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Todd Blackledge talks Penn State problems on offense at Ohio State; notes from practice: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel10/26/23GregPickel
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(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Penn State news, notes, and updates for Oct. 26 include Todd Blackledge breaking down the Lions’ struggles on offense at Ohio State, intel from practice, and more.

It’s time to dive into Wednesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.

Penn State tweets of the day

We start with Penn State alum and NBC Sports analyst Todd Blackledge’s take on the issues Penn State had on offense throughout its 20-12 loss at Ohio State, which he described as a frustrating game to watch.

“They did nothing to threaten the Ohio State defense on Saturday,” Blackledge said on The Rich Eisen Show. “And they just kind of played right into their hands. They were ineffective on third down. So it’s partly scheme. And I think the other part is, and this has been something that everybody was saying about Penn State coming into the season, the one question mark was wide receiver. KeAndre Lambert-Smith is a good receiver. He’s not anywhere near the same category that a Marvin Harrison Jr. is or an Emeka Egbukg is. But, he’s a really good receiver. But, the question was, do they have another one? Do they have a second or a third guy, and nobody has emerged as a second or third receiving threat for Penn State to this point in the season.

“I mean, after Lambert Smith, the next best receivers are their tight ends. They’re good players. But, it’s hard to generate big-time explosive plays with tight ends. You’ve got to have wide outs that can stretch the field, threaten a defense, and you’re not going to win against teams like Ohio State or Michigan or Penn State if you don’t generate explosive plays. You are not going to methodically get four, five, six yard gains and go down the field on great defenses. That showed up for Penn State against Ohio State on Saturday.”

Headlines of the day

Penn State-Indiana matchup: Key players, positions for Lions, Hoosiers: Flounders, PennLive

Penn State coach James Franklin updates status of Chop Robinson, JB Nelson, and Amin Vanover: Pickel, BWI

Judge Penn State’s ‘Entire Body of Work,’ James Franklin Asks: Wogenrich, SI

PSU practice report: What did we learn about the Lions’ offense and defense before Indiana?: Bauer, BWI

James Franklin on Ohio State, Third Down, Receivers and Running Back Touches: Jones, Statecollege.com

Penn State redshirt report: Which first-year Nittany Lions played at Ohio State?: Pickel, BWI

How Indiana’s 2020 shocker set up Penn State ‘launch pad’ for success: Woloson, Daily Collegian

Quote of the day

“Yeah, obviously with JB, coming off an injury, didn’t get a ton of reps during the week. He was available to play. But, we kind of took it as more of like an emergency. If somebody had gotten hurt, than he would have went in the game. But, based on reps, between him and the coaches, we just felt like the amount of time that JB put in during the week [that approaching it that way] was the better option. But, he’s fully available for this week.”

–PSU coach James Franklin on why guard JB Nelson did not play at Ohio State despite traveling with the team.