STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Sure, Penn State's new offensive coordinator, Ricky Rahne, will be without Saquon Barkley, Mike Gesicki and DaeSean Hamilton, all heading to the NFL. The Nittany Lions do, however, return an experienced offensive line and quarterback Trace McSorley for 2018.
Fans got a taste of Rahne's play calling in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, a 35-28 victory over Washington which saw the offense stay true to its strengths, making quality zone reads and advancing to the next level quickly.
Rahne, hired after Joe Moorhead left to become head coach at Mississippi State, is no stranger to calling offenses and coaching quarterbacks. He played the position himself at Cornell and ran the offense for the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl.
In the Blue-White game this spring, Rahne's offense was straightforward. However, it did serve as a microcosm of what's to come from the first- year offensive coordinator. He demonstrated a knack for calling the same play multiple times, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Why?
"Because it works," Rahne said following the Blue-White game. "If you go back to our bowl game, there's a lot of plays we ran multiple times, just because of the plan, looked at the people we were playing against, so I just need to make sure I don't get bored."
Moorhead took the offense to new heights in his two seasons, reaching 6,056-total yards in 14 games in 2016 and 5,984 total yards in 13 games during the 2017 season. The year prior to Moorhead's arrival, Penn State accumulated 4,532 yards.
For Rahne to continue to evolve the offense, it will require his own stamp on the offense and maximizing the players he's got.
“They know that I’m going to be myself, and I think that’s one thing that’s helped me in this profession, always being myself," Rahne said. "I’m not going to change and try to act like somebody I’m not so I think our players respond to that. They respond to people being genuine and they always have, so I think that’s where I’m probably doing the best right now.”
Here are five ways Rahne can maximize the Penn State offense:
1. Use McSorley's legs as a decoy to open up the passing game.
The biggest plus for the Penn State offense in 2018 is the return of redshirt senior McSorley.
McSorley, ever the dual threat, threw for 3,570 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 491 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2017, but he will have to run the offense without Barkley for the first time. As a result, opposing defenses can key on him more.
That said, having multiple weapons bodes well for the evolution of Rahne and the offense. Penn State's offense is based on reads, and many time last year McSorley would tuck the ball and scamper through the line and upfield. Knowing McSorley can run should create a linebacker spying, and that could open up the second level of the field for McSorley to find deep threats DeAndre Thompkins and Juwan Johnson.
#PennState WR Juwan Johnson. Future NFL Starter.
He's better than Chris Godwin. Special talent.
His three final drive catches against Iowa. pic.twitter.com/D7Hw3HacBb
— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) September 28, 2017
2. Use the strength and depth of the offensive line to control the running game.
Penn State returns every starter on the offensive line aside from Brendan Mahon, who's currently with the Carolina Panthers.
Steven Gonzales anchors the line at left guard and was given the highest pass blocking grade among Power-5 conference guards from Pro Football Football focus with an 86.6.
While that grade is for pass blocking, it's run blocking where the Nittany Lions will see the biggest upgrade from an offensive line and is two-deep and experienced at all positions along the line.
The line will be tasked to create holes for a stable of athletic backs featuring McSorley, but also Mark Allen and Miles Sanders. For the first time since 2013, Penn State has an experienced offensive line and that alone should set the offense up nicely for success in the running game even with out Barkley.
3. Utilize the length/speed of receivers to lengthen and open up the middle of the field.
Losing big-game players in Hamilton and Saeed Blacknall will not be as tough as many think for Rahne and company as the Nittany Lions return experienced receivers with length and speed in 2018. Thompkins and Johnson can use their length and speed as the offense looks to spread the field and get players into open spaces, and McSorley often throws jump balls deep to his receivers.
Having Thompkins and Johnson out wide opens up the middle of the field for McSorley to find a plethora of targets in the speedy KJ Hamler, the experienced Brandon Polk and Blue-White game standout Mac Hippenhammer.
Penn State also has talented receivers arriving in August for camp, with Brandon Clark and Jahan Dotson, both of whom started for Team Pennsylvania in the Big 33 Football Classic.
Rahne has a wide receiver group with talent, speed, hands and experience, and letting them spread the field will open up other opportunities across the middle and near the sidelines.
4. Call the game to maximize strengths and mismatches.
Rahne is not afraid to use the same play more than once which means being able to exploit offensive mismatches will be the bread and butter of the Penn State offense this season.
With length and speed outside the hashes, quick feet and power at the running back position and a quarterback who's savvy both in and out of the pocket, Rahne has a lot of weapons at his disposal.
Taking advantage of mismatches and not being afraid to continuously go to the same play when it's working will work for Rahne in non-conference play especially. When the Nittany Lions hit the Big Ten part of their schedule, diagnosing mismatches and advantages will be even more necessary.
With depth on the offensive side of the ball sans the tight end position, Rahne will be able to use a multitude of potential mismatches and size advantages when Penn State is on offense.
5. Open up the Tommy Stevens package.
Stevens is an ace in the hole for the Nittany Lions. He was used in several roles last season with the last of which being his primary position, quarterback. In 2017 as a redshirt junior, he up at running back, receiver and quarterback. His ability to run, good hands and being able to throw the ball allows Rahne to maximize Stevens' talents.
Penn State Play of the Year Round 2:
(2) - Saquon Barkley TD Run against USC
(10) - Tommy Stevens TD Run against Iowa pic.twitter.com/2wWS74vPfp
— Penn State Recruitin (@PSU_Recruiting) February 26, 2017
Being able to line Stevens up in the backfield at running back, out wide at receiver or quarterback give Rahne the ability to use Stevens as both a playmaker and decoy.
Delving deeper into the Stevens package allows Rahne to get Stevens the ball, but it's as a decoy where his presence will be felt even more. Defenses will prepare accordingly which will mean when he's on the field they will often key on him in hopes of stifling plays before they can get started. That could open up other options for McSorley.
Having a versatile player such as Stevens will instantly allow Rahne the ability to keep defenses on their toes. And when executed well, an offense with multiple layers is never a bad thing.