Penn State 2021 Run Game - Historical Perspective

[CaliLion79]

How BAD was Penn State's Run Game in 2021?

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fortheblogy.com

We all know it was bad...but some of these stats are just WOW (in the worst way). For instance, since 2000 Penn State has averaged 3 or less yards per rush attempt in 70 games. EIGHT (8!) of those games occurred in 2021. That's unreal. Just seems unfathomable that Franklin doesn't do something on staff to rectify this situation. Has Seider coached any other position besides RBs in his career? Does Franklin not fight to keep Traut if another school wants him? IDK.

 

[dcf4psu]

All of the trends are negative from 2018. This is not something that just happened this year. Unless I'm mistaken the only constant on the offensive coaching staff through these years is the head coach. And it's not something that looks like it can be fixed in one year. It didn't take one year to get to this point and it won't take one year to get out of it.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

In 2019 Penn State ran the ball pretty well. PSU ran for 2478 yards/190.6 yards per game/4.8 ypc.

https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/stats/2019

 

[Still in State Colllege]

In 2019 Penn State ran the ball pretty well. PSU ran for 2478 yards/190.6 yards per game/4.8 ypc.

https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/stats/2019

That was with Journey Brown with the bulk of the carries (6.9 avg). Very similar to when they had Barkley and Sanders in 2016 and averaged 4.5 ypc and then in 2017 at 4.9 ypc finally 2018 with Sanders at 5.1 ypc.

The common denominator seems to be having a NFL quality back or two running the ball. Especially when the are very good NFL back (Barkley and Sanders).

 

[nittanyfan333]

I'm a big believer in a bell-cow back. RBs need rhythm, and the last few years without a stud, they do this stupid rotation thing and it doesn't allow the RB to get in a rhythm.

 

[PSUFTG]

How BAD was Penn State's Run Game in 2021?

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fortheblogy.com

We all know it was bad...but some of these stats are just WOW (in the worst way). For instance, since 2000 Penn State has averaged 3 or less yards per rush attempt in 70 games. EIGHT (8!) of those games occurred in 2021. That's unreal. Just seems unfathomable that Franklin doesn't do something on staff to rectify this situation. Has Seider coached any other position besides RBs in his career? Does Franklin not fight to keep Traut if another school wants him? IDK.

I'm sure the For The Blogy folks will do a good analysis, but I don't have to watch it.
I have watched a lot of different teams play college football, for a lot of years - decades, actually. Some teams from traditionally strong programs, some from traditionally poor programs. I have never seen a combination of line blocking and running from the tailback spot as bad, so utterly inept, as what Penn State put on display in 2021.
Never, and I don't think it is even close.

How you can do as poorly as they did, with a very strong collection of passing game tools to force the opposition to respect the pass game, and with a defense that was, at the very least, quite solid, and kept them in games, is almost unbelievable.

 

[Tom_PSU]

I'm sure the For The Blogy folks will do a good analysis, but I don't have to watch it.
I have watched a lot of different teams play college football, for a lot of years - decades, actually. Some teams from traditionally strong programs, some from traditionally poor programs. I have never seen a combination of line blocking and running from the tailback spot as bad, so utterly inept, as what Penn State put on display in 2021.
Never, and I don't think it is even close.

How you can do as poorly as they did, with a very strong collection of passing game tools to force the opposition to respect the pass game, and with a defense that was, at the very least, quite solid, and kept them in games, is almost unbelievable.

Calm down they’ll have it all straightened out by the bowl game. Besides SEC defenses are notoriously lax when it comes to stopping the run game.

 

[PSUFTG]

Calm down they’ll have it all straightened out by the bowl game. Besides SEC defenses are notoriously lax when it comes to stopping the run game.

I don't know if it would be possible for anyone to be any calmer regarding Penn State's football team.

 

[PAgeologist]

I'm a big believer in a bell-cow back. RBs need rhythm, and the last few years without a stud, they do this stupid rotation thing and it doesn't allow the RB to get in a rhythm.

