Perched in the press box Saturday afternoon with Penn State’s game on the line, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki continued to learn more about quarterback Drew Allar.
This was far from a perfect performance as Penn State overcame a 20-6 halftime deficit to leave the L.A. Memorial Coliseum with a 33-30 overtime victory over USC. But when the Nittany Lions needed a game-tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, Kotelnicki wasn’t afraid to call the same play that ended with an Allar interception earlier in the game. This time, the quarterback hit a wide-open Nick Singleton, who scampered in for a touchdown to tie the game. That moment, capping a drive that included a pair of fourth-down conversions, embodied who and what Penn State’s quarterback can be.
“For him to come back and us to go back to him I think shows our belief in him and being able to go through and grow and develop and execute whatever is dialed up,” Kotelnicki said Wednesday. “I’ve been super pleased with his development and growth. I think fundamentally it all just goes down to him wanting to get better.”
Kotelnicki and defensive coordinator Tom Allen met with reporters Wednesday on Zoom, their first time fielding questions since the preseason. It wraps up Penn State’s media sessions for the week as the team heads into the second idle week. Here’s what stood out from their sessions:
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1. Kotelnicki called the double pass that tight end Tyler Warren caught for a touchdown early in the second half “an evolution of a bunch of different thoughts.” Kotelnicki laughed and said yes, it was definitely the kind of football play one would’ve drawn up in the backyard as a kid. That play was also a testament to what Warren can do. He snapped the ball and also hauled in a crazy-impressive catch.
“He’s been elite,” Kotelnicki said.
2. As Kotelnicki saw the depth Penn State was building on the offensive line he wondered if there was a way he could get 6-foot-4, 348-pound Vega Ioane more involved. Kotelnicki asked Ioane for his thoughts about going in motion. Ioane was intrigued. He’s been lining up at fullback, going in motion and leveling opponents ever since.
“I couldn’t be more proud because we’re putting him in some unique situations and asking him to line up outside and do all that kind of stuff and come in motion,” Kotelnicki said. “It’s just another example of how we’re going to utilize our best players. He’s one of them.”
3. Backup quarterback Beau Pribula has appeared in every game. Kotelnicki said Pribula’s usage is “probably on par” with what the staff envisioned coming into the season.
4. Stalling out twice in the red zone in the first half at USC would have been more of a talking point this week had Penn State lost the game. Kotelnicki said he doesn’t look back at the first half and feel like it was “out of control” or that there’s any reason to panic.
“It maybe just came down to executing or maybe one play call here that could’ve been better to keep us on the field, or one penalty that took us out of whatever it might’ve been, maybe scoring position,” he said.
Penn State had a touchdown taken off the board because of an offensive pass interference penalty, but it was still one of the Nittany Lions’ most creative opening drives in years.
“I never felt like oh man, this plan sucks after the first drive,” Kotelnicki said of the USC game. “It’s always one snap. Maybe it’s one little thing within a snap. Maybe it’s a poor call. Maybe we just didn’t block it quite right or whatever, but never felt out of control in that there’s reason for concern.”
5. Allen moved from the sideline to the booth after the Bowling Green game. He said he was skeptical at first when Franklin approached him with the idea because he worried he’d be emotionally detached upstairs. But he recognized some in-game communication issues could be improved if he were in the box. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter moved down to the sideline so Allen could make the change.
“I can honestly tell you I feel so much better about what I can see,” Allen said. “Being upstairs helps me a lot to counter some of those things that offenses can do.”
Allen plans to stay upstairs for the rest of the season.
Allen also has handed off the in-game communication with the middle linebacker — now allowed until 15 seconds remain on the play clock — to analyst Dan Connor.
6. Building depth at linebacker and making sure the reserves take more reps in practice is a top priority during this second idle week, Allen said. It’s no secret Penn State is thin beyond Kobe King and Tony Rojas. Allen said King is playing at a “super high” level while Rojas, a sophomore, still has room for growth. Players such as Tyler Elsdon, Ta’Mere Robinson and DaKaari Nelson are among the next group that Penn State needs more from.
“We gotta get some of these younger guys to step up and elevate their play and create the depth that you’re talking about that we know we have to have moving forward,” Allen said. “I feel like the group has performed well, but we need more depth. We need more guys stepping up, more guys making plays, more guys that we can rotate in there that are gonna be able to play at a high level.”
Allen said Rojas’ inconsistency is something the staff is focused on improving. He can make the splash plays — and Allen said his tackling has improved — but he’s still a second-year player.
“I just love his mindset,” Allen said. “Kobe’s doing a great job mentoring him. Dom (DeLuca) brings a lot of experience to that group as well. Just showing him how to prepare, how to study film. … Sky is the limit. He can be as great as he wants to be because he’s got size and speed.”
7. We now have a half-season sample of Abdul Carter playing at defensive end. Carter has four sacks, 9 ½ tackles for loss (tops in the Big Ten) and a forced fumble. USC’s approach of keeping a tight end in to help the offensive tackle on Carter was another good reminder of his value. Teams are getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid pressure from Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
“His comfort level at edge or defensive end is growing each week,” Allen said of Carter. “He’s been very impactful: TFLs, sacks, just doing a great job of making offenses account for him in every way and having specific game plans to block him, which is pretty obvious. … Dani has really created some kinds of similar reactions.”
8. Allen understands that given all the discussion about the defensive ends, it’s easy to forget about the kind of season defensive tackle Zane Durant is putting together. Durant’s play hasn’t been lost on those in the building.
“He’s a powerful, twitchy, explosive player and his best quality is his motor,” Allen said. “And, it’s every day. And people don’t see that. He’s the alpha male, one of the alpha males on our entire defense. He’s going to dominate who is across from him every single snap no matter what the call is. You better double-team that guy and have the answer for him and know where he’s at as well. Just another piece that creates issues for the offense.”
(Photo of Tom Allen: Matthew O’Haren / Imagn Images)
