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Penn State Football: 2017 Fiesta Bowl Position Grades

By Collin Wieder

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Tight end Mike Gesicki #88 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with fans after defeating the Washington Huskies in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: Tight end Mike Gesicki #88 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates with fans after defeating the Washington Huskies in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Head coaches (R-L) James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions and Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies shake hands following the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Head coaches (R-L) James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions and Chris Petersen of the Washington Huskies shake hands following the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Coaching

New offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne added his own dynamic to the Penn State football offense. He didn’t coach the game conservatively and went for the jugular on multiple occasions. His downfield passing game looked much better than it has all season.

Trace McSorley attacked Washington’s highly-ranked defense on two deep ball touchdowns to DaeSean Hamilton and another to put them in the red zone to DeAndre Thompkins. Rahne might want to relax on the shovel pass, as it didn’t produce well and nearly caused an interception. Outside of that, he let his playmakers work, using the duo of McSorley-Barkley to account for 479 yards of offense.

Brent Pry’s defense continued its under-the-radar season by sacking UW QB Jake Browning four times and limiting him to just 175 yards through the air. The secondary didn’t come away with an INT, but it didn’t get beat for the big play. The linebackers kept Myles Gaskin contained outside of the 69-yard touchdown. Take that out, and he rushed for just 29 yards on 13 carries.

James Franklin finishes his fourth year with a second straight 11-win campaign. He’s made this team better every single year and it’s returned to blue blood status. Penn State fans get excited for next year.

Grade: A

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