Penn State aims to keep rotations in play at multiple spots during Week 2 clash with Ohio
Penn State beat Purdue 35-31 while using numerous players are a few key positions in West Lafayette. Based on both the win and how each Lion performed, those are here to stay for now.
The Lions held practice, part of which was open to the media, on a rainy day in State College and across Pennsylvania. They will retake the game field on Saturday, when Ohio comes to town for a Noon kick on ABC that marks this year’s home opener for Penn State.
“Mainly at the end of the day we got to get better this week,” head coach James Franklin said Tuesday. “That’s in every area, offense, defense, special teams, and also individually. If we do that each week as the season progresses, I think we’ll like where we’re at.”
On Wednesday, the ninth-year leader of the Lions was asked to address where things stand at running back, along the offensive line, and at middle linebacker following game one. And, one thing was plainly clear by the time Franklin finished his roughly 10 minute news conference in front of a backdrop just outside of Holuba Hall.
The rotations are here to stay for Penn State
We’ll start at running back. Freshmen Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton led the way with 28 and 24 snaps, respectively. Starter Keyvone Lee had 23, and reserve Devyn Ford four. The numbers themselves could vary moving forward. But, the Penn State plan to use each on a predetermined drive-by-drive basis will not, at least at this point in time.
“As of right now, we’re going to rotate those guys by series,” Franklin said.
“However it plays out with touches just really depends on the drive and the series and what’s called. Som that could be a little bit different. And then like I’ve talked about in the past, if one of those guys get really hot, then obviously the rotation could change. But right now, it’s one-to-one.”
Penn State also used three interior offensive linemen. Sal Wormley has cemented himself as the man at right guard on a near every snap basis. He played 75 of 78 plays against Purdue. But, on the left side, Hunter Nourzad and Landon Tengwall saw their time nearly split down the middle at 42 and 39, respectively. Bryce Effner will see time, as well, at tackle. He was used as an extra blocker frequently with tight end Theo Johnson sidelined against the Boilermakers. And, he’ll continue to see game reps moving forward.
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“Effner has earned the right to play, so we can rotate him in at tackle,” Franklin said. “Hunter Nourzad has earned the right to play. We’ll rotate him at both guards and possibly center as well. That’ll be week-to-week, and what we think makes the most sense, and where’s the right time and right place to do it. But those guys will will play. They earned that right during camp. And, then they did enough in the week one that role will either stay the same or could possibly grow.”
More: Practice notes and observations: Lions continue Ohio week prep
Finally, at middle linebacker, Penn State was happy with what it saw from starter Tyler Elsdon (50 snaps) and Kobe King (30) during a contest that was not designed for players at that position to truly shine due to how limited Purdue’s rushing attack was.
“Obviously, they played well enough for us to win,” Franklin said. “That game wasn’t necessarily a middle linebackers game, in terms of, whether they’re going to dictate the success of the defense or not. But, they were able to get us lined up and take control the defense.
“We didn’t have a whole lot of those missed assignments and things like that. I was proud of that. Something to build on.”
