Not to say that Penn State’s offense is one dimensional — or even 3D, really — but one name will be enough to keep the Northwestern defense busy at Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
“I can tell you one thing (about Penn State),” NU head coach Randy Walker said. “They’ve got three guys named Johnson, and they can all play.”
Quarterback Zack Mills heads up the offense, but the three Johnsons have combined for nearly 75 percent of the Nittany Lions’ offensive yards this season.
The Johnson trio is headlined by senior tailback Larry Johnson, and senior Bryant Johnson and junior Tony Johnson grab attention — and 55 receptions combined — as wide receivers. The Johnsons are also first (Larry, 1,050), second (Bryant, 881) and third (Tony, 388) for Penn State (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) in all-purpose yards.
According to Penn State coach Joe Paterno, the Johnson triumvirate is as tough as it is prolific. Larry Johnson, who did not start in last week’s 27-24 overtime loss to Michigan because of a hamstring injury, entered the game in the second quarter and finished with 122 all-purpose yards.
“I think it is a great tribute to Larry wanting to do what he could to help the football team,” Paterno said. “He really fought his way through a lot of tough things Saturday. I kept talking to him on the sideline saying, ‘Are you sure you’re OK, Larry? Because we have a lot of football to play the rest of the year.’ He kept wanting to go back in.”
Penn State’s No. 2 quarterback, Michael Robinson, who usually gets playing time as a backup split end, started in the vacated tailback slot against Michigan. The Nittany Lions made the most of Robinson’s versatility, putting him under center and splitting Mills out as a wide receiver on several early drives, throwing off Michigan’s defense.
By the second half, Penn State was back to its normal set, with Mills taking all the snaps and Larry Johnson getting in on the action. Paterno said Johnson will play Saturday.
Mills, who has been playing with a hurt shoulder since Penn State’s Oct. 5 game against Wisconsin, is also listed as probable against the Wildcats (2-5, 0-3 Big Ten).
Walker said the NU defense has prepared for the possibility that Robinson might take some unexpected snaps again on Saturday, but he is more concerned about stopping Mills, who he thinks is among the best quarterbacks in the country.
Inches to go: In the 2001 matchup, Mills led the Nittany Lions scored a touchdown in the final minute to beat NU 38-35, handing the Cats their second loss of the season. NU has not won a Big Ten game since. … Penn State tight end Casey Williams, who is fourth in receptions for the Nittany Lions, will sit out Saturday’s game with an ankle injury.
