CBS graphic reveals Penn State’s biggest offensive issue

The No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions started their matchup with the 2-5 Indiana Hoosiers with two straight punts. Then Indiana did the one thing that the Nittany Lions have been desperate to do; hit a big play.

Indiana quarterback, Brendan Sorsby completed a pass to DeQuece Carter from the 10-yard line and Carter took it the rest of the way to the end zone.

That play was certainly longer than 40 yards downfield, so in the first quarter, Indiana’s relatively inept offense matched Penn State’s season total for 40+ yard plays. The CBS broadcast revealed a graphic that shows just how challenged Penn State has been pushing the ball downfield.

Drew Allar was averaging just 6.5 yards per attempt coming into this matchup with Indiana despite completing over 60% of his passes. His average depth of target was over a yard lower than the second-lowest ADOT of Big 10 quarterbacks. I detailed Allar’s lack of aggressiveness in my Big 10 quarterback rankings this week. 

In the first quarter today, Allar went 7/9 through the air with a touchdown, but for just 50 yards. That’s an average of 5.5 yards per attempt and 7.1 yards per completion.

The issues are also on the ground for the Nittany Lions offense. In the first quarter against Indiana, Nick Singleton averaged 2.8 yards per rush with 14 yards on five carries and Kaytron Allen’s efficiency was even worse. Allen averaged just 1.3 yards per carry with only four yards on three carries.

Penn State’s first score come off a muffed punt by Indiana and required two fourth-down conversions to finish off a drive that started well into Indiana territory.