Two of the big things people are talking about from an on-field standpoint after Penn State football’s latest loss to Ohio State are the team’s failures to score at the goal line and its receivers again not being good enough, and coach James Franklin addressed both of those topics in his weekly presser Monday.
In last season’s 20-12 loss in Columbus, no Penn State receiver had more than 52 yards.
This year, no receiver had more than 45.
For Franklin, the receivers this season have been better but there needs to be more.
“I think we have improved,” Franklin said. “I don’t think there is any doubt about it. From last year, we’ve improved on the field, in practice, in production. I haven’t checked statistically, but I don’t know if we had games last year where we had multiple receivers at times, different games, go for over 100 yards, which we have had this year.
“I don’t know if we had, at times last year, guys step up in critical moments and make clutch plays when it was needed most. So I think there has been significant strides made there, but there is still more work to do. That last game is an example of that.”
For Franklin, Penn State’s receivers need to make themselves dangerous enough on the field to be respected by an opposing defense.
“We have got to be able to threaten people,” he said. “Got to be able to stretch people. Got to be able to make plays and create separation and make tough catches. That needs to happen.
I think that needs to be an emphasis really for the rest of the season.”
THERE HAVE BEEN STRIDES
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Harrison Wallace III
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.To Franklin’s point, Penn State has progressed at the receiver position. Last season, Penn State had two 100-yard receiving games, both by KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who transferred to Auburn over the spring. This season, Penn State had four in the first five games, all by different receivers. PSU had four different leading receivers in all 13 games last season and matched that in the first five games this year. So progress has been made, but unfortunately for Penn State, it wasn’t evident against the Buckeyes.
HAVING TYLER WARREN HELPS
Tyler Warren rumbles for a big gain to get the Nittany Lions into a goal-to-go situation late in the fourth quarter.
Penn State’s passing game features the best tight end in college football and one of the best overall players in the land in Warren. Warren has 606 receiving yards, which is more than 200 above his closest teammate. Ohio State double-teamed Warren and therefore neutralized him, holding him to 47 yards, which is 29 below his season average and 177 below what he did against USC Oct. 12.
How did Ohio State takeaway Tyler Warren? They just double teamed him… pic.twitter.com/kkbH0njcor
— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) November 5, 2024
Penn State’s receivers weren’t good enough against Ohio State. With that said, the Buckeyes deserve credit for locking them down and keeping Warren from taking over the game.
PSU now has to worry about Washington, which it takes on Saturday at 8 on Peacock.
