The offense had its best game of the season. Maybe it was the veteran quarterback returning to his old form. Or maybe the wide receivers finally running their routes properly and catching passes.

Zack Mills has turned in a couple of solid performances the last few weeks. Maurice Humphrey is quickly establishing himself as the go-to-guy and Tony Johnson showed a week ago that he could still make some plays, even if it came against Indiana.

However, with certain aspects of the offense finally having some stability after 11 games, the offense's play calling is still in constant turmoil.

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said earlier in the season that offensive coordinator Fran Ganter calls the running plays and quarterback coach Jay Paterno calls the pass plays. The elder Paterno said that he calls the plays when it is necessary.

"Maybe they just break it up because it's less of a load on each of them," Mills said. "I think that's the only reason they do that. It makes it easier for me because Jay is my coach."

Penn State spends 25 minutes during each practice getting the plays into the huddle.

Some of the play-calls through the season have left fans, the media and even sometimes some of the other coaches scratching their heads.

Time and again, in the Northwestern game on third and less than five, Mills would complete a pass short of the first down.

Mills said afterwards that the short passes were the plays that were called and not the second or third options.

With the offense struggling to score points two weeks ago against Northwestern -- it only managed seven -- Paterno changed things up.

Mills said that Paterno called the plays for the first few drives against Indiana.

Last week, the offense rolled up a season-high 438 yards. Penn State scored on its first possession of the game for the first time this season. The Nittany Lions scored again on their next possession.

"If everything is running smoothly, he stays out," Mills said. "If it's struggling then he adds his input."

The play gets into the huddle one of two different ways. Either it is signaled in by third-string quarterback Chris Ganter or wide receiver coach Kenny Carter, or brought in by a player making a substitution.

The goal of the offense is to break the huddle with 14 seconds left on the play clock, as it takes Mills five seconds to call the play.

At halftime, either Jay Paterno or Fran Ganter asks Mills what he thought about the play calls during the first half, allowing for Mills to give suggestions.

Mills isn't worried too much about the play-calling, as this system was successful in the past.

"In high school, I could call an audible on every play," Mills said. "It worked well last season and it's been the same this season."

It might be the same, but the offensive weapons aren't, making the decisions on the sidelines seem that more important.

Last season, the Lions had fifth-year senior Larry Johnson at tailback, senior wide receiver Bryant Johnson and a senior-laden, experienced offensive line.

But they are all gone.

The coaches are still on the Penn State sidelines calling the plays.

Maybe Paterno should call more plays.