Mike Poorman
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What the Numbers and James Franklin Say About His Penn State Offensive Coordinators, Past (Ciarrocca) and Present (Yurcich)
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As a successful veteran college football head coach, Penn State’s James Franklin is not an easy guy to work for. He readily admits as much. Even when his current coordinators, Manny Diaz and Mike Yurcich, have nearly 50 years in the business between them at high-profile programs like Texas, Miami (Fla.) and Ohio State — 32…
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Penn State Football’s Lopsided Loss: Who’s to Blame?
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It was a disappointing, demoralizing loss. The game had been over for just a few minutes, the taste of defeat still raw and bitter and not yet fully digested. The Penn State head football coach walked to the front of the visiting team’s media room in the bowels of the cavernous and hallowed Midwestern stadium,…
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Penn State Football: It’s (Finally) the Homestretch for the Franklin-Clifford Partnership
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When Penn State takes the field in The Big House on Saturday, it will be Day No. 2,651 of the partnership of head coach James Franklin and quarterback Sean Clifford. Clifford committed to Franklin and the Nittany Lions on July 13, 2015 – the day before his 17th birthday. (Drew Allar was 11-years-old at the…
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Penn State Football: On Balance, a New Offensive Identity
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Though you wouldn’t know it from Penn State’s mudder of a soggy game in Beaver Stadium last weekend, when passes were at a premium as the Nittany Lions ran the ball 58 times, the PSU offense is back in balance. Or, at least getting closer. It had been awhile. In 2021, Penn State’s offense gained…
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Does Penn State Football’s Defense Deserve a Better Offense?
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23.36 points. That’s how many points Penn State’s offense has averaged in its 11 Big Ten Conference games under O-coordinator Mike Yurcich in 2021-22. The 17 points that Penn State — hampered by driving rain and a flood of five turnovers — hung on Northwestern on Saturday didn’t help things, either. Blame that very average scoring…
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The Middle Third Will Once Again Determine Penn State Football’s Fate
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Penn State football is hitting that treacherous part of its schedule where it really needs to make hay. And where James Franklin needs to earn his big bucks. The crux of the schedule. The meat of the order. The big boys. The gut check. They all are the same thing. Call it The Middle Third.…
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The Takeaway from Penn State’s Defense vs. Central Michigan? Turnovers. Lots of ’em
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Every week in the Penn State defense’s meeting room inside Lasch Building, first-year D-coordinator Manny Diaz shows a tape of what the Man Who Invented the Turnover Chain calls havoc plays. The stuff that really terrifies offenses: interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries. It’s the kind of horror film that his turnover-hungry defenders love to watch.…
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Penn State 41, Auburn 12: 20 Quick Hitters (But Not as Hard as the Hit on Sean Clifford)
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AUBURN, Ala. — Penn State’s 41-12 resounding victory over Auburn here in Jordan-Hare Stadium was the first appearance — and win — by a Big Ten Conference team. Ever. And, it could have both short- and long-term ramifications. Like the confidence gained that will help down the 2022 road against Michigan and Ohio State to impressing the…
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Penn State Football: James Franklin’s Toughest Job These Days? It May Be Roster Management
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Roster management may turn out to be James Franklin’s toughest job this season, especially in an era of NIL, the transfer portal and participation trophies — and with a roster filled with uber-talented freshmen. He said so on Saturday, after his team defeated Ohio 46-10 in Beaver Stadium while deploying 74 different players. “That’s the…
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Singleton’s 179 Yards End Run of Penn State’s Sub-Century Games; ‘He’s One of the Fastest Dudes I’ve Ever Seen’
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Against Ohio on Saturday in Beaver Stadium, Nick Singleton broke Penn State’s drought of 100-yard rushing games by a single back. Just. Like. That. Bing, a 70-yard touchdown dash along the Penn State sideline in the first quarter. Bang, a 48-yard burst on the opening drive in the third quarter. Boom, a 44-yard TD sprint…