Raising Cain part of PSU’s group rushing plan
Penn State coach James Franklin still doesn’t want to name a starting running back or even shorten the four-man rotation, but he knows who he wants on the field with the game on the line.
“Probably the biggest thing for us is the four-minute situation,” Franklin said Tuesday, “where I think that really makes sense for Noah (Cain).”
After running for 100 yards for the second straight week, Cain leads the Nittany Lions in rushing with 310 yards and six touchdowns on 57 carries.
Cain, a freshman, gained 102 yards on 22 carries last week in a 17-12 win at Iowa. He picked up 67 yards in the fourth quarter, including a five-yard touchdown run and a five-yard pickup on third-and-3 that helped Penn State run out the clock.
“I had mentioned to you guys that we felt like that (the four-minute offense) was going to be something that was good for Noah and his style of running and it did show up,” Franklin said. “A lot of people would look at Noah and say he’s probably a traditional I-back, a big back who (runs) downhill.
“But in our Spread offense, he’s been very, very successful.”
The 5-10, 206-pound Cain has far more rushing attempts than sophomore Journey Brown, who remains at the top of the depth chart. Freshman Devyn Ford has the highest per-carry average (7.2), followed by Brown (6.7), Cain (5.4) and sophomore Ricky Slade (2.1).
“We’re rotating our backs, and really all of them are doing some nice things,” Franklin said. “It’s not like stylistically they’re so different that we have to change what we do.
“Sometimes you have backs who aren’t good in the passing game, whether it’s protection, receiving, route running or catching the ball consistently. All four of them do that extremely well.”
Cain posted 100-yard games against Purdue and Iowa, Brown against Pittsburgh and Ford against Idaho. Slade, who started the first two games, seems to be the only one in the group who has yet to gain traction. He and Brown do have seven catches for 89 yards apiece.
“All four of those guys have the ability to be as good as there is,” Franklin said. “That’s what I think is so special and so exciting. What also is great about this is you’d better not miss class. You’d better do everything you’re supposed to do because we’ve got that type of competition.
“It also keeps those guys fresh, keeps some of the wear and tear off them, so I think that’s valuable.”
• • • Franklin said Tuesday he’s heard from the Big Ten office regarding an overturned call in the 17-12 win at Iowa last Saturday.
“I did, but it’s not appropriate to talk about here in this setting,” Franklin said at his weekly press conference. “If they want to say something, they’ll say something. I’m not going to speak on behalf of the Big Ten.”
Tight end Pat Freiermuth appeared to score on a 16-yard pass from Sean Clifford with Penn State leading Iowa 7-6 in the third quarter. Officials on the field initially called it a touchdown, but replay official Tom Kissinger, part of referee John O’Neill’s crew, overturned it and said his knee touched before he reached the end zone.
Television replays showed that Freiermuth and the football crossed the goal line before his knee touched. Penn State settled for Jake Pinegar’s
33-yard field goal and a 10-6 lead, after three holding penalties were called on the Lions, one before Freiermuth’s catch and two after.
One call wiped out Journey Brown’s six-yard touchdown run and another canceled Clifford’s 11yard score. Penn State ended the game with eight penalties for 80 yards, and Iowa had one for five yards.
“The instant replay process operates under the fundamental assumption that the ruling on the field is correct,” the NCAA Rule Book states. “The replay official may reverse a ruling if and only if the video evidence convinces him beyond all doubt that the ruling was incorrect.
“Without such indisputable video evidence, the replay official must allow the ruling to stand.”
The Big Ten would not allow O’Neill or Kissinger to be interviewed by a pool reporter Saturday night after the game.
• • •
NOTES >> Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos and linebacker Jan Johnson, received recognition Tuesday. Gross-Matos, a junior, was named to The Associated Press Midseason All-America second team. He leads the Lions with
5½ sacks and 8½ tackles for loss. Johnson, a senior, received honorable mention on the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-America team. He has 25 tackles, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one pass breakup . ... ESPN’s College GameDay will originate from Penn State’s HUB Lawn this weekend. The college football pregame show will air live from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday with Reece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Lee Corso . ... Two former Penn State players were taken Tuesday in the XFL Draft, quarterback Matt McGloin and wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins.