PSU QB McSorley liking quick passes

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — To take the next step in his evolution, Trace McSorley first had to go backward.

Penn State’s quarterback went back in the offseason and reviewed enough film and saw enough open receivers who never had a shot to catch one of his passes. There, sitting in front of a computer screen, was the first time McSorley had looked their way.

“Where I was at this point last year, and even toward the end of the year, it felt like I was kind of predetermining things,” McSorley said. “Now I feel like I’m doing a better job of going through my progressions and finding that open guy, getting to that third guy in the progression if the first two aren’t there.”

McSorley might’ve earned a national reputation for airing out deep balls down the stretch last season, but he’s finding that managing a game by taking what defenses give works just as well.

It’s also a much more dependable strategy for offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead.

“That’s what this offense was designed to do,” tight end Mike Gesicki said. “You may not see the 70-yard touchdowns that we’ve had in the past, but that’s because defenses aren’t allowing us to do that.”

After finishing fifth among FBS quarterbacks with 65 completions of 20 or more yards last year, McSorley is on pace for 52 so far. While he’s not throwing deep as much, McSorley is using just about every other inch of the field in front of the first-down marker.

That quick passing game has come in handy.

Penn State’s rushing attack, which is averaging 1.8 yards per carry on 75 attempts over the past two games, struggled badly against Northwestern. Save for a 53-yard touchdown run from Barkley, the Nittany Lions managed just 42 yards on 38 other carries. McSorley made up the difference by completing 16 of 20 passes that traveled less than 9 yards in the air for short gains to get drives started or keep them going.

“I think he’s pretty much better in every metric possible,” Penn State Coach James Franklin said.

That includes his completion percentage — up nine percentage points to 67 percent — with more yards (1,597), touchdowns (13), attempts (194) and completions (130) that at this time last year. But the area McSorley takes the most pride in is his increased understanding of how defenses open up as plays develop. With it, McSorley’s been able to make the most of plays by making good use of his time in the pocket.

Take a third-and-14 from midfield against the Wildcats for example. McSorley had time and his eyes scanned from left to right. He saw Juwan Johnson on an outside comeback, covered. Tight end Mike Gesicki was shadowed on a shallow crossing route. His third option, DaeSean Hamilton, ran a deeper cross and finally found a seam for McSorley to thread for a first down.

“I think Trace has gotten a lot more comfortable just being a quarterback,” Gesicki said. “Any time you’re in a system for another year, and you’re with the same coach, not really switching up anything, you’re always going to be more comfortable, more able to go through progressions or read defenses quicker.”

As his quarterback has expanded his capacity, Moorhead has found more ways to get quick, shifty receivers the ball so they can gains yards after the catch in space. Those plays — simple, short, confidence-building throws to the flats or on outside routes — could be tougher to complete against No. 19 Michigan’s top overall defense Saturday.