Lions try to overcome run game woes
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Following are the highlights of Penn State's Tuesday press conference with head coach Matt Campbell, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, quarterback Rocco Becht, and defensive lineman Armstrong Nnodim:
Saturday's game: at Michigan (3:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+)
Records: Penn State (3-3 overall, 0-3 in the Big Ten), Michigan (3-2 overall, 0-2 in the Big Ten).
Odds: Penn State is a 6.5-point underdog.
Rankings: Both teams are unranked by the Associated Press.
Series: Michigan leads, 17-10
Run game woes
It was another day where the running backs struggled to get anything going on Saturday vs. USC with the Lions compiling just 68 yards on the ground on 31 carries.
Mouser said his offense at the moment is a run game without an identity.
"That's the reality of the situation," Mouser said. "There's been progress. There's been flashes at times. We have to find a way to get better. It's been our biggest focus. We have to have urgency to continue to grow there."
The four running backs -- Carson Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace -- have all shown flashes of brilliance at times. Martin and Wallace did not record a carry against USC. Hansen picked up the bulk of the work.
"There were opportunities where those guys did some really good things in the run game," Campbell said. "But the consistency is the missing piece to where we want to go and where we need to be. Growth? Yes. Enough growth? No."
Mouser said there could be changes with the starting offensive line, which has played almost every snap since the beginning of Big Ten play. The offensive line starters, from left to right, are Malachi Goodman, Trevor Buhr, Brock Riker, Cooper Cousins, and Anthony Donkoh.
Buhr had to leave the game for one play against USC because of his helmet being removed, and Riker left the game late against Northwestern.
"Everything has been put on the table to make it better," Mouser said. "We have to find an answer there. Obviously that's been a squeaky wheel for us. That's sort of been in the discussions of 'Are we playing the right people?'"
Injury report
When wide receiver Koby Howard got injured, he posted on Instagram the date of the Michigan game on Saturday, a sign that it was his target to return.
That will not be the case as Campbell called his return 'a post-bye week conversation.'
"Koby is doing a really great job working his way back," Howard said. "If anyone is going to be back sooner than later, it's going to be Koby Howard because of how he works."
Fellow wideouts Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen have had moments of big catches, but Howard's absence has been apparent from the start.
"I think about Koby coming back a lot. I tell him that a lot," Mouser said. "We certainly miss him. There won't be a pitch count with him, in my mind."
Campbell said the same for defensive end LaVar Arrington II's return after the bye week, and it is still unknown how long it will be for linebacker Alex Tatsch to return. Linebacker Cam Smith is practicing this week and could be available on Saturday at Michigan.
Finding Brahmer
Tight end Benjamin Brahmer, a Second Team All-Big 12 pick last year, was held to just one reception for four yards on Saturday.
Mouser said he was 'confused' on how he only had one catch.
"I told him after the game for him to have one catch -- it's unacceptable," Mouser said. "On my sheet, my target is to get Ben involved. I need to make sure we get him the ball more because he is one of our best players."
His own biggest critic
Many would say Becht had a bounceback day against USC with a 289-yard performance on 21-for-32 passing, but he was especially tough on himself after the game.
Becht said he didn't feel any better about it after going through the game film.
"There's a couple throws that I want back that are easy for me to make," Becht said. "Unfortunately I can't have those back, so I've got to be able to keep going.”
A lot to prove
At 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten, the Nits are, in essence, playing for pride the rest of the way.
However, Campbell said there is still a lot for his team to prove over the second half of the schedule, plus a possible bowl game.
"Adversity is going to hit. Are we tough enough to work through really hard things? I don't think that's just a now thing. I think that's a reality," Campbell said.
"You should build a culture. You build a program. I don't care where you're at. I don't care what league you're in. Hard things are going to happen. Adversity is going to hit, and it takes really tough-minded humans, and the ability to own and be accountable for where the gaps are and fix the gaps. To me, that is the 'prove it' mentality."
(Compiled by Andy Stine of the Altoona Mirror.)