Penn State football coach James Franklin provided a candid assessment of his team’s performance after their 46-11 victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack on September 2, 2023. Despite the win, Franklin highlighted issues with the running game and the team’s effectiveness in the red zone.
“We had some missed assignments that made the game more difficult than it needed to be,” he stated, emphasizing the need for improvement. The Nittany Lions managed to rush 36 times for a total of 135 yards, averaging a modest 3.8 yards per carry. Furthermore, they converted only 5 of their 9 opportunities inside the Wolf Pack’s 25-yard line.
Franklin detailed a specific play that exemplified the team’s struggles. “On one of the drives, we’re running an outside-zone scheme on the first play. We don’t block the 3-technique defensive tackle and they get a tackle for loss. Now you’re off schedule,” he explained. This kind of inconsistency, he noted, must be addressed to enhance performance.
The Nevada defense employed a five-man front, which complicated matters for Penn State’s running backs, Nick Singleton and Kaytron “Fatman” Allen. The duo, known for their abilities, combined for just 62 yards on 16 carries. “If you’re the defensive coordinator at Nevada and you’re coming to Penn State, the proven commodity is Nick and Fat and the running game,” Franklin said, acknowledging the challenge posed by the Wolf Pack’s strategy.
In assessing the team’s future, Franklin stated, “Staying out of negative yardage plays will be how we’ll be more efficient and effective. We just had too many negative yardage plays to allow us to go where we want to go and play the way we want to play.”
New Punter Takes the Field
In an unexpected move, Gabe Nwosu was named the starting punter for Penn State. This decision surprised many, as Riley Thompson held the position for the previous two seasons, averaging 44.2 yards per kick. Nwosu, measuring 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 292 pounds, previously handled kickoff duties and only punted twice last season.
“We’ve been very, very happy with Riley, but Gabe is special,” Franklin remarked. He compared Nwosu to former Ravens punter Jordan Stout, stating, “His A ball may be as good as we’ve ever had here.” Franklin praised Nwosu’s strong performance during training camp, noting he made a remarkable 62-yard field goal in practice. While Penn State did not punt against Nevada, Nwosu kicked off nine times, achieving five touchbacks.
Strategic Decisions and Injuries
Franklin also discussed a strategic decision to attempt a two-point conversion in the third quarter, aimed at preparing for future opponents. “You’d like to get some of these things on film, so that people have to spend time working on them,” he commented. Unfortunately, the attempt failed when third-string quarterback Jaxon Smolik faced pressure and threw an incomplete pass. Franklin admitted the execution was poor, saying, “It was not well-executed whatsoever.”
On the injury front, defensive end Zuriah Fisher and running back Quinton Martin Jr. did not participate due to medical reasons. Fisher had missed the entirety of the previous season due to a lower-body injury and was expected to start this year. “I was hopeful to have Zuriah for the opener,” Franklin said, explaining that they decided to hold him out due to insufficient practice time.
Martin, competing for a spot among the depth chart behind Singleton and Allen, was sidelined after tweaking an injury. “The only reason you didn’t see Quinton on offense or special teams is because he had tweaked something,” Franklin noted, indicating that Martin was cleared shortly before game week.
As the Nittany Lions prepare for their next matchup, Franklin’s honest reflections will likely serve as a foundation for necessary adjustments and strategic improvements.