Penn State: Run game becomes more important with Sean Clifford under center
Run game will be important for Penn State in 2019
Before the announcement that presumed starting quarterback Tommy Stevens had entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, Penn State’s run game looked like a complimentary piece of the offensive gameplan for the 2019 season. It would serve as a compliment to Stevens’ talent. However with redshirt sophomore Sean Clifford under center, the play of the run game becomes that much more important for the Nittany Lions in 2019.
Stevens was reminiscent of what the Nittany Lions had at quarterback the last three seasons with Trace McSorley- a mobile quarterback who can be used as a primary weapon in the rushing attack. But, with Clifford now the presumed starter, the coaching staff won’t look for a lot of rushing production out of the quarterback position.
Clifford is more of a true pocket passer compared to both McSorley and Stevens. That’s good for the passing attack, but it takes away a big weapon on the ground. The running backs will have to make up for that production.
Clifford will already face the difficult task of leading a collegiate football team, so he’ll need a productive run game to take some of the pressure off.
It will be up to the running backs to show up ready to play in 2019 and ready to make an impact.
Although Miles Sanders will be suiting up for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL and is no longer around, the rushing attack still possesses plenty of talent to be successful in 2019.
Sophomore Ricky Slade, a top running back in the 2018 recruiting class, is in line to be the starter this year. He’ll be joined by the likes of Notre Dame transfer C.J. Holmes and Journey Brown, an intriguingly fast player who once scored 10 touchdowns during a high school game. True freshmen Noah Cain and Devyn Ford, two of the best running backs in the 2019 class, will also be in the mix.
That group will play a key role in providing Penn State with a balanced attack on offense.
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Having a solid rushing attack is always an important factor for an offense. That importance becomes magnified when there’s a new quarterback under center. Penn State will need its running game to be productive in 2019 in order to make things a bit easier for Clifford under center and to give the Nittany Lions a balanced offensive attack that dangerous both through the air and on the ground.