ALTOONA, Pa. -- Winless through two games for the first time since 2012 and unranked for the first time since 2016, Penn State is struggling to find any sort of identity during the 2020 season.
The Nittany Lions' identity most closely resembles a teenager, a severe lack of confidence, zero self-awareness and mental mistakes at the worst of times. Mind you, this is a team ranked in the top 10 to begin the season until a loss in overtime at Indiana dropped Penn State to No. 18. Penn State then fell out of the top 25 with Saturday's loss to No. 3 Ohio State.
At times, both sides of the football look as if football has been a foreign concept this season. Offensively, there's been zero groove or rhythm for Penn State through much fo the first two games. The fourth quarter against the Buckeyes was the first semblance of a rhythm the Nittany Lions showed in their first two games.
Sean Clifford was getting the ball to playmakers like Jahan Dotson and Penn State was able to put points on the board against a quality Ohio State defense. Against Indiana and early on against the Buckeyes, Clifford and company looked like a shell of themselves, struggling mightily to move the ball and get it into the end zone.
It's not the first time a James Franklin-led team has struggled out of the gate with a new offensive coordinator; under Joe Moorhead in 2016, the Nittany Lions went 2-2 to start the season, with road losses to Pitt and Michigan. Chants to fire Franklin were ringing through Beaver Stadium the following week during a game against Minnesota before Penn State rattled off nine victories in a row prior to losing to USC in the Rose Bowl.
That offense featured a multitude of future NFL starters in Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay), Saquon Barkley (New York Giants), DaeSean Hamilton (Denver) and Mike Gesicki (Miami), with Trace McSorley at quarterback. This year's edition doesn't quite seem to have that type of firepower, especially at the receiver position, which has long been a focal point for first-year offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca.
Ciarrocca has been known for offensive schemes that get the ball to playmakers and move down the field with ease. That was apparent in the performance of wide receiver Tyler Johnson, who played for Ciarrocca at Minnesota for three seasons.
In Ciarrocca's offense, Johnson put up incredible numbers, with back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons. He amassed 1,169 and 1,318 yards, respectively, in his final two years with the Golden Gophers. Those numbers led to Johnson being selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Of course, Penn State lost a big-time playmaker in KJ Hamler to the NFL and former five-star receiver Justin Shorter transferred to Florida, leaving the wide receiver room shorthanded. Also gone is wide receivers coach Gerad Parker, who left to become offensive coordinator position at West Virginia.
Having a group of unproven receivers is far from ideal, but Saturday night, the Nittany Lions got a preview of what could possibly come should the offense open up and get the ball to their play makers, as Dotson had a three-touchdown, 144-yard performance and freshman Parker Washington added 73 yards. Not quite like Johnson just yet, but definitely on what could be the right track if Penn State can figure it out offensively.
The flow of the game on offense has been predicated on run-pass-options, and it has been nearly disastrous in getting the offense into any type of rhythm. Too many times in the first half runs with Clifford were called, and with the front the Buckeyes have, it's no surprise the Nittany Lions weren't able to move the ball on the ground.
Franklin has long said the key to getting Clifford going is by calling designed runs early in the game, which might be true, but getting the offense going might be just slightly more important early in the game. Along with that, Clifford has shown a weariness in the pocket when faced with a pass rush. Often against Ohio State, Clifford would feel pressure and begin to run with the ball rather than move and find an open target downfield.
The relationship between Clifford and tight end Pat Freiermuth has been largely non-existent, with the duo combining for only 106 yards and a touchdown, with no reception longer than 19 yards. Freiermuth was a top target for Clifford last season as the duo combined for 507 yards and seven touchdowns.
Early struggles aren't surprising for Penn State, given the circumstances surrounding the new offense and the delay in the season. In a normal year, the Nittany Lions would have opened up with Kent State before playing Virginia Tech and San Jose State. Instead, they opened against a quality Indiana team and third-ranked Ohio State.
Now, instead of looking at improving a bowl resume, Penn State is searching for not only its first win, but also an offensive identity. As those watching saw last Saturday, the pieces are there. it's up to the coaches to put them in the right position to succeed. Getting the ball to playmakers and down the field -- and doing it consistently -- will be key against Maryland.
The Nittany Lions have outscored the Terrapins, 163-6, over the past three games between the two teams and a win Saturday could be the springboard Penn State desperately needs to turn its season around.