People have been wondering why Penn State hasn’t been throwing the ball down the field more.
In the team’s 27-24 loss to Indiana Saturday, the team threw the ball down the field more, and interim coach Terry Smith was asked why afterward.
His response was simple enough.
“We made calls to throw the ball down the field,” Smith said.
Smith made good on his vow to throw downfield more, which he made earlier in the week.
“We’re going to push the ball down a little bit further down the field,” Smith said during last week’s Monday presser. “We had 102 (yards after catch) from the game (against Ohio State), 145 or so total, which means the ball is still going horizontaly. We have to develop the intermediate game, which is that 12-to 18-yard range, and just take more shots there. And then, obviously, you’ve got to take selective five, six, seven shots vertically down the field.
“I have to get it fixed. We will throw the ball down the field this week.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The result was the most productive passing day Penn State’s had in almost a month. Ethan Grunkemeyer went 22-for-31 for 219 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Trebor Pena almost became the first Penn State receiver to go over 100 yards in a game this season, gaining 99 on six receptions.
All of this was almost enough to help propel Penn State to what would have been a mammoth upset win over the No. 2 team in the country. But a last-minute drive engineered by Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza ended up being the difference.
Penn State looks to break a six-game losing streak next Saturday against Michigan State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 in East Lansing.
