It was a nonsensical sort of sideline scene, replayed all afternoon.

Wide receivers coach Mike McQueary and tight ends coach Bill Kenney were right at the edge of the field, seemingly discussing a play before signaling it in to the offense. And a few paces behind them, apparently uninvolved with the negotiations, stood Galen Hall, Penn State's first-year offensive coordinator.

It wasn't that Hall was on the field, rather than up in the booth like most offensive coordinators -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno maintains that Hall prefers to stay on the sidelines, putting quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno upstairs.

It was simply that 64-year-old Hall, touted as a great football mind, appeared to have a passive role in the direction of a particularly anemic offense. And if not a passive role, then an undefined one, as evidenced by utility player Michael Robinson's reaction when asked who is in charge of the offense.

"God," he said, with a grin. When pressed further, he replied the same. "Yeah, really. God is."

Of course, his witty response was then followed with the polished answer, "It's a combination of Coach Hall and Jay Paterno."

Either way, however, it reflects the fact that Penn State's offense isn't wholly in the hands of its offensive coordinator, which, given Saturday's game, doesn't appear to be working. On a day on which only Penn State's defense could score points, the uncertain role of Hall simply reiterated just how mystifying this Penn State offense is, in so many ways.

There is a merry-go-round of problems, involving each unit on the field. There is reportedly talent, but it isn't consistently displayed. The sideline confusion from last season as to who is calling the plays has apparently persisted. And, even worse is the fact that this team just doesn't have the answers as to how to fix things.

"That's the frustrating part," quarterback Zack Mills said. "We don't have those little problems, the things that distract the team, and, you know, we're still not able to get it done."

Offseason changes to the coaching staff, such as the hirings of both Hall and McQueary, were supposed to fix things, were supposed to help Penn State field a consistent, effective offense, unlike that of last year. That hasn't happened, and, as Mills said, there aren't answers why.

And as much as the offense is searching for answers, so is the defense, which is sick of playing brilliant games, but losing nonetheless.

"You come here, they're stars," cornerback Alan Zemaitis said. "When you don't win with these guys, that's what hurts. They're not bad athletes; nobody on this squad is a bad athlete. You can match them up against anybody in the country, and they'll hold their own." Defensive end Tamba Hali believes in the athletic ability of his offensive teammates, like Zemaitis, but questions their desire.

"I don't how much they wanna get it done, how much it means to them," Hali said. "We do have good offensive linemen. We do have great athletes, we have good players, great quarterbacks. I don't know how much they wanna get it done -- that's what it is, I think."

But even if desire is the start to an answer, it isn't the whole solution -- a team incapable of scoring six points offensively is in need of a far broader solution.

This offense is, without a doubt, mystifying. And it's certain that it is also in need of some sort of change. But, the means by which that change will come about -- therein lies the conundrum.