Offensive line finally leads as expected to end this season, to begin a new one

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Each year Penn State fans keep hearing about how the offensive line — the most barren spot on the entire team after NCAA sanctions — was going to get markedly better.

How it was going to do even more than protect their quarterback and pave the way for bigger point totals.

They expected more.

As in producing a game-controlling run game missing for so long.

How they wanted the kind of reliable foundation up front to be able to nail down victory at the end.

And that never really turned out that way in 2015. Or last year. Or even this one.

Finally, though, a step was taken Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl that means more than a close victory over Washington to end a season.

The performance by these blockers, most of them underclassmen, was unexpected, especially coming against the top-rated run defense in the nation. Against arguably the most dominating defensive tackle around. 

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The Huskies had put a stranglehold on most everyone they faced this season and even last year. And yet Penn State's offense rolled through them from beginning to end — even on the final drive when the yards would prove toughest.

The Lions' linemen protected quarterback Trace McSorley throughout, giving up only one sack. Better yet, they ran-block with authority, blowing away the middle of the Huskies' line on Saquon Barkley's record-setting 92-yard run.

And they performed better than ever on that final drive. That was arguably their most impressive work even though it didn't amount to points.

These blockers failed in similar circumstances against USC a year ago and again at Ohio State this fall. They provided little push for Barkley in the last-play loss at Michigan State, too.

They constantly have been criticized for their talent as much as inexperience. But afterward, coach James Franklin reinforced how steady growing and progress has finally begun to show more clearly.

Offensive line coach Matt Limegrover beamed in the postgame locker room, and made it even more personal.

"It's like a father watching his kid take his first steps," he said of the success against Washington. "This group of guys, they get so maligned. When something doesn't go right it usually turns back to the o-line.

"(But) these guys just kept their heads down and kept working. I knew we were going too have a good day with how we prepared …"

McSorley was exquisite in his decision-making and throwing, particularly on third downs. But the backbone of that was an offensive line that never caved.

The Lions' receivers were reliable as ever — and Barkley pulled off the kind of run few could make, somehow sprinting past a defender who owned the sideline angle on him. They piled up 545 yards of offense.

All of that was possible because the offensive line gave its best overall performance of the season, according to Limegrover.

And that leads well into 2018, when the Lions will own their most experienced and fully-stocked line in years.

Only senior guard Brendan Mahon and little-used offensive tackle Andrew Nelson are leaving.

Sophomore center Connor McGovern, who underwent a recent medical procedure to fix an undisclosed injury, was particularly impressive against Washington, Limegrover said. He should be an anchor next fall.

"There's some maturity now," Limegrover said. "I think guys just kind of got a little sick and tired of being the butt of critics and jokes. And I think, among themselves, they said enough is enough and they stepped up."

Starting tackle Chasz Wright will be a senior next fall and McGovern, tackle Ryan Bates and guard Steven Gonzalez — all starters at times — will be juniors. 

Maybe the most impressive talents, guards Michal Menet, Mike Miranda and C.J. Thorpe, should get their first significant action next year.

The improvement of this season and promise of next year was shown best at the end in this Fiesta Bowl. Desperate to hold the ball and protect a seven-point lead, the Lions nearly plowed the entire length of the field, earning key yards in a variety of ways.

"A group of guys who looked at each and said, 'Let's go get this one, enough's enough.' I didn't have to say a whole lot to them," Limegrover said.

"They were like, 'We don't need you at this point, coach, to tell us what needs to be done.'"

They just did it. Even impressively, so.

Which should mean even more next season with the Lions almost surely breaking in a new tailback and tight ends.

Finally, that promising future has arrived.