Tag: Andy Kotelnicki

What are the biggest midseason surprises for Penn State football?

What has been the biggest surprise for Penn State football at the midseason point?

Penn State has completed the first half of the regular season and finds itself sitting in a great spot on its quest to compete in this year expanded College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions sit at no. 3 in the major polls during their bye week as they prepare for a road game at Wisconsin and a home game against Ohio State in the next couple of weeks.

With Penn State sitting on a bye week, we decided to get together as a staff and share some of our options on the Nittany Lions before the second half gets started. We shared our midseason assessments but continue with a look at the biggest surprise for Penn State so far this season.

Brad: There was a lot of hype coming into the year regarding how the offense would look under new offensive coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] as they tried to get the most out of five-star quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] who underwhelmed last season, and so far, I think everything has lived up to the hype. When the running backs are healthy, this rushing attack has been dominant.

Despite wide receivers still not jumping off the screen, Allar has been able to push the ball down the field as a result of the scheme. [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag], their best offensive weapon, is being used in ways that makes it hard for defenses to limit his damage. And there are explosive plays back in Happy Valley once again. It’s strange to say that the offense is the best unit on a Penn State team based on what has occurred the past few years, but that’s certainly the case with this group under Kotelnicki and Allar.

Charlie: The biggest surprise for me has been the offense. There were times last season where Penn State just struggled to find a rhythm and put together drives to win against high level opponents. The explosiveness and creativity is much more than what I ever imagined before the season started. Andy Kotelnicki’s has turned Tyler Warren into a the ultimate gadget player with some people even saying he is worth a look for the Heisman Trophy.

Anyone that tells you they expected this type of Tyler Warren in 2024 is lying. Penn State’s offense, unlike in past years, can carry this team. That alone makes their play the most surprising because Penn State has relied so heavily on its defense to bail them out and halfway through this year it seems to be the opposite.

Shayne: The offensive line has not been great through six games, despite so much success recruiting in that area. Losing three NFL-caliber players from last years group doesn’t help, but it’s still something they need to improve. Maybe we see more snaps for some of the reserves throughout the rest of the season.

Kevin: I was not sure the hiring of Andy Kotelnicki was going to have quite the impact it has seemed to have so far this season, or at least as quickly as it did. Yes, there have been some slow starts by the offense, which is equally puzzling and frustrating as it is disappointing. But it does seem this offense has improved in a big way with a more productive running game and big explosive plays happening far more frequently than they did all of last year.

Check out more of our midseason roundtable discussions: 

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Social media reacts to Penn State’s thrilling OT victory over USC

Here is how social media reacted to Penn State’s thriller against USC in Los Angeles.

It looked bleak at halftime, but Penn State managed to pick up a huge 33-30 overtime victory against the USC Trojans in Week 7. The game was full of big plays, turnovers, clutch fourth-down conversions, you name it. In a game that had everything, there were even some things you may not see anywhere else in college football this season.

USC kicked off the highlights with a 75-yard touchdown on a reverse by running back Quinten Joyner, the longest play allowed by Penn State all season. USC added to their lead by driving down the field for another touchdown to go up 14-3. The teams traded field goals before USC added another last-second field goal to go up 20-6 at the half.

Penn State rode Tyler Warren offensively all game, but he really took over in the third quarter. This trick play touchdown where he snapped the ball was the most spectacular, but he racked up 17 receptions for 224 yards overall on the day. Penn State would add another touchdown to their total on their next drive to tie the game at 20, and the teams once again traded field goals on their next scoring drives.

USC would drive the length of the field again to go up 30-23, only for Drew Allar to convert two fourth downs on the way to a tying touchdown of their own. After failed drives by each team, it went to overtime where USC missed their field goal attempt. After picking up a few yards for kicker Ryan Barker, he banged it home for the win. Let’s take a look at how social media reacted to the thriller in Los Angeles.

Safe to say Ryan Barker wasn’t too nervous for his game-winning kick

Someone clearly spoke to soon

Have a day, Tyler!

Coach Franklin didn’t seem too happy…

Kansas fans wishing Andy Kotelnicki was still around…

Plenty of love for Ryan Barker

Penn State’s newest offensive wrinkle is receiving national attention

Penn State’s hottest new offensive plays is turning heads around the Big Ten.

