Penn State Football: Quarterback Report Post Michigan State 2018

Last night’s 17-14 loss to Michigan State effectively ended Penn State football’s chances of the CFP. VBR looks back at how Trace McSorley performed.

First and foremost, this game does not fall squarely on Penn State football senior QB Trace McSorley‘s shoulders. In what turned out to be a playoff-hope crushing loss to Michigan State at home Saturday, was also a rough game to evaluate for the passer. In relation to the stats, McSorley finished the game 19-of-32 for 192 yards, one touchdown, 37 yards rushing and one lost fumble.

McSorley SEASON STATS: 4-2, 2018 record; 93-of-171, 1,242 yards, 11 touchdowns, two interceptions; 447 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 5.7 yards per carry; 1,689 total yards, 17 total touchdowns

McSorley CAREER STATS: 26-7 career record; 8,611 passing yards; 60.6 completion percentage; 70 touchdowns, 20 interceptions; 1,346 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns; 9,957 total yards, 94 total touchdowns

The Good

I, along with the rest of the VBR staff, would like to congratulate the senior QB on breaking the PSU all-time passing yards record. He’s no doubt in the argument for the greatest QB in Penn State football history. He’s got the big-game performances, the wins and stats to prove he deserves a place at the table. Regardless of the loss yesterday, and I know tensions are high, one loss doesn’t define his career. He’s 26-7 in his career with a Big Ten Title and Fiesta Bowl Title.

In the game, for most of the drives, he hit his targets. McSorley took what the defense gave him. He didn’t put the ball in danger, and he was accurate on his throws downfield. The dime he dropped to Pat Freiermuth up the middle was the best throw, as he put it where only the freshman tight end could get it.

The chemistry continues to grow between McSorley and the freshmen. In addition to Freiermuth, he connected with KJ Hamler five times for 66 yards and his 70th career touchdown. The two freshmen rank in the top three in receptions this season, with Hamler sitting atop the list.

The Bad

Starting with the play calling, it’s difficult to say he didn’t take advantage of a porous Michigan State defense. The play calling looked like it called for short passes, and it seemed that the receivers, other than a rare catch here-and-there, did not create open targets for McSorley to hit.

He threw high on a first-half, third-and-medium to Freiermuth, forcing a punt. Again, drops hurt when KJ Hamler dropped a wide-open first down, finishing up another empty drive. He overthrew DeAndre Thompkins on a deep ball that could’ve ended in an interception.

The biggest mistake was the first-quarter lost fumble. He stepped up into the pocket and tried to do his usual, pass-rush evasion and throw on the run. However, he did not see the defender and was strip-sacked. The turnover ended a drive deep in MSU territory. Now, it’s not like he wouldn’t have been sacked had he been a usual pocket passer, so it’s hard to put it on him, but a turnover is a turnover.

In all, I’m giving him a C+ for a game grade. The stat line was respectable, but this offense has to score more than 17 points. Between the fumble and the offense’s inability to move the ball in the second half, it played a significant role in dropping the Big Ten matchup.