Penn State Sports Magazine
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N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 6 2 9 3 scores. Redshirt sophomore Quin- ton Martin Jr. rounded out the top three with 158 yards and 1 touchdown on 29 carries. The team's production had fallen from 205.0 rushing yards per game against its three nonconference opponents to 78.3 in its first three Big Ten games. "I think we got ourselves, really in both [Big Ten defeats], to a situation where we're playing drop-back foot- ball," Penn State coach Matt Camp- bell said after the Lions' 34-13 loss to Northwestern on Oct. 2, a game in which his team gained just 48 yards on the ground. "We're drop-back passing, and when you have a lack of complementary football in the offense without a running game that's consis- tent, you're really [missing out on] the opportunity to create explosives with play-action passing and the running game. Those things are just not avail- able. "The only way you're going to do it is drop-back passing, and it's really a hard way to live. We've got to find the right answers. But that's what I believe is go- ing on right now." Speaking on Oct. 6, the Tuesday be- fore Penn State's home game against the Trojans, Campbell was even more pointed in explaining what ails the rushing attack and the offense in gen- eral. "I think the run game is almost the whole thing. There are inconsistencies across the board right now," Campbell said. "You can't just pinpoint this group or that group. The reality of it is, we lack an identity. … Fundamentally, we're still not exactly where we need to be or want to be on the offensive line, or at the re- ceiver position blocking in the running game, or at times our tailbacks in the running game. Those things are real, and they are things that we must get better at. "When that's not working, it stresses the entire organism. You can't play a game situationally where you're play- ing in rhythm. And really for the last six quarters, we failed to do that in all three phases of the game. That part of it obvi- ously is frustrating, but it's the reality and it's where we are right now. "But I think the thing that's really positive is that we know we have the people and we have the coaches to get where we need to be. The only way to do it is a relentless approach back on the practice field of getting ourselves back to where we need to be." Seeking Solutions Does Penn State have the players to fix its shortcomings? It's a fair ques- tion. So far, the Nittany Lions have not gotten enough explosiveness from their backs. Martin might be the quickest, but he struggles in pass protection at times. Peoples and Hansen are the top pass blockers, with Peoples a bit quicker than Hansen. Neither had a run longer than 16 yards through six games. Wallace is in the mix, too, but further down the depth chart. There are no proven alternatives waiting for a turn. What are the solutions for the Lions? Playing better is obviously No. 1. No. 2 is blocking better up front. Peoples said the team could be a block or two away from unlocking its running game. The receiv- ers, tight ends and linemen are hardly the only ones to blame for the lack of production on the ground, though. The backs need to be better. Offensive coor- dinator Taylor Mouser also needs to put his players in better positions to succeed. "I think we need to have conviction," junior guard Cooper Cousins said. "We need to come off the ball with a nasty in- tent. I know that's the vision of what we have for ourselves, but we need to start putting that on tape. We need to come off the ball, and teams need to see us having that conviction that I'm talking about. Teams need to see us and be wor- ried about that conviction that they're seeing in the run game. "I think it's straining, having the con- stant strain as the five guys up front. It can't be a few plays here. It can't be a few plays there. It's got to be every single play." Penn State is working to do that. There is little doubt that the coaches and play- ers are trying to fix their beleaguered rushing attack. But so far, the work they "We need to come off the ball with a nasty intent. I know that's the vision of what we have for ourselves, but we need to start putting that on tape." J U N I O R G U A R D C O O P E R C O U S I N S