“They have to evaluate the offense at Penn State. The offense has to get better if they’re going to win one of these games.”
FOX Big Noon Saturday analyst and podcast host Joel Klatt said what everyone is thinking after Penn State’s 30-24 double overtime loss to Oregon.
The Nittany Lions scored only three points in the first half and looked unprepared, timid, and lackluster on offense.
Trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki opened up the playbook and took shots downfield. The Nittany Lions scored 21 unanswered points before Oregon responded.
“Now, it was better late in the fourth quarter, but it can’t be dormant for the first three. Every great offense has an ability to have great quarterback play in it,” he said on the Joel Klatt Show. “I’m sure that this system from Andy Kotelnicki, at times with the right guy at quarterback, can have great quarterback play in it.”
Drew Allar threw a game-sealing interception in the second overtime to end Penn State’s chances of a top-six victory. Allar finished the night 14-of-25 for 137 yards, two touchdowns, and the pick. Allar is 0-6 against AP Top 6 opponents and has only thrown for 250 yards twice in 20 games with Kotelnicki.
“I’m sure that there’s a system that could feature the skillset of Drew Allar and allow him to play his best football,” Klatt said. “Unfortunately, right now, the marriage between Allar’s skillset and Kotelnicki’s system is not right, and it needs to change.”
Klatt said he wants to be “crystal clear” that he’s not calling for a personnel change, but to tweak the scheme.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Klatt believes the system doesn’t work to Allar’s strengths and puts him in the best position to succeed.
“This system needs to morph and be a system that is catered more for Drew Allar, rather than Drew Allar trying to execute this certain system,” Klatt said.
Penn State hasn’t run the ball as dominantly as in the past. Kaytron Allen has been Penn State’s best offensive player with 327 yards rushing, four touchdowns, and an average of 7.1 yards per carry.
Nick Singleton owns 200 yards and five touchdowns, plus eight receptions for 73 yards.
Penn State will only go as far this season as Allar can take them. If he wants to develop into a solid NFL draft prospect and the QB that can take Penn State to the promised land, Allar has to play better.
It’s also critical that Kotelnicki adjusts to put him in a position to play better. It can’t be a matter of time, but start right now to be ready for No. 1 Ohio State and No. 8 Indiana.
“If your system is not quarterback-friendly, then you need a new system,” Klatt said. “If your system doesn’t fit the quarterback that you have, then you need to change it. Not wholesale, but tweaks.”
