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Five observations from Penn State's win over Northwestern

Taking a look at Penn State's performance, particularly the offensive line's inconsistency, Trace McSorley's patience and Shaka Toney's star potential.

Trace McSorley’s patience highlighted the quarterback’s performance in Saturdays win at Northwestern.
Trace McSorley’s patience highlighted the quarterback’s performance in Saturdays win at Northwestern.Read moreNam Y. Huh / AP Photo

Five observations from Penn State's 31-7 victory over Northwestern:

The offensive line must improve: Yes, opposing defenses are game planning to stop Saquon Barkley but the line has to be more consistent blocking someone, or at least gettting in his way, when Barkley takes the handoff. The Nittany Lions had a rotation going at right tackle between fourth-year junior Chasz Wright and redshirt freshman Will Fries with mixed results. Fries did throw a key block on Barkley's 53-yard touchdown dash.

Shaka Toney is a star in the making: The redshirt freshman from Imhotep Charter High School had two sacks, one forcing a fumble that Penn State recovered, and at least one hurry in limited playing time, primarily as a third-down pass rusher. At a reported 233 pounds, he may not yet have the size of a Big Ten defensive end, but his quickness and speed will help him beat many an offensive tackle assigned to pass block him.

Trace McSorley has remarkable patience: In addition to stacking up against Barkley, the Northwestern defense gave McSorley all the underneath routes but nothing deep, and the quarterback happily took advantage. At one point, the redshirt junior threw 15 consecutive completions, breaking the 1994 record held by long-time NFL quarterback Kerry Collins. Of the underappreciated facets of McSorley's game, his decision-making may be No. 1.

Good time for a bye week? More than a few fans wish the Penn State express could keep going, and that a week off could affect its momentum heading into the meat of the schedule. But that's what the schedule-makers decreed and, as Barkley said after the game, "You can control what you can control, and on our schedule it's a bye week." And what's wrong with a week of rest?

Here come the bluebloods: The rest and, yes, the preparation time will do the Nittany Lions good with Michigan (home), Ohio State (away) and Michigan State (away) being the next three games up on the schedule. No, they can't afford to lose any of the three but the Buckeyes will be the ultimate test, especially at Columbus, where fans seek revenge for last year's upset at Beaver Stadium.