Penn State has been as close to perfect as anyone can be through three games this season. They had some hiccups in Week 2 against Temple, but most of those concerns were put to bed this past Saturday against the Buffalo Bulls.
The Nittany Lions got back to dominating the opponent, putting 55 points on the board and giving Buffalo’s offense no room to breathe. However, there were some important changes to the roster and some key stats that the team still needs to improve in.
It’s clear that this team is much better than it was projected to be earlier in the summer, so they need to start approaching these games like they are a true contender. Teams of that caliber get judged much harder than most, so Penn State needs to be on its A-game going forward.
Let’s look at five stories to watch this week as the team prepares for the real season to start with Big Ten competition.
Running back committee
This last game against Buffalo saw Penn State use a different snap distribution in the running back room. After Carson Hansen received the bulk of the starter carries over the first two weeks, he took a back seat to James Peoples and Quinton Martin Jr. on Saturday.
It’s unclear if this is a permanent change or just something that the coaching staff wanted to experiment with, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on. Peoples and Martin Jr. had a ton of juice in the run game against Buffalo, so it wouldn’t be surprising if their increased snap shares continue.
Messy play
Despite winning by 42 points this past weekend, head coach Matt Campbell wasn’t completely satisfied with the performance. When asked what he thought about the game his team played immediately after it ended, the former Iowa State man made it clear that there was still progress to be made.
He highlighted the alarming number of penalties (eight for 96 yards) and explained that they’ll need to improve in that area going forward. Campbell seems like a player’s coach, but also someone who will hold his guys accountable and make sure they’re not comfortable with their work regardless of what it looks like on the scoreboard.
The Nittany Lions begin Big Ten play this weekend, so focus on how detailed and prepared the team is against Wisconsin.
Pass rush
Penn State’s pass rush needed to step up with defensive end Max Granville out for the season, and that’s exactly what it did. While the unit only produced one sack, they had a ton of pressure on Bulls quarterback Jason Wright all day. One of the main culprits was defensive end Alexander McPherson, who stepped up after Granville’s injury.
He had three tackles in Week 3 and had two impressive pass rushes where he forced Wright to throw the ball away. Buffalo’s quarterback is pretty slippery, so those great reps should eventually translate into sacks. McPherson and the rest of his teammates on the defensive line should only get better as they gain more chemistry and experience together.
Full steam ahead
Big Ten competition is finally here, and the Nittany Lions need to get ready for a battle. With a ton of Iowa State transfers on the roster, the established Penn Staters should provide a shoulder to lean on.
The Cyclones players have played against Big Ten teams before, but they’ve never had to go through a gauntlet of games that lasts multiple months. This conference is known to be more physical and have better defenses than much of the nation, so it’s something the team needs to be weary of.
Men amongst boys
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht entered this season as one of the most experienced players in college football. After four years at Iowa State, more than 1,000 pass attempts and over 10,000 passing yards, he’s seen just about everything defenses have to throw at him.
He’s been everything he was promised to be so far, with 751 passing yards and nine touchdowns through three games. He hasn’t been flawless, but he’s yet to turn the ball over and has played an efficient brand of football that has allowed him and the offense to remain on the field.
There was a lot of change for Penn State heading into this season, so thankfully Becht has been able to keep everything steady. It may be his first year at State College, but he’s been through this process multiple times, and he’s showing exactly how important that experience has been so far.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 5 things to watch as Penn State heads into Big Ten play