When Penn State hired Andy Kotelnicki to take over the role of offensive coordinator, it was expected the Nittany Lions would have some new tricks to unveil this season. In an attempt to inject some new juice into the offense after a lack of explosive plays last season, Kotelnicki has delivered with an uptick in big gain plays this season. However, one of the newest wrinkles seen in the Penn State offense is sending a certain player in motion before the snap.

While most teams will send a wide receiver or tight end in motion, Kotelnicki has a completely different idea. Penn State has been sending offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane in motion. The results have been fascinating to watch as Ioane creates an extra blocker no defensive player wants to go up against in that situation. He has been delivering a couple of big blocks that have not gone unnoticed.

One of the latest instances of Penn State sending Ioane in lotion led to some terrific social media reactions during the UCLA game, with the official Fox college football social media account loving every second of it.

The odds feel pretty good we will continue to see this play design in the coming weeks. Until somebody figures out how to combat it, it could become a key play in the playbook.

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Penn State’s Tyler Warren makes incredible one-hand catch against Kent State

Tyler Warren has been the focal point of Penn State’s passing attack this season, and this impressive catch shows exactly why.

Penn State tight end [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag] is one of the best players in the country at his position, and he showed it in Penn State’s last game against Bowling Green. He racked up 146 yards in that game and was a big part of the narrow 34-27 victory.

Warren could have taken his talents to the NFL after last season, but luckily for the Nittany Lions, he chose to stick around for his senior season. New offensive coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] didn’t have a weapon at tight end like Warren while at Kansas, but he seems to know how to get him involved early and often.

Warren has made a huge impact in the first half against Kent State, racking up 50 receiving yards and 16 rushing yards. He even threw a touchdown to Nick Singleton from the wildcat. His most impressive play, however, was this beautiful one-handed catch along the sideline.

https://twitter.com/BigTenNetwork/status/1837593098920042962

[autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] has been electric in his own right in the first half, but Warren helped him out on this play by reeling in his high throw with ease. Ball skills like that are hard to find at the tight end position, especially at the college level.

That combined with his strength and determination after the catch, and it’s no wonder why he is getting the ball so often early in the season. If Warren can continue to produce at the level he has to start the season, he could be a future first-round NFL draft pick and one of the best tight ends to come through Happy Valley.

USA TODAY writer: ‘After one week, Penn State looks like legitimate Big Ten threat’

USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg included Penn State among his Week 1 winners.

Penn State seemed to turn some heads and open some eyes around the college football world in Week 1. Penn State’s 34-12 road win at West Virginia was an encouraging performance and will hopefully serve as a preview of things to come this season after the offense opened things up and generated some of the big-gain plays that were rare to see a season ago.

Following the results of Week 1 around the nation, with just a couple more games still to officially go in the books, Penn State was among the teams earning high praise in the weekly roundup from USA TODAY college football writer Paul Myerberg. In Myerberg’s first weekly roundup of winners and losers from college football’s weekend action, Penn State was singled out as one of the top performers.

“The No. 9 Nittany Lions’ new-look offense delivered 457 yards on 7.6 yards per play, led by quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]’s 216 passing yards and three touchdowns on 13.1 yards per throw, in a 34-12 win at West Virginia,” Myereberg highlighted. “This a quick validation of James Franklin’s decision to hire coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag], who previously worked wonders in the same position at Kansas.”

Penn State had just eight plays of 40 yards or more last season. On Saturday against West Virginia, Penn State had four, with two in the air and two on the ground.

“The turning point was a late touchdown drive to end the first half, a 73-yard haul in just three plays to put Penn State in front 20-6 at the break,” Myerberg went on to say. “After an extended weather delay, the Nittany Lions tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the second half for a convincing road win against Power Four opponent.” After one week, the Nittany Lions look like a very legitimate Big Ten threat and one of the top contenders for the playoff.”

The expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12 was expected to benefit a team like Penn State, but the schedule opens up the possibility for Penn State to make a run for a spot in the Big Ten championship game. This opening road win sets the tone for that objective, but Penn State still has some more challenges to come on the road this season.

