Predicting No. 4 Nittany Lions' matchup vs. Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Penn State's first road test of the season brings with it a night game, a loud environment and a pink locker room, among other things.

The trip to Kinnick Stadium is a first for all the players and also for James Franklin who spent time earlier in the week outlining to his players all that they can expect when they arrive in Iowa City this weekend for Saturday night's 7:30 p.m. kick against the Hawkeyes.

"I want to educate myself on what to expect. I've talked to a lot of people. I've called a lot of people. I've asked a lot of questions," Franklin said this week. "That place is going to be rocking Saturday night. Their sidelines are very tight. Their fans are going to be right up against you. We want to get our players prepared for that. We've got to get ready for the noise."

Yes, welcome to Big Ten play where the stakes get higher for No. 4 Penn State and the Nittany Lions should start to figure out what they have on this team and whether or not the three tuneup games against Akron, Pitt and Georgia State have this team ready for the full conference slate.

The pick: Penn State 37, Iowa 21



OFFENSE

Franklin wants more consistency from Penn State's ground game and the good news for the Lions is that starter Brendan Mahon, the team's nastiest and also most versatile starting offensive lineman, is slated to play after missing last week's game for an undisclosed reason.

Mahon playing eliminates redshirt freshman Will Fries from the starting unit and allows starter Steven Gonzalez to stay at his more natural left guard spot rather than bumping to right guard like he had to last week.

"Having Mahon back I think will be really helpful," Franklin said. Iowa's defense is surrendering an average of 97 yards on the ground per game, 23rd in the FBS. "And then let's be honest. I mean, everybody's going into the game plan and their defensive model is to say we are not going to allow Saquon Barkley to run the ball and beat us. So I think we've been creative enough to try to get him the ball in different ways, and he's been impactful that way, but I don't think there's any doubt that we have to get better at consistently running the ball between the tackles."

In some ways the Lions' sluggish start on the ground is a reminder of last year when fans wondered what happened to Barkley early in the season, and sure enough, a few games in the line found their footing, the offense started humming and it was lights out from there. To their credit though, they've gotten Barkley involved in the passing game and also showed off the two-quarterback package -- one that first showed up in a game last season against Iowa.

Franklin and offensive line coach Matt Limegrover both said numerous times since the season started that they wanted the o-line to be more physical and have more of a mean streak. Quarterback Trace McSorley even referenced that "killer instinct" that he said at times disappears during games for the entire offense. Putting that mean streak together for four quarters hasn't happened thus far -- and against inferior opponents, it hasn't needed to.

"It's more of our mindset," McSorley said this week. "We can definitely improve there, from an all-around standpoint. Having that mindset and that kind of killer instinct that coach Franklin has talked to us about. We've had a couple games where we were pumped up early, but there's always a point where we have a lull and kind of fall off and we have a couple drives where we're not playing to our best ability. So I think it's having that killer instinct and we can get up earlier on teams and be able to keep pressing on and keep the foot on the pedal."

Penn State has been able to coast especially in the second half of the Akron and Georgia State games. Seeing how this team responds in a closer game -- and maybe even having to play from behind at a given point -- is valuable.

They'll get a physical defense on the other side to work against and keeping an eye on Iowa standout linebacker Josey Jewell will be a focal point. He's the leader of that defense and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz would like to know how to attack this offense that's so deep and so explosive.

"Show me a weak spot on their offense, whether it’s their offensive line, their receivers. The tight end’s a huge threat," Ferentz said this week. "Their quarterback, he makes them go. So it’s like you’re playing 12 or 13 men out there. That’s the pressure that you feel defensively.”

Wide receiver Saeed Blacknall caught his first pass and also his first touchdown of the season last week and while this offense has too many options to lock in on a clear-cut No. 1 receiver and it'll change week to week based on what the defense shows them, maybe last week will turn a solid launching point for Blackall. It doesn't have to be one, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

DEFENSE 

It's no secret what Iowa wants to do and who they want to do it with. Penn State run defense, meet running back Akrum Wadley. Wadley, meet the Lions' front seven.

