Problems Bog Down PSU Offense
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Slow starts. Bad finishes in the red zone. Outmuscled in the trenches.
Whatever the reason, Penn State's offense is a mess.
Coach Joe Paterno's squad is last in the Big Ten in scoring at 19.2 points and red zone efficiency (12 of 18, including just six touchdowns, and second to last in rushing (138 yards per game) and total offense (355 per game). And now, the Nittany Lions (3-2, 0-1) are out of the AP Top 25, too, for the first time since 2007 after last week's disheartening 24-3 loss to Iowa.
Prodding along a choppy unit led by freshman quarterback Rob Bolden and touched by inexperience (three first-time starters on the offensive line), JoePa must also cope with a mounting injury list. The latest is tight end Garry Gilliam, out for the year with a left knee injury - and he was a freshman, too.
This might be one of JoePa's more challenging coaching jobs in recent seasons, just as he gets within three wins of his milestone 400th career victory.
"Yeah, it's a challenge," Paterno said Tuesday at Beaver Stadium. "But hey, nobody said it was going to be easy all the time."
Certainly not for the Nittany Lions offense, which is in "one step forward, two steps back" mode after a third straight loss to the Hawkeyes, Penn State's new conference arch-nemesis.
That's two losses against two ranked opponents on the road this season for Penn State - granted, those two teams were Alabama and Iowa. Just like that Week 2 defeat at Alabama, the offense was able to move the ball at times before getting bogged down in or near the red zone.
Against Iowa's stout defense - the fourth best in the country - one drive at the end of the first half stalled at the 2 following a delay of game penalty during which there appeared to be playcalling confusion on the sideline. Penn State was forced to kick a field goal.
The Nittany Lions were turned back on third and fourth downs on the Iowa 1 in the first drive of the second half, with Bolden stopped on a keeper just short of the goal line.
Paterno points to a number of reasons, but seems to have honed in on particular factor.
"I think down (at) the goal line and in the red zone, we know what the problem is - the problem is we can't just take it and knock some people back and get it in there yet, particularly against a couple teams," Paterno said.
That's not good enough for the portion of Penn State's die-hard fan base which expects a national title contender every year. This seasons's blue-and-white crew doesn't come close to that standard, outclassed in two tough road games.
But Penn State's next four contetsts - home to Illinois, at Minnesota, and home to Michigan and Northwestern - will go a long way toward determining whether the team will finish toward the upper end of the Big Ten.
The slate starts with Saturday's homecoming game against Illini, who could teach the Nittany Lions a few tricks about red-zone play. Illinois has converted all 12 of its drives inside the 20, including seven touchdowns.
"It's something we work extremely hard on," Illini coach Ron Zook said on the league coaches teleconference. "When you get down there against teams in the Big Ten conference, you better come away with some points ... and we've been fortunate to do that."
The Illini defense will also come into Happy Valley bolstered from holding Ohio State's high-powered offense in a 24-13 loss last week to season lows in points and total yards (290), so Penn State's red zone offense could face another difficult hurdle.
"You understand when you play a good football team, and play for 60 minutes and cut out mistakes, you have an opportunity to win the game," Zook said. "That's why we're so excited about going to Penn State and having this opportunity."
NOTES: Two key reserves, DE Sean Stanley and CB Derrick Thomas did not make the trip to Iowa, and Paterno had cited academics as a reason. Receiver Justin Brown said Tuesday the pair had been around the team. When pressed further Tuesday, Paterno declined to discuss their status, citing university rules. ... Freshman Kevin Haplea is expected to start at tight end for the injured Gilliam.
