Old-school Paterno needs new approach to offense

Sporting News, The, Dec 11, 2000 by Tom Dienhart

If you want to travel back in time, there's no need to hop in a DeLorean. Simply get in your DeSoto and drive to State College, Pa., home of Penn State. Check out how the school pitches the city. Cue the black-and-white film:

"Trees and greenery envelope the stately fraternity houses along Fraternity Row and the surrounding residential areas. Quaint shops and popular restaurants and taverns share the cozy downtown area with students' favorite fast-food stops, contemporary stores and gathering spots. And it all lies in the shadow of the legendary Mount Nittany in what is affectionately known as Happy Valley."

After hearing that, the freshmen who arrive on campus probably expect a white picket fence around their dorm and June Cleaver to come waltzing through the front door with a pitcher of iced tea. You'd swear the only microchips there are the ones on grandma's Fiestaware.

It's the perfect place for Joe Paterno. He likes keeping today at arm's length and tomorrow locked behind a door. Although State College can remain timeless, Paterno must face the future. Then again, maybe not--Paterno has 322 career victories in 35 seasons. And now the future--incorporating elements of the spread offense--is almost the past. The attack already has taken over traditionally run-oriented programs at Oklahoma, Texas and Clemson.

But because Paterno's business is football, and business isn't good, he must tweak his offense. It would be fine to break the glass and pick up the phone to ask Randy Walker, Joe Tiller, Tommy Bowden or even Lloyd Carr for help, Joe. This is an emergency.

Penn State finished 5-7--Paterno's first seven-loss season at the school. The program, with only six wins in its last 16 games, is missing the post-season for the first time since 1988. "One thing after another happens to you, and every once in a while you sit back and say, `Hey, what's going on?' "Paterno says. "It would be very unnatural for you not to do that."

The offense was supposed to be the team's strength in 2000. Seven starters (not including quarterback Rashard Casey, though he played a lot in 1999) returned from an attack that averaged 32 points. That total dropped to 22 this season, and the average yards per game fell from 417 to 326.

Some whisper--very softly--that quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno, who ascended rapidly, might be in over his head. Joe's son was promoted from recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach in one of several staff shake-ups after the 1999 season.

Regardless of whether Jay Paterno knows what he's doing, no one on the staff was helped by a play-calling system that could be dubbed dubious. Fran Ganter is the offensive coordinator, and despite 31 years on the staff, he calls only running plays. Paterno calls passing plays. Did someone attend Mike DuBose's coaching clinic?

With Casey's athletic skill, Penn State had the perfect weapon to open up things. Instead, Joe Paterno homogenized Casey. Paterno couldn't see the wondrous possibilities of Casey being Casey, instead seeing a player who might break from the script. But there were glimpses of hope. With the season all but wrecked after a 1-4 start, Casey began to work out of the shotgun formation against Purdue. He was successful, and the Lions pulled off the upset.

Unleashed three weeks later against Illinois, Casey soared again. He best took advantage of his skills when he was on the move. It also gave him a head start to avoid the missed block that occurred every play behind the worst offensive line in the Big Ten.

Granted, the unit was wracked by injuries. Tackle Kareem McKenzie, center Joe Iorio and guard Jordan Caruso missed time. Guard Greg Ransom was redshirted to focus on academics. Eight starting configurations were tried, which isn't a recipe for cohesion. And some thought the line's weight-training techniques didn't lend themselves to the bumping-and-grinding play Paterno likes.

Penn State too often relapsed into smash-mouth mode and insisted on ramming the ball up the middle, especially in short-yardage situations. It rarely worked. Worst of all, the play-calling predictability caused some players to--gasp!--speak out. After a 24-6 home loss to Toledo, tailback Larry Johnson said, "Sometimes I don't even know what the play is, and I can sit there and guess the play."

A group of spotty receivers who were plagued with drops made opening up the offense dicey. The chief offender was Bryant Johnson, but the entire unit struggled. It hurt that Sam Crenshaw missed the season because of an injury, and Eddie Drummond wasn't 100 percent most of the time. Star high school receivers Titcus Pettigrew and Bruce Branch now are playing defensive back, a testament to their hands of stone. The tight end, Tony Stewart, was the top target.

The offense was as disappointing as the defense was decent. That unit, which lost nine starters after 1999, should be strong in 2001. Shamar Finney is emerging at linebacker, and Derek Wake is the next great one at the position. End Michael Haynes has the potential to be a pass-rushing demon.