Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1482664
N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Running Backs Penn State was determined to upgrade the running game this year. With a lift from Singleton and Allen, those hopes have turned into reality … but only sometimes. When the Lions have run the ball successfully, the offense has been versatile and dangerous. When they haven't, it's been a struggle. Penn State was able to run the ball against Ohio, Auburn, Central Michigan and Minnesota. It fared less well at Purdue, in a turnover-marred win over Northwestern and, most notably, at Michigan — a game in which neither Singleton nor Allen cracked 20 yards on the ground. Judged against Penn State's performance in 2021, in which it ranked 118th in the FBS in rushing offense, the results have been undeniably improved and have opened avenues to offensive suc- cess that have kept opponents off-balance at times. After aver- aging 107.8 yards per game on the ground in 2021, the Lions were averaging 178.4 through seven games this year. "I've been impressed with those guys all year long, two true freshmen that I think are playing at a high level," Franklin said. "I thought we had a lot of diversity in our play calling [against Minnesota], whether it was play-action passes, shots, whether it was getting the tight ends involved, getting [receiver] Parker Washington involved, and then those two running backs. "We just have to keep chipping away at it. We're able to run the ball a little bit more consistently. We have got to continue to build on that." And there's the rub. For as much of a boost as the young running backs have pro- vided, the inconsistency of the running game has been glaring at times. If it can make the necessary improvements in the weeks to come, Penn State will be in business here. Grade: B- Tight Ends/Receivers Ditto. Boasting what the coaching staff considers one of the best tight end rooms in the country, the production was startlingly low from the group for the first half of the season. And yet, in junior Brenton Strange's touchdown against Purdue, his showing at Auburn and two scores against Central Michigan, the position produced some of the offense's defining moments. To further the point, the position's drought, spanning the Northwestern and Michigan games, paralleled the offense's worst showings. Third-year sophomores Theo Johnson and Tyler War- ren then reappeared in a big way against Minnesota, combining for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the offense as a whole got back on track. At the receiver positions, third-year sophomore Parker Wash- ington secured his first touchdown of the season in the seventh game. Senior transfer Mitchell Tinsley has lived up to his billing as a steady complement, nearly identical to Washington in produc- tion and yards per reception. But the Lions have lacked consistency from the third receiver spot, with third-year sophomore KeAndre Lambert-Smith suf- fering an injury that forced him to miss virtually all of the North- western, Michigan and Minnesota games. As Franklin recently pointed out, it's an ingredient that could determine whether Penn State's offense blossoms or just gets by. "When we can sprinkle in some explosive passes … those things would be helpful," he said. "No doubt about it." Grade: B- Offensive Line Although he's frequently been asked to proclaim otherwise, Franklin has resisted the urge to declare Penn State's offensive line a resolved situation. He's had good reason to hold back. While the Nittany Lions' offensive front has made a marked improvement from recent iterations, having allowed just 9 sacks in seven games, the team's performance against Northwestern and Michigan showed that there's still ample room for improve- ment. The offense scored just 17 points in the first of those two games and 10 in the latter. (Seven of its 17 points against the Wol- verines came on an interception return.) The Lions bounced back from their loss at Michigan by totaling 479 yards in a 45-17 win over Minnesota, and the coaching staff is optimistic that the improvements seen up front on White Out night will continue. "We're never satisfied," Yurcich said. "We need to continue to push and to get better and in all facets — pass [and] run. Obvi- ously, they've made significant strides. I think we're seeing that. We need to continue to build on that." Grade: B- ■ Sophomore tight end Theo Johnson was slowed by an injury earlier this year, but he caught 5 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE