FOOTBALL GAME SPECIAL: NEWS COVERAGE INSIDE Published independently by students at Penn State PENN STATE’S NEWEST PIPELINE Lackawanna to Happy Valley Graphic by Carson Schultz PAGE 2 | THURSDAY, NOV. 12, 2020 VERSUS THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Defense looks ahead after early woes By Andrew Porterfield “We’re not doing THE DAILY COLLEGIAN the little details and Maryland wide receiver Ra- trying to execute kim Jarrett motioned toward the Penn State sideline as the Nittany the framework. Lion defense stood motionless. Once we do that, Upon the snap to Taulia Tago- vailoa, the freshman Jarrett ran we’ll start clicking a slant route before the ball was on all cylinders.” torpedoed into his hands. He was wide open and stayed Jayson Oweh wide open for a touchdown. Defensive end Later in the opening quarter, Jarrett once again motioned toward the Penn State sideline before slanting near midfield. Porter was grading what he and And just like 12 minutes before, the rest of the secondary can do he was unchallenged as he bolted better — execute. into the end zone to give Mary- “Just execute — that’s it,” Por- land a 14-0 lead in the waning ter said. “We just need to execute seconds of the first period. on the play and in the play call.” The Terrapins finished their Unlike the secondary, the edge 35-19 win over the Nittany Lions rushers have exceeded expecta- with four offensive touchdowns of 30-plus yards, in a matchup that tions, with Shaka Toney and Jay- exposed issues in the Penn State son Oweh each putting together secondary. star performances in the past Now with an 0-3 record, James couple of weeks. Franklin and his program are And until the secondary can looking to find a quick fix for their iron out the wrinkles in its play, defensive issues. the defensive ends are going to “They got a couple of man beat- focus on the minutiae. ers against us that got us out of Josie Chen/Collegian “We’re not doing the little de- leverage,” Franklin said. “We tails and trying to execute the didn’t play a few things the right Maryland’s offense breaks through the Penn State defense during Penn State’s game against Maryland at framework,” Oweh said. “Once way, and we need to get those Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7, in University Park. The Terrapins defeated the Nittany Lions 35-19. things fixed.” we do that, we’ll start clicking on all cylinders.” Tagovailoa threw for 282 pass- separation from picks, rubs and The secondary has gotten in each of his past two games, ing yards and things like that beat on plenty of routine plays, however, Porter took a step back Although the defense has un- tied a season- “Let me make sure versus man cov- but Franklin doesn’t see it as a against the Terps and finished derachieved, the leaders on that side of the ball are still optimistic high with three I’m perfectly clear erage — that’s personnel issue — he sees it as with just three tackles on his stat touchdown pass- going to hap- a problem of execution on each sheet. and hopeful they can turn things es, while Jar- on this: we’ve got pen from time to play from scrimmage. Contending he had a few posi- around. rett caught five to play better and time,” Franklin “Let me make sure I’m per- tives against Maryland, Porter Outside linebacker Brandon passes for 144 said. “When it fectly clear on this: we’ve got to wants himself and his team- Smith, who has stepped into a yards and two coach better at does, you’ve got play better and coach better at mates to properly evaluate their starting role after the departure touchdowns. linebacker.” to get them on the linebacker, and we’ve got to play performances — both good and of Cam Brown and Micah Par- While the de- better and coach better in the bad. ground and live sons, has tried to keep his team- fense knows James Franklin to play another secondary,” Franklin said. “I think I did a couple of things mates’ heads up as they push explosive plays Head coach down.” One member of the Nittany well, but I feel like I have a lot of are going to hap- Penn State Lion secondary, Joey Porter Jr., things I need to