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Run game, offensive line
mar otherwise good season
Let's start with the worst first and work up to the silver lining.
Of course, the negative would be the disappointment at Ohio State -- not so much the loss but the way the Nittany Lions couldn't function offensively.
That would be one, two, three and four on the worst moments of 2023 list.
Taking that out and drilling down further, I'd have to say the offensive line, which has not been close to dominant, thus too often keeping the running game, well, grounded.
Much was expected from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, billed prior to the season as the best running back tandem in the country.
It hasn't turned out that way.
Singleton rushed for 1061 in 13 games last year as a true freshman sensation with an extra gear.
Allen was the bull between the tackles and gained 867 yards.
Singleton averaged 6.8 yards per carry in 2022, but this season his average -- created by lack of running room -- has sunk to 4.1.
Allen has been the more effective back, but his average has also dipped from 5.2 to 4.6.
Much of this falls to the feet of the offensive line, which hasn't been as effective it was last year, apparently struggling to adequately replace center Juice Scruggs and tight end Brenton Strange, excellent blockers and a pair of NFL draft picks.
The line has protected Drew Allar reasonably well, but the Lions' lack of a deep passing game allows the defense to crowd the line of scrimmage and better defend the run.
Still, Singleton lived in the secondary last year, and the fact that this offense can't find ways to free him has been troubling.
There are other position problems -- certainly the receivers' inability to gain separation remains a significant issue -- but we knew that was a concern entering the season.
On the upside: Though James Franklin's inability to get over the hump against Ohio State has been well documented, this realistically was viewed as the beginning of a two-year window of potential Big Ten and College Football Playoff contention.
In that regard, Franklin and the Lions -- to this point, entering Saturday's game at Maryland, which could be a trouble spot -- have won the games they're supposed to win.
Most, excluding the post-Ohio State letdown against Indiana, have come decisively.
The Nits are 7-1, and considering Allar will be a year older in 2024, with plenty of returning talent around him, optimism should remain high, especially if the Lions can compete with and certainly if they can spring an upset against Michigan on Nov.11.
That's been the best part of this season -- that it's a good football team, a Top-10 team still chasing an elusive plateau while having built a program that's on solid ground.
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.