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Source: BroBible
Summary
Penn State lost 34-13 to Northwestern, with the Nittany Lions gaining only 291 yards. The team’s offense struggled, scoring 13 points and committing two turnovers. A Penn State offensive lineman, Malachi Goodman, was accused of tipping plays to Northwestern. According to a report, Goodman’s alignment revealed whether the team was running or passing. Former offensive lineman Landon Tengwall confirmed the issue, though he said the offensive struggles ran deeper.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Offensive linemen now have a new job: signal-caller.
Teams are learning to read the game like a book.
Coaches are now watching for subtle hand movements.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
Author: Evan Null
Penn State’s Offense Has Been Bad
The performance continued a downward trend for the group. Points have been hard to come by in conference play.
The unit was held to 13 points in the loss to Northwestern. That came after a 20-point outing in a loss to Wisconsin, though one of the team’s touchdowns came on a pick-six.
That means the Nittany Lions’ offense is scoring 13 points per game in Big Ten games. That won’t cut it. As a result, the team is 0-2 and in the cellar of the standings.
Scoring isn’t the only issue. The unit simply cannot move the football. It’s fallen short of 300 yards in each of the last two games. That included a putrid 233-yard performance against the Badgers.
Becht has thrown three picks over the last two games. He’s getting no help from a run game that’s averaging 83 yards a contest in league play. The offense has been an absolute disaster of late.
What’s the Reason?
Thomas Frank Carr of Blue White Illustrated dove into the struggles. He believes he’s found a tell.
The Penn State offensive lineman has a subtle difference in alignment for runs and passes. He grabs his facemask in his squat when the offense calls a rushing play. His hand sits a little lower on drop backs.
Goodman was telling Northwestern the gameplan at the line of scrimmage. The Wildcats knew if Penn State was running or throwing.
Were they able to use the information to their benefit? I don’t know. I haven’t seen any Northwestern coaches and players publicly disclose any such advantage.
With that said, the issue appears to be very real. Former Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall confirmed the tell, though he admitted that the offensive struggles go much deeper. It’s something that needs to get cleaned up.
Malachi Goodman is Tipping Plays
The Penn State offensive lineman has a subtle difference in alignment for runs and passes. He grabs his facemask in his squat when the offense calls a rushing play. His hand sits a little lower on drop backs.
Goodman was telling Northwestern the gameplan at the line of scrimmage. The Wildcats knew if Penn State was running or throwing.
Were they able to use the information to their benefit? I don’t know. I haven’t seen any Northwestern coaches and players publicly disclose any such advantage.
With that said, the issue appears to be very real. Former Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall confirmed the tell, though he admitted that the offensive struggles go much deeper. It’s something that needs to get cleaned up.
Penn State will play USC in Week 6. The Nittany Lions look to end their two-game skid. Preventing their opponent from getting a leg up with tipped plays will help their chances.
Offensive Linemen Now Have a New Job: Signal-Caller
Teams are learning to read the game like a book.
Coaches are now watching for subtle hand movements.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s Not a Tip, It’s a Trade Secret
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
It’s not a tip, it’s a trade secret.
