What is PSU’s best formula

for beating Ohio State?

By Cory Giger

sports@altoonamirror.com

Everybody keeps heaping all kinds of praise on Andy Kotelnicki as an offensive coordinator. Be that as it may, he needs to be doing his job better in the first half.

The Lions scored seven points in the first half against Illinois (tied 7-7 at the break).

They scored six points in the first half at USC (trailed 20-6). Kotelnicki’s incredibly creative playcalling on the first series of that game was masterful, but it only produced a field goal, and the offense managed just three more points in the half.

Then the Lions scored just seven points in the first half at Wisconsin (trailed 10-7).

For all the great things we can say about Penn State being undefeated, ranked No. 3 and vying to be a legitimate national title contender, there is still something very wrong about the slow starts.

How? Why? What the h***!!!!!

The Lions have been able to get away with the slow starts against significantly lesser competition, playing one ranked team so far (Illinois).

But scoring six or seven points in the first half isn’t going to cut it against Ohio State. You fall behind against the Buckeyes, and chances are, you’re not coming back.

Kotelnicki is clever and creative and yada, yada, yada … but there is no way in the world that the No. 3 team in the country should be going into the locker room at the half with seven points or less for three out of the past four games.

It’s going to be very, very difficult scoring against Ohio State. It always is.

What I want to see Saturday is for the offense to at least be competent early. Move the ball. Have some chances to score. Gain confidence and show Ohio State that the offense is for real, unlike last year’s debacle in Columbus.

The problem with all this is the uncertainty at quarterback, with Drew Allar coming back from a left knee injury and missing the second half at Wisconsin.

If Allar is at least 90 percent, then he should start Saturday. If he’s not 90 percent, then Beau Pribula should be the guy.

No matter what, Pribula absolutely must be a big part of the game plan.

I was very impressed by how he threw the ball at Wisconsin. If you just assume he’s going to run when he’s in the game, then he becomes easier to defend. But if there’s always a threat that he could throw, then he could be a very dangerous weapon, regardless of whether Allar is healthy or not.

Kotelnicki’s offense is better suited for a mobile QB like Pribula, as opposed to a pocket passer like Allar. I’m not going to advocate for Pribula starting over a healthy Allar, but against this opponent and great defense, utilizing Pribula in a multitude of ways should be the way to go.

Ultimately, I’m not sure all of this will matter, since I’m picking Ohio State to win, 30-20. I just don’t fully believe in the PSU defense against a good passing opponent, so I see the Buckeyes scoring a good bit.

For the Lions to win, the offense is going to have to pick up a lot of the slack. And waiting until the second half to do so simply won’t work.

Cory Giger is the host of “Sports Central” weekdays from 4-5 on HANK-FM 96.1