(Photo credit score: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images)
Penn State coach James Franklin stays fixated on understanding the kinks forward of his second-ranked staff’s sport in opposition to Villanova on Saturday afternoon in University Park, Pa.
The Nittany Lions recorded 35- and 34-point victories of their first two video games, however Franklin forged a important eye when he met with reporters Monday at his weekly press convention.
The coach stated he needed to see extra explosive performs and a greater conversion effectivity on third downs. He then addressed a ‘next-play’ mentality as a method of stopping one missed alternative from affecting future performs.
Case in level, quarterback Drew Allar was demonstrative in his frustration after misfiring on a number of throws within the first half of Penn State’s 34-0 victory over Florida International final Saturday.
‘I feel (Allar) obtained annoyed, and it lingered,’ Franklin stated. ‘What occurs is while you’ve obtained people who have invested the quantity {that a} man like Drew and most of our staff have invested, that is simpler stated than executed, to maneuver on to the subsequent play and never get annoyed and upset with your self.’
Nicholas Singleton additionally was singled out by Franklin for ‘pondering an excessive amount of’ in opposition to the Panthers. Singleton, nevertheless, rushed for a 5-yard landing simply over two minutes after fellow working again Kaytron Allen scampered 67 yards for a rating within the fourth quarter.
Allen (3,064) and Singleton (3,007) every eclipsed the three,000-yard plateaus of their careers on Saturday. They grew to become the primary FBS teammates to perform the feat since Louisiana’s Trey Ragas and Elijah Mitchell in 2020 and the primary Power 4 rushers since Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel in 2017.
Franklin on Monday was fast to credit score his offensive line.
‘I noticed a giant step final week,’ he stated. ‘… Obviously there are such excessive expectations for that group coming into the season, and deservedly so. That performs a component in it.’
While Penn State (2-0) has cruised to victory in its video games, Villanova had a harder time in its season opener final week.
Nicholls State graduate switch Pat McQuaide fared nicely in changing the now-graduated Connor Watkins, throwing for 299 yards and a landing within the Wildcats’ 24-17 victory over Colgate on Saturday. McQuaide’s passing complete marked essentially the most by a Villanova quarterback in his first begin, passing Watkins’ file by 1 yard.
McQuaide additionally had a 28-yard dashing landing.
‘It’s not a mirrored image of me,’ McQuaide stated of his gaudy stats, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. ‘The offensive line is unimaginable. I do not suppose there was a sack. The stats go to me, which they should not, as a result of that was these guys that did the work.’
Luke Colella had 5 receptions for 124 yards, whereas former Villanova lacrosse participant Lukas Kopecky reeled in a 56-yard scoring strike.
‘Well, being 1-0 is certainly higher than the choice, so we’re actually completely satisfied and enthusiastic about that,’ Villanova coach Mark Ferrante stated.
-Field Level Media