STATE COLLEGE −The Nittany Lions have found ways to make a 5-0 record look quite questionable, especially on one side of the football.
Is this really an undefeated offense?
It certainly doesn’t feel like Penn State has been able to grow its possibilities the past two weeks when it has the football. While the rookie running backs still hold plenty of promise, the pass game has been an inconsistent mess against Central Michigan and Northwestern.
Holding onto the football suddenly has become a prime issue, as well.
And so there’s a lot of question as to whether this offense can truly carry its weight after Saturday’s dreary 17-7 victory over the previously inept Wildcats.
Five turnovers. Completing only half of their passes. Just one field goal through the entire second half.
Defense can only take you so far.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like that,” James Franklin said about those four fumbles and one Sean Clifford interception that easily could have been more.
“Not really our formula for how we win but … there’s a ton of value in being to win games in less than ideal situations. We’ve done what we needed to do up until this point to be 5-0. We’ve won a lot of different ways. There’s value in that.
“I’d love for them all to be pretty wins, to be sexy wins. But that’s not the game we’re playing.”
Here are your grades for Penn State’s second Big Ten victory of the year …
Offense: C-
True freshmen running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen continue to bring excitement to the present and the future. An impressive combination of home-run speed and inside patience and power.
Brenton Strange continues to improve and impress, as well. So why not get him and fellow tight end Theo Johnson the ball more, especially when things are tight and tough? Both were targeted only once on Saturday. Two catches for 28 yards and a score. Much more to gain there.
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But the bigger picture: Five turnovers and another wobbly pass-game performance won’t get the job done against Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State.
Clifford was 10-of-20 throwing, threw one interception and nearly a couple more.
Defense: A-
The competition was limited, for sure, but there’s not much more to ask on a day like this.
The defense delivered one three-and-out series after another in the first half, which is what you need against Northwestern. Good run game control throughout.
The Lions still don’t possess an pass rush-wrecker on the edge like Arnold Ebiketie and Yetur Gross-Matos, but they come in waves, overall, and seem to be getting better.
Kudos to senior defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, who continues to push back toward All-America status since his knee injury last October.
But, where, we must ask is linebacker Curtis Jacobs? No tackles doesn’t get it done as expected playmaking leader. He needs to be making an impact. This position group will be key in two weeks and, for now, looks lacking to counter Michigan’s impressive run game.
Special teams: B+
An impressive, even if rather quiet performance, overall.
Punter Barney Amor continues to be a revelation. Between landing punts inside the 10 yard line and preventing returns, hard to imagine anyone in the country doing his job better.
Kicker Jake Pinegar accounted well for himself after early struggles this season. He was good on his only field goal attempt in the rain from 38 yards. Strong on kickoffs, too.
Coaching: C
While coordinator Manny Diaz continues to impress with his attacking unit, there’s still a lot left to wonder about the offense.
A perfect play call in design and execution on the fake pitch and toss to Strange for the first touchdown. Otherwise? All three running backs lost fumbles and the pass game looks more limited than it should.
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This offense, for all of its talent and possibilities, simply doesn’t look like it owns a strong identity yet.
Can this be fixed in two weeks?
Overall: C
The offense and lack of progress brings down the standout efforts on defense and special teams.
You should be able to score more points, and do so easily enough, against overmatched opponents. This trend seems worrisome with the significant uptick in defensive resistance coming soon.
Of course, there’s two weeks to rest and prepare. And the focus and energy level should be improved, considering the challenge at hand.
But, for now, the game in Ann Arbor feels more like one Penn State will need to fight to hang in − not one it can hope to control.
Play of the game: PJ Mustipher, fourth-down stop
The comatose Wildcats were not just resuscitated. They were on the verge of a closing touchdown that just possibly could have set the stage for stunning upset.
Fourth down on the 1 yard line.
A touchdown would have brought Northwestern within a field goal with most of the fourth quarter to play.
But Penn State’s goal-line defense, led by Mustipher, stopped QB Ryan Hilinski on a sneak. Mustipher’s effort eating up blocks was huge all day, but no more than on this decisive stop.
Penn State promptly pushed the ball out of danger before punting. It was never in danger again.
Player of the game: PJ Mustipher
A strong leader staging an impressive comeback from a season-ending injury last October.
How big was his loss then?
While he says his recovery is still not complete, he appears to be more of a force each week. Against Northwestern he provided a season-best eight stops to lead the team. That includes the penultimate tackle at the goal line early in the fourth quarter.
Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on Twitter @YDRPennState.
