Penn State hopes to get tight ends untracked

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The perception is that Penn State's tight ends have taken a step back in their offensive roles under James Franklin, but the numbers say different.

Jesse James, Kyle Carter and true freshman Mike Gesicki have combined for 18 receptions in the Nittany Lions' first three games, with James (10 catches) accounting for both touchdowns from the position.

Previous Penn State coach Bill O'Brien was known for his imagination in utilizing his tight ends, who caught 83 passes in his first season, 2012. Yet in the first three games of each of his two seasons, the Lions had 16 catches and three touchdowns in 2012 and 15 catches and no TDs in 2013.

Franklin insists, however, that the numbers don't matter much; rather it's what the tight ends can do to improve their blocking and help Penn State's ailing rushing attack. He wants to see all phases of the ground game take a major step forward Saturday when the Nittany Lions (3-0) meet Massachusetts (0-3) at Beaver Stadium.

Franklin this week said the tight end position "is still evolving.

"Everybody gets so caught up in catches and yards but that really hasn't been our focus," he said. "Our focus with them since the day we arrived on campus was their impact on the running game. That area still needs to improve.

"The offensive line hears a lot about what they need to do, I think the tight ends are a big part of that as well. I think we've got to make sure the tight ends and the O-line are working together on being physical and finishing blocks.

" We have the size and strength at that position to be dominant in the running game. That's the next step we need to take."

Penn State enters the game ranked 117th out of the 125 schools that play FBS football in rushing, averaging 75.7 yards. Senior Zach Zwinak, who has rushed for 1,989 yards in his last two seasons, has just 69 yards, second to the 88 picked up by Bill Belton (803 yards last year).

James, a 6-foot-7, 271-pound junior, said he is working hard on his blocking.

"We practice a lot with the offensive line," he said. "Every day we have some type of running drills going on and inside run stuff. We need to work with each other as much as possible and get our running game going."

The Minutemen rank 95th or lower in FBS in three key defensive categories – points allowed (35.0 per game), rush defense (218.0 yards per game) and total defense (431.7). Yet Belton says their schemes can be confusing to figure out.

"They're in a bunch of odd fronts," he said. "They run a bunch of funky looks up front and that confuses a lot of people. But once we stick to our rules and do what we have to do, I think we'll be in good shape."

Improved ADA parking. The Penn State athletic department has announced that 237 more ADA parking spots will be made closer to Beaver Stadium for Saturday's game. For specific information, go to: http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091914aai.html

When: Saturday at 4 p.m.

Where: Beaver Stadium, State College

Records: Penn State, 3-0; Massachusetts, 0-3.

TV/Radio: Big Ten Network; WNTP-AM (990), WNPV-AM (1440).

Coaches: Penn State, James Franklin (1st season, 3-0); UMass, Mark Whipple (7th season, 49-29).

Series: First meeting.

Three things to watch

With a 75.7-yard average in its first three games, Penn State has one of the worst running games in FBS. But the Nittany Lions are looking for some kind of breakthrough against a Minutemen defense that has allowed 218 yards per game on the ground.

Franklin insists that his focus for Penn State tight ends has been on their blocking and not their pass-catching numbers, but the Lions and Christian Hackenberg could pay more attention to that position Saturday on pass plays.

Franklin also has talked about getting "more value" from his special teams, which includes more consistency with the location of punts and kickoffs and better communication. The Nittany Lions had both a field goal and a punt blocked against Rutgers.

Three things you did not know

Former Penn State wide receiver Alex Kenney, a fifth-year senior, is using his last season of eligibility playing with the Minutemen. He caught 20 passes in two years as a wideout for the Nittany Lions, and has caught one pass for 14 yards this season.

The parents and brother of Lions freshman backup punter Daniel Pasquariello will be making a 24-hour trip from Melbourne, Australia, to see Saturday's game, according to a Penn State tweet.

Whipple spent the 2008 season as an offensive assistant with the Eagles, one of the eight years he spent as an NFL assistant coach.

- Joe Juliano

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@joejulesinq