work on,” Porter through this adversity. pen every now has given up 36.3 has emerged as a first-stringer said. “I feel like I should be wor- “We’re still confident in what and then, it also points per game and has allowed after impressing coaches in the ried about more of the things our abilities are and what we’re knows it has been giving up too a 50% third down conversion per- offseason and exciting fans with I need to fix myself to help the able to do,” Smith said. many of these game-altering centage through three games — the team’s first sack of the season defense be better.” plays. both in the bottom five of the Big against Indiana. And, following Franklin’s lead, To email reporter: [email protected]. “People are going to create Ten. After recording a pass breakup one word came to mind when Follow him on Twitter at @aporterfield7. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. 0 Jonathan Sutherland S/Jr. 21 Noah Cain RB/So. 47 Alex Furmanek LB/Fr. 77 Sal Wormley OL/Fr. 1 JaQuan Brisker S/Sr. 21 Tyler Rudolph S/Fr. 47 Tommy Friberg TE/H/Fr. 78 Golden Israel-Achumba OL/Fr. 2 Micah Bowens QB/Fr. 23 Curtis Jacobs LB/Fr. 48 Cody Romano S/So. 79 Caeden Wallace OL/Fr. 2 Keaton Ellis CB/So. 24 Keyvone Lee RB/Fr. 49 Michael Wright SN/Fr. 80 Malick Meiga WR/Fr. 3 Donovan Johnson CB/Jr. 25 Daequan Hardy CB/Fr. 50 Max Chizmar LB/Jr. 80 Justin Weller WR/Jr. 3 Parker Washington WR/Fr. 26 Caziah Holmes RB/Fr. 50 Will Knutsson OL/So. 82 Zack Kuntz TE/H/So. 4 Journey Brown RB/Jr. 27 Aeneas Hawkins DT/So. 51 Hakeem Beamon DT/Fr. 83 Johnny Crise WR/Fr. 5 Tariq Castro-Fields CB/Sr. 27 Jaden Seider S/Fr. 51 Jimmy Christ OL/Fr. 84 Theo Johnson TE/Fr. 5 Jahan Dotson WR/Jr. 28 Devyn Ford RB/So. 52 Blake Zalar OL/Fr. 84 Benjamin Wilson WR/Sr. 6 Cam Sullivan-Brown WR/Jr. 28 Jayson Oweh DE/So. 53 Fred Hansard DT/Jr. 85 Isaac Lutz WR/Sr. 7 Will Levis QB/So. 29 Sebastian Constantini CB/Jr. 53 Rasheed Walker OL/So. 86 Brandon Strange TE/H/Fr. 8 Marquis Wilson CB/So. 29 Henry Fessler WR/So. 54 George French OL/Fr. 87 Pat Freiermuth TE/Jr. 9 Joey Porter Jr. CB/Fr. 30 Joseph Bruno RB/Fr. 54 Fatorma Mulbah DT/Fr. 88 Norval Black WR/Jr. 9 TaQuan Roberson QB/Fr. 32 Dylan Farronato S/Fr. 55 Antonio Shelton DL/Sr. 89 Grayson Kline TE/H/So. 10 Lance Dixon LB/Fr. 33 Bryce Mostella DE/Fr. 55 Anthony Whigan OL/Jr. 90 Rafael Checa K/So. 10 TJ Jones WR/Fr. 34 Shane Simmons DE/Sr. 56 Amin Vanover DE/Fr. 91 Chris Stoll SN/Jr. 11 Daniel George WR/So. 36 Zuriah Fisher LB/Fr. 57 Ibrahim Traore OL/Fr. 91 Dvon Ellies DT/Fr. 12 Brandon Smith LB/So. 36 Makai Self CB/Fr. 59 Kaleb Konigus OL/So. 92 Jake Pinegar K/Jr. 13 Ellis Brooks LB/Jr. 37 Drew Hartlaub S/Jr. 62 Michal Menet OL/Sr. 92 Smith Vilbert DE/Fr. 13 KeAndre Lambert-Smith WR/Fr. 36 Tank Smith RB/Fr. 63 Collin De Boef OL/So. 93 Levi Forrest P/Fr. 14 Sean Clifford QB/Jr. 38 Lamont Wade S/Sr. 66 Nick Dawkins OL/Fr. 93 Bradley King P/Jr. 15 Enzo Jennings S/Fr. 39 Robbie Dwyer LB/Fr. 69 C.J. Thorpe OL/Jr. 94 Jake Wilson DE/Fr. 16 Ji’Ayir Brown S/Jr. 40 Jesse Luketa LB/Jr. 70 Juice Scruggs OL/So. 95 Cole Brevard DT/Fr. 17 Joseph Johnson III CB/Fr. 43 Trevor Baker TE/H/Jr. 71 Will Fries OL/Sr. 95 Vlad Hilling K/So. 17 Mason Stahl QB/Fr. 43 Tyler Elsdon LB/Fr. 72 Bryce Effner OL/So. 96 Anthony DaSilva K/Fr. 18 Shaka Toney DE/Sr. 44 Joseph Appiah Darkwa DT/Fr. 73 Mike Miranda OL/Jr. 97 Carson Landis K/P/Fr. 19 Trent Gordon S/So. 44 Tyler Warren TE/Fr. 74 Olu Fashanu OL/Fr. 97 PJ Mustipher DT/Jr. 19 Jaden Dottin WR/Fr. 45 Charlie Katshir LB/So. 75 Des Holmes OL/Jr. 98 Jordan Stout K/P/Jr. 20. Adisa Isaac DE/So. 46 Nick Tarburton DE/So. 76 Justin Kopko OL/Fr. 98 Dan Vasey DE/Jr. 77 Judge Culpepper DT/So. 99 Coziah Izzard DT/Fr. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. No. Name Position/Elig. 0 Ronald Delancy III CB/Fr. 25 Zach Schlager ILB/So. 46 Corbin Ruth RB/Jr. 76 Brenden Jaimes OL/Sr. 1 Wan’Dale Robinson WR/So. 25 Ronald Thompkins RB/Fr. 47 Tyson Guzman S/Fr. 76 Eli Simonson OL/Fr. 2 Adrian Martinez QB/Jr. 26 Dedrick Mills RB/Sr. 47 Austin Jablonski WR/Fr. 77 Michael Lynn OL/Fr. 2 Caleb Tannor OLB/Jr. 28 Sevion Morrison RB/Fr.