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 [ Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 ]
OL play improves with better health
By Adam Gorney
Collegian Staff Writer
The offensive line has had its problems this season, especially in the first four games. After having to replace Eric Rickenbach and Joe Hartings, the Nittany Lions front five have finally started to produce. And the No. 1 reason is because the line has stayed healthy. "The fact that we have been able to stay healthy has helped a great deal," coach Joe Paterno said. "We have tried to keep it as simple as we can." | ||||
PHOTO: Randy Litzinger
Guard Tyler Lenda protects Matt Senneca during the Ohio State game last week.
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Not only has health played a major factor in the Lions offensive line coming together, so has the emergence of the passing game. Earlier in the season, the receivers dropped balls and defenders forced Penn State to throw more than they would have liked. But since Zack Mills has stepped in and his receivers are becoming more consistent, the running game will open up more. Penn State's three tailbacks, Eric McCoo, Omar Easy and Larry Johnson, will now have their chance to break big plays and score some rushing touchdowns. And now since defenses can't put eight or even nine players in the box because of the Penn State passing threat, the offensive line will be called on to open some holes for the tailbacks. "I don't think we were as bad as everyone thought we were," offensive lineman Tyler Lenda said. "It was a matter of execution. The potential has always been there for us to do it." And now it's here. After two impressive performances against Northwestern and Ohio State, the line has finally gotten some credit. The front five has given Matt Senneca and Mills time to get rid of the ball and in the last two games, the Penn State runners have totaled 464 yards. In the previous four losses, the Lions had a woeful 163. The running game and the offensive line have improved tremendously and the players are beginning to take pride in the Penn State running game. "The offensive line should get almost all the credit," Johnson said. "If I did the things they did, I'd be dead tired before the games." Paterno said assistant coaches Dick Anderson and Bill Kenney have been predominantly working with the offensive line, helping them adjust to having hardly any substitutions. Because Rickenbach and Hartings are sidelined for the season, not many replacements exist on the offensive line for Penn State. And since the Lions rely so heavily on the running game, a sturdy offensive line is crucial for Penn State to continue its success. "We have people more concerned about whether we are going to throw the football to the outside people," Paterno said. "That makes it just a little bit easier to run the football. The biggest thing is that we have stayed healthy." 
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