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That was also the original thought of the offensive line, but it hasn't exactly worked that way. Kirk Barton seems to have overtaken Tim Schafer at right tackle, but the other four positions have stayed relatively stable -- Rob Sims at tackle, Doug Datish and Mike Kne at guard and center Nick Mangold. But stability has hardly led to productivity.
''It felt good up front,'' Sims said. ''We were more of a unit up front and everybody was on the same page. Communication is a real big thing up front and we communicated well.''
The players should hope one week of pancaking an inferior opponent was enough for the run game, because it's about to get difficult again. Despite its ugly 0-4 Big Ten record, Penn State is second in points allowed in the conference, giving up just over 14 a game.
On Saturday, Nittany Lions held Iowa to 6 points and two first downs in the second half, one week after the Hawkeyes pounded the Buckeyes, 33-7.
But for at least one week, the offense contributed to a win.
''When you see a running back make an 8- or a 15-yard gain, you're excited coming back to the huddle,'' center Nick Mangold said. ''You start thinking, ÔWhat can we do to make it a 30-yard gain?'
''When you see some big runs and then you hear the same play being run or one similar, it changes everything. Instead of thinking about how we got stuffed on that and now we have to do it that much better just to hopefully get something out of it, now you're seeing it working.''
The Buckeyes had three running plays go over 20 yards against the Hoosiers and Pittman had two of them. The offense generated just five all year. Pittman now has five of the eight for the year.
''The offensive line was opening great holes, the fullbacks were blocking and everything was rolling,'' Pittman said. ''It felt good to have a day like that.''
jlloyd@morningjournal.com
