Penn State’s Week 9 matchup against Purdue is sneakily one of its most important games in recent memory. The blue and white are on a four-game losing streak, so this battle with the Boilermakers could be pivotal for the direction of the program
If the Nittany Lions lose, the season is almost assuredly over at 3-5, and it could have a ripple effect on the caliber of recruits they are able to attract. They’ve already had a handful of high-profile recruits either flip their commitments or lose significant interest in the program.
Head coach Matt Campbell was one of the guys Penn State believed could take the team to the next level, so this is as close to a must-win game as you can have in Year 1. Let’s look at some of the key storylines facing this team coming
out of the bye week.
Quarterback Play
Rocco Becht has had a nightmarish start to his career in the Big Ten. He’s played a big role in Penn State losing its first four games in the conference, with six turnovers and a ton of inaccuracy.
Just winning the turnover battle will go a long way to helping the Nittany Lions win, so Becht needs to be focused on taking care of the ball. Purdue is a middle-of-the-pack team that Penn State can’t squander an opportunity against by getting careless with the ball.
All the marbles
Like I mentioned earlier, this is a pivotal game for the direction of the program. Keep an eye on Campbell — his demeanor, decision-making and play calling — as he tries to save the blue and white’s season and set the roster up for success in the future.
I expect to see him and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser to throw the kitchen sink at Purdue’s defense, doing anything they can to give themselves an edge.
Flip the script
Turnovers have been killing Penn State for more than a month now, so it would be nice to see the defense reverse its fortunes and take the ball away a little bit. The unit has only forced three turnovers in the last three games compared to six giveaways for the offense.
It’s clear at this point that talent alone can’t win games for the Nittany Lions, so they need to do it with fundamentals instead.
Zay Day
If Penn State wants to win this game, its best bet might be an explosive special teams play from wide receiver Zay Robinson. He is among the best punt returners in the Big Ten, so he could give the team a jolt of energy since the offense has been struggling.
Robinson looks like a pure playmaker, and that could be the perfect antidote for a team struggling to find answers.
No Pressure
Hopefully defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn doesn’t feel pressure, because it could all be on him this week. The Nittany Lions’ defense has been the better side of the ball this year, so the unit needs to buckle down and try to play its best game.
It may be unfair to ask, but they may need to hold Purdue to 20 points or less to secure a win. They need turnovers and they can’t afford defensive breakdowns, because those have put games out of reach in recent weeks. All of the pressure could be on Lynn’s unit this week.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 5 storylines to watch after Penn State’s bye week
