The Nittany Lions are completing (and attempting) fewer deep passes than ever under James Franklin's command, but he doesn't seem concerned. What is he saving for (or hiding from) the Buckeyes?
Jimmy WatkinsCLEVELAND, Ohio -- On his second dropback of the season, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar teased the talent that Penn State fans had been waiting so long to see.
In fact, he’s only attempted 11 such passes all season, which ranks 14th in a conference that fields 14 teams. Only 27.6% of Allar’s passes have traveled over 10 air yards, which ranks 16th among qualified Big Ten quarterbacks . And Franklin’s offense, which has ranked top-10 nationally in 20-yard pass plays every season since PSU hired him in 2014, ranks 119th this season.
“That doesn’t mean that you’re not looking to improve in certain areas. But I think the Iowa game is a really good example. We went in at halftime and said, ‘Look, let’s not change who we are.’ And those runs in the first half that were going for three to four yards started to go for eight to 10 yards.
“You spend your whole career trying to get quarterbacks to take check downs,” Franklin said Wednesday. “Every quarterback wants to throw the corner route or the go route or the post. Who’s throwing check downs in their backyard?” What if Marvin Harrison catches a late touchdown and Penn State needs a quick answer? Franklin has never seen that Drew before. Penn State has been busy neglecting Allar’s golden shoulder.
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