After 'butt-kicking' at Michigan, Penn State forced to rebound vs. Minnesota’s running game

Sunday was difficult for Penn State’s defense. For the first time this season, the Nittany Lions had to walk into the Lasch Building after a loss, and a worrisome one at that. In the words of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, Penn State’s 41-17 defeat at The Big House was a “butt-kicking in every which way a butt can be kicked.”

The Wolverines rushed for 418 yards and four touchdowns. Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards both had scores over 60 yards, and even without those long runs, they averaged 5 yards per carry.

Penn State’s defense watched that film as a unit Sunday, a break from the norm under first-year coordinator Manny Diaz. Together, they saw plays they left out there.

“We just didn’t execute,” starting defensive end Nick Tarburton said during a Tuesday conference call. “We weren’t gap-accountable. We weren’t gap-sound. Certain times we were peeking in the wrong gaps. Guys were not executing the defense. If we don’t do that, bad things are going to happen.”

Tarburton emphasized that he and his teammates have to not only move on from Michigan, but also learn from it. That’s especially true knowing Minnesota will have a similar blueprint when it visits Beaver Stadium for Saturday’s Whiteout game.

The Golden Gophers love to run the ball, and they’ve been effective at it. That bears out when looking at both traditional and advanced statistics.

Minnesota ranks second in the Big Ten in both rushing attempts per game (43.2) and yards per game (227.8). Mohamed Ibrahim is averaging 138.8 yards per game, fourth best in the FBS, running behind midseason All-American center John Michael Schmitz and the second-best run-blocking line in college football, per Pro Football Focus.

Looking a bit deeper, Football Outsiders has a variety of ways to grade offensive line and running back play. Out of 131 FBS teams, Minnesota ranks …

• Third in stuff rate, the percentage of carries stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage

• Seventh in power success rate, the percentage of runs on third or fourth down, with 2 yards or fewer to go, that achieved a first down or touchdown

• Ninth in opportunity rate, the percentage of carries (when 4 yards are available) that gain at least 4 yards

The only other teams that rank top 10 in all three categories are USC and Oregon. And if those stats aren’t for you, fair enough. There’s always the eye test, which the Nittany Lions took Sunday.

“He’s explosive, patient, has good vision and hits the hole hard,” Tarburton said of Ibrahim before being asked about the line.

Notre Dame transfer Quinn Carroll has manned the right tackle spot well while sixth-year guards Axel Ruschmeyer and Chuck Filiaga, a Michigan transfer, have pushed bodies around next to Schmitz.

“They’re big physical human beings,” Tarburton said. “That’s what most offensive lines are. But I think Minnesota definitely has bigger offensive linemen than what we’ve seen in the past.”

This shapes up to be another tall task for the Nittany Lions, who got bullied in the trenches by Michigan. But that’s not to say Penn State can’t hold its own. Diaz’s unit entered the Michigan game as one of the country’s top run defenses, most notably shutting down Auburn duo Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter. There are talented pieces there and players — such as PJ Mustipher and Curtis Jacobs, for example — who felt embarrassed after the Michigan loss and want to avenge that effort.

There are also concerns around Minnesota. Starting quarterback Tanner Morgan was carted off Saturday with a head injury, and his status remains up in the air. Minnesota has lost its last two games, managing only 24 combined points against Purdue and Illinois. And the Gophers’ four wins — along with 1,178 of their 1,367 rushing yards — came against New Mexico State, Western Illinois, Colorado and Michigan State, who are now a combined 6-20.

Both of these teams have question marks hanging over their heads. And the Nittany Lions are hoping to answer theirs Saturday night.

“I think Minnesota is pretty similar to what Michigan wanted to do. They’re going to try to run the ball, and I’m excited for this challenge,” Tarburton said. “I think we’re built for it. … Looking forward to it. Can’t wait.”