QB, offensive line PSU’s top questions

Saturday’s BlueWhite Game was an opportunity for Penn State football fans to tailgate in the parking lots and not necessarily to determine how or if their favorite team will bounce back from a disappointing 7-6 season.

The altered format had a lot to do with that. It was more a series of practice drills than a true intrasquad scrimmage. Honestly, it was hard to follow.

Coach James Franklin understands that 2022 will be a critical season for him and the program. He admitted there are several questions to answer and much work to do before the season opener Sept. 1 at Purdue.

When asked what was No. 1 on his list, he mentioned three positions: punter, offensive line and linebacker. He neglected to say quarterback.

Make no mistake about it, though: The Nittany Lions will only go as far as Sean Clifford and the offensive line take them.

Clifford, who’s been at Penn State for nearly a quarter of his life, has had three up-and-down seasons as the starting quarterback.

Franklin said the grizzled veteran has had his best spring. Clifford agreed Saturday and said he believes he will be better in his second season working with offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

“I feel like I’ve seen every look in this offense specifically,” he said. “I know the terminology like it was the back of my hand. I know what plays we want to be in, in certain looks. And when we get a look I don’t like, I know the checks that get us out of those looks.

“Coach Yurcich and Coach Franklin are both giving me a lot of freedom, a lot of responsibility. And I’m up for the challenge.”

Penn State has excellent depth and talent at running back, tight end and wide receiver, where Western Kentucky transfer Mitchell Tinsley has replaced NFL-bound Jahan Dotson and has teamed with returning starters Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

“He’s not going to run a 4.3 (in the 40-yard dash),” Clifford said about Tinsley. “He’s just a good football player. He’s like Jahan. He catches the ball strong. He makes good plays. He makes big plays when they matter. He makes people miss in the open field.”

Then there’s the offensive line, which played poorly last season. Penn State finished 82nd or worse in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total yards (82nd, 376.4), scoring (90th, 25.0), sacks allowed (94th), red zone offense (96th), tackles for loss allowed (106th) and rushing (118th, 107.8).

Two starters return up front, right tackle Caedan Wallace and Juice Scruggs, who moves from guard to center. Those two and left tackle Olu Fashanu, who was solid in his first start in the Outback Bowl, give the Lions hope the line will be better.

“Who’s going to replace the guys who left?” Franklin said. “Can we take a step where you guys ask about the offensive line, I say something and then we back it up on the offensive line?”

The linemen know they’re being scrutinized and understand why. The motto for them this spring has been “positivity,” which Wallace suggested.

Fashanu was asked why he believes the offensive line will be better than it was last season.

“You can tell that a lot of us are really dedicated to getting better every day,” he said. “We felt like we took one step further every practice. Even today, we took this opportunity to get better.”

Keyvone Lee, Penn State’s top rusher the last two seasons, said he believes the blocking will be better and the running game will be better.

It wasn’t Saturday. The Lions averaged just 3.6 yards a carry in the alternate format, which included some thud and touch plays with no tackling.

“Those boys (offensive linemen) were working the whole spring, not just today,” Lee said. “I’m cheering them up and always supporting them and motivating them to keep going because I need them.

“This is Penn State. This is a running team. We need that running game.”

They also need improved play at quarterback.

“It was my best spring,” Clifford said. “I feel so confident. I feel great. You know, my mind is clear. I’m having a blast. This is a great team.”

They could be in the fall. It depends on him and the offensive line.