Penn State Football 2022: key players and keys to success on offense

If Penn State Football hopes to turn things around offensively, each and every player will need to step up and the team will need to improve in every aspect on that side of the ball.

However, there are two key facets that will determine whether or not this offense can take a step forward, as well as two specific players that can help them do that.

Of course, all of these work in unison with one another. If one can improve, it can help the other one to improve as well, and vice versa.

These are two keys to success and two key players on offense for Penn State Football in 2022.

Penn State Football key to success on offense – establish a running game

“Duh”

As obvious and repetitive as it sounds, establishing a running game is an absolute must if this team hopes to have a successful season.

Looking at least year’s squad that finished the regular season with five losses, four of which were by one possession, with a nine-point loss at Ohio State being the lone exception. Just having a decent ground game could have been enough to put them over the top in most of those losses.

Getting the running game going not only takes a lot off of Sean Clifford’s plate, but it can allow Mike Yurcich to call a more balanced game. Perhaps most importantly, it would open up the second and third levels of the defense for Penn State’s outstanding wide receiver unit to get open and make plays in space.

While it would certainly be nice, the Nittany Lions don’t need to have a dominant running game in 2022, they just need to have a respectable one; one that can consistently pick up positive yards and keep opposing defenses honest.

Penn State ranked 118th in the country last year with 107.8 rushing yards per game. Even if they can get to where they’re just inside the top 50, that would be a drastic improvement and one that could help to take this offense and this team to the next level.