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Penn State Football: 3 veterans who need to step up vs. Michigan

By Lawrence Santa Maria

Nov 21, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players react during the playing of the alma mater following the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players react during the playing of the alma mater following the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michal Menet #62 of the Penn State Nittany Lions(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Michal Menet #62 of the Penn State Nittany Lions(Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Offensive Line

For this last one, we are going to lump together the offensive line unit as a position group that greatly needs to improve if Penn State is going to beat Michigan.

This is an offensive line that returned four starters from 2019, with junior Mike Miranda as the one non-starter but someone who saw plenty of game reps last season. After making changes along the line in the loss at Nebraska, putting in freshman Caedan Wallace at right tackle and moving senior Will Fries to right guard, it seemed the unit took a step forward.

In Saturday’s loss to Iowa, the offensive line had one of its worst games not only this season, but maybe in the James Franklin era. Penn State ran the ball 35 times for 62 yards, a grant total of 1.8 yards per carry.

The Nittany Lions did not have a running back rush for over 10 yards, with quarterback Will Levis leading the team in rushing yards with 34. Granted Iowa is, and always is, stingy against the run, ranking fourth in the Big Ten in rushing yard allowed, those are unacceptable numbers from this offense. To add insult to injury, Penn State also surrendered five sacks.

Michigan’s defense has struggled all season, even letting Rutgers run up 486 total yards in there win Saturday. Michigan’s defense is allowing 163 yards per game on the ground, and ranks eighth in the conference in sacks this season. This is a front seven that Penn State should be able to handle and not only get this running game going, but protect whoever is back there at quarterback. A good offensive output Saturday would go a long way in improving the confidence of this team. Wolverine defensive ends Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson pose the biggest threats to this offensive line.

Next. 6 young Nittany Lions who should get more playing time. dark

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