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What encouraged you the most about beating Purdue?
Encouragement and this season don't go together, but Penn State is willing to trade style points for victories -- no matter how they come.
That includes beating Purdue.
Over the years, the Boilermakers have been pretty much an automatic win for Penn State, and they remained that way this year.
The Lions have been the physically superior program, and to their credit, the coaching staff adjusted its mindset during the open date and emphasized better play in the trenches.
It's about time.
To me, the combination of unveiling Cam Wallace, better blocking up front and controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball was the most encouraging element of the Nittany Lions' first Big Ten win.
How well it continues in November will go a long way to determining the Nits' final record this year.
Until last week, Matt Campbell and his staff leaned into a four-tailback system, and although giving no carries to James People and Quintin Martin Jr. vs. Purdue -- both of whom showed potential -- at least a decision has been made, and it paid off.
Wallace rushed for 135 yards against Purdue, which has a weak run defense.
Carson Hansen, who the staff clearly trusts (he got the call on fourth-and-1 at the goal line) remains a solid part of the rotation, and he gained 96 yards last week.
Both also blocked well, picking up blitzes.
If that means Peoples and Martin -- whose dad got loose on Twitter earlier this season to express frustration -- that's unfortunate, but so be it.
The success started up front as the offensive line opened bigger running lanes than it has all season.
"Five worked as one today -- not just the five out there, but all 11 collectively," guard Cooper Cousins said. "Credit to our coaching staff these last two weeks. Throughout the year, we've talked about it, and we had to be about. Today, we were about it. We were doing what we were preaching and getting push."
It will need to continue as Rocco Becht and the passing game have not proven capable of carrying the offense.
It's long been said that a run game and defense travels, and the Lions have a challenging road assignment with a visit to Washington on Saturday (the Nits leave today).
Just as the offensive line and run game came out of last week with confidence, so, too, did their defensive front, which limited Purdue to 33 yards rushing and created enough pressure to force two interceptions.
That recipe would seem appropriate at Washington since the Huskies are last in the Big Ten in rushing and, though fourth in passing, have given up a league-high 26 sacks.
Although the Nits have not effectively rushed the passer this year, they were better against Purdue and finally got a sack out of a defensive lineman in a Big Ten game, an embarrassing stat that took five games.
They'll get their chance against the Huskies.
Coming off a win that featured needed physicality, the Lions can be encouraged that they have shown they can play defense and run the football -- two longtime Penn State staples.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.