Mike Yurcich: 'I know we got better running the football this spring'
That Penn State finished near the bottom of college football in rushing offense last season isn’t the problem. At least, for Nittany Lions’ offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, his philosophy on offensive efficiency isn’t dictated by pure yards per game numbers.
Specific to his evaluation of a rushing game and its effectiveness in making an offense its best, Yurcich does have a priority in mind. Whether a pass-happy offense or one that is more reliant on the run, his aims are clear.
“How important is it? I think your yards per rush is really important,” Yurcich said Wednesday. “I’m not saying this is what we are, (but) you may be a team that wants to throw the heck out of the football, and you’re only running it 15 times, 20 times a game. Well, those 15 or 20 runs better be very productive. It’s yards per carry. So, depending on your philosophy, it’s all relative, right?”
Year One for Mike Yurcich
Penn State’s production to that effect last season was particularly lackluster.
On 437 carries as a team last season, the Nittany Lions mustered just 3.2 yards per carry. Worse, even when adjusted for sacks, Penn State’s rushing attack produced just 3.78 yards per touch.
An ineffectiveness exacerbated by a lack of explosive plays, the failure of Penn State’s running game wasn’t isolated in its impact. Unable to supply the ingredient most necessary to the success of Yurcich’s offense – the very threat of consistent or game-breaking carries – the Nittany Lions were not where they needed to be.
“In reality, what you need is a complementary offense that puts players in conflict, whether it be run or pass. But you’re looking at being explosive and scoring points, that’s the most important thing,” Yurcich said. “Whether you run it or throw it, to me, the results are, did you score more points than the opponent?”
He continued, noting that an inability to successfully run the ball, even if imbalanced in attempts, has wide-ranging impacts.
“That’s going to hurt you in a lot of different areas because you’re going to be behind the sticks. You’re not going to be on schedule,” Yurcich said. “So whether you’re a running team, or whether you’re throwing team, it’s really your yards per rush that I think are really important factors when you’re looking at run game statistics. It’s not necessarily your run game totals, it’s yards per rush, it’s staying on schedule, it’s how explosive were you, whether it runs, or whether it be passes, and factoring in points.”
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Next steps
The lingering question is whether or not Penn State can make improvements on its performance last season.
With Keyvone Lee the program’s top returning rusher, finishing the 2021 campaign with 530 yards and two scores on 108 attempts, competition will be fierce this summer. Two true freshmen, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen were lauded throughout the spring for their impacts on the position. And, on the offensive line, optimism remains that gradual unit-wide improvement has taken hold.
Asked if he’d seen enough to think those steps had been made this spring, Yurcich offered his confidence at what’s to come.
“I think we got better. I know we got better running the football this spring. We feel that way as a staff and we feel that way as a football program,” he said. “It’s a process and it’s a bunch of hard work.
“I’m not gonna sit here and claim we’re even close to where we need to be. We’re still climbing the mountain, and it’s a process, and I’m looking forward to the challenge this season. No question.”
