Penn State rediscovers running game
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Only two weeks have passed since Penn State dejectedly walked out of Lincoln Financial Field wondering what happened in a one-sided loss to Temple and needing to figure out how it would regroup, particularly along the offensive line.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Only two weeks have passed since Penn State dejectedly walked out of Lincoln Financial Field wondering what happened in a one-sided loss to Temple and needing to figure out how it would regroup, particularly along the offensive line.
The communication among offensive linemen was practically nonexistent in the season opener. An inability to block for the running game meant opponents could tee off on quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who was sacked 10 times by the Owls.
But the Nittany Lions have stuck with it, and the offense has slowly gotten better. They ran for 330 yards, their most on the ground in six years, in Saturday night's decisive, 28-3 victory over Rutgers at Beaver Stadium in their Big Ten opener. The blocking has improved significantly while true freshman Saquon Barkley has been a real eye-opener in the backfield.
The 5-foot-11, 222-pound Barkley showed more moves than a professional dancer against the Scarlet Knights, rushing for 195 yards on 21 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Even though he gained just 1 yard against Temple, he has rushed for 311 yards in three games, 32d in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
"To be a running back, it's all about breaking tackles and making people miss," head coach James Franklin said. "A running back has got to bring that to the table. Coaches are going to try to get the running back into position to be one-on-one, and the running back must win more than 50 percent of those one-on-one situations. He's been able to do that."
Akeel Lynch, the starter for the three games so far, added 120 yards on 10 carries, one of them being a 75-yard touchdown scamper late in the second quarter - Penn State's third of the period in what became a 21-0 halftime lead.
If the offensive linemen deserved to be criticized after the season opener, then they must be given props for their performance the last two weeks.
"I think it brings the whole team together," redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Brendan Mahon said. "Those guys are great. I think we all played as one tonight."
The line neutralized a Rutgers defense that had allowed just 78 rushing yards in its first two games.
After rushing for 77 yards against Temple, Penn State has moved up in FBS rushing thanks to 200 yards against Buffalo and Saturday night's performance. The Lions rank 51st with a 203.3-yard average. Just as important, Hackenberg has gone back-to-back weeks without being sacked.
In addition, Penn State's punting game, which has been inconsistent, showed dramatic improvement against the Scarlet Knights. Redshirt sophomore Chris Gulla made his first start of the season and averaged 41.0 yards on five punts - all of them inside the Rutgers 20.
The Nittany Lions did a terrific job defending the Scarlet Knights' Janarion Grant, who entered the game with three returns for touchdowns this season. Of 10 punts and kickoffs, Grant returned just two - a kickoff for 8 yards and a punt for minus-1.
"If you had to say who the game ball goes to, everybody's going to say Saquon Barkley, or Akeel Lynch, or some of our defensive players that made some big plays," Franklin said. "But I would say it goes to Gulla. He was able to swing field position."
Odd exchange
Rutgers acting head coach Norries Wilson, filling in for the suspended Kyle Flood, entered the visiting team's media room at Beaver Stadium and began one of the more peculiar news conferences seen after a college football game.
He insisted in calling on reporters instead of having them yell out their questions.
"What's your name? What do want to ask me?" he asked one.
"The gentleman in the blue shirt holding the phone," he said, pointing out another.
"The young lady with the green shirt on and the glasses. Or are you just filming? You're just filming . . ."
When one reporter said he was from Asbury Park, Wilson responded: "We've got a lot of people here from Asbury Park. Are there any people left in Asbury Park?"
During one question, a reporter referred to "Flood," and Wilson corrected, "Coach Flood."
"I beg your pardon," the reporter said.
"Coach Flood."
"OK, Coach Flood."
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