Running Clark has become secondary

It took just one run to boost hopes about the offense. Daryll Clark had his own package installed for the 2007 Alamo Bowl, and he flew up the middle of the field for a touchdown in that game, bringing to mind Michael Robinson.

Because Penn State doesn’t have much of an insurance policy at quarterback, however, Clark doesn’t expect to be in that situation again for the Lions.

Penn State’s self-dubbed Spread HD offense hasn’t been quite as “highly diverse” this season as it was for most of 2008. Or what the Nittany Lions ran with Robinson in 2005. Penn State won the Big Ten in both of those seasons.

In 2005 especially, the Lions used zone-read option plays to great success, keeping defenses off guard and covering up for shortcomings on the offensive line.

Since Clark suffered a concussion in October of last year at Ohio State, however, Penn State coaches have been more conservative with their quarterback. Even moreso this year, as the transfer of Pat Devlin left the Lions with a true freshman and a former walk-on as Clark’s top backups.

“We haven’t run (read-options) at all this year for my safety, not getting me hurt and whatnot,” Clark said. “We still haven’t put it in. I still don’t feel there’s a need to put it in now. It’s the last game of the season and the gameplans we’ve had for every single game have been pretty efficient. Sometimes we weren’t able to execute as planned, but we’ve adjusted pretty well.

“After about five or six games this year, we really didn’t need to put it in because we’ve been able to attack defenses in other areas.”

Of course, Clark isn’t at all the same player as Robinson, who mentored him in 2005. Clark is the more polished passer, while Robinson was far shiftier as a runner, and Penn State used him accordingly – Robinson had 163 rushes as a senior for 806 yards.

In his first year as the starter, Clark frequently had designed runs called for him, but still finished the season with less than half as many rushing attempts (79 for 282 yards) as Robinson.

After 11 games this year, Clark is at 66 for 197 yards. He has seven touchdowns on the ground this season and could still match the 10 he recorded last year. Six of those seven scores have been sneaks from the 1-yard line. The seventh came from 2 yards out. Clark hasn’t had much opportunity to rip off a run like he did in that Alamo Bowl win, or his impressive 18-yard score through three defenders against Oregon State in 2008.

While Penn State coaches have chosen to rely more on Clark’s arm, it remains to be seen how much differently they handle Kevin Newsome, Clark’s rookie backup who will be the favorite to start at quarterback for the Lions in 2010.

More than likely the offense will more closely resemble the 2005 version, as Newsome hasn’t had much opportunity to get work in the passing game.

Newsome appeared for a one-play cameo in the first half against Indiana last Saturday – on a read-option play.

But Penn State is still a bit rusty with that playcall, because defensive end Jammie Kirlew came into the backfield unblocked to stuff the play for a loss of 3.

“Kevin Newsome has a future,” coach Joe Paterno said. “We put him in, let him get knocked around a little bit. He can run with the football – a change of pace.”

Pannell will start

Both Johnnie Troutman and DeOn’tae Pannell had been getting first-team reps at left guard in practice this week, but a decision on a starter for Saturday’s game at Michigan State has already been decided.

Paterno said on his weekly radio show Wednesday that Troutman, who had started most of the season at left guard, will not start but will be available to play. Pannell, a sophomore tackle, will stick in that spot for another week after playing there in the Indiana game.

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Penn State

The QB is being protected more by coaches due to young backup.

Pannell will start

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