High on the quarterback; defense not quite there yet at Penn State
PSU Point/Counterpoint: What are you most optimistic and pessimistic about so far?
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Football obviously starts with the quarterback so the optimistic portion of today's exercise is easy.
Rocco Becht has been all that was advertised so far.
He's completing 75.6% of his passes for 539 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions, and he's been exceptional at gunning the ball into tight windows.
One of the statistics on which quarterbacks are judged is yards per attempt. Becht's is 11.9. The PSU season record (set in 1994 by Kerry Collins) is 10.1.
Becht has managed the line of scrimmage with precision, and his leadership and popularity with teammates -- despite transferring from Iowa State and not knowing all of them too well -- has been on display.
When he absorbed a late hit out of bounds Saturday at Temple, several immediately rushed to his defense.
Granted, the sample size (just two games) is small and the quality of competition will increase (starting next week after Saturday's scrimmage with Buffalo) but barring injury, Becht has shown quarterback is not a position Matt Campbell needs to worry about.
At least not this year.
Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser said of Becht on Tuesday, "He's been one of our best players -- if not the best -- on the team."
As for being pessimistic -- and, again, it's still early -- some might point to the running game, which hasn't been dominant and may still be looking for its best tailback, although Carson Hansen has gotten the majority of the carries.
But between Hansen, James Peoples and Quinton Martin, there's enough talent at the position that it should be OK.
So I'm going to focus on the defense, which was at times disappointing in the 27-9 win over Temple and raised concerns.
Yes, it only allowed nine points, including a late TD, but look closer and you'll see lack of contain by the defensive ends, lack of a dominant pass rusher and some missed open-field tackles.
Losing defensive end Max Granville for the season won't help.
Temple converted three of its four third downs in the first quarter to help the Owls eat up some clock and stay in the game much longer than expected.
That's one reason the Lions only ran 61 plays at Temple -- 11 fewer than they did vs. Marshall.
The Owls also rushed for 176 yards despite missing four offensive linemen.
That should raise eyebrows since the physical challenge against the Big Ten -- starting with the conference opener vs. Wisconsin -- will only increase.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.