By Kyle Golik
#5 New Coordinators Show Very Little
It was apparent early Penn State head coach James Franklin wanted to give very little to nothing on tape for West Virginia for Week 1 but each side of the ball showed some wrinkles.
Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s spread attack stacked wide receivers on a single side and the various route trees gave the defense at times confusion that opened up backs and tight ends, something Penn State will need this year.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen coordinated the shutout for Team White with Team Blue only able to gain 69 yards of total offense. Schematically, there seemed to not be much difference between the Manny Diaz defense that led the nation in sacks in 2023.
#4 Opposing Tackles Will Have Tough Time Dealing With The EDGE
This offseason it was announced Abdul Carter was moving from linebacker to defensive end and playing a role much akin to an EDGE rusher style similar to what Micah Parsons plays in the NFL.
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Allen didn’t dial up the blitz since the quarterback wasn’t live, but the few times he did it was either Carter, or fellow junior Dani Dennis-Sutton that made it to the quarterback. The duo combined for a sack, quarterback hurry, and two tackles for loss.
While neither was called upon much by Allen, it gave meaningful reps to senior Amin Vanover, who made a case for being defensive player of the game. He had two tackles (2 solo, 1 TFL), a sack, and an interception.
Vanover’s strong showing provides depth on the EDGE and gives Allen a rotation to pressure the quarterback.
#3 Harris Makes Impact At Corner
If Vanover wasn’t the defensive player of the game, the only other logical candidate was Georgia transfer cornerback A.J. Harris who suited up for Team Blue.
Franklin primarily stacked Team White with the starters though notably had wide receiver Julian Fleming and Harris on Team Blue.
Harris filled the stat sheet with seven tackles (6 solo), two tackles for loss, and highlight pass breakup at the end of the first half, denying wide receiver Malik McClain a touchdown.
#2 With No Singleton/Allen It Was Time To Evaluate Cam Wallace and Quinton Martin
If you went to Beaver Stadium yesterday expecting to see the dynamic juniors Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen they did not play.
During postgame, Franklin addressed why neither suited up starting with Singleton; it was a coaching decision to sit him, Franklin analogized the decision similar to sitting Olu Fashanu last year.
In regards to Allen, Franklin said Allen was banged up and needed the time to recover.
While Allen was on the mend, Franklin said true freshman Quinton Martin finally was healthy and it was the first time he truly got to evaluate Martin as a whole.
Martin, who was arguably the offensive player of the game with two rushing touchdowns, suited up for both Team White and Blue.
Franklin cited Martin’s vision and explosiveness postgame as strengths but Martin needs to stay healthy and be available to continue to get meaningful reps and evaluations.
Franklin talked about how redshirt freshman Cam Wallace was under evaluation and he looks to continue to get meaningful reps. Wallace led the ground effort with 36 yards rushing on seven carries.
Overall, Martin and Wallace combined for 70 yards on 13 touches (5.4 yards per carry) and two touchdowns, many of those holes were opened by former five-star tackle J’ven Williams and Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci, who Franklin commented benefited from Drew Shelton’s injury because they got nearly 1,000 more reps and really developed during that time.
#1 Wide Receivers Still A Glaring Issue
If you look at Drew Allar’s day yesterday, 15 for 32 passing 202 yards and a touchdown, it looks underwhelming but context is needed.
As mentioned previously, Franklin put Penn State’s WR1 Julian Fleming on Team Blue. I wasn’t able to ask the question, but I surmise that Franklin did that to help build chemistry between Allar and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kaden Saunders, who seemingly was WR2.
What was asked was the status of senior wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who was not present at yesterday’s game.
News broke last week that Lambert-Smith would consider entering the transfer portal when it opens on Monday.
Franklin post-game would not comment on Lambert-Smith’s situation and stated he would only comment about those who are here.
Since Fleming was on Team Blue and only had a single reception on three passing targets, it’s hard to gauge how good he is. I felt Franklin wanted to see what he had with Saunders, McClain, and Harrison Wallace.
What Franklin saw and gave us postgame was coach speak about how he loves the group and how they are progressing and that they need to take another step.
What I saw from the Beaver Stadium pressbox is what I also saw in their three previous defeats to Ohio State, Michigan, and Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl – none of the wide receivers can get separation and it forced Allar to press to make perfect throws.
The other glaring issue is the Team White wide receivers had three drops, none more backbreaking than by Wallace who dropped a sure touchdown on a nice fade thrown by Allar at the end of the first half where they had to settle for a field goal.
Wallace overall had a good game, leading all receivers with five receptions for 72 yards, but the critical drop is the microcosm of the ineffective receiver play that plagued Penn State in big moments last year.
It also seemed Franklin wanted to see Allar develop chemistry with Saunders and redshirt freshman tight end Andrew Rappleyea – who combined to catch only five of the 14 targets.
Rappleyea ended the scoring affair with a highlight 30-yard touchdown reception with 28 seconds to go in the fourth quarter.
I was hoping to see five-star freshman tight end Luke Reynolds in with the first-team, Reynolds had a quiet day on Team Blue with a single reception (three yards) on two targets.
Overall, Kotelnicki, Franklin, and Allar have their hands full with the wide receivers and they will determine if Penn State can make their first College Football Playoff this season or settle for New Year’s Day bowl game.
