Penn State finds success on 4th down, despite skid

But these are Bill O'Brien's Nittany Lions now.

"So once we get really close to the 50, I'm pretty much not going to punt it," the coach said this week. "I'm just going to tell you that."

Talk about a new era at Penn State.

So many changes have engulfed the program hit by scandal and strict NCAA sanctions, and one of the biggest is the coach and his strategy. O'Brien arrived in January from the New England Patriots, where he coordinated a high-octane offense, and ever so slowly, he is trying to employ the same aggressive approach at Penn State.

The results so far have been so-so. Navy (0-1) visits Beaver Stadium on Saturday, with Penn State hoping to avoid its first season-opening three-game slide since it was 0-4 in 2001.

The offense is young or inexperienced at most of the skill positions. The execution has been sporadic in the red zone. But there's no doubt that the play-calling has been spiced up, and that's all O'Brien.

The Nittany Lions converted two fourth-and-1 plays in the opening drive last week against Virginia, leading to Kyle Carter's 8-yard touchdown reception for a 7-0 lead.

Later, linebacker Glenn Carson ran for 19 yards and a first down on a fake punt on fourth-and-4 from the Penn State 42. And backup quarterback Steven Bench ran for 15 on a fourth-and-3 from the 50 for another first down later in the second quarter.

Through the season's first two games, Penn State is 5 for 7 on fourth-down conversions.

It's not just a spur-of-the-moment call for O'Brien.

"But if it's a manageable fourth down, we're going to go for it and we have some third-down/second-down calls on fourth downs depending on the distances that we're prepared for," he said this week. "We prepare the kids for it. The kids know we're going to go for it. So I think it's been OK. ... We could probably be 7 for 7. So the plays have been OK."

Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green has been impressed so far.

"They spread you out and have a very effective short passing game, but will also go for the long ball at any time ... They give you a lot of formations, a lot of motion, a lot of things to defend," he said. "There are a lot of similarities to what (O'Brien) did in New England."