VBR with a nice analysis of potential 2022 Oline starting lineup. EDIT: + Article on Tengwall

[GregInPitt]

Makes a good bit of sense.....

Olu Fashanu shined in Outback Bowl – does he have a starting role next season?

Penn State Football's offensive line has been a question mark throughout James Franklin's tenure and 2021 was no different, but 2022 may see improvement

victorybellrings.com

 

[Lacklions]

Makes a good bit of sense.....

Olu Fashanu shined in Outback Bowl – does he have a starting role next season?

Penn State Football's offensive line has been a question mark throughout James Franklin's tenure and 2021 was no different, but 2022 may see improvement

victorybellrings.com

I just wish there was another tackle to move Tengwall inside. I think he’ll be serviceable at tackle, but could be an all Big10 type player at guard.

 

[Bones80]

I thought there was a penalty against Olu in the second half?

 

[VaDave4PSU]

I thought there was a penalty against Olu in the second half?

He had a false start.

 

[Bvillebaron]

I just wish there was another tackle to move Tengwall inside. I think he’ll be serviceable at tackle, but could be an all Big10 type player at guard.

I agree. Maybe we can pick up a tackle in the portal.

 

[GregInPitt]

I just wish there was another tackle to move Tengwall inside. I think he’ll be serviceable at tackle, but could be an all Big10 type player at guard.

It does seem like Tengwall would be a mauler inside. But he also may be a mauler in the run game at OT, an he looked pretty good in his first game for 3/4 of the Rutgers game. It just seems that getting a replacement for Wallace, anyone that can play the position and not get beat pass blocking on every play, would be an improvement for 2022.

Lots of possibilities, such as a Portal OT, or another young player such as Christ this year. Or maybe Tengwall plays OT in 2022 and then moves inside when one of the 2022 OT's are ready in 2023.

After the last few year of non-existent run blocking, it would be great to see the OL improve yearly the next few years.......

 

[PSUFTG]

Makes a good bit of sense.....

Olu Fashanu shined in Outback Bowl – does he have a starting role next season?

Penn State Football's offensive line has been a question mark throughout James Franklin's tenure and 2021 was no different, but 2022 may see improvement

victorybellrings.com

All those guys were on last year's roster (2021) and three of them couldn't even win starting spots on the dumpster fire that was the 2021 offensive line (maybe Wormley was hurt).

That doesn't stoke a ton of optimism.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

All those guys were on last year's roster (2021) and three of them couldn't even win starting spots on the dumpster fire that was the 2021 offensive line (maybe Wormley was hurt).

That doesn't stoke a ton of optimism.

2 freshman and a sophomore not beating out 2 5th year and a 4th year guys (who many pegged as draft ready last year)....

So shocking. Did you think we were going to replace the whole line with true freshman?

 

[PSUFTG]

2 freshman and a sophomore not beating out 2 5th year and a 4th year guys (who many pegged as draft ready last year)....

So shocking. Did you think we were going to replace the whole line with true freshman?

Since there was only one freshman offensive lineman on the entire roster, and one lineman usually only plays one position at a time - no

My point was simply that when they best they could put out there last year was a five-lane turnstile, it might be a tad optimistic to expect that the same roster, even with another year of experience, would likely produce a strong offensive line.

Time will tell.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

Since there was only one freshman offensive lineman on the entire roster, and one lineman usually only plays one position at a time - no

My point was simply that when they best they could put out there last year was a five-lane turnstile, it might be a tad optimistic to expect that the same roster, even with another year of experience, would likely produce a strong offensive line.

Time will tell.

You may very well be right and our OL struggles again next year. However, your analysis is basically saying that outside of transfers and true freshman, we are doomed.

I disagree that our young OL can't improve just because they didn't beat out older OL.

 

[PSUFTG]

You may very well be right and our OL struggles again next year. However, your analysis is basically saying that outside of transfers and true freshman, we are doomed.

I disagree that our young OL can't improve just because they didn't beat out older OL.

