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For a while under coach James Franklin, Penn State was regarded as a finesse team with outstanding speed at its skill positions on offense and among its back seven on defense.
That is changing.
Over the last few years, the Nittany LIons have built a mightier team dependent on more powerful and deeper offensive and defensive lines.
“I think we are more physical than we’ve been in the past,” Franklin said Monday. “It’s something we’ve really worked hard at promoting. I think the guys are having fun with it right now and it’s growing.
“I think we’re starting to build a reputation of being a physical team, which is something we take a lot of pride in.”
No. 4 Penn State (2-0 Big Ten, 5-0) will try to flex its muscles against USC (1-2, 3-2) Saturday at 3:30 (TV-CBS) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Lions’ creative personnel groupings, formations and shifts look complex, but the purpose of the offense is simple. That’s to put the football in the hands of the best players, which happen to be running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen and tight end Tyler Warren.
Singleton and Allen have helped Penn State average 217.8 rushing yards per game, 17th in the nation. Singleton missed last week’s win over UCLA with a leg injury, but Franklin sounded like he will be ready for the Trojans.
“He was very close to going last week,” Franklin said. “So as long as we don’t have any setbacks this week, I would anticipate him going. I also would anticipate him practicing Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ll see how this whole thing plays out.
“We’re very confident and I think Nick’s very confident in talking to him on Sunday that he’ll be ready to go.”
Under defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, a former Penn State defensive back, USC has been vulnerable against the run, allowing 158.6 yards on the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-football-team-establishing-034700754.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2024-10-08 03:47:00
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