Penn State will get Ohio State and Washington at home, but the Nittany Lions will have to make road trips to USC and Wisconsin this season as well. It may have just been one week at West Virginia, but the Nittany Lions sure had the look of a legitimate Big Ten contender in Week 1.

Penn State will play its home opener in Week 2 on Saturday afternoon against Bowling Green. The game will air at noon Eastern on Big Ten Network.

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Most Valuable Player from Penn State’s opening victory vs. West Virginia

With so many worthy candidates, who was Penn State’s MVP of the West Virginia game?

Coming into Penn State’s season opener against West Virginia, there were a lot of people out there who were doubting the Nittany Lions and their offense based on what had occurred last year.

From prominent media members to even some in the fanbase, a lot of the reason for skepticism was centered around [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag].

Well, for at least game, he quieted the doubters.

There was always the possibility that he would grow and turn into the five-star type of player he was considered to be coming out of high school, and with new offensive coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] at the helm, this was his opportunity to prove he can be a high-level quarterback.

Allar was the catalyst for Penn State’s dominant 34-12 victory over West Virginia.

Because of that, he’s our most valuable player from Saturday.

Not only was he efficient, finish the game 11-17 for a 64.7 percent completion percentage, but he also showed his newfound willingness to push the ball down the field by throwing for 216 yards that was filled with multiple explosive plays.

Those are going to be the highlights, and rightfully so considering what was taking place last season, but he did a bunch of little things that made him look like a completely different player than the version from 2023-24.

When the pocket collapsed on him or if there wasn’t a receiver immediately open, Allar didn’t panic. Instead, he moved shifted around his offensive line to buy some more time, or he smartly decided to tuck the ball and run.

He finished with 44 rushing yards on six attempts, some of that coming on pivotal third downs.

Allar looked more mature, confident, and ready to lead this offense, a major component that was missing from his game, and the team as a whole, last season.

Again, how he played on Saturday was always something that was possible, especially when remembering what he did to West Virginia in the opener just last year.

It’s the consistency that was missing for Allar previously, but if this is the new version Penn State is getting at the quarterback position for the entire season, then they will be a College Football Playoff team for the first time, and this won’t be the last time their star quarterback wins the game’s MVP award.

James Franklin on big pass plays: ‘Ducks accepted, spirals preferred”

James Franklin shared his thoughts on the big play at the end of the first half at West Virginia.

Penn State came into the 2024 season wanting and needing to get more explosiveness out of the offense and passing game. It was only one game to start the season, but the new offense being managed by [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] delivered in a season-opening win at West Virginia.

In all, Penn State had 15 plays that gained 15 yards or more either on the ground or through the air (the 15 plays combined for 346 yards of offense). [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] broke loose for two runs of 40 yards, including one that went for a touchdown to open the second half.

But the biggest game changers came through the air, including [autotag]Omari Evans[/autotag] coming down with a football over the middle of the field late in the first half. Penn State looked like they were going to run out the final seconds late in the first half after West Virginia cut the lead to 13-6 with a field goal. After handing off to Singleton for a short gain, Penn State rushed the offense back to the line of scrimmage and [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag] unloaded a deep ball down the field in an attempt to catch West Virginia napping or grasping for a breather. The pass was a bit of a floater, but it worked and was followed up by a dart from Allar to [autotag]Harrison Wallace III[/autotag] for his second touchdown of the half (Wallace scored on a long pass play earlier in the second quarter too).

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“I thought Omari (Evans) coming back and making a play on that was huge,” Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] said in his postgame press conference following the 34-12 victory. “I think I said at halftime, ‘ducks accepted, spirals preferred’. I’ve chucked a bunch of those ducks up myself.”

Ducks accepted, spirals preferred. That’s a good way of looking at it. The timing of the deep pass caught by Evans is worth considering as well. It was a low-risk, high-reward situation for Penn State.

Had the ball been picked off by West Virginia, as floaters like that play in particular are most vulnerable to be, it might have been a low-risk, high reward situation West Virginia would have had roughly 10 seconds deep on their side of the field to try a Hail Mary play of their own, or simply take a knee and go to halftime down only 13-6.

But Penn State seized the moment and took a chance rolling the dice once more with a shot to the end zone. This time with a preferred spiral.

