Why is Penn State having fun on offense again? Ja'Juan Seider on that, his top backs, his young rushers, more

If it has not been evident on game day, let’s go ahead and spell it out: The Penn State offense is having fun in 2024. That did not always appear to be the case in 2023, as the Lions dealt with a variety of struggles for a variety of reasons on that side of the ball. Former coordinator Mike Yurcich was not the only reason why. But, there’s simply no question that first-year play caller Andy Kotelnicki has brought both a different vibe and a creative attack to State College. The players, and assistant coaches, all love it. What makes the program’s start to the season on offense so enjoyable beyond the points and big plays?

“I think everybody noticed the difference in how we are attacking the defense,” Penn State co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider said Thursday. “We started to spread you out from the center all the way outside to the wide receivers, and I mean by inside- and outside-zone, gap scheme. So now you’ve been able to take advantage of [Nick Singleton’s and Kaytron Allen’s] strengths. Get speed in space. Not only speed in space, but power in space. And now you got to defend that, and make a safety have to make the tackle a lot of the time.

More: Penn State-UCLA Predictions: Lions start October with final tune-up before first big test

“Where last year, we were boxed in a lot of times. We didn’t spread them out enough, [and] you found the linebacker and the safety at the line of scrimmage. So I just think Andy’s done a great job of creating matchups to make people defend 53 and a third of the field. So it kind of opened up different lanes with these guys. … You watch great offenses, they have fun, and that’s what our team is doing right now. They’re having fun because they execute at a high level, and that’s how you have fun.”

The latest chance for the Lions to put their skills to work comes this Saturday when UCLA visits for a Noon kick at Beaver Stadium. Seider declined to provide any details beyond what James Franklin said on Wednesday about star junior Nick Singleton’s status. The 11th-year leader of the Lions said then that, despite the fact that he missed practice, there is “nothing at this stage” that would impact his availability for the first game of October. We’ll see if that’s the case. Either way, you will see those on the field displaying positive energy. It’s led to good things so far.

“If you were asking a true and false question, that’d be true to all,” Seider said when asked if the coaches and players are having more fun on offense in 2024. “We are having fun. We got a close knit group, and the kids, they reciprocate what they see out us, right? They see us having fun, they’re going to have fun.

More from Ja’Juan Seider

Seider hit on numerous other Penn State topics during his Thursday call with reporters. Blue-White Illustrated subscribers can read his full Q&A here. Find some highlights below.

On if Penn State freshmen running back Quinton Martin Jr., will be ready Saturday if called upon.

“Yeah, he’s ready,” Seider said. “He’s been here all spring. If he’s not ready, I didn’t do my job. He’s got to be ready to go regardless. Same with [fellow freshman running back] Corey [Smith]. It’s my job. You coach the fifth guy no different than the first guy, because you never know when the fifth guy is going to be the first guy. You’re a play away from being the guy. It’s the mentality. I can say it, but they have to do it. And having Quinton here all spring, summer, fall, he’s ready. I thought when he played a few weeks ago, he operated with confidence. If he has to play, he’s ready to play.”

On working with Penn State OC Andy Kotelnicki

“The biggest thing for Andy is, he kind of reminds me of when I worked for Dana [Holgorsen]. He’s not uptight. He has a personality [of], you don’t have to feel like its fourth and inches every time you walk in the meeting. And also, he done a great job with trusting the resources that he had working with him. He was here when me and Ty [Howle] took over as the coordinators at the bowl game.

“So, he got a chance to see us work. Now, he knows he has good coaches. I don’t have to be a me guy. I can trust the people around me. Because we got a great staff here, and there’s not an ego in that room, and he knows that. And anytime you walk into a program, the first thing you got to do is you got to find out where the trust is. Earn our trust.

More: Who are the top prospects expected at Penn State’s game against UCLA?

“We trust him. So I think he’s done a great job with that, not only with our staff, but with our players. And he brings confidence when he walks in the room. Because, again, on offense, it’s all about confidence. If you’re uptight, or you’re pressing and you’re forcing the issues in the pass game, the run game, well, everybody feels that and now it’s a sense of calm. Your preparation allows you to be confident. And that’s what we preach. We show you every look known to man, now go out there and play. Turn it loose. We talk about taking a deep breath. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Make mistakes full speed ahead, fast. And if we do that, good things gonna happen for us.”

Quote of the day

Seider, on Kaytron Allen’s love for football, his personality, and his touchdown celebration against Illinois

“The kid loves football,” Seider said. “There’s not a kid in this world who I’ve ever been around or coached who loves football more than Katron. And I think the thing he loves the most, it isn’t the yards, it’s getting in the end zone. It is a funeral home if he doesn’t get in that end zone. And I have to try to remind him: It’s never going to always be easy when you got RPOs, you got quarterback pulls, you got Tyler Warren, you got Nick, you got Drew and Beau; everybody can run. So, now, don’t let those moments when we don’t get in, because I want you to get in there too, affect your mood after the game.

“And I think he reset himself two weeks ago, because again, there’s pressure, right? These guys are trying to make sure they lead our team. But you can lead in different ways. And try to make them understand, just because you didn’t score a touchdown, and our team won, end of the day, it’s about the team winning. So I had to remind him: So guess what? In NFL, they play for field goals. When you get there, some games you may not score. But you still got to enjoy the moment. You put too much hard work in here to not let it bring you down.

“And, it’s the touchdowns for this kid. This kid would give his right arm to make sure he scores every game. And it doesn’t make him selfish. That’s his mentality. That’s his sign of, I’m doing my part to help us win. It’s not that I’m being selfish. I’m trying to put me before the team. He incorporates a great game with him in the end zone. And I don’t know that was something that was always brought up when he was young, but that’s what we had to sit down and talk to him about as a freshman.

“So love the kid. Love the way he approaches the game, and I love his passion for the game. And I think now, when he let that go, we saw how much fun they had. I mean, I wish you guys could have been on the sideline to see and embrace the fun that Nick and Katron were having throughout that game, the way they were playing with violence, but they also were enjoying each other on that sideline with their teammates.”