"We know what we’re expecting," linebacker Manny Bowen said. "We know what their gameplan is so it just comes down to everyone being gap accountable, knowing our assignments and making the right fits. When a team like this keeps trying to hammer the ball, they usually make explosive plays off of running the same play so many times and somebody misfitting the gap and that’s where you’re going to see explosive plays happen. We just have to make sure that we’re consistent.”

Penn State's defense has been solid limiting explosive plays this season, but it's also had lapses at times where the tackling breaks down and the next thing you know the run defense is ranked 50th in the country, surrendering 126 yards per game. The Lions gave up nine rushes of 12-plus yards so far this season and six passes of 15-plus yards. However, some of these plays happened in garbage time with the Lions well into their reserves.

"Obviously what Iowa prides themselves on is running the ball and being really physical up front," Franklin said. "Coach Ferentz is one of the more well respected line coaches in the country from his NFL time, as well as his teams. They have always been great up front. ... It's going to be a challenge. They are a big tight end team. They have got one of the better running backs in the country, a young man out of New Jersey. So it's going to be a challenge, there's no doubt."

Penn State's secondary has been the bright spot on the defense thus far as they've been relentless in creating takeaways, already posting six interceptions, the same total the Lions' defensive backs had all of last season. While the status of third corner and key special teamer Amani Oruwariye and starting defensive end Torrence Brown are up in the air, the Lions have depth at both spots. Oruwariye didn't play last week after limping off late in the win against Pitt and Brown was carted off the field in the first quarter against Georgia State.

If Brown doesn't play look for Ryan Buchholz, a key contributor already, to continue making his mark. Defensive end is one of the team's deeper positions though Franklin said two weeks ago he still wanted to see more from them and also a more consistent pass rush.

But, all of this all comes back to Wadley and Penn State needing to slow him down first and foremost.

"He’s a quick guy. He has speed. He’s big. He has nice vision," Bowen said. "They’re going to be looking for him to find that hole and make that one cut and go. So we have to limit him to what we give him and we have to suck the air out of all those plays and don’t give him the space and the room that he’s looking for to make those explosive plays."

SPECIAL TEAMS

The third phase has been a positive every week thus far with DeAndre Thompkins being a spark plug as the punt returner while teams decide how they want to handle kick returner Saquon Barkley.

Punter Blake Gillikin continues to be an asset as well an really the only area of concern for this group thus far is kicker Tyler Davis, previously Mr. Automatic, missing two of four field goals this season. He's working with a new snapper in Kyle Vasey and a new holder in Billy Fessler, but Franklin said Davis' honest assessment about his performance allows the staff to figure out to how approach certain game situations.

"We think we're kicking the ball really well right now and doing some good things on special teams," Franklin said. "I'd make the argument that that's the area where we are most improved and has had as much impact on our season, our early season so far."

There's also the pride factor going into this unit, something special teams coordinator Charles Huff dubbed the "buy in level." Penn State wants all of their starters to play on at least one special teams unit and the players responded well to it, even with senior linebacker Jason Cabinda telling Huff this week that he wants to be back out there despite the Lions working in less experienced options late in last week's win. That's Cabinda's spot and like so many others he wants to be out there.

That mentality helped create more reliable coverage units and while Penn State fans are well versed in how a special teams play can swing a game against Iowa, this experienced group of specialists and special teamers has been more than reliable thus far.

DON'T BE SURPRISED IF... Penn State initially has some issues with crowd noise. Remember, this is the first true test for sophomore center Connor McGovern and while teammates said the offense was fine in practice this week with the cranked up noise, one has to wonder if McGovern and McSorley could be a little off early, Also offensive tackle Andrew Nelson was flagged for a pair of penalties last week, but the healthier he gets the bigger role he'll presumably take on at right tackle.

KEEP AN EYE ON... The Nittany Lions' travel roster. This is the first one we'll see this season and usually there are a couple surprises. If you've been keeping up on the special teams lists on my weekly Monday piece then you'