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ESPN says Penn State ‘in the running’ for playoff spot out of Big Ten

ESPN says Penn State has a shot at the College Football Playoff in 2024.

The new 12-team College Football Playoff format has opened the door for many programs that have been just outside the top four teams since it was introduced in 2014. Perhaps no team could benefit more than the Penn State Nittany Lions.

They have finished inside the top 12 teams six times under the guidance of coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag], and they have the roster talent needed to be that highly ranked once again in 2024. ESPN reporters Adam Rittenberg and Jake Trotter like their chances, naming them as a team “in the running” for a playoff spot in their recent Big Ten preview article.

They believe the key to a potential playoff appearance is unlocking QB [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag]’s immense potential, something new offensive coordinator [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] was brought in to do. Kotelnicki had a lot of success with his offenses at Kansas over the past two seasons, and he hopes to bring that success to Penn State.

By Kotelnicki’s own account, it seems Allar is embracing coaching and wants to do everything to get better.

 

That is all well and good, but Allar needs to show it on the field against tough opponents if he wants his improvement to matter. Penn State’s overall offensive numbers were excellent last season, but their output against ranked teams was putrid.

In their four games against ranked opponents, they scored just 20.75 points a game with a 1-3 record. In their other nine games, they scored over 43 points a game with a 9-0 record. It would be unrealistic to expect zero drop-off against good teams, but this big of a disparity is unacceptable.

If James Franklin wants to change the narrative about his tenure at Penn State, this year is his best chance to do so. If the Nittany Lions can make it into the playoff, they will have their first real shot at a title in the last 20 years. Here’s hoping he and his players are up for the challenge.

James Franklin sets the bar high for his squad at 2024 Big Ten media

James Franklin sets high expectations for his squad at 2024 Big Ten Media days

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] spoke to the media on Wednesday at Big Ten media day. He discussed the new Big Ten and how his team is shaping up for 2024.

With the expanded College Football Playoff coming into play this season, Penn State is one of the teams that should benefit the most. In his ten seasons in Happy Valley, Franklin’s Penn State squads have five 10-win seasons, making many view this season as a playoff spot or bust.

“We are one of the few programs in the country where you can win 10 or 11 games, and people are unhappy,” Franklin said at Big Ten media day. “We embrace that, and we are excited about those opportunities.”

Franklin and the Nittany Lions haven’t beaten Ohio State or Michigan since 2020 but will be able to face the Buckeyes on November 2 at Beaver Stadium. His record against the AP Top 10 is only 3-17 since he became Penn State’s coach, and that record will likely have to improve if the Nittany Lions want a playoff spot in December.

Related: Where Penn State lands in USA TODAY Sports 2024 Big Ten football preseason poll

Franklin also discussed his three new coordinators at length and what they mean for the team. [autotag]Andy Kotelnicki[/autotag] (offense), [autotag]Tom Allen[/autotag] (defense), and [autotag]Justin Lustig[/autotag] (special teams) are all in place to get Penn State to the next level.

“They chose Penn State just like I chose Penn State, to compete for championships,” said Franklin.

Penn State will likely look different in 2024, but Franklin repeatedly stressed on Wednesday that finding coaches who can adapt to what Penn State has already built was a significant factor. Week one at West Virginia will be the first look at how the Nittany Lions are set up to compete for a playoff spot in 2024.

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New Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki enters USC chess match

Andy Kotelnicki versus D’Anton Lynn is a fascinating coordinator matchup in the Penn State-USC clash.

When we consider the value of new Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki to the Nittany Lions, we start with a fundamental point: Kotelnicki, much like new USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, makes it a point of emphasis to tailor his scheme to the skill set of his personnel. He looks at what he has and then tries to fit his scheme to the kinds of players he sees on his roster. As Penn State and USC prepare to meet each other this October, Matt Zemek of Trojans Wire and Marty Leap from Happy Valley Insider on Rivals explained the eerie similarities between the two previous coordinators at PSU and USC. Former Nittany Lion offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich and former Trojan defensive coordinator Alex Grinch didn’t tailor their schemes to their players. They didn’t “let them do what they do best.”

This conversation on Andy Kotelnicki and the chess match against USC and D’Anton Lynn occurs at 3:12 in our USC-Penn State preview at The Voice of College Football:

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