I wouldn't say that at all. What I would think and expect is that given what transpired in 2021, it will likely be a much longer (time-wise) uphill trek to get to the point of having a quality offensive line. If 2021 happened due to a bunch of injuries or some such thing, I would probably feel differently - but that was mostly a healthy group, relatively speaking, throughout the year. And the performance was, frankly, consistently dreadful and showed no improvement from September to January.

A quality, experienced transfer in (or two) surely wouldn't hurt - but those types of guys are as rare as hen's teeth. I most certainly do not think "young OL can't improve" - in fact, I think that of any position on the field, the offensive line is one where you can usually expect marginal improvement over several years before a guy really tops out (which really made the play of a couple of last year's veterans - who seemed to regress rather than develop - so disappointing).

Of course, time will tell

 

[GregInPitt]

All those guys were on last year's roster (2021) and three of them couldn't even win starting spots on the dumpster fire that was the 2021 offensive line (maybe Wormley was hurt).

That doesn't stoke a ton of optimism.

Yep, but oline is the position where players are least ready to play coming out of high school and that in most cases take the longest to develop.

Combined with Franklin's track record of over-loyalty to upper classmen gives a glimmer of hope for at least minimal progress with the Ol......

 

[WeAre]

Interestingly, this projection has 2 RS Freshmen as the starting tackles, 2 RS Sophs as the starting guards, and a RS Junior as the OC. What would be very interesting is if they gel, they could all return for 2023 as returning starters. If you look at the TE group, 2 will be JRs next year and 1 a Soph. So all of the TEs could return as well.

Whichever QB wins the job after a 6th year of Clifford (or wins it part way through the year), should have some awesome continuity and hopefully that means much improved protection by the time they take the helm.

Now looking at the skill players, it's safe to say there is some serious talent that will return for that '23 offense as well. We know Tinsley will move on and maybe Cain or Lee. Don't know for sure if Washington returns for his Sr year yet but they should also have Lambert-Smith, Meiga, and whomever emerges from Dottin, Clifford, Harrison, Saunders, Ivey, Flowers, Driver, and Evans plus any '23 true freshmen. At RB you have whomever remains from Cain, Lee, Ford and Holmes but now add Singleton, Allen, and any '23 true freshmen.

 

[Tgar]

Which one of these guys is going to be able to pull and level players at the edge?

Which lineman can actually move well enough and be physical enough to get to the second level?

And, will they run a scheme where these guys know every play whether it’s a run or pass?

 

[GregInPitt]

Which one of these guys is going to be able to pull and level players at the edge?

Which lineman can actually move well enough and be physical enough to get to the second level?

And, will they run a scheme where these guys know every play whether it’s a run or pass?

I believe that against Rutgers there were plays where Tengwall, in his first real playing time, got a 2nd block down field.

 

[Tgar]

I believe that against Rutgers there were plays where Tengwall, in his first real playing time, got a 2nd block down field.

He did. Did you recall any pulling guards? The athleticism last season was lacking. Hopefully they can develop some.

 

[GregInPitt]

He did. Did you recall any pulling guards? The athleticism last season was lacking. Hopefully they can develop some.

I was surmising that if Tengwall can get to the 2nd level at OT, that he would likely do a good job in pulling when he ends up at Guard....

 

[VaDave4PSU]

Which one of these guys is going to be able to pull and level players at the edge?

Which lineman can actually move well enough and be physical enough to get to the second level?

And, will they run a scheme where these guys know every play whether it’s a run or pass?

Just some observations off my memory, which could be wrong, but points to discuss.

What happened to the TE motion, blocking on the back side plays? These guys failed at it early on, but it's like those plays disappeared after certain point.

Only pulling I remember is Wilson going from LG to outside the RT on a boot action play.

We had some good runs vs Ark, but only let our RBs have 10 carrys.

 

[Tgar]

I was surmising that if Tengwall can get to the 2nd level at OT, that he would likely do a good job in pulling when he ends up at Guard....

Understood but if he is a tackle next season which looks likely he is already on the edge. I would love to see Wormely and and whom ever the other guard is become more athletic And the play calling incorporate More deliberate run blocking of that nature.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

Understood but if he is a tackle next season which looks likely he is already on the edge. I would love to see Wormely and and whom ever the other guard is become more athletic And the play calling incorporate More deliberate run blocking of that nature.

