Penn State delivered an impressive combination of defensive pressure and a run-game revival.
In all, the Nittany Lions faced a wounded, unbalanced opponent and took advantage decisively.
They attacked the Auburn Tigers’ weaknesses and gained control of the game by the latter stages of the second quarter and never relinquished momentum, breezing to the 41-12 victory.
They handled the day after adjusting to some better-than-expected play from Auburn quarterback TJ Finley.
The 3-0 Lions will be big favorites in their upcoming home games against Central Michigan and Northwestern. They must use those dates to get more critical experience for their younger up-and-coming stars, which are beginning to lead this team in important ways.
Here are the grades after running away from the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium more emphatically than any other opponent in 40 years.
Offense: A-
The pass game numbers certainly won’t impress and that’s OK.
Sean Clifford managed the operation expertly and didn’t have to throw more than 19 times to be superbly effective. He still completed 14 of his throws and ran well, too, when needed.
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A bonus: He caught his first collegiate pass off a trick play, which really got the Lions rolling early on when the offense needed a spark.
The highlights, though, truly ran through rookie tailback Nick Singleton, once more. He ripped off two more long runs, including a 54-yard touchdown jolt early in the fourth quarter that put things away, once and for all. He piled up 124 yards on just 10 carries.
Fellow freshman Kaytron Allen looked good, too, and pounded the Tigers’ defense for 52 more efficient yards and two scores.
Kudos to tight end Brenton Strange for his six catches for a team-best 80 yards. He also laid down a devastating kick-out block on Singleton’s long TD run.
Defense: A-
A bit of a slow start keeps this from being a near-perfect domination.
They gave up the middle of the field early to Finley’s running but, honestly, were in good enough position on a few big pass plays in the first half. Credit Finley and his receivers.
No matter, coordinator Manny Diaz turned up the pressure and it paid off by the time the first half ended. Neither Finley or backup Robby Ashford had time to throw after that, often harrassed into poor decisions.
Once, Finley fumbled away the ball. Two other pressures ended in interceptions.
The Lions forced four turnovers on the day and registered 11 tackles for loss − a dominating combination. The star was rush-end Adisa Isaac with three tackles for loss and nearly a couple of others.
The best part was that the rewards were spread nicely around the unit, including rookie linebacker Abdul Carter, who is looking better each week. He made six tackles today with a stunning blitz and sack in the second half.
Special teams: B+
The Lions handled all facets of this work well.
Nothing dramatic, just solid overall results, which included a nice bounce-back day for placekicker Jake Pinegar. He connected on a 48-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and a chip shot in the fourth. Those kicks made up for his missed FG and extra point last week.
Everything else, from the return game to coverage units to punter Barney Amor, performed effectively and without issue.
Coaching: A
Really like the defensive adjustments in the first half and being able to bring pressure in waves.
How would Penn State’s front seven respond to their first signficant test at scrimmage? Isaac and tackle PJ Mustipher accounted well and held Auburn star runner Bigsby to only 39 yards on 9 carries and clamped down on the pass game before halftime.
They also worked the offensive game plan well by pushing Singleton and Allen in the run game to truly gain momentum and keep it. We figured the Lions would have to own this game with the pass game first, and that really wasn’t needed.
That offensive line looks to be gaining confidence and feel-good juice blocking for the rookies.
Overall: A-
A bit sloppy early on but when they truly pushed hard on the accelerator before halftime?
They figured out how they could put away this game most effectively and never strayed from the method and mode. Much of the best talent on this team is either its youngest or its newest (transfers Mitch Tinsley, Chop Robinson) and they appear to be growing in comfort and productivity by the week.
The thing is, there’s still much more to accomplish as guys like linebacker Singleton, Allen and defenders Abdul Carter and end Dani Dennis-Sutton get more experience.
Play of the game: Nick Singleton’s 54-yard touchdown run
This earns the nod for showcasing not only the rookie running back’s exceptional skills but the dominating blocking that truly made it happen.
Certainly, the Lions were beginning to run downhill before Singleton iced things with 12 minutes to play. This run still showed a lot.
Singleton burst up the middle where he received two impressive blocks, the first by tight end Brenton Strange, the second by guard Landon Tengwall.
That got Singleton all the space he needed. He cut it to the right sideline and outrun everyone else, yet again.
Penn State did not have that kind of run blocking or game-breaking vision and speed at any point last season. To put it in perspective: PSU went 40 years between tailbacks who delivered multiple 40-yard-plus runs in a game; Singleton had now done it back-to-back weeks.
Player of the game: Adisa Isaac
A difficult choice with several worthy candidates that include Singleton, Strange and even Clifford. Those guys all contributed big on offense in varying ways.
But we’ll give this to the defense and pass-rush end Isaac. Who deserves it more? His more than a year recovery from Achilles injury has been well documented but no less important.
After a few near-misses this season, Isaac’s pressure finally got home with three tackles in the backfield. He was close to even more.
The Lions will need his pass-rush and pressure skills as the season wears on and this may have been the emphatic effort to get it started.
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.
