Penn State football's running game looking more explosive this spring, Brenton Strange says
Penn State football’s running game stumbled its way through last season, finishing 13th in the Big Ten in yards per game and yards per attempt.
Notably, the Nittany Lions were devoid of anything resembling explosiveness on the ground.
Tight end Brenton Strange says things are looking up this spring.
“I think there’s definitely been a lot more explosive run plays than maybe last year in the spring,” Strange said on Tuesday. “I think our offense is a lot further than we were last year in the spring. Having it now for two years and still having some veteran guys in the offense, I think we’re doing a lot better than we were.”
Through the air and on the ground last season, Penn State’s offense combined for 173 plays of 10 yards or more — 73rd in college football. Certainly, it could have been worse — but that’s not a number that will allow the Nittany Lions to compete at the level of the game they hope to reach.
Getting the running game fixed is at the top of James Franklin’s list of priorities this spring. He always maintained that the issue stemmed not solely from a dysfunctional offensive line, but from deficiencies all across the offense.
“We all know that’s an area that we must improve on,” Franklin said at the start of the spring. “It’s also not just with our offensive line and tight ends, but it’s also with our running backs’ ability to break tackles and make people miss. That has to be emphasized as well.”
Run game a key focus for Penn State
In the portion of spring practice open to reporters, it has been emphasized. Two weeks ago, running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider could be heard reminding players that the Nittany Lions were last in the country in yards after contact as they ran through tackling dummies.
Other members of the coaching staff are trying to move on from last year’s running game struggles.
Offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich opted not to elaborate on the running game’s problems from last season. In his view, that isn’t a productive discussion.
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“If I go back to last year, I think it’s a distraction,” Yurcich said two weeks ago. “I don’t think it really is pertinent to our mission, which is to improve this spring. And that’s our goal, that’s what we’re going to do this spring.
“We’re gonna executive better. We’re gonna coach it better. And we’re gonna play better.”
Strange and the rest of the tight ends were generally solid as run blockers last season. Strange, the man at the top of the depth chart, received a strong 80.0 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. Tyler Warren showed well in his first season as a contributor, with an 82.0 run-blocking grade. Theo Johnson struggled, with a 50.5 run-blocking mark.
All three of those tight ends played significant roles at Penn State last season, with Yurcich often deploying three-tight end sets. Strange played just shy of 600 snaps, with Johnson seeing 496. Warren, firmly third on the depth chart, took 227.
“With the run games and tight ends, it’s a little bit of everything, to be honest,” Strange said. “Technique, strength, mentality — you gotta wanna do it. I think we do a great job of that. And I think sometimes it gets overlooked by other people, I guess. I definitely think that it’s one of the strengths of our unit. We can block very well.”
