Rutgers experts answer fan questions before Penn State game

The Rutgers football team picked a good time to get away. Rutgers has topped 400 yards in total offense in four straight games dating back to last season. 3. The fact it’s Rutgers’ first Big Ten game of the season is what really adds the motivation.

Last season, Rutgers coach Kyle Flood tried – somewhat successfully, based on the intensity of the crowd that greeted Penn State in Piscataway, New Jersey – to ignite a rivalry with the Nittany Lions by referring to them exclusively as “the team from Pennsylvania”. The team is excited about it. This one happens to be on the road. Sometimes we get caught up in our lanes.

Franklin, though, said he doesn’t worry about counting on Barkley for more, even given his age.

“With our depth and our confidence continuing to grow on the offensive line, being able to have Nellie available for us would be great as well”, he said.

The Nittany Lions rank just 96th in the nation in net punting yards after Daniel Pasquariello struggled again to consistently help Penn State in the field position battle against the Bulls. “It’s a great environment for college football out there in Happy Valley”.

What Hackenberg doesn’t have – and has consistently lacked throughout his career in State College – is the protection necessary to find open receivers.

So things could be going better.

Communication was a big point of emphasis last week, and senior center Angelo Mangiro noted that with better verbal recognition before each snap, the Lions executed at a much higher level against Buffalo.

But Rutgers’ defense underwhelmed against Wazzu, yielding 559 yards of offense with 478 of those coming through the air.

Cabinda, Pry said, was the team’s hardest hitter at linebacker. Penn State’s kicking and punting game was competitive all through fall camp, but Julius proved his worth and is now Penn State’s primary place kicker. Starter Akeel Lynch is also a capable back but Penn State’s offensive line, already dealing with injuries, has been inconsistent in opening holes and the coaches have been inconsistent in sticking with the run.

The loss was a blow, given Rutgers’ relatively soft out-of-conference schedule this season (Norfolk State, WSU, Kansas and Army), but the hope of a conference title and bowl eligibility remain in tact.

“I think it’s going to be (man) coverage, cover two, protect the corners, or protect the corners by blitzing like insane to try to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand quickly, ” Franklin said. But ultimately we didn’t make enough plays to be 1-0 that week. In his most recent game, Clifford completed 17 of 23 passes for 283 with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

“Jason is playing really well”, said Franklin. Coach Paul Chryst said his team may be finding out more about itself than in early games in seasons past. The tackles, the numbers are nice, but at the end of the day we didn’t win the game. “I really am proud of him”. Franklin said at his press conference Tuesday. “I think Grant and Brandon, we feel pretty good that we’ll have those guys”.

“I think the biggest thing is we look at it as a tremendous challenge”.

“I’d probably have a conversation with Coach Kelly about that before anybody else”.

The Nittany Lions will take on Rutgers this weekend.

Franklin has been slightly more willing to talk about injuries this year, but he still avoids specifics. “But we’re looking forward to (Saturday)”. He is the first PSU true freshman to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Silas Redd had 131 yards on 11 carries and scored one touchdown against Northwestern in 2010.

“It’s a big matchup”, Flood said. A 20-yard rush by Polk to the 4 yard line highlighted the drive. We reserve the right to edit a comment that is quoted or excerpted in an article.