Zero interceptions and nearly 800 passing yards is a solid start for redshirt sophomore first-year starter

There was plenty to digest during this off week for Penn State. Players, position groups, coaching staff all received a three-game analysis during the first of two bye weeks for the Nittany Lions.

The reviews for quarterback Sean Clifford have been mixed. Those who think the first-year starter has been below average most likely had unrealistic expectations for the redshirt sophomore from Cincinnati.

After backing up Trace McSorley for two years at Penn State, Clifford is seeing his first regular action on a football field since winning an Ohio State Championship in 2017.

The growing pains he’s enduring are somewhat expected. Against Pitt the Panthers blitz packages overwhelmed and confused the Nittany Lions’ offensive line in the first quarter and Clifford took a serious pounding.

And it affected his patience in the pocket. He was a bit jumpy and all those misses deep were because he forgot what it felt like to be uncomfortable. He was getting rid of the ball a half-second too early instead of waiting and trusting.

Now he knows what that feels like again. And it will serve him well going forward.

His completion percentage is just below 60 percent. With his football IQ and that strong arm it’s a number that should be higher. I’m fairly confident that number will be closer to 65 than 60 by the time the Penn State reaches the halfway point.

The bottom line in three games Clifford has thrown for nearly 800 yards and six touchdowns. He’s added another 100-plus yards on the ground. What’s wrong with that?

Sure he could be slightly better and be a little less jumpy and more comfortable. But only time and heat in his kitchen can make that happen. And he’s put 12 solid quarters under his belt and now had a week to do some serious self-analysis.

Clifford is a leader and is very hard on himself. But he also has to be given a little latitude to grow into being the starter.

And in case you still don’t think he’s been exactly what you would expect from a first-year starter, Clifford has not thrown an interception or lost a fumble in three games. And Penn State is 3-0.

I’d give him a B- through three games and fully expect him to make marked improvements over the next 12 quarters.

When it was clear Clifford was going to be the next Penn State quarterback after Tommy Stevens left for Mississippi State, I was asked all summer what I thought of Clifford from Penn State fans.

And my answer was always the same: I’m very confident after five or six games you are going to be very happy Clifford is your new starting quarterback.

It’s only been three games. And so far, from what I’ve seen, I think the Penn State quarterback has been just fine.