Penn State football did something unusual Tuesday evening by closing off the offensive portion of its practice to the media.
Tyler Donahue of Lions247 has been a beat reporter since the 2017 season, and it’s the first time at least since then that this has happened.
“For the 1st time in my 9 seasons, Penn State isn’t making offensive action available to view during today’s media look,” Donohue posted to Twitter. “That unit went into Holuba Hall as were allowed onto the field. Those doors then closed. Confirmed with PSU staff member the offense is off limits today. Woah.”
After practice, interim coach Terry Smith explained what went on.
“Yeah, we just had a new install period for those guys,” Smith said. “We had a shortened practice, so, we just wanted to make sure we got that install put in today.”
The Penn State offense has been struggling.
Although the season-ending injury to QB Drew Allar certainly needs to be taken into consideration, there were multiple decisions Penn State fans found head-scratching made in Saturday night’s game at Iowa, such as having backup QB Jaxon Smolik in the game for 12 snaps (no passes) and not giving the ball to Kaytron Allen, but Nick Singleton, on 3rd and 5 late in the fourth quarter.
Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki was popular last season, which was his first at Penn State, to the point where he almost left for a Big 12 head coaching job. Now, it’s to the point where ex-Penn State stars such as Jahan Dotson and Allen Robinson are publicly expressing their displeasure.
The offense might also be down to one scholarship quarterback, since Smolik got hurt in Saturday’s game and Jack Lambert is a walk-on.
PSU has a lot to work on before facing No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus Nov. 1 at noon on Fox.
