Penn State-Michigan will be a battle of stop rate standouts; KeAndre Lambert-Smith practices: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Oct. 13 include impressive stats for both the Lions and Michigan, plus the latest news from practice as the team continues working toward its top-10 showdown in Ann Arbor.
It’s time for Thursday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college football.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with a statistic that will play a major role in this weekend’s matchup at ‘The Big House’. It comes from The Athletic’s Max Olson, who has been stopping stop rates in the sport for the past five seasons. He’s now back with his first installment of this season. First, what is it?
“It’s a basic measurement of success: the percentage of a defense’s drives that end in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs,” Olson writes.
“This simple metric can offer a more accurate reflection of a defense’s effectiveness in today’s faster-tempo game than yards per game or points per game.”
It’s worth noting that games against FCS opponents are not counted.
So, why does it matter for this game? The Wolverines are No. 2 nationally at 83.3 percent. The Lions are No. 5 at 81.2. Minnesota leads the country at 85 percent.
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A defensive battle is likely on Saturday. Which offense can crack the other team first could find an advantage it could later put away.
In other news, Penn State opened practice to the media on Wednesday night for the first time since its bye week ended. See scenes from the drills and other updates below. One key one is that receive KeAndre Lambert-Smith was back in action. That doesn’t guarantee he plays Saturday. But, head coach James Franklin was “hopeful” on Tuesday that he would after leaving the Lions’ last win early.
Headlines of the day
What Happened to Penn State’s Big-Play Passing Game?: Wogenrich, SI
James Franklin preps Penn State for ‘big boy ball’ at Michigan: Notebook: Bauer, BWI
Hotel stays skyrocket ahead of biggest Penn State home games. Check out these prices: CDT
Penn State coach James Franklin shares update on recovering defender Zuriah Fisher: Pickel, BWI
Penn State football’s Sal Wormley “extremely excited” for Michigan tilt in return from season-ending injury: Engle, Daily Collegian
PSU practice report: Notes and observations as the Lions prepare for Michigan: Fitz, BWI
Michigan football’s turnover celebration boasts Detroit flavor: Detroit News
Penn State-Michigan Predictions: Can Lions upset Wolverines on the road?: Snyder, BWI
Quote of the day
“Offensively, they’ve recruited well, they’ve developed well, and again, their style of play of trying to stay balanced on offense, both run and pass, keep the keep the game from a scoring perspective where they’re in control the game.
“You look at first score, first drive, first play of a drive. All those things, a lead at the end of the first half; if you study this team and this head coach, all those things are a big factor in how they want to play. So, a combination of really all of it. Recruiting well, developing well, the style of offense they play, the style of complementary football they play as well has served them well.”
—PSU coach James Franklin on Michigan ahead of Saturday’s matchup.