Penn State’s run game woes are being so incredibly overblown (with respect to the offensive line) and misunderstood.
This situation is NOTHING like the situations in 2014 and 2015, when the offensive line was simply not capable of blocking anyone.
Of the eight first half run plays (yes, eight TOTAL in the first half) there were a TOTAL of two run plays that failed due to PSU offensive linemen being badly beaten.
Of the 10 run plays in the second half, aside from the whiff by Wright that prevented a big gainer on the draw by McSorley, there were no other run plays destroyed by significant failures up front.
Couple Notes:
1) Penn State definitely had the correct “gameplan” on offense, coming out throwing on nearly every down against the MSU “run first” defensive schemes.
Penn State’s first 4 possessions (before the rain delay): 4 possessions, 217 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 Punt
25 of 29 snaps were pass plays. (of course, those passes were - mostly - RPOs, where the PASS option was selected. So maybe its more "accurate" to say the right DECISIONS were being made, rather than the correct game-plan - but the broader point is the same)
2) The scheming and play-calling were OUTSTANDING - - - and the run game, aside from the threat of the run game opening up easy throwing lanes, was a non factor (by design) and was perfectly suited to combat MSU's defensive schemes
3) If there is a reason - above all others - that Penn State scored 24 points (and not more than 24 points) it was due to numerous plays available in the pass game not being made - due to drops, miss-throws, or other reasons). No need to go through all of those - but the overthrown/not caught wide-open slant on 4th and 3 alone would have changed the outcome of the game. The underthrown/not caught post to Blacknall (that turned into an interception) was also critical.
4) If there is a reason - above all others - that Michigan State scored 27 points (and not less than 27 points) it was due to Lewerke having an outstanding game, and his outside receivers playing the collective game of their lives - making one play after another in the pass game)
With that, Penn State’s run game vs MSU, in its entirety:
1st Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO Barkley
-1 Yard Fries and Gonzalez were both knocked into the backfield
One of two "the offensive line was owned" plays of the first half.
2nd Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO Barkley
+1 Yard Reasonably well blocked, but Barkley instead cut outside and was tripped up by the edge defender
3rd Possession:
2-1 Inside RPO Barkley
+1 Picks up first down
4th Possession:
None
After rain delay
5th Possession
1-10 Inside RPO Barkley
0 Yards Bad read by McSorley – Slot defender blitzed the run, leaving slot receiver wide open for an easy 10 yard slant
6th Possession:
2-10 (deep in PSU territory) Inside RPO Barkley
-4 Yards Gonzalez and Mahon both completely whiffed on blocks
The second of the two "the offensive line was owned" plays of the first half.
7th Possession:
1-10 (Last play of half) Inside RPO Barkley
+3 Yards
Other first half run plays:
QB draw with McSorley for +2.
Poorly run by McSorley, big lane created to the outside
QB keep by McSorley on an Inside RPO for +2.
MSU was just in the right defense with a run blitz.
Of the eight first half run plays (yes, eight TOTAL in the first half) there were a TOTAL of two run plays that failed due to PSU offensive linemen being badly beaten.Barkley had no more than one carry on any possession, which was a very reasonable game plan given the success of the pass game early on.
2nd Half:
1st Possession:
1-10 Outside toss to Barkley
+3 Yards, nearly turned the corner
2-7 (very next play) Outside toss to Barkley
+36 Yards
2nd Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+7, very well blocked
3-1 Fake the Outside toss to Barkley, McSorley keeps on counter
+13 Yards, Weak side was wide open with defense flying to Barkley on the other side
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+1 Yard. Bad read by McSorley, end crashed down, outside was wide open
1-10 (red zone) Inside RPO to Barkley
+3 Reasonably well blocked
3rd Possession:
None (70 Yard TD pass on first play)
4th Possession:
2-2 Inside RPO to Barkley
+4 Yards, Very well blocked
5th Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+ 4 Yards Well blocked
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+5 Yards Well blocked
Other 2nd Half run plays:
1-10 QB Draw for McSorley
-1 Yard. Play was wide open for a big gainer except that Wright whiffed his assignment
Of the 10 run plays in the second half, aside from the whiff by Wright that prevented a big gainer on the draw by McSorley, there were no other run plays destroyed by significant failures up front.
The offensive line certainly hasn’t been perfect (or even outstanding), and this doesn’t include pass protection reviews, but focusing only on the run game.
There is probably one glaring issue that could be intelligently criticized.
Here it is:
PSU ran THREE run plays where Barkley was an Outside option (twice when they pitched to him, once when McSorley faked the pitch and ran a counter). One those three plays, PSU picked up 3 yards, 36 yards, and 13 yards.
But those were the only three times Barkley was a threat as a runner to the outside.
On the plays when Barkley was the inside option:
1st Half: Penn State ran ZERO plays where Barkley was an outside option - - - 7 attempts, 2 yards
2nd Half: After showing 3 plays early in the 2nd half with Barkley as an outside option - - - 6 attempts for 24 yards
So, even with the inside runs, once Penn State showed MSU that they MIGHT run him outside, the running space opened up considerably on the interior.
The huge disparity in success on runs where Barkley is an Inside Option vs an Outside Option has been there ever since the Iowa game. Why there remains such an overwhelming majority of run plays where Barkley is the inside option, and McSorley is the edge option, is kind of hard to figure – but one can’t imagine the offensive staff doesn’t have these breakdowns at hand, and there must be something more
This situation is NOTHING like the situations in 2014 and 2015, when the offensive line was simply not capable of blocking anyone.
