Penn State Football: 5 Reasons Bill O'Brien's Offense Will Be Awesome

Penn State's offense has seen better days, and no one expects that to change in Bill O'Brien's first year. The quarterback play is still weak, the offensive line is replacing four starters and O'Brien doesn't have talented tight ends at his disposal.

Even so, the Nittany Lion offense will be better than anticipated.

Penn State doesn't have any Heisman contenders to their credit, but they have several underlying factors working in their favor.

Let's look at five reasons O'Brien's offense will be surprisingly successful this season.

Versatile Weapons

Bill Belton, Devon Smith and incoming freshman Eugene Lewis all provide versatility to the Nittany Lion offense.

Belton will be Silas Redd's backup in the backfield, but he can also line up at wide receiver. Smith is used at wide receiver primarily, but his speed makes him a threat to line up anywhere. Lewis, though unproven, played quarterback in high school despite being recruited as a wide receiver (via Centre Daily Times).

O'Brien could also work in some Wildcat plays if he'd like. Belton took snaps as a Wildcat quarterback last season, and Lewis' high school experience would offer itself to the same scenario.

Versatility doesn't hurt in today's game. Spread offenses always have a need for players who can play multiple positions.

O'Brien's innovative offensive mind will make great use of Penn State's dangerous weapons.

These players may not have defined roles, but their goal is clear: make plays, score touchdowns and keep the defense off-balance.

Use of Safety Valve

I'm sure by now you're aware of O'Brien's affinity for tight ends. He utilized two outstanding tight ends with the New England Patriots, and he will do the same at Penn State.

Garry Gilliam, Kyle Carter, Kevin Haplea and Jesse James are nowhere near Rob Gronkowski, or Aaron Hernandez, but they can make an impact as a unit.

Providing Matt McGloin with a viable "safety valve" will increase his comfort, and it will provide some easy yardage. McGloin will benefit from two-tight end sets because of the added blocking, and Silas Redd will benefit from the additional running room.

Penn State's tight ends have been underutilized for years. That will all change under O'Brien, and it will provide matchup advantages before too long.

Elite Speed

Devon Smith, Shawney Kersey, Alex Kenney and Bill Belton are all speed merchants. They may not bring the entire package to the table, but speed always kills.

The Nittany Lions have a wide variety of fast players and a few others who are just a notch below. Justin Brown isn't as fast as his counterparts, but the No. 1 receiver is athletic and explosive (making him fast in a different way).

O'Brien will enjoy lining his burners up all over the field and having fun with them. The options are endless, and his creative mind will use them efficiently.

Speed is one of football's great neutralizers. Expect it to help Penn State on more than one occasion this season.

Element of Surprise

Let's be honest here. No one expects Penn State's offense to be worth paying attention to outside of a devoted contingency of Nittany Lion faithful.

That will actually work in the players' favor.

The element of surprise will give Penn State's offense a chance to sneak up on opponents. They will enter the game with zero expectations from the opposition, and that will allow them to just play their game.

Everyone prepares wholeheartedly for USC's offense, but teams don't do that for Penn State's attack (at least not this year).

O'Brien will have this team focused and ready to take advantage of any oversight by opposing defenses.

Bonafide No. 1 Running Back

Silas Redd ran for 1,200-plus yards and seven touchdowns last season. Penn State fans can expect those numbers to improve this season.

O'Brien's scheme is often viewed as a wide-open aerial assault, but that isn't necessarily the case. He utilized his run game at Georgia Tech and Duke, and he didn't have a talent like Redd in either place.

Redd will be leaned upon heavily, at least until Penn State's passing attack finds its way.

A one-dimensional offense can be a bad thing but not in this case. Penn State's defense makes a ball-control offense an ideal situation, and Redd's extraordinary talent allows that offense to stay exciting.

The Nittany Lion attack will be dangerous as long as Redd is lined up in the backfield.