Nittany Lions Travel to Bloomington Looking to Stop Four Game Skid
If there were ever a time for Penn State (4-4, 1-4 B1G) to snap their losing streak and get back in the win column, it would be this weekend against Indiana (3-5, 0-4 B1G). The game will take place in Bloomington at Memorial Stadium with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
After starting the season 4-0, Penn State has lost four straight and haven’t won a game since September 20th when they blew out UMass. Their last two games have been heartbreakers as they dropped a double overtime contest to Ohio State before falling to Maryland on a last minute field goal this past weekend.
Penn State’s defense ranks 9th in the nation in points against, and are first in the nation in rushing yards allowed (77.1 per game). They will face a stiff contest this weekend, as they will go up against Tevin Coleman, one of the top rushers in the nation. Not only that, but Indiana also boasts a big, strong offensive line.
“He's big, he's strong, he's a one cut runner,” said coach James Franklin Tuesday in his weekly presser. “The thing that was interesting too, I was looking at their offensive line and they've got a massive offensive line, but not only that, they have depth and experience,”
On the other side of the ball, Penn State has one of the worst running attacks, averaging less than 80 yards per game. Akeel Lynch got the bulk of the carries against Maryland, but still managed only 51 yards on 21 carries as Penn State desperately tried to create some semblance of balance on offense.
“Offensively, it really just comes down to execution,” said Franklin.
In order to execute on offense, Penn State needs their best player to start playing like their best player. Christian Hackenberg continues to digress this year in terms of production as he went 18-42 for 177 yards against a Maryland team that doesn’t boast a strong defense. On the season he has thrown for only seven touchdowns as opposed to 10 interceptions. Indiana gives up 34.8 points per game so if there was ever a game for Hackenberg to break out of what can really be looked at as a season long slump, this weekend would be the game to do so.
However, as Franklin mentioned numerous times, this game should come down to the battle in the trenches; Tevin Coleman against Penn State’s front seven.
“They're averaging 274 rushing yards per game, number three in the Big Ten, and number 10 nationally. I think that's what this game is really about. Our rush defense versus their running back,” said Franklin.
As was mentioned last week, there should be little doubt in anyone’s mind as to if Penn State can contain Indiana on offense. Once again, as has been the case all season, it comes down to Penn State’s offense. The offense hasn’t scored more than 20 points since their game against UMass, and this weekend they have a prime opportunity, if they can correct their mistakes and execute.
“There are too many little things. Whether it's footwork or assignments that we're not doing consistently. And it's not one person; it's one person this play, it's a different person that play. So we have to do a better job there,” said Franklin.
ComRadio will have complete coverage of the game starting at 10 a.m. with the Opening Drive.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/York Daily Record, Chris Dunn)
Jack Milewski is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at jbm250@psu.edu.
