PSU point-counter: Best and worst part of this season (Rudel)

November 2, 2023

Run game, offensive line mar otherwise good season Let’s start with the worst first and work up to the silver lining. Of course, the negative would be the disappointment at Ohio State — not so much the loss but the way the Nittany Lions couldn’t function offensively. That would be one, two, three and four on the worst moments of 2023 list. Taking that out and drilling down further, I’d have to say the offensive line, which has not been close to dominant, thus too often keeping the running game, well, grounded. Much was expected from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, ...

Lions put OSU loss behind; or did they?

October 30, 2023

UNIVERSITY PARK — James Franklin sounded his own warning earlier in the week, but it didn’t appear that the Nittany Lions got the message. After the loss to Ohio State, Franklin said, “We’ve got to make sure his loss doesn’t get us twice, which I think has happened in the past.” To be exact, since 2014, in nine games following the team’s first loss, Penn State had gone 4-5. The Lions narrowly avoided another hangover loss Saturday as they overcame a slow start and a shaky fourth quarter before escaping with a 33-24 win over upset-minded Indiana. Penn State came in ...

Franklin must practice showing vs telling

October 28, 2023

Of all the things that were difficult to fathom from Penn State’s performance against Ohio State and its aftermath, I found this admission from James Franklin to stand alone. During his Tuesday press conference, the last question Franklin took was about his own accountability when the team loses a big game, especially in an era of raising money for program needs and keeping fan engagement high. His answer was both honest and intriguing. He said, “Yeah, if I did not do that (after OSU game), I think you just created an opportunity for me to do that, which I appreciate. Ultimately, ...

Rudel: The most dissapointing part of last week’s loss was …

October 26, 2023

In abandoning the run, Lions cut out playmakers. This is a long list, but as is the case with every big-game loss, there are few wrong answers. I cannot fathom how Penn State got away from the run. James Franklin (previously) resisted season-long questions on why the Lions weren’t throwing deep more to open up the run. It’s pretty clear now they weren’t throwing deep for a reason — because they didn’t think Drew Allar was ready to carry the team that way, didn’t think the receivers could get open and had the usual offensive line concerns that have been around for the past ...

Lions’ offensive showing is cryin’ shame

October 23, 2023

Drew Allar didn’t try to hide his emotions. The Nittany Lions’ quarterback was in tears following Penn State’s 20-12 loss to Ohio State on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. Allar was well aware that he and the offense were almost entirely responsible for the outcome. He didn’t ...

Franklin’s time to end Buckeye streak is here

October 21, 2023

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com This is the biggest game of James Franklin’s career. Franklin is the common denominator in the Nittany Lions’ 1-8 record against Ohio State. He’s had different coordinators on both sides of the ball, different quarterbacks and different standout players, and with the exception of Grant Haley’s return of Marcus Allen’s blocked field goal, a springboard to the Big Ten championship, the Lions have come up short every time. They’ve been close with a couple gut-wrenching come-from-ahead losses, and despite playing the Buckeyes ...