Derrick Williams in the backfield: Run. Williams at running back: Run. Williams in place of Anthony Morelli: Run.
It doesn't take an expert to notice some sort of pattern emerging. Maybe that's why Williams is only averaging 3.6 yards per carry on 15 attempts this season.
Penn State has at least two other versatile playmakers in A.J. Wallace and Rodney Kinlaw, but the Nittany Lions don't appear to be utilizing the trio's strengths. And that's preventing Penn State from tapping into its full potential.
Williams, for example, was a high school quarterback, and the former five-star recruit has lined up at the signal caller position several times -- but has yet to attempt a pass (he was sacked once but never got the pass off).
That's not to say he should, but the Lions have to keep defenses off-balance somehow, especially when Williams is in the backfield. A playaction pass or two to Williams would help matters, and throwing to him out of the backfield wouldn't be a terrible idea either.
It's bad enough Williams is averaging about two catches per game (he has two more receptions than Brendan Perretta). But that's still twice as much as Wallace has seen the ball.
Wallace has touched the pigskin eight times this season for 261 all-purpose yards -- that's 32.6 yards a touch. Why not put the ball in his hands a bit more? Wallace is obviously one of the fastest players on the team and yet fullback Matt Hahn has seen the ball just as often.
Last season, Joe Paterno and staff studied how Texas utilized Vince Young, so Michael Robinson could be just as effective. And it worked. Robinson was literally a triple-threat but, this season, it seems like Wallace and Williams aren't being used the right way. Maybe another study isn't such a bad idea.
And the playcalling isn't helping. It's almost similar to playing a jerk friend in NCAA 2007, trick play after trick play after trick play -- except instead of triple options or halfback passes, it's one reverse after another.
True, a reverse did spark Saturday's scoring effort for the Lions, and it was a great call since the Penguins weren't expecting it. But, after that gain, the effectiveness of the reverse pretty much went downhill. And you can bet Ohio State will be ready for that same play.
It's sort of like taking two aspirin instead of one -- sure, it might work a little more. But when you start taking eight during one sitting, well, an overdose is inevitable.
And that seems to be where the Lions are headed.
Ohio State, on the other hand, seems to have the right idea. Buckeye wideout Ted Ginn Jr. receives the ball about 15.9 percent of the time his quarterback drops back to pass. Penn State's Williams? Try 6.7 percent.
Penn State might spread the ball around a bit more, but it’s still important to get the ball into the hands of your playmaker. Heck, even rookie Chris Bell gets the pigskin about 4.8 percent of the time Anthony Morelli or Daryll Clark drops back.
When Penn State’s backups are seeing the ball almost as often as the playmakers, some type of change must be made. Whether that means plugging Clark in at quarterback for a few plays, putting Wallace and Williams in the backfield simultaneously or even — God forbid — substituting Justin King on offense for five plays a game, the Lions have to try something new.
Who knows? Maybe they’ll get a new lease on the top 25.
