Game Grades: Penn State vs. UMass
Quarterbacks: B+
Christian Hackenberg started the game off slow, like he has most games this season. His overall stat line was less than stellar. He completed just over 50% of his passes for 179 yards and no touchdowns. Still, in a game that was out of reach early, Hackenberg didn’t have to do much and therefore we can’t hold the below average stat totals against him. D.J. Crook came in to replace Hackenberg midway through the third quarter and completed 6 of 9 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Though the quarterbacks didn’t have much to do, as Penn State focused on the ground game, they played solid and did nothing to hurt the Nittany Lions.
Running Backs: A+
Finally. For the first time all year Penn State showed some prowess in the running game. They exploded, totaling 228 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. Akeel Lynch led the way with 81 yards on the ground. Bill Belton chipped in 76 and Zach Zwinak had 28 yards. Belton and Zwinak had two scores on the ground while Lynch accounted for the other rushing score. In a game where Penn State fans expected a better run attack, Penn State delivered. After averaging less than two yards a carry against Rutgers, the Nittany Lions averaged 5.1 yards per carry against Umass. Although Umass’ defense is less than stellar, this outburst may be just be what the doctor ordered for Penn State in terms of getting the running game going.
Wide Recievers/Tight Ends: A
It’s hard to grade this unit this week just based on the fact that they really had nothing to do. The passing game took a back seat and therefore the receivers had little asked of them. Geno Lewis led the way once again with five catches for 82 yards. He also made a fantastic grab along the side lines during the second quarter, setting up a Zach Zwinak touchdown. Similar to the receivers, the tight ends saw little work, but made the most of their opportunities when the ball was thrown to them. Hackenberg has a solid group to throw to and they will certainly play a bigger role in many of the games later on in Penn States schedule.
Offensive Line: A
Give them a round of applause. The unit that has been under the most scrutiny for the whole season finally had a good game. The line protected Hackeneberg well, and opened up many holes for the running game. You can’t have 228 yards rushing without some very good offensive line play, and that’s exactly what Penn State got. Much like the running backs, the line can use this success as a catalyst for the rest of the season. Though they still have a long way to go before they establish themselves as a consistent unit, this game was definitely a big step in the right direction.
Defensive Line: A+
As they have been all year, the defensive line was again a strong point for Penn State. They totaled three sacks and forced three fumbles, although only one was recovered by Penn State. The line absolutely shut down the run, holding Umass to three yards for the whole game. Quarterback Blake Fronaphel was all over the place and could not stay comfortable in the pocket due to the constant pressure from the Penn State line. Don’t expect the unit to always hold opponents to three yards in a game, but once again they were awfully impressive in a Penn State win.
Linebackers/Safeties: A
The linebackers and safeties played almost as well as the defensive line. They contributed to the constant pressure that Penn State applied on the Umass offensive line and Fronaphel. They did give up 263 yards through the air, including a 77 yard touchdown throw to Tajae Sharpe in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. Still, other than that big play the linebackers and safety’s played very well.
Special Teams: A
Sam Ficken was perfect once again. He made two field goals in the first quarter while Penn State was still figuring things out offensively. He also made all six extra points he attempted. The rest of the special teams units were solid also. The punt and kick return coverage was fantastic all game and Daniel Pasquariello had two good punts as well, including one inside the 20.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/PennLive.com, Joe Hermitt)
Jack Milewski is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. You can contact him by emailing jbm250@psu.edu.
