Penn State OC Joe Moorhead: ‘Our best football is still ahead of us’

As one would expect, the Nittany Lions’ attack is clicking better now than it was this time last season. Through four games, Penn State is averaging 40.5 points and 496.5 yards of offense per game — more than 11 points and 150 yards better than this time last season.

Despite the uptick in essential categories, Penn State’s offense has yet to hit its peak — at least according to mastermind offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead.

“The old saying is no one rises to low expectations,” Moorhead said on a Thursday conference call. “I do think we have more in us, and I do think we have to continue working on it on a weekly basis with our preparing, our play-calling and our execution. I think, offensively, our best football is still ahead of us.”

That’s exciting for Penn State fans, who’ve latched onto JoeMo’s magic like a magnet.

Dating back to last season, the Nittany Lions have averaged 43.7 points in their last 11 games. According to the coordinator, Moorhead’s group has produced 15 more “explosive plays” — runs of 12-or-more yards; passes of 15-or-more yards — at this point in 2017 than it did through four games last year. Saquon Barkley and Trace McSorley have plenty of those.

Moorhead is no longer surprised by Barkley — who leads the Big Ten in receiving yards (335) and paces the country in plays longer than 40 yards (six) — and has been impressed with McSorley’s ability to operate within his scheme.

“He’s at or near the majority of the passing categories in the Big Ten,” Moorhead said of McSorley, who’s accounted for 72 points this season, more than 20 other FBS teams have totaled. “When you compare to the opening four games of last year ... he’s way ahead of last year in passing yards, he’s doubled his touchdowns, he’s lowered his turnovers, he’s rushed for about 200 more yards.

“And obviously the No. 1 thing that quarterbacks are judged on are wins and losses, and we’re No. 4 in the country. So I think Trace is doing a great job.”

For the unit as a whole, Moorhead isn’t content with being the highest-scoring offense in the Big Ten. He wants to see improvements in the red zone and on third down.

Penn State currently ranks 95th nationally in third-down conversion (35.4 percent). Add in the Nittany Lions’ fourth-down success, they’re a combined 21 of 54 — which comes in at 38.9 percent. “We’ve got to get that up near the 50 percent range,” the coordinator said.

As for the red zone, any weaknesses were magnified Saturday at Iowa. The Nittany Lions failed to punch it in the end zone on two separate drives, needing only a few yards to do so. All things considered, Penn State’s red zone offense isn’t shabby, ranking 47th nationally. They’ve tallied 13 touchdowns and three field goals in 18 trips to the red zone this season.

But Moorhead doesn’t want three points when guys like McSorley and Barkley are so close to paydirt.

“When you get in the red zone, touchdowns matter,” Moorhead said. “I think it’s something when you get inside the 10 you wanna come away with touchdowns and not field goals.”

When a team is 4-0 and outscoring opponents 162-33 to start the season, things like red zone offense and third-down conversion stats seem like little things.

But Moorhead isn’t settling for what he’s seen so far. He believes it’s the little things that’ll help Penn State take his attack higher as the season progresses — a frightening thought for defensive coordinators around the Big Ten.

“That’ll make us a much more effective and efficient offense,” the coordinator added. “Striking that balance.”

This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Penn State OC Joe Moorhead: ‘Our best football is still ahead of us’."