of greatness with 7 passes broken up and 2 interceptions. I mentioned that this might be the most talented secondary that Penn State has had in a while and they’ll need to provide a spark for this defense. One name to keep an eye on as the season rolls around is Nick Scott who made the switch from running back to cornerback.

• Marcus Allen: 6’2”, 208
• Troy Apke: 6’1”, 205
• Malik Golden: 6’0”, 205
• Koa Farmer: 6’1”, 223
• Nick Scott: 5’11”, 195
• Christian Campbell: 6’1”, 191
• Grant Haley: 5’9”, 184
• John Reid: 5’10”, 188