Penn State rewind: Nittany Lions taking their shots off wheel routes

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State wanted to be more aggressive in the win against Indiana and for the most part they were.

Yes, the weather was significantly better than three of the four previous home games, but Penn State also trusted Christian Hackenberg to air it out and was prepared to live with the consequences. There weren’t many that No. 14 made them live with.

Dropped passes are still an issue as are sacks and with a game with top-ranked Ohio State this week Penn State needs to continue cleaning up both of those areas. Pass protection will be huge and while Penn State preached ball security all last week and running back Mark Allen is likely their best protector, Allen coughed up a fumble against Indiana, the first by a PSU running back this season.

Allen, who coaches and players say is never at a loss for words, was quickly yanked on the sideline by RB coach Charles Huff. The 5-foot-6 Allen later returned to the field. 

Again, there’s still a lot to clean up with the offense. But, there were more positives with this group than in previous weeks and let’s look back at some of them:

Wheeling and dealing

The speed sweeps create pause for the defense, James Franklin said and while freshman Brandon Polk has been the recipient of most of these sweeps, Polk’s role in the offense is expanding. 

“The guy can flat out run,” Franklin said. “The more things he gets confident with we can expand his role and become less predictable.”

Polk’s 39-yard touchdown off a wheel route was set up by the fake sweep and as the speedy freshman made his way back across the field to head out for the pass the defender make one wrong --and big-- step inside, allowing Polk to fly by him. It was just Polk’s second catch of the season and his first receiving touchdown of his career. As is important with any deep ball give a nod to the guys up front who gave Hackenberg plenty of time to step up and deliver. 

So, when Polk is in there could be a jet sweep, a fake jet sweep to a handoff or a pass, or now a fake sweep to a wheel route. Penn State is getting a little more creative here while continuing to work Polk in and utilize his speed. 

Working the ball deep to DaeSean Hamilton

Hackenberg wasn’t sharp on Penn State’s first two possessions, but then found Polk and started to settle in. Of course drops didn’t help Hack’s cause, but there were some (not all, but some) balls that he could’ve delivered a little better to make it a little easier on his targets.

This one to DaeSean Hamilton on Penn State’s first drive of the second quarter isn’t an automatic catch. Hamilton has separation as he comes back to the ball but can’t hold on as he’s falling to the ground. Tough catch to make, but one that Hamilton is capable of making. 

Mark Allen rebounded from his first-quarter fumble to reel off a 28-yard rush that started this second-quarter drive. Hackenberg hit receiver Chris Godwin on the next play for a pick up of 14 and after Allen lost one yard the Lions took a shot on 2nd and 11 from the Hoosiers’ 39 yard line.

“It was designed to do a little fake to Brandon Polk and him just wheel up the sideline and I run a post,” Hamilton said after the game. “I just went inside, ran my route to win and as soon as I beat the guy off the line I kind of knew that I’d probably be getting the ball because there’s a bit of man coverage and the safeties were sitting low. As soon as I stuck my post over the top I looked up and Hack threw a great ball for me to run under.”

Polk was open underneath too for what likely would’ve been a short gain.

Joey Julius missed the extra point, the first of two he missed before being replaced by fellow walk-on Tyler Davis.

Keeping this one himself

As mentioned above dropped passes are an issue. So, who can blame Hackenberg for keeping this one for himself when he had a clean path to the end zone? Yes, tight end Kyle Carter was wide open in front of him, but no need to complicate things no matter how much confidence he has in his teammates.

"Kyle was expecting me to throw it because that's what I usually do," Hackenberg said. "But it's a safer play, just make sure you get the ball in there."

What'd Carter, who looked frustrated at first, have to say after the game?

"We scored a touchdown so no matter what that's what it's all about," Carter said.

But he didn't look too happy at first.

"We scored a touchdown. We won the game. 7 points is 7 points," Carter added.

Except in this case it only ended up being six because of the Julius miss on the extra point.

Not all celebrations are created equal 

After Hackenberg’s first rushing touchdown the celebration with Nick Scott and tight end Mike Gesicki probably won’t make the highlight reel.

“I ran after him,” running back Nick Scott said. “He was so amped I don’t think we even made eye contact. I was trying to give him a chest bump and everything like that but yeah, he looked pretty goofy when he fell over [laughs]. I don’t know what was going on with him.” 

“I wasn't ready for it," Hackenberg said with a laugh. ”I was kind of out of breath. I didn't know what he was doing.“

After Hackenberg’s second rushing touchdown he barked at the opponent at his feet after diving in for the score. Surely it was a much safer option than the chest bump gone wrong. 

Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter @audsnyder4.