The new-look Nittany Lions took a little while to get going, but were finally able to pull away from the Temple Owls to the tune of a 27-9 win. Here is what the postgame report card looks like for the Nittany Lions' win against Temple.
Quarterback: B+
It too a while to get going for Rocco Becht in this game as he was only 4/7 for just under 70 yards. Then, an impressive drive to end the second half brought him and the Penn State offense to life. That drive continued into the third quarter, where at one point, Becht completed 12 straight passes. There were a couple of nervy moments when Temple brought pressure, but for the most part, Becht looked calm and composed yet again and was the reason the Nittany Lions were able to comfortably pull away in the second half.
Running Backs: C+
Perhaps the early-season concern for the Nittany Lions, it was more of a workmanlike performance on the ground yet again, with some signs of improvement. Carson Hansen set the tone on the ground, finishing with 84 yards on 19 carries. Still, behind him is where decisions need to be made. James Peoples showcased some explosiveness, but only finished with 38 yards. Cam Wallaceand Quinton Martin Jr. didn't even get touches. They need to be better in this department if they want to be true Big Ten contenders.
Receivers and Tight Ends: B-
Whereas last week the grade was bolstered byKoby Howard, today's grade is higher based off of tight end Benjamin Brahmer. He was able to showcase his unique skill set in the open field, a combination of speed and strength that proved to be a great asset in the red zone. His two touchdowns today elevated what was in some ways a disappointing day for the receivers and tight ends both. Koby Howard failed to replicate last week's exploits and no other receivers really stood out. Fortunately, Brahmer saved them from embarrassment.
Defense: B+
Sure, they gave up their first touchdown of the season. But for the most part, it was a clean game for the Penn State defense as they were able to figure out both Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard. No player made more of an impact than Tony Rojas, whose early pick settled the defense down and allowed them space to continue to go out and attack. Otherwise, the defense could have had a few problems against a former teammate of theirs.
Special Teams: B
It was kind of a mixed day for the Nittany Lions in this department as Ryan Barker was 2/3 on his field goals. Nathan Tiyce was disappointing in terms of his punting average, even though the Nittany Lions only punted once. Zay Robinson couldn't do much in the return game, with only 22 yards. They did have a nice blocked field goal early in the third quarter.
Coaching: B
For the most part, Campbell had a solid game plan, understanding that the defense had to be disciplined and the offense had to be timely. Still, you can't really say this win felt truly comfortable if you're a Penn State fan. There were nervy moments, especially in the first half, and this win felt like it came down to poor execution in key moments from Temple than a solid coaching performance. Luckily, the individual talent on the field was superior for the Nittany Lions, who were able to figure it out in the end.
Overall: B+
Overall, a pretty hum-drum performance from Penn State that was more about taking care of business. There were certainly things that needed to be fixed, especially in the running game, but at the very least there was enough for both the offense and defense to take away and learn from as they start heading into Big Ten play.
Up next for Penn State
Penn State will be back in action next Saturday when the Nittany Lions return home to State College to take on the Buffalo Bulls in their last game before their Big Ten opener. Kickoff is scheduled at noon ET on the Big Ten Network.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State postgame report card: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Temple