I see this as a problem as well in a way. With injuries and the transfer portal got to try to keep as many backs as possible. But it also doesn't allow for a true number one back and doesn't allow for getting any rhythm going.

 

[dcf4psu]

In 2019 Penn State ran the ball pretty well. PSU ran for 2478 yards/190.6 yards per game/4.8 ypc.

https://gopsusports.com/sports/football/stats/2019

With a good running game this year it may have been a very special season for Penn State.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

With a good running game this year it may have been a very special season for Penn State.

I agree.

 

[nittanyfan333]

I see this as a problem as well in a way. With injuries and the transfer portal got to try to keep as many backs as possible. But it also doesn't allow for a true number one back and doesn't allow for getting any rhythm going.

Agreed. Double edged sword for sure. CJF has said multiple times and it bears out on the field that he’s been trying to figure out who the lead back is and none of the RBs have grabbed the position by the horns. Product of the OL? Or has CJF been spoiled in a sense that he’s has Saquon, booby and journey and while this stable is good, none of them are that quality lead back he’s used to? As with everything, it’s not binary. tons of shades Of gray here.

 

[psu31trap]

In last nights Monday night football game Bill Belichick proved that if you have a dominant offensive line and two solid RB’s you can win games without throwing the ball. He ran a pro-set offense the entire game while only throwing the ball three times! Buffalo put 9 in the box and they still couldn’t stop the run. Coach Franklin needs to rethink his running back philosophy by recruiting more Lendale White’s who can run in between the tackles and less Reggie Bush home run hitters. Having one of each wouldn’t hurt.

 

[VaDave4PSU]

'19 was RB by committee until Brown and Cain started dominating the snaps midway through the year. Cain had two good games vs Purdue and Iowa prior to Brown breaking out vs Minnesota.

Cain had NFL aspirations and freshmen hype, but Brown was not an NFL prospect until the Memphis bowl game.

 

[rudedude]

In last nights Monday night football game Bill Belichick proved that if you have a dominant offensive line and two solid RB’s you can win games without throwing the ball. He ran a pro-set offense the entire game while only throwing the ball three times! Buffalo put 9 in the box and they still couldn’t stop the run. Coach Franklin needs to rethink his running back philosophy by recruiting more Lendale White’s who can run in between the tackles and less Reggie Bush home run hitters. Having one of each wouldn’t hurt.

The Bills went up and down the field on the Pats and it was red zone failure that lost the game not the Pats run only approach. Same crap happened vs Illinois. We could not capitalize when near the goal line on offense.

 

[PAgeologist]

Agreed. Double edged sword for sure. CJF has said multiple times and it bears out on the field that he’s been trying to figure out who the lead back is and none of the RBs have grabbed the position by the horns. Product of the OL? Or has CJF been spoiled in a sense that he’s has Saquon, booby and journey and while this stable is good, none of them are that quality lead back he’s used to? As with everything, it’s not binary. tons of shades Of gray here.

Probably a combo of all those. Plus none of the backs seemed healthy this year. Hard to grab the lead spot from the trainers table.

 

[Connorpozlee]

I thought was head and shoulders above the others this year. I would have just gone with him.

 

[StamfordBridgeVikingatLeftOffensiveTackle]

I thought was head and shoulders above the others this year. I would have just gone with him.

Lee?

 

[Connorpozlee]

Lee?

Oops! Yes, Lee.

 

[Tom_PSU]

Oops! Yes, Lee.

Lee, Grant, Longstreet, Sheridan it doesn’t matter none of them had a good year.

 

[PAgeologist]

I thought was head and shoulders above the others this year. I would have just gone with him.

I agree Lee certainly was better. It seemed he had injury issues as every back did this year. Plus Franklin benched him after every fumble. Probably killing his confidence. What RB doesn't fumble every once in a while?