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Penn State Football: Grading the Nittany Lions vs. Minnesota

By Dylan Burd

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 09: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 31-26 to remain undefeated.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 09: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the fourth quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 31-26 to remain undefeated.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Tight end Pat Freiermuth #87 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is tackled by linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin #55 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 09: Tight end Pat Freiermuth #87 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is tackled by linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin #55 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the second quarter at TCFBank Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

C. . . . THE PASS CATCHERS

There’s a lot to discuss here. As normal, K.J Hamler and Pat Freiermuth played like a top wide receiver and top tight end in the country. Hamler had seven receptions for 119 yards and Pat Freiermuth had seven receptions for 101 yards.

However, just like the rest of the season, other than Jahan Dotson, there wasn’t another target that stepped up, and the Nittany Lions needed that. Dotson had three receptions for 70 yards and didn’t drop any passes, but two of those three receptions came on the last drive of the game after Penn State was in a major hole.

Other than Hamler, Freiermuth, and Dotson, the other pass-catchers contributed almost nothing. Justin Shorter, who Sean Clifford tried to get involved early in the game, dropped two passes during the game, including a wide-open touchdown. He also couldn’t make a play on Clifford’s deep pass intended for him on the first drive of the game. As a result, it was intercepted.

Daniel George, who was switching in and out of the game with Justin Shorter, had a bad drop, and an offensive pass interference penalty when Penn State was at Minnesota’s 10-yard line on the Nittany Lions’ final offensive drive. This penalty pushed the Penn State back to 2nd and 24 at the Minnesota 25-yard line. Other than that, George only had a catch for eight yards.

In addition, Dan Chisena dropped a deep pass down the left sideline in the fourth quarter that could have gone for a 43-yard touchdown if it was caught. Penn State ended up scoring on that drive, but it would have helped to score with just below six minutes left than just below four minutes left. Chisena had one reception for 20 yards in the game.

Backup tight end Nick Bowers caught one pass for a 10-yard touchdown, but that was the only pass he caught in the game.

Overall, the drops were and penalties were an absolute killer for Penn State in this came. They were drive-killers and momentum-killers and you can’t have that in a close game. It was one of the major difference makers in this game.

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