Penn State was banged up coming out of its Week 8 bye, and after a 31-17 Week 9 win over Purdue, it seems the health of Matt Campbell’s roster is only moderately improving. On the Wednesday night Big Ten availability report, Penn State had just five players listed as out, one listed as questionable, wide receiver Koby Howard, and three listed as probable, including left tackle Malachi Goodman.
Goodman joins wide receiver Chase Sowell, who missed Week 9 along with Howard, and defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim, with a probable designation. The second-year former five-star left tackle did not leave the game in Week 9 and has been healthy all season, so he was a surprise addition.
In fact, Penn State’s entire offensive line has largely been healthy throughout the year, and that level of consistency has clearly helped the unit improve. If Goodman does somehow miss Saturday’s matchup with Washington, it could be a major blow
Penn State’s midweek availability report for Week 10 vs. Washington:
- Max Granville, DE: OUT
- Alex Tatsch, LB: OUT
- Tyler Armstead, CB: OUT
- Alijah Carnell, DT: OUT
- Christiano Rosa, K: OUT
- Koby Howard, WR: Questionable
- Chase Sowell, WR: Probable
- Malachi Goodman, OT: Probable
- Armstrong Nnodim, DT: Probable
Penn State’s backup options at left tackle:
Goodman won a three-horse race for the starting left tackle job, beating out Garrett Sexton and Owen Aliciene. So far this year, Aliciene has played just 21 snaps, all at right tackle, fewer than reserve offensive lineman Chimdy Onoh, while Sexton has been the primary reserve tackle, handling 36 snaps on the left side, 12 on the right, and 12 as a sixth offensive lineman in heavy formations.
Sexton would likely be the answer at left tackle if Goodman can’t go, but he isn’t necessarily the most reliable alternative, as he’s struggled in limited action. While it initially appeared that the battle for left tackle would continue throughout the season, Goodman has had the position locked down.
However, Goodman hasn’t necessarily been great in his first year as a starter. He has allowed a team-high 13 QB pressures, tied with center Brock Riker, who has spent much of the year banged up, though he only missed time in Week 3 against Buffalo.
Goodman was also a run-blocking liability when Penn State was attempting to lean more heavily on a zone running game. His high pad level and slower first step routinely allowed backside penetration to blow up inside and outside zone runs to the right side of the offensive line.
In Week 10, largely to address that problem but also many others, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser shifted to a gap-scheme run game, with power and duo as his primary calls. Goodman is still an impressive athlete in space, so he and left guard Trevor Buhr have thrived as pullers this year, and when blocking the backside of a duo run (a gap-scheme run without any pullers), Goodman typically just has to wall off the backside with essentially a pass set, so there’s no worry of losing across his face into the flow of the run.
The schematic changes helped jump-start the entire run game, and now Washington’s defense will be a tougher test, whether it’s Goodman, Sexton, or Aliciene at left tackle.
Add us as a preferred source on Google