Trending
UNIVERSITY PARK -- One of the biggest challenges for coaches of the most talented teams, be it football or basketball, is the fact that there is only one ball.
That may have been on James Franklin's mind last week as -- unsolicited -- he went out of his way to praise Kaytron Allen, an excellent back but someone who hasn't received the preseason publicity of running mate Nick Singleton.
Franklin opened his weekly press conference Tuesday by saying, "I just want to make sure that our fans and everybody that follows Penn State closely knows how fortunate and blessed we are to have Kaytron in our locker room."
Allen carried 10 times for 51 yards against West Virginia (to Singleton's 13 for 70), but he started Saturday's game with Delaware and gained 103 yards on 19 carries as the Nittany Lions breezed to a 63-7 victory at Beaver Stadium.
"We will continue to play them both like starters," Franklin said. "That's how we view them."
It was clear the plan Saturday was to get Allen involved immediately as he carried six times on the Lions' first possession, which resulted in a 7-0 lead.
Afterward, Allen admitted it was special to see his picture on the scoreboard as he was announced with the starters.
"I've been waiting to get the ball," he said, smiling.
Singleton carried 12 times for 47 yards and scored three touchdowns.
"We feed off each other," Allen, who also scored a short TD, said. "He's like my brother from another mother."
Singleton is known for his speed while Allen breaks more tackles after contact.
"He's been helping me a lot," Singleton said. "Obviously, the patience he has, I try to play a game like that. You know he's a physical runner so, I'm trying to be a physical runner, too."
Franklin has sold past backfield standouts such as Saquon Barkley and Miles Sanders on the advantages of a managed workload.
"I think they also understand in the long term, not only for their collegiate careers, but afterwards, showing that those guys have a lot of tread left on the tires ... I think they've have bought into it," Franklin said.
Tougher games will play out differently, and Franklin acknowledged, "Sometimes in the heat of the battle, they want more opportunities and more touches, but I think big-picture wise, they really get it."
Franklin said he's approaching the tight end position in similar fashion as both Theo Johnson and Tyler Warren are good enough to start and often play together.
However, they combined for just one catch last week so it wasn't a coincidence that they caught eight between them Saturday. Johnson was targeted on the first play and twice on the Nits' first possession.
Warren wound up catching six passes for 37 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown that bumped the Lions' lead to 35-7 at halftime.
"When it's Theo's time to make plays or my time to make plays, that's what we're focused on," Warren said.
Warren actually took more pride how he and Johnson blocked. They're part of a short-yardage package that helped the Lions convert 8-of-8 red-zone chances.
"As an offense, getting the run game going was important," Warren said.
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich has relied on the tight ends the last two years at the goal line -- often in a power formation.
"It's been good for us," Warren said.
It's obviously early but as the season is taking shape, it's beginning to be appear that the aforementioned are all complementary parts to quarterback Drew Allar, whose accuracy (22-26 on Saturday) is matched by his ability to read defenses.
"I wouldn't say there was a specific thought in getting the tight ends involved," Allar said. "Obviously, we want them involved as pass catchers, and I don't think they get enough credit for how they block in the run game. They do a lot of the dirty work. But it's just a matter of taking advantage what the defense gives us."
As Allen and Warren showed on Saturday, Penn State has plenty of options capable of "taking advantage."
Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.