Don’t call it a revenge game, but the Nittany Lions are looking to improve to 5-0 on the year and avenge a 2020 Week 1 loss to Indiana on Saturday night as Penn State faces the Hoosiers to get back into the thick of Big Ten play. Indiana isn’t quite as good as it was just a year ago but the Hoosiers are experienced and aren’t afraid of the big moment. Here are five things to keep an eye on as the Nittany Lions close out a four-week home stand.
Catch Those Picks:
Penn State has five interceptions this season which is just four behind the national lead but it’s hard to forget more than a few dropped ones along the way. Each of the past two weeks Penn State has had probable pick-six interceptions in the hands of a defender only for them to end up being dropped. Another interception was also taken off the board due to a penalty against Villanova which adds another to the missed opportunities column.
It’s hard to fault Penn State’s effort in coverage because the Nittany Lions are generating turnovers and interceptions [Penn State has 21 passes defended, 20th-best in the nation], but in a game like Saturday night’s against an Indiana team that likes to throw the ball – hanging on to the turnovers-that-should-have-been is crucial. Especially when you consider the Hoosiers have thrown six interceptions this year and that only four teams have thrown for more. Getting pressure on quarterback Michael Penix can go a long way here.
Start Better:
When Penn State faced Auburn under the lights it took the Nittany Lions a few series to find their footing. There’s nothing wrong with that, but against a Hoosier team that like to take shots down the field and isn’t afraid of the big moments, making sure to show up at kick will go a long way towards not facing an early deficit. At some point Penn State will once again face adversity – that’s just how it goes – but avoiding the somewhat self-inflicted wound of early game nerves can go a long way. Don’t have to score on the first drive, but just look like you’re ready for the moment.
Ground and Pound:
The question at this point isn’t so much if Penn State can establish a running game that is explosive and physical and becomes a big part of the offense but it’s going to be crucial to the Nittany Lions’ season to be able to convert short yardage situations. The Nittany Lions certainly wouldn’t turn down a big night on the ground, but Penn State’s offense isn’t trying to be a run-first team so success has a lot more to do with running well when you have to rather than the overall numbers at the end of the night. That being said, nobody is turning down chunk plays on the ground instead of 2.5 yards a carry.
Dress Rehearsal:
Penn State doesn’t have the luxury of looking past Indiana but at the end of the day a big meeting with Iowa next weekend looms large no matter what happens. The Nittany Lions have spent four-straight weeks at home, sleeping in their on beds and playing in front of their own crowd. It’s going to be much different in seven days time traveling to Iowa City. In turn Saturday night is a good dress rehearsal. Start well, avoid penalties, avoid turnovers, get just a little bit better. Is this the best Penn State has looked at year? If the answer is yes, or close to it, that’s a good sign after four weeks at home.
In and Out:
So far Penn State has avoided the injury bug – for the most part – and every week it can get in a game and get out of it with a win and with its health the better. It’s not as though injuries are anyone’s fault, but getting from the first quarter to the final horn [football doesn’t have a horn but just roll with it] the better off Penn State will be heading to Iowa City. The season is a marathon, and avoiding the injury tent is never a bad thing.
