Penn State quarterback Drew Allar discusses new offense, his areas of improvement for 2024
Penn State starting quarterback Drew Allar sat down with the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel this week to discuss several topics, including the team’s offseason work under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, his personal progress this offseason and what he thinks the team will be like this year, based on the offensive installation they’ve done so far.
Check out his full conversation here or on the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel. Spring football is just around the corner, and you don’t want to miss practice highlights, coach interviews, and more!
Allar discusses how the Penn State offense will feel different this year
One of the major themes that both Allar and his fellow quarterbacks have expressed this offseason is that the offense will feel very different than last season. Former offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich used motion during his time at Penn State, but not the way Kotelnicki does. That’s been the emphasis so far.
“I think there’s gonna be a lot more things that we do on the front end for us that are going to, you know, make the defense communicate, and it’s gotta be more beneficial for us. Like helping guys get open from a schematic standpoint and getting them better, favorable matchups in a sense, and just making the defense beyond on their toes and always making them communicate,” Allar said.
“So I’m really looking forward to getting into spring ball and, you know, going against Coach Allen and their defensive system.”
What it takes to be great
If there’s one thing that sticks out about Allar’s play from last season is that he wasn’t a game-changing quarterback. From a broad view of production, Allar was good last year but didn’t elevate his teammates beyond the issues that plagued the offense. We discussed what it takes for a quarterback to be great and if the Penn State starter thinks he’s there yet.
“I think what makes a quarterback elite is you know, his work habits and his preparation, away from the facility. You know, doing the right things away from the facility, being on time to meetings, always being prepared, and really being like a coach out there on the field,” Allar said when defining what makes a quarterback elite in his mind.
“And then, I think honestly, it’s playing within the system, and then when things break down, just doing the best you can to take care of the ball and make those make those plays happen.”
