Sep 27, 2006 3 min read

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Joe Paterno doesn’t have an instant fix for what might be ailing the Penn State offense. So he’s hoping that, with more experience and practice, the Nittany Lions can clean up their mistakes and come up with the big play that can boost the offense.

“I think we have been pretty good as far as being productive. We just haven’t been able to put the ball in the end zone because of mistakes we have made,” Paterno said Tuesday. “I think we can get a little better feel for when we have an opportunity not to blow it. That is the kind of thing we have to overcome.”

Their first shot to fix things comes Saturday when Northwestern, playing its first Big Ten game this season, visits Penn State (2-2, 0-1).

Last year, the offense gained confidence after coming from behind to beat the Wildcats on the road behind big pass plays, including a clutch fourth-quarter throw by since-graduated Michael Robinson on a fourth-and-19 play that set up the game-winning touchdown pass.

Anthony Morelli now plays quarterback, and Paterno hopes that the first-year starter can rebound after throwing two late-game interceptions that were returned for TDs last week against top-ranked Ohio State.

“Robinson was able to get us back. One of these days Morelli will do that,” Paterno said. “There is no one thing that is going to do it. There is no magic wand that now all of a sudden we can do things. We have to just keep working at it.”

Penn State has shown signs that it can march down the field, including a couple of clock-eating drives against Ohio State’s tough defense. The running game emerged as a threat behind Tony Hunt and the offensive line.

“We are improving each week. Making strides,” center A.Q. Shipley said. “I think by the time it’s all said and done it will be a pretty good offensive line.”

But finishing drives is a concern. The offense hasn’t been able to covert on some key short-yardage situations.

Reserve guard Rich Ohrnberger, who helped the offensive line open up fourth-quarter holes in the running game, was called for a false start on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Kevin Kelly, who Paterno said is having a problem with his back, missed a 42-yard field goal and is 5-of-9 for the last two weeks.

Morelli, known for his strong arm, appeared to be throwing at receivers too hard at times on short throws that could have been easier catches, and he hasn’t been able to connect for big plays with his talented wide receivers, who are getting more attention from defenses.

The team spent Monday reviewing things indoors with coaches after Paterno decided to cancel practice.

“I just told them, ‘Hey, keep your heads up,”‘ he said. “We played a good, solid football game and couldn’t make a couple of plays and they did.”

Making plays wasn’t a problem for the Nittany Lion defense, though, which hopes to build on its best outing of the season after holding Ohio State’s offense to 14 points and a season-low 253 yards.

Linebacker Dan Connor has been the Lions’ best player so far this season, and had eight tackles and an interception against the Buckeyes.

Both of Penn State’s losses have come on the road against top-notch opponents (Ohio State and Notre Dame), experiences that Connor said the team can build on.

“It’s a tough way to start the season, but we matured playing those games,” Connor said.