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Nittany Lions’ list of issues nothing to celebrate

Penn State head coach James Franklin hugs Penn State cornerback John Reid (29) before an NCAA college football game against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

By NEIL RUDEL

For The Express

Through nine games this season, Penn State has raised more questions than it has answered, and time won’t allow some of those issues to be fully addressed until after the season.

A quick check list: – A troubling offensive regression under first-year coordinator Ricky Rahne, which may lead to staff and/or philosophy changes after trying to sustain the run-pass option brought here and perfected by Joe Moorhead.

– A re-evaluation of the RPO that puts too much pressure on the quarterback. Between them, Trace McSorley and Tommy Stevens have rushed or scrambled 140 times. Starting tailback Miles Sanders only has three more carries than the QB position. That’s too far out of kilter, and it’s limiting the opportunities for the running back and receiver positions — not to mention putting the quarterbacks in harms way ñ and can’t be good for future skill-position recruiting.

– Fourth-quarter scheming that has seen the Lions lose or nearly lose five leads, two of which have resulted in defeats (Ohio State, Michigan State).

– Personnel decisions at wide receiver, a position that has collectively dropped 27 passes.

– Special teams disorganization that has contributed to a slide in punting, and a lack of certainty that featured penalties galore, including delays and/or forced timeouts.

– While the defense has played consistently well for most of the season, it also needs to improve on the third down, a weakness that is contributing to a wear-down factor.

I’m going to add another element that I would like to see James Franklin address for the good of the order. Today against Wisconsin wouldn’t be too soon.

And that’s to begin toning down some of the on-field celebrations should the Lions be fortunate to celebrate — that have taken place these last couple of years.

I’m not trying to take the fun away, and to be sure, Franklin has done an excellent job maintaining a disciplined program. Few Nittany Lions have gotten in trouble under his watch, and the ones who have tripped over themselves, although not admonished publicly, have generally been slapped with a loss of playing time.

But let’s rewind the tape to last week’s Michigan game.

The Wolverines have been on a self-proclaimed “revenge tour” with circled dates against Michigan State, Penn State and Ohio State.

So far, they’re 2-0 on that mission with the big one left in Columbus on Nov. 24.

During last Saturday’s game, Michigan celebrated key moments with gestures that Penn State has exhibited ñ such as McSorley’s home-run swing and salute and Saquon Barkley’s swim moves through the end zone.

But it was more than that. Franklin’s stance on taking a knee is well documented.

He doesn’t do it, and with six seconds left in last year’s 42-13 win over the Wolverines, he ran one final play, albeit a handoff, rather than kneeling and ending the game.

ABC’s lead broadcast team of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit made a couple references to last year’s game being “personal” to Michigan, especially defensive coordinator Don Brown.

ABC’s crew gets special access to the head coach and coordinators and enters a game with a better feel for each camp’s true feelings than does the rest of the media.

Brown and Franklin were coordinators at Maryland together. Franklin said last week: ìObviously we have history Ã-. He was defensive coordinator at Maryland when I was the offensive coordinator. Got a lot history there; got a lot of respect for Don both personally and professionally, and his family.î

Maybe so, but with a chance to take a knee and shake hands last year, Franklin’s ‘lot of respect’ stance gave way to more play, which could have made it 49-13.

Some may accept that lack of sportsmanship with the old, “well, just stop it (last play),” and that’s fine.

But how you handle victory is typically remembered by the other guy.

Two years ago, Franklin admonished Barkley for high-stepping into the end zone during a rout over Iowa. He didn’t embarrass his superstar, but he made his point.

Last year and when things were going well this season, though, those acts were tolerated.

ìThose guys bullied us. They ran the score up last year. We wanted our lunch money back,î Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich said. “It’s fine when you want to run the score up, but you can’t get mad when it happens to you.”

Franklin’s 2017 posture helped fueled the Wolverines, which added to the Lions’ challenge, and they couldn’t match UM physically or emotionally.

If and when the Nittany Lions are fortunate enough to break their now five-game losing streak to Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State, they may want to avoid fanning the flames.

Just in case their team the next year is a little short on its “lunch money.”

Rudel can be reached at 946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.

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