Penn State Sleepwalks Over Akron: A Critical Analysis

In a weekend with top matchups and BCS busters, Penn State played a warm up game Saturday to prepare for the real regular season, with another blow out win against an over-matched MAC team in Akron.  A solid performance in the first half gave way to disinterest and uneven play on both sides of the ball as the team sleepwalked to an easy 31-7 win in Beaver Stadium.

Beyond the one trick play run by safety Andrew Dailey, the offense gained less than 100 yards rushing and averaged less than four yards per carry, low-lighted by Stephfon Green's seven carries for 10 yards, including several key runs for losses in the second half to kill drives. 

This is no knock on Green, as he had very little help from the O-line.  Throughout the game, the offensive line was unable to create push against Akron's 3-3-5 defense, especially in key 3rd-and-short situations.

Though many commentators have focused on the way Akron's defense sold out to stop the run, I am more worried about Penn State's offensive line play.  The three new starting offensive linemen gave up only one sack, but this was assisted by the fact that senior quarterback Daryll Clark boot-legged out on many of his passes. 

This too was troubling, as Clark, a player with three previous concussions, was running too many naked bootlegs with unblocked defenders bearing down on him, and was blown up on one run by an Akron linebacker, knocking his helmet off, and causing all Penn State nation to hold their breath. 

Run blocking seemed timid and slow, with the guards often being pushed back on block down plays, disrupting pulling linemen and running backs in the backfield.

The running game received no help from the two senior tight ends either.  Both Mickey Shuler and Andrew Quarless blocked as if they may break a fingernail, not sealing smaller Akron defenders on key outside runs. And it appears now that both are a little nicked up after the game, which unfortunately is not news to anyone who has been following their careers the last four years.

The wide receivers were a completely new group, and played like it.  They had their moments of absolute success, but also made a few key errors that would have cost the team against a better opponent.  They looked fantastic on the two long, downfield catches for touchdowns in the first half by Derek Moye and Graham Zug. 

But there were also moments of trepidation, such as Chaz Powell failing to come back for the ball and causing an interception, and a bobbled ball by Moye causing him to fail to pick up a first down.  Both of these key plays came in the red zone.    

The red zone was an area of aggravation that I am sure Joe Paterno will address with his team this week.  Penn State failed to convert trips in the red zone into points on two crucial possessions in the first half.  An area in which last years Big Ten Champions were so successful became a trouble spot for the Nittany Lions in the first half.  

The interception killed one drive, and a badly pulled field goal by new starting kicker Colin Wagner ended another.  The two badly missed field goals by Wagner are making us all wish for the days of cardiac Kevin Kelly (see Florida State, Orange Bowl). 

The defense played lights out in the first half, with DT Jared Odrick blowing up the interior of Akron's line.  Akron was unable to gain any first downs in the entire half, and only netted eight total yards on offense.  The entire D-line penetrated Akron's O-line at will in the first half, as Akron was never able to establish any ground game and consistently harrassed Akron's QB, including several sacks.

The linebackers were solid, but Junior Navarro Bowman left the game early in the second quarter after reaggravating a groin injury.  Sean Lee looked back in All-American form, with a few solid tackles, and looked quick on pass plays.

The secondary had its moments, but was never really challenged.  The unit was solid in the first half with a pick deep in Akron territory, but still showed its weakness to the deep pass, with new safety Nick Sukay being badly beaten on a deep throw.  That one pass brought back too many memories of the Rose Bowl, with wide outs running open deep, and safeties too slow to catch up with them. 

I hate to sound so pessimistic, but I've seen this play out over and over.  Big Ten Player of the Week Daryll Clark put up some great numbers, but so did Anthony Morelli against weaker opponents.  Penn State runs over and around several patsies to warm up, but then hits an absolute brick wall in the Big Ten, as it faces actual defensive lines that will challenge the offense. 

The Big Ten definitely has questions all over with Ohio State and Iowa struggling mightily, and Illinois being blown out by a rebuilding Missouri team. 

Joe Paterno is quoted for saying you're never as good as you think you are when you win and you're never as bad as you think you are when you lose.  It's always good to get a solid win, but there are many pieces that need to come together for another run at a championship.  Hopefully the O-Line gels, the wideouts mature, and the secondary keeps its mistakes to a minimum, but lets wait and see before we start crowning anyone.