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corrections. We're going to need to do a better job of it. "There aren't a whole lot of plays in the playbook when you can't consis- tently protect and run the ball. We need to get those things fixed from a tech- nique and from a fundamental perspec- tive." Lo and behold, the Nittany Lions spent the next two weeks working to do exactly what Franklin preached to the skeptics in victories against Buffalo and Rutgers. (A necessary qualifier: Of the Nittany Lions' first two wins of the season, nei- ther the Bulls or Scarlet Knights had de- fenses of any type of prestige. Though even-less daunting defenses remain leading into the Oct. 17 date at Ohio State, competition will be decidedly stiffer in the season's back end.) What has resulted in the time since has been a weekly education into what can happen to Penn State's offense when the running game is able to find some suc- cess. Namely, in racking up a combined 530 yards on the ground on 80 total car- ries, the Nittany Lions not only found an offensive footing that had been severely lacking against the Owls and through much of the 2014 season, but also came up with the elixir to the offensive line's sack issue. Allowing zero sacks in back-to-back games, the Nittany Lions managed to slowly work their way back from the depths of all FBS teams in sacks allowed to open the season. "We have the ability on the O-line to play with confidence," Franklin told re- porters following the dominant 28-3 win against Rutgers at Beaver Stadium. "When running backs start making peo- ple miss, breaking tackles and making great plays, it inspires them. It's no dif- ferent than a good kickoff returner or punt returner. I think it's a combination of those things. "Plus, the better we run the ball and make some big plays in the running game, the less chaos we get. When we can't run the ball and we are predictable in throwing, we get chaos constantly. The running game is going to help us in protection, get more base looks and all of those things." Although Hackenberg's stat line ap- peared pedestrian, Penn State's steady attack offered a glimpse into what Franklin would like the offense to be- come as opponents are gradually forced into rare bouts of honesty. Mired by driving rain against both the Bulls and Scarlet Knights, Penn State was under- standably reluctant to rely on the pass- ing game, even though it had been the backbone of last season's offense. Between veteran Akeel Lynch and his backfield partner, breakout freshman Saquon Barkley, the Nittany Lions' run- ning backs have taken full advantage. "We can run the ball," Lynch said, fresh off his 10-carry, 120-yard per- formance against Rutgers, capped by a game-breaking 75-yard touchdown gal- lop to finish the first half. "I think that's evident today. I think we ran for the most yards in the last six years, so it gives the guys up front confidence. They played real well today. Holes were open. Give those guys credit up front every day, they gave us one guy to miss and we did that all day." The benefits are far-reaching. When the running game is clicking, it's easier for the line to keep Hackenberg upright, and for the wideouts to get open downfield. Running the ball "helps a lot, because last year we were struggling a little bit in the run game and then the offense would be struggling overall as well," wideout DaeSean Hamilton said. "So when we get the run game going, that just adds on the play-action passes, that adds on the guys having to get in the box to try to stop the run because they don't know what's coming and they can just throw it out to us. It takes a lot of pressure off the receivers when you have a great running game, and the O-line is doing great as they did the past two weeks. Once we see that getting established, that just gets the offense rolling." Where the Nittany Lions go from here is still to be determined, but a burgeon- ing ground game might just be enough to loosen up an offense that is eager to per- form. ■ 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S

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