Blue White Illustrated

Michigan Postgame

Penn State Sports Magazine

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P O S T G A M E R E P O R T W E E K 1 1 M I C H I G A N 2 8 , P E N N S T A T E 1 6 N O V E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 5 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M THE GAME AT A GLANCE GOOD NEWSWhile Michigan QB Jake Rudock had some success, the Lions were able to get a few stops and also two turnovers, even though they were playing without Carl Nassib and Jordan Lucas. BAD NEWS The red zone problems were devastating, as were two special teams snafus: a fumbled punt and a long kick- off return that put a damper on Penn State's hopes of pulling off a fourth- quarter comeback. THE TAKEAWAY James Franklin said it best: "We have got to get our [pass] protec- tion and our run game more consistent." Amen. The Nittany Lions have certainly made some incre- mental improvements since last year, but they are a long way from having the kind of offensive line that would allow them to compete against top- tier Big Ten oppo- nents. 1 M A T T   H E R B | M A T T @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . c O M NO-GO ZONE Field goals prove insufficient as Michigan spoils senior day Touchdowns trump field goals. That was prob- ably the biggest and definitely the most obvious takeaway from Penn State's 28-16 loss to Michi- gan on senior day at Beaver Stadium. When the 14th-ranked Wolverines found them- selves in scoring position, they took full advan- tage, producing three touchdowns on four red zone opportunities, with their only miss Saturday coming on a kneel-down at the end of the game. Conversely, when Penn State managed to put it- self in the same sort of advantageous spots, it stalled. In three trips inside the Michigan 10-yard line, the Nittany Lions came away with only three field goals. "You've got to give those guys credit," coach James Franklin said aBer watching his team ab- sorb its second consecutive loss. "That's one of the top defenses in the country. They've been No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 in almost every defensive category in our conference, as well as in the country. You look at what type of defense they've had all sea- son long, and that's a good team – a good, veteran team. They've got 18 senior starters. We have four senior starters, and that showed up. That's a big, STACKED UP Godwin can't find room to maneuver against Michigan's defense. Photo by Steve Manuel

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