Penn State QB Rocco Becht was objectively better against USC than he was against Wisconsin or Northwestern.
In Penn State’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin, Becht was 12 of 29 for 114 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in a Penn State loss.
Against Northwestern the next week on the road, Becht finished 26 of 41 for 243 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, and by this point, some fans were calling for backup Alex Manske to take over as Penn State lost again.
Against USC, Becht went 21 of 32 for 289 yards, a touchdown and no picks.
Better for sure.
But Becht said earlier this season that the only stat he cared about were wins.
Penn State didn’t win, and therefore, Becht wasn’t happy.
WHAT ROCCO SAID
“Not good enough. I think for me, like I’ve always said, I’m a perfectionist and I need to be better.
“Whether that’s in the red zone or whether that’s just based down and distance. I felt like we took a small step today, but we just have to be able to finish. We’re not there yet, we’re far from it. I know these guys are going to continue to work, but for me, I have to be better.”
So what were the “small steps” Becht mentioned?
“I felt like we just kept playing no matter what happened,” he said. “We went down 7-0 early and we were able to drive the ball right down the field and we did it again. So I think the tenacity and the conviction that we had today was a lot better, but like I said, we just have to be able to finish the games and we’re happy.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Indeed, Penn State did score 17 points in the first half, which was four more than it scored the whole night against Northwestern and only three fewer than it scored against Wisconsin the previous week.
But in the second half, Penn State only scored six points, twice stalling in the red zone and settling for field goals. On third down, Penn State struggled all night, only converting two of 12 opportunities.
“I think it’s just not being able to execute,” Becht said. “The plays are there to be made. We just have to go out there and execute them. That simple.”
PROGRESS
A lot of Penn State fans won’t want to hear it, but progress was made Saturday night offensively, and Matt Campbell noted it after the game.
“The growth we made offensively was that we played in a better rhythm tonight. That allowed him to play the style of quarterback that Rocco is when he’s playing great football.”
Campbell elaborated.
“I thought we moved the pocket at times,” he said. “I thought he was really comfortable in the drop-back passing game, and he used his feet a couple of times to get himself out of trouble. I thought Rocco certainly gave us every opportunity to be successful in the football game.”
Again, I thought we found a rhythm that we want to play in and that we need to continue to move forward with, for sure.”
Penn State takes on Michigan in the Big House Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 on FS1.
