Where do the Nittany Lions stand?

Penn State’s earliest bye week since 2002 (remember they had Week 2 bye after a win over Central Florida?) probably doesn’t come at the best time. The Nittany Lions, particularly their defense, would rather iron out elements of last week’s 34-27 win over Bowling Green this weekend than stay quiet. But that’s the way it is.

While the Nittany Lions ponder their 2-0 start, we do the same. We have questions about Penn State football. And maybe some answers.

1. Which period better represents Penn State so far? The first half against Bowling Green, which led 24-20 at halftime, or the middle quarter against West Virginia, where Penn State beat the Mountaineers 27-6?

Daniel Mader: The middle quarters of the West Virginia game – that’s where the newfound offense has looked the best so far. Bowling Green was more of a challenge than it should have been, but I think the identity Penn State is slowly finding as a team is centered around the offensive explosiveness we’ve heard so much about. Top college football teams tend to underestimate opponents they’re heavily favored against (e.g. Notre Dame). I think Penn State had to have one of those games at some point, and it just came sooner than expected against the Falcons. What’s more important is that they won anyway.

Sam Woloson: I think the middle quarters against West Virginia represent Penn State better so far. We’ve seen how complete this team can be, with solid defense and spectacular offensive moves. I think Penn State just didn’t pull themselves together in the Bowling Green game and didn’t bring the same energy or focus to their opponent. In the big games against USC and Ohio State, I expect the Nittany Lions to be all in.

Mark Wogenrich: I’m willing to call Penn State’s first-half defensive performance against Bowling Green an outlier until it repeats itself, which is why I think the middle quarters against West Virginia represent what this team really wants to be: offensive, opportunistic and relentless. That series to close the first half against West Virginia included the deep throw that Penn State might not have made in last year’s Big Ten schedule. Penn State also had the edge defensively, forcing two punts early in the third quarter and sending West Virginia into its inconsistent passing game.

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2. Do you trust Andy Kotelnicki’s offense more or are you more worried about Tom Allen’s defense?

Daniel Mader: More confidence in Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. Tom Allen took over a defensive unit under Manny Diaz in 2023 that was one of the best in the country, so it was probably unrealistic to expect him to carry that into 2024. I think the Nittany Lions will be good defensively, and the second half against Bowling Green was an indication of that. The way players rave about the creativity and clarity of Kotelnicki’s offense is a fantastic sign. His offense has elements that weren’t there last season, and Drew Allar seems to have turned things around again. Kotelnick’s offense is what’s driving Penn State to the top so far.

Sam Woloson: I have more confidence in Kotelnicki’s offense. Yes, it’s only been two games, but the signs are there. Allar is taking more long shots, we’re seeing more creative personnel groups and movements, and the offense is holding up really well overall. We’ll see how this offense develops as the season goes on, but it certainly feels like it has more potential than in previous years.

Mark Wogenrich: Penn State’s first-half defensive performance against Bowling Green didn’t help Allen, but some of the problems were positive. The defense seemed to spend more energy on individual plays than working together. Allen can fix that. High school players probably heard the term “gap sound” all the time this week. For me, the offense mostly instilled new confidence. Kotelnicki needs to develop more playmakers and convert more third downs, but his explosive play is so refreshing after last season.

3. What was the biggest surprise in Penn State’s 2-0 start?

Daniel Mader: The fact that they are 2-0 with 68 total points but have completed just 10 passes to wide receivers. Tyler Warren was always a top target, and the Nick Singleton/Kaytron Allen duo had set the bar high for Penn State’s running game. But the excitement surrounding Liam Clifford, Harrison Wallace III and Julian Fleming made it seem like the Nittany Lions had their WR issues under control, and so far that’s not quite the case. Wallace’s strong performance in Week 1 (5 rec, 117 yards, 2 TDs) isn’t being ignored here, but that’s practically the only statistical impact a receiver has had. The ground attack and Warren should be the priorities, but the Nittany Lions will need more WR production as Big Ten play approaches.

Sam Woloson: The biggest surprise for me was the wide receivers. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen for the offseason, but I really thought the wide receivers would play a bigger role in this passing offense. Harrison Wallace III had a great game against West Virginia and Omari Evans made a couple of great catches, but that’s about it. Julian Fleming and Liam Clifford weren’t as impactful as I thought they would be and the passing game has been more about the tight ends and running backs.

Mark Wogenrich: The lack of a consistent pass rush. West Virginia and Bowling Green have certainly mitigated Penn State’s attacks with double coverage (particularly the Mountaineers on Abdul Carter) and quick free throw strategies (particularly Bowling Green’s Connor Bazelak, who got rid of the ball in about 2.5 seconds). But the Nittany Lions generate no pressure with their four-man rush, and neither Carter nor Dani Dennis-Sutton has a sack. Penn State has two sacks, tied for last in the Big Ten, while Indiana (Penn State DC Tom Allen’s former team) has 10. Sacks don’t define a defense, but Penn State led the nation with 49 last season. They’re important.

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4. Which player has had the best start to 2024?

Daniel Mader: Drew Allar. In a small sample compared to last season, he looked more efficient (64.9% completion rate vs. 59.9% in 2023), more willing to throw the ball far (11.4 yards/completion vs. 6.8 in 2023), and more likely to utilize his strength as a runner (3.9 yards/run vs. 2.8 in 2023). This looks more like the Allar Penn State fans always hoped for. Tyler Warren, Tony Rojas, and Nick Singleton also deserve credit here, but this is a quarterback’s game, and Allar seems to have improved significantly under Kotelnicki.

Sam Woloson: I’ve been impressed with linebacker Tony Rojas this season. He showed off his skills as a true freshman last season and now feels like one of the most impactful players on the defense. He made 10 total tackles and had a key interception that helped Penn State win against Bowling Green.

Mark Wogenrich: Call it a reintroduction of running back Nicholas Singleton, who seems to have it all together. As a freshman, he was fast but inexperienced, and as a sophomore, he seemed hesitant (and abused). In two games this year, Singleton has made patient but decisive cuts, outrun defensive backs, and proven himself a threat in the passing game. Singleton is developing into the running back he has long wanted to be.

5. What does Penn State need to fix first?

Daniel Mader: Penalties. We heard it after Week 1 from James Franklin and the players – Penn State had to clean up after eight total penalties against West Virginia. That was supposed to change in Week 2, but then the Nittany Lions went out and committed seven more total, which only gave the Falcons more chances to pull off an upset win. The self-inflicted mistakes will hold this team back a lot more if they keep going like this. Opponents have had the ball about three minutes longer than Penn State in two weeks, even though the Nittany Lions outscored them 68-39. Penalties played a role in that, and they should be addressed in the early off period.

Sam Woloson: It’s hard to pick one thing with such a small sample size, but I would say tackling is an issue after the Bowling Green game, which James Franklin addressed in his media availability on Thursday. Putting players in the right positions is only half the battle; Penn State needs to make tackles in the open field, especially as the level of competition increases during Big Ten play and yards become more and more valuable.

Mark Wogenrich: The penalty situation is pretty irritating, especially for a coach and program that demands such discipline. But the third down was pretty uninspiring for the offense. Penn State ranks 94th nationally in third-down conversions (7 of 20) and went 2 of 9 against Bowling Green. As a result, Franklin lamented after the game that the Nittany Lions don’t make enough plays; basically, they score pretty quickly or go 3-and-out.