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

By Nick Kreiser

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Juice Scruggs #70 of the Penn State Nittany Lions prepares to snap the ball to Sean Clifford #14 during overtime of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 23: Juice Scruggs #70 of the Penn State Nittany Lions prepares to snap the ball to Sean Clifford #14 during overtime of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Beaver Stadium on October 23, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a 42-yard touchdown pass thrown by Sean Clifford during the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions catches a 42-yard touchdown pass thrown by Sean Clifford during the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 2022 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Penn State Football key to success on offense – hit on more explosive plays

Explosive plays is one of those modern football terms that many coaches use as a metric for offensive success.

Even with Jahan Dotson in their arsenal, the Nittany Lions were not explosive at all last season for many reasons. First, Sean Clifford did not have enough time to let deeper routes develop downfield, and second, the running game was non-existent.

Not only did the non-existent running game not allow for many explosive runs, but it also allowed for defenses to sit back and take away the deep ball without fear of being gashed on the ground.

Many of Penn State’s best offenses under James Franklin had a few things in common, one of which was being able to hit on a lot of explosive plays. Seemingly every touchdown in that 2016 Big Ten Championship run came on an explosive play.

If the Nittany Lions want to get back to that point, they’re going to have to get back to hitting on more explosive plays.

Now, who are two players that will have a big impact on these two keys to success?

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