One has to wonder if Tengwall is even an option at RT. He's played LT, LG, and RG I think. Effner was the sub at RT when Wallace missed.

Also, Yurcich was asked about Wallace at G and he said they didn't think about it.

 

[GregInPitt]

One has to wonder if Tengwall is even an option at RT. He's played LT, LG, and RG I think. Effner was the sub at RT when Wallace missed.

Also, Yurcich was asked about Wallace at G and he said they didn't think about it.

Sounds like Tengwall is an option at every oline position this side of Center.

And it could be Tengwall's versatility that allows for a better oline as the pieces sort themselves out in the next 8 months. I

find it hard to imagine Tengwall not starting somewhere on the OL in 2022.

Landon Tengwall the Key to Penn State Football’s 2022 Offensive Line

Landon Tengwall was among Penn State Football's most heralded members of the 2021 recruiting class and could prove pivotal to the 2022 offensive line

victorybellrings.com

 

[s1uggo72]

Which one of these guys is going to be able to pull and level players at the edge?

Which lineman can actually move well enough and be physical enough to get to the second level?

And, will they run a scheme where these guys know every play whether it’s a run or pass?

1) I hope never
2) getting to the second level is irrelevant if you dont block the first
3) again irrelevant, they block run , college football downfield blocking rules are much more lenient than the NFL

now if you said when can we get movement with 2 double teams at the hole you would be on to something.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

1) I hope never
2) getting to the second level is irrelevant if you dont block the first
3) again irrelevant, they block run , college football downfield blocking rules are much more lenient than the NFL

now if you said when can we get movement with 2 double teams at the hole you would be on to something.

I don't know if it was the blocking assignments called in certain situations or players free lancing to go after a block they shouldn't, but too many time our OL (and TEs) failed to even just get in the way of the guy closest to them and seemed to be looking at a LB or S who ended up irrelevant to the play because you just let a DL blow the whole thing up.

They basically took the H back style TE blocks away and seemed to just line them up out wide or off a tackle and made them strictly pass catchers.

As much as our OL, our TEs need to be developed big time this off season. Strength, chip blocks, down blocks, blocking in space. That 3 TE wide set isn't worth a d-mn when they can't get on the defender.

 

[Tgar]

I don't know if it was the blocking assignments called in certain situations or players free lancing to go after a block they shouldn't, but too many time our OL (and TEs) failed to even just get in the way of the guy closest to them and seemed to be looking at a LB or S who ended up irrelevant to the play because you just let a DL blow the whole thing up.

They basically took the H back style TE blocks away and seemed to just line them up out wide or off a tackle and made them strictly pass catchers.

As much as our OL, our TEs need to be developed big time this off season. Strength, chip blocks, down blocks, blocking in space. That 3 TE wide set isn't worth a d-mn when they can't get on the defender.

I don’t disagree but watching a pulling guard from Illinois or # 65 from Michigan get to the edge and just plow someone was fun to watch. Our seats are in the upper deck and I enjoy watching how an offense opens up. Ours was the tightest slowest line ( along with TEs ) in the league when it came to run blocking. The Penn State offensive line looked like those players all moving around in unison on my electric football game.

You mention blocking in space. I guess I am referring to blocking in space while moving athletically.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

I don’t disagree but watching a pulling guard from Illinois or # 65 from Michigan get to the edge and just plow someone was fun to watch. Our seats are in the upper deck and I enjoy watching how an offense opens up. Ours was the tightest slowest line ( along with TEs ) in the league when it came to run blocking. The Penn State offensive line looked like those players all moving around in unison on my electric football game.

You mention blocking in space. I guess I am referring to blocking in space while moving athletically.

I'm right there with ya bud. I'd love to see it. It just seems Yurcich doesn't employ it and we had trouble straight ahead. I really liked Olu and Tengwall on the left side vs Ark. Foundation for the future but need to solidify the other 3 spots.

 

[J.E.B]

Still a Schiff show.... they need to work them really hard through winter and spring workouts and get the best 5 on the field. Who those guys are is anyone’s guess.