Still issues for PSU amid 3-0 start
Although Penn State is 3-0, coach James Franklin acknowledged the Nittany Lions have issues.
“There are a lot of areas for growth,” Franklin said Tuesday.
No. 1 on the list is Penn State’s lack of success on third down on offense and defense. As the 12thranked Lions prepare for a trip to Maryland (2-1) for a Big Ten opener Friday night at 8 (TV-FS1; WEEUAM/830), they rank 127th out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in third down conversion at 23.3 percent.
Even in a season-opening rout of overmatched Idaho, Penn State converted just once on eight third downs. The Lions are a dreadful 7-for-30 so far.
“We have to be better on third down,” Franklin said, “and the better we are on third down the more opportunities we’ll create on first and second down, which we’ve been pretty good at. It will create more opportunities in the red zone.”
Two weeks ago, in a 17-10 win over Pittsburgh, Penn State managed just three first downs on three series after Noah Cain’s go-ahead 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Like they did in losses to Ohio State and Michigan State last year at Beaver Stadium, the Lions failed to run an effective fourminute offense. They took over at their 20 with 4:54 to go before Sean Clifford threw an 18-yard pass to Justin Shorter on secondand-9. But Clifford threw a deep incompletion on third-and-4 from their 45, a puzzling call.
That gave Pitt one more chance with 1:56 left, but linebacker Cam Brown tipped away Kenny Pickett’s pass to the end zone as time expired.
Penn State ran for 167 yards against the Panthers, one week after it gained just 78 in a 45-13 victory over Buffalo. The Lions rank 48th in the FBS in rushing with 192.0 yards a game.
“Our running game has been very good, like really good,” left tackle Rasheed Walker said. “The mindset in the offensive line room has changed. We’re finishing a lot more. We’re being more disciplined. We’re taking more pride in finishing.”
As for the defense, Buffalo converted 10-of23 times on third down against Penn State and Pitt was 5-for-16. Of their conversions, the Panthers had to gain at least 10 yards four times. They also enjoyed success with the screen pass.
The Lions rank 25th in the FBS in third down defense, but seventh in the Big Ten.
“We work like crazy to get people into third-andlong situations and then we let them off the hook,” Franklin said. “That’s been something we’ve spent a lot of time discussing and studying. It’s definitely an area that we can get better.”
Penn State has been unable to generate a consistent pass rush after leading the nation in sacks last season, but the Lions are 13th in the nation so far. They dropped Pitt’s Pickett three times two weeks ago, including one apiece by linebackers Jan Johnson and Cam Brown.
Franklin said opponents are keeping runners and receivers in the backfield to slow the Lions’ pass rushers.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that people are max-protecting and chipping,” he said. “Most importantly, we’ve been able to make people one-dimensional. Once we do that, we have to be able to take advantage of that, whether that’s tackles for loss, sacks or those types of things.”
Franklin suggested that Penn State has drawn more attention from opponents because of its success the last three seasons.
“We are getting people’s best version of themselves,” he said. “People are putting a lot into preparing for us. We’ve got to be more consistent. There are areas that we need to get better. There’s no doubt about it.
“I’m not saying we don’t make mistakes, but I’m proud of how we’re playing really sound and disciplined football.”