Penn State offense called a concern, Lions are a top team of the week, and more of what they're saying

Evanston, Ill. — Penn State is 5-0 for the third straight year after beating Northwestern 41-13 on Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field. Two different Nittany Lions threw touchdowns, three scored rushing touchdowns, and two caught receiving scores in the victory.

“First half, obviously starting with a fumble on kickoff return, not how you want to start the game, but not only that, we put the ball on the ground three times and it just messed with our offensive flow,” James Franklin said. “Defensively, I thought obviously when we were able to get them off schedule on first down they had a hard time with our pass rush. And that really showed up in the second half. That was my message to the team. First half is gone. Let’s play really well in the second half. And I think we ended up 31-3 in the second half. 

“But overall, very pleased with the win. Come on the road in the Big Ten and get a win again after their last game. Going into the bye week, we got some bumps and bruises in this game and in general. So this bye week will be important for us. It’s not an off week. It’s a bye week. We got to use this week to get better in the short term with our program and then the long term for recruiting.”

Here is a look at what is being said about Penn State locally and nationally after the win.

Penn State offense called a concern

That was the takeaway from SI’s Max Ralph and others as the Nittany Lions put up 30 points or more for the 13th straight game but often sputtered throughout the contest, and especially in the first half.

“The group did enough to extend its 30-plus points scoring streak to 12 games and get a convincing win,” Ralph writes. “It did not, however, do much to inspire confidence as the Big Ten schedule gets tougher. And the Lions benefited greatly from strong defense and some head-scratching moments from Northwestern.

“Just as it was after Illinois, this offensive line remains a question mark. Its pass protection has been strong, but the lack of a consistent run game has allowed teams to keep Allar and his receivers from creating much rhythm. Allar, the line and the whole offense will need to gel soon.”

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Penn State depth shines through

That’s the take of PennLive’s Bob Flounders as the Lions went to Trey Potts for a pair of touchdowns with Kaytron Allen sidelined.

“While prepping to face Penn State, it’s doubtful Northwestern’s coaching staff spent much of the week worrying about running back Trey Potts, cornerback Zion Tracy and defensive tackle Zane Durant,” Flounders writes.

“All three played huge roles, and the Lions also got a lift from backup guard Vega Ioane, who played with the first-team offense after JB Nelson left with an undisclosed injury in first half.”

Read the full story here.

Lions called a winner of Week 5

Penn State was called a winner of week five by Patrick Stevens of The Washington Post.

“Penn State (5-0, 3-0 Big Ten) isn’t the first team to struggle to dispatch an overmatched foe the week after operating at a near-flawless level, and it certainly won’t be the last,” Stevens writes. “Moreover, given where Penn State sits this season — with its games against Ohio State and Michigan serving as the barometers — its other 10 games are basically pass/fail affairs.

“The Nittany Lions may have been tied at 10 at the half with Northwestern (2-3, 1-2), but the final result means they passed Saturday’s test.”

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Penn State bye week comes at a great time

As BWI’s Sean Fitz writes, the Lions are dealing with plenty of bumps and bruises and get a week away from game competition at the right time.

“Stop me if you’ve heard this one before,” Fitz writes. “The bye week is coming at a great time for the Nittany Lions. Penn State has not dealt with many injuries this season, but that changed on Saturday in Evanston. JB Nelson left in the first quarter, Kaytron Allen wasn’t far behind. Chop Robinson got dinged after a pressure in the second half and did not return. 

“Keaton Ellis went down after a collision late in the game. Tre Wallace needs to get back and the Nittany Lions could use Malick Meiga on special teams. The extra week or two could be invaluable for Penn State’s chances in Columbus. Get those guys healthy and things are once again looking good from an availability standpoint.”

Read the full story here.