Of the eight first half run plays (yes, eight TOTAL in the first half) there were a TOTAL of two run plays that failed due to PSU offensive linemen being badly beaten.
Of the 10 run plays in the second half, aside from the whiff by Wright that prevented a big gainer on the draw by McSorley, there were no other run plays destroyed by significant failures up front.
Couple Notes:
1) Penn State definitely had the correct “gameplan” on offense, coming out throwing on nearly every down against the MSU “run first” defensive schemes.
Penn State’s first 4 possessions (before the rain delay): 4 possessions, 217 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 Punt
25 of 29 snaps were pass plays. (of course, those passes were - mostly - RPOs, where the PASS option was selected. So maybe its more "accurate" to say the right DECISIONS were being made, rather than the correct game-plan - but the broader point is the same)
2) The scheming and play-calling were OUTSTANDING - - - and the run game, aside from the threat of the run game opening up easy throwing lanes, was a non factor (by design) and was perfectly suited to combat MSU's defensive schemes
3) If there is a reason - above all others - that Penn State scored 24 points (and not more than 24 points) it was due to numerous plays available in the pass game not being made - due to drops, miss-throws, or other reasons). No need to go through all of those - but the overthrown/not caught wide-open slant on 4th and 3 alone would have changed the outcome of the game. The underthrown/not caught post to Blacknall (that turned into an interception) was also critical.
4) If there is a reason - above all others - that Michigan State scored 27 points (and not less than 27 points) it was due to Lewerke having an outstanding game, and his outside receivers playing the collective game of their lives - making one play after another in the pass game)
With that, Penn State’s run game vs MSU, in its entirety:
1st Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO Barkley
-1 Yard Fries and Gonzalez were both knocked into the backfield
One of two "the offensive line was owned" plays of the first half.
2nd Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO Barkley
+1 Yard Reasonably well blocked, but Barkley instead cut outside and was tripped up by the edge defender
3rd Possession:
2-1 Inside RPO Barkley
+1 Picks up first down
4th Possession:
None
After rain delay
5th Possession
1-10 Inside RPO Barkley
0 Yards Bad read by McSorley – Slot defender blitzed the run, leaving slot receiver wide open for an easy 10 yard slant
6th Possession:
2-10 (deep in PSU territory) Inside RPO Barkley
-4 Yards Gonzalez and Mahon both completely whiffed on blocks
The second of the two "the offensive line was owned" plays of the first half.
7th Possession:
1-10 (Last play of half) Inside RPO Barkley
+3 Yards
Other first half run plays:
QB draw with McSorley for +2.
Poorly run by McSorley, big lane created to the outside
QB keep by McSorley on an Inside RPO for +2.
MSU was just in the right defense with a run blitz.
Of the eight first half run plays (yes, eight TOTAL in the first half) there were a TOTAL of two run plays that failed due to PSU offensive linemen being badly beaten.Barkley had no more than one carry on any possession, which was a very reasonable game plan given the success of the pass game early on.
2nd Half:
1st Possession:
1-10 Outside toss to Barkley
+3 Yards, nearly turned the corner
2-7 (very next play) Outside toss to Barkley
+36 Yards
2nd Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+7, very well blocked
3-1 Fake the Outside toss to Barkley, McSorley keeps on counter
+13 Yards, Weak side was wide open with defense flying to Barkley on the other side
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+1 Yard. Bad read by McSorley, end crashed down, outside was wide open
1-10 (red zone) Inside RPO to Barkley
+3 Reasonably well blocked
3rd Possession:
None (70 Yard TD pass on first play)
4th Possession:
2-2 Inside RPO to Barkley
+4 Yards, Very well blocked
5th Possession:
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+ 4 Yards Well blocked
1-10 Inside RPO to Barkley
+5 Yards Well blocked
Other 2nd Half run plays:
1-10 QB Draw for McSorley
-1 Yard. Play was wide open for a big gainer except that Wright whiffed his assignment
Of the 10 run plays in the second half, aside from the whiff by Wright that prevented a big gainer on the draw by McSorley, there were no other run plays destroyed by significant failures up front.
The offensive line certainly hasn’t been perfect (or even outstanding), and this doesn’t include pass protection reviews, but focusing only on the run game.
There is probably one glaring issue that could be intelligently criticized.
Here it is:
PSU ran THREE run plays where Barkley was an Outside option (twice when they pitched to him, once when McSorley faked the pitch and ran a counter). One those three plays, PSU picked up 3 yards, 36 yards, and 13 yards.
But those were the only three times Barkley was a threat as a runner to the outside.
On the plays when Barkley was the inside option:
1st Half: Penn State ran ZERO plays where Barkley was an outside option - - - 7 attempts, 2 yards
2nd Half: After showing 3 plays early in the 2nd half with Barkley as an outside option - - - 6 attempts for 24 yards
So, even with the inside runs, once Penn State showed MSU that they MIGHT run him outside, the running space opened up considerably on the interior.
The huge disparity in success on runs where Barkley is an Inside Option vs an Outside Option has been there ever since the Iowa game. Why there remains such an overwhelming majority of run plays where Barkley is the inside option, and McSorley is the edge option, is kind of hard to figure – but one can’t imagine the offensive staff doesn’t have these breakdowns at hand, and there must be something more
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