Jahan Dotson opting out of the bowl online game created opportunity for younger extensive receivers to be ready step up. whereas KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Parker Washington have each performed a lot of soccer the ultimate two seasons, they're nevertheless younger gamers who will need to step up in the absence of Dotson subsequent season.
Saturday afternoon each receivers did just that. KLS had a coming out celebration with the aid of hauling in three passes for seventy four yards and a touchdown. He also got here close to making a unbelievable sideline capture within the end zone for a would be second touchdown.
As for Washington, in his first online game as WR1 he led the team in receptions (7) and receiving yards (98). This covered a miraculous one-passed grab by way of Washington that saw him do his superior Dotson impression.
child Malick Meiga and Tre Wallace additionally saw a profession high in snaps within the game. If a type of two can take a step between now and the beginning of next season, which Meiga already appears to be doing, then Penn State's broad receiver room will be in high-quality arms, primarily once you component in Western Kentucky switch Mitchell Tinsley.
In his first game as Penn State's appropriate man at defense Ji'Ayir Brown capped off his breakout season with an extra high-quality video game. Following his performance in the Outback Bowl the former Lackawanna Falcon looks ready to be probably the most most excellent safeties within the massive Ten in 2022.
After leading the Nittany Lions in interceptions within the typical season Brown recorded two extra within the bowl online game. both of his interceptions got here at crucial instances, too. His first got here in the conclusion zone thwarting an Arkansas scoring danger and the second came with the Razorbacks driving and in container aim latitude appropriate earlier than the half. with out Brown's interceptions, the Razorbacks possible would've have scored at the least 10 extra points.
Brown was all over the field, together with dissimilar open box tackles that averted first downs/bigger features by the Razorbacks. while Penn State can have a great deal to substitute on protection next fall, Brown is a fine building block to have.
Penn State's linebackers struggling on Saturday probably should not come as a surprise. in spite of everything, it changed into a unit that fighting inconsistency all over the season and changed into without both Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith.
This led to Jesse Luketa sliding from protective conclusion lower back to MIKE linebacker. In his doubtless swan tune with the Nittany Lions the Canadian native had doubtless the most efficient game of his profession at linebacker.
Curtis Jacobs appeared like a person on a mission within the Outback Bowl and capped off a season that noticed him birth to flash his five-famous person talent with a strong showing. outdoor of Jacobs and Luketa, the linebacker play left lots to be favored.
Jonathan Sutherland, to his credit, all the time offers everything he has, however at his most efficient Sutherland is an ordinary player on the big Ten stage. Charlie Katshir struggled with being in place and Tyler Elsdon gave the impression of a participant that remains a further yr or two away.
subsequent season the Nittany Lions will add Kobe King and Jamari Buddin who redshirted this season to the mix. The team of workers will also hit the portal complicated for at least one linebacker this season.
Penn State knew they might be with out PJ Mustipher, Hakeem Beamon and Adisa Isaac on Saturday. ingredient in decide outs from Derrick Tangelo and Arnold Ebiketie, in addition to Luketa having to slip to linebacker and the Nittany Lions have been devoid of their excellent six protective linemen from the preseason.
certainly this led to the defensive position depth being verified. To the credit of John Scott Jr.'s community they stepped up, and, common, played pretty smartly. Smith Vilbert struggled studying/defending alternative plays neatly, however made up for it with two sacks. Nick Tarburton had his ideal video game of the season with diverse tackles for a loss, Zuriah Fisher flashed from time to time, and the Coziah Izzard/D'Von Ellies aggregate persisted to seem to be stout within the middle.
for many of the game Arkansas tried to line up and run it appropriate on the Nittany Lions. backyard of a three force stretch within the third quarter, the Nittany Lion defense held up relatively neatly towards the run all things considered. That all started up front. The line of defense may still be in decent form in 2022, mainly with Isaac and Beamon rejoining the fold, as neatly as the injection of borderline five-superstar facet rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton.
remaining offseason James Franklin made a huge splash when he introduced within the extremely viewed Mike Yurcich to exchange Kirk Ciarrocca as offensvie coordinator. whereas the operating game struggled all season, previous to Sean Clifford's injury the passing assault was humming alongside. in the second half of the season, however, nothing gave the impression to work on offense for Yurcich and the Nittany Lions.
After inserting up simply 10 points in the Outback Bowl, it is time for the offense to press reset.
Sean Clifford took steps ahead in 2021. besides the fact that children, harm or otherwise, he began to regress into unhealthy habits in the second half of the season. next fall the Nittany Lions need to get the Clifford they had within the first 6 video games for all 12. If Clifford doesn't do this, then Franklin needs to be willing to tug the plug and provides Christian Veilluex or Drew Allar an opportunity.
whereas Taylor Stubblefield's huge receiver room seems to be in superb shape, Ty Howle and tight ends deserve to take a glance in the replicate. it is a extremely proficient room that vastly underachieved in 2021.
The greatest factor the offense should try this offseason is work out the running online game. Penn State didn't have a single running again go over 100 yards in a online game this season. against Arkansas, they averaged just 4.5 yards per raise whereas dashing for one hundred twenty five yards.
for many of the season Noah Cain nevertheless did not appear fit. If he can get fully match this offseason while Keyvone Lee takes an additional step ahead, once you element in five-superstar Nick Singleton who's the suitable rated high school running back in the nation then lack of skill/ability should still no longer be an argument at working lower back subsequent season.
For the whole offense, youngsters, it will beginning up front. Penn State's offensive line needs completely overhauled after the catastrophe that turned into the 2021 season. That should still beginning with Phil Trautwein being fired. If Trautwein is retained, this will be a vital offseason for him as his job will practically assuredly be on the road getting into 2022.
There is a few smoke that Rasheed Walker will return subsequent season. whereas he struggled in 2021, Penn State wants the entire our bodies they can get at offensvie address. it could also be an important raise for the Nittany Lions in the event that they could add an offensive tackle during the transfer portal, enabling them to slide Caedan Wallace inner to look after where he is a great deal better applicable. It could also allow them to play the particularly touted Landon Tengwall internal in its place of out at address.
in spite of the way it's finished, the offensive line should be fastened this offseason because it is the largest query mark on an offense that has a soul browsing type of offseason ahead.
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