1. It’s funny how we look forward to Penn State football all offseason, and then we get humbled by having to watch a sloppy, uninspiring display for the large majority of the game that mostly left me frustrated.
2. First sign of real annoyance: having to go for it three times on fourth down during the first 20 minutes of the game. And it felt like a couple of those third downs were called with the idea of making it a more manageable fourth down attempt.
3. Crazy take here, but I shouldn’t be thinking
“big fourth down here” in the second quarter against Florida International.
4. Going to be pessimistic for a few more thoughts here. Sorry. I will get positive (Chaz!!) soon enough.
5. Drew Allar has to be better. There’s something to be said for what I thought was the bigger issue on Saturday (offensive play-calling *sad trombone sound*), but Allar should be at the point that even with vanilla flavored play calls he still torches a Conference USA defense.
6. Allar’s stats don’t honestly look half bad — 19-of-33 for 200 yards, 2 TDs, and no turnovers — but I don’t think there was a period of the game he looked comfortable. It’s one thing to get off to a slow start and then ramp it up in the third quarter, but there was never a three-series period where he seemed in rhythm. And that’s the worrisome part and has been with Drew for much of his career — if he doesn’t get off to a good start, his play is volatile the rest of the game.
7. Nicholas Singleton, try a spin or a juke move one time, please. His speed and power are great, and it’s a testament to his talent that fans are complaining about his performance after rushing for 76 yards on 13 carries, but him just running straight into defenders every time he’s in the open field is driving me lowkey bananas.
8. With 1:44 left in the second quarter, Penn State actually has a nice play call: jet sweep toss to Trebor Pena. They had the FIU defense swinging to the opposite side, giving Pena two defenders to beat. Kyron Hudson should take one of them away, meaning Pena breaks one tackle and he’s got a first down and maybe a touchdown.
9. Instead, Hudson doesn’t get enough on the block, and the FIU defender shrinks the field (and leverage) Pena had to work with against the additional defender.
10. What should have been a first down goes for 2-3 yards instead. The little things, folks.
11. I know people were frustrated with the offensive line. Tim gave them a C- in his position grades as they certainly did not play their A+ game. But they were good last season, and they swapped in Anthony Donkoh — maybe the most talented lineman on the team — for Sal Wormley. I think they will be okay as they continue to mesh.
12. Also, Penn State still rushed for 209 yards on 6.7 yards-a-pop. We are not talking Villanova 2021 levels of cope after averaging 2.4 yards-per-carry.
13. Was that a kiss of death for the running game this coming weekend? Maybe.
14. I can’t lie, I spent half this offseason not being able to recall if Penn State was playing Delaware or Villanova. Same college football team in my mind.
15. I give the defense credit for holding FIU scoreless, but they had their fair share of brain farts. Three 20+ yard plays from FIU, and there was a two-play sequence where Zakee Wheatley — as the last line of defense — saved for sure touchdowns. Which sure is the whole reason they are called “safeties” but needing the save on back-to-back plays was bad optics.
16. I’m not going to do the “FIU was actually better than I thought” thing because Penn State should have played much better, but I was impressed with their QB Keyone Jenkins. He doesn’t have many overwhelming characteristics or traits, but he could be a low-level Power 4 QB next year if he wants to be. His feel and movement in the pocket was nice.
17. Let’s predict right now: Wake Forest for Keyone Jenkins.
18. Last week I mentioned how Chaz Coleman’s rawness stuck out as he had trouble finishing plays. Well, uh, he made me look foolish this week. Four tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass defended. GEE-SUS LAWD.
19. No. 18 on FIU can absolutely FLY by the way. Him having the speed and hustle to track Coleman down that late in the game with the score the way it was is a credit to him.
20. But Coleman is really exciting, man. I mentioned this in his “Meet The Class” profile we did, but he was not a pure “project” coming out of high school. His senior film showcased someone with real instincts and understanding of the game, so I’m not shocked things are (potentially) clicking for him extremely quickly.
21. It should be pointed out for Coleman, I had his most realistic outcome as “all-conference” while Ryan and Clay had it as “multi-year starter.” I am already counting that as a victory for me.
22. Zuriah Fisher was back, and although he didn’t get home on a sack or TFL, I thought he *looked* healthy. He was moving well, still had the quick-twitch. Just please stay healthy, dude, because his presence means you aren’t overextending Coleman or Jaylen Harvey (who had a better game #2 than game #1). It’s a major key to this defense.
23. Still feeling good about the defensive tackles. FIU was able to find some running room — running back Kejon Owens averaged 5.2 yards-per-carry — but much of that came during a time where Penn State was up 3+ scores and didn’t mind if FIU wanted to slowly run the ball down the field.
24. In the first quarter, we did get to see Zane Durant lined up at defensive end on a third-and-long, which was an interesting wrinkle. Shades of Kevin Givens, which is one of the highest compliments I can give to a Penn State athlete.
25. I can not end my random thoughts without some love from this 50-yard DART from Drew Allar and a tremendous catch from Devonte Ross.
26. Have some faith in the wide receivers, Drew. Drop back, step up, fire a deep shot, and let these guys make a play on the ball in one-on-one situations. Good things will usually happen, and quite frankly, football is more fun that way.
27. No offense to the Luke Reynolds out routes. He hasn’t put in position to really shine after the catch just given where he’s been getting the ball, but his YAC potential is evident just in the little spurts we’ve seen. Would not be surprised if he is a much bigger part of the offense against Oregon and Andy Kotelnicki is just trying to have him go the speed limit for now.
28. Kaytron is fantastic. The whole “healthy offseason” and “actually in shape” thing seems to be working out well.
29. Okay last thought: I do take solace in the fact that the clunker performance came against FIU and not Villanova. Use this game to flush the bad stuff and as motivation to play a complete game against Villanova. I’m talking 35-0 at halftime and a 50-burger by the end of the game type beatdown. Let’s at least give the illusion of firing on all cylinders heading into the bye week before the Ducks come to town.
