I wrote after the Purdue game asking if I could has run game, and it appears after playing Washington that I can, in fact, has run game.
Against the Boilermakers the Penn State rushing game came to life. Carson Hansen, who was much maligned earlier in the season, ripped off 96 yards on 17 carries, while Cam Wallace broke out with 135 yards on 22 carries, each with a touchdown to boot. It seemed the backs were finally starting to gel with the offensive line – which itself was utilizing more gap blocking
– and things were getting sorted out. All told the team racked up 269 yards on the ground.
But surely they couldn’t keep it up against Washington, right? The Huskies were infinitely better than Purdue, so the success on the ground was just a blip on an otherwise uneventful season for the rushing attack.
How about Hansen toting the rock 14 times for 119 yards and a TD, and Wallace taking his 7 carries for 56 yards and a score? Both backs came in over 8 yards per carry on the day.
I’d say they’ve certainly figured things out.
Given the passing game woes, which goes from converting deep bomb after deep bomb to a seeming inability to complete a screen pass, seeing the running backs reliably move the chains is a breath of fresh air.
So now, the only real question is what do we call this two-headed RB monster? Hansen will never be mistaken for a speedy back, but will certainly plow into defenders and drag them for a few yards. Wallace, meanwhile, has the most explosiveness on the team, and can turn a small seam into a 40-yard touchdown run.
If Carson Hansen is Thunder, then Cam Wallace must be Lightning.
Or perhaps you prefer Earth and Fire, with Rocco Becht aptly serving as Wind? (Get it? ‘Cuz he’s a quarterback and can pass the ball? I’m hilarious.)
Let me hear your thoughts on the Dynamic Duo, and on the Penn State run game in general!
