3 Things Penn State Football Must Do to ‘Get Right’ vs. UCLA
Let’s face it, a lot of Penn State Football fans felt super discouraged after last week’s home loss to Oregon in double overtime.
The discouragement is warranted.
However, the Nittany Lions travel out to Los Angeles to take on 0-4 UCLA at the Rose Bowl. This seems like the perfect “get right” game for Penn State.
In order to get the interest and morale of the fan base, and the Lions’ locker room, Penn State is going to need an impressive victory today. Here are three things that Nittany Lion fans must see in order to get back on the bandwagon.
1. Drew Allar Finding a Rhythmn
By now, everyone and their brother has heard the noise about Drew Allar.
Allar struggled to get things going against the Ducks. That being said, there is a good argument to be made that Allar‘s Offensive Coordinator and Line did not help him out.
Regardless, Allar and the offense showed signs of life in the fourth quarter. 70 of Allar’s 137 passing yards and both touchdowns happened in the fourth quarter.
Andy Kotelnicki and Allar must find a way to carry their fourth quarter success over to Los Angeles against the Bruins.
On Monday, James Franklin mentioned the same thing.
“We have to make sure we’re not in obvious passing downs,” Franklin told reporters. “Where we don’t have clean pockets or obvious open receivers. We can find some easy completions for [Allar] to get him going. Obvious passing situations and shots downfield have a lower completion percentage. We can’t sustain that.”
In order to regain some momentum, Drew Allar and company must find a rhythmn in the passing game.
2. Linebackers Stepping Up
After the losing Linebacker Tony Rojas earlier this week to injury, it seemed like doom and gloom around Nittany Nation.
The loss to Oregon followed by the news that Rojas is likely done for the year felt like a twist of the knife to many Penn State fans. But, the show must go on.
Losing a starting Linebacker in an already thin room is less than ideal. Rojas was playing extremely well and his shoes simply cannot be replaced.
Instead, what Penn State needs to see out of their other Linebackers is steady play. No one can be Tony Rojas, but the defense can still operate at a championship level with someone stepping in and playing good football.
Dominic DeLuca is the clear cut Linebacker slated to take Rojas’s spot. The former walk-on is a steady eddy of sorts. Penn State knows what they are getting out of DeLuca. He’s a tough, physical, solid Linebacker that can make plays. DeLuca should serve as a respectable replacement of the injured Rojas.
What would go a long way in instilling hope back into Penn State fans, is seeing some players flash beyond DeLuca. Freshmen Alex Tatsch or Cam Smith may be in line to do so.
In a perfect world for Penn State fans, the Nittany Lions win comfortably, DeLuca plays well, and either Tatsch or Smith show serious flashes of talent.
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3. Nick Singleton Breaking a Long Run
Over the past three years, Penn State fans have grown accustomed to Nick Singleton breaking off long runs. He’s supposed to be a home run hitter.
Singleton has struggled to find much success so far this season. His longest run was a 16 yard carry against FIU. That is just so out of character for Singleton.
The same player who burnt the Utah defense in his freshman season, or sealed the playoff game against Boise State with a long house call, only has a long of 16 yards?
Getting Nick Singleton back into his usual self would really show signs of life for Penn State. Nick Singleton needs to rip off a run of 40-50 yards to inject some confidence into Nittany Lion faithful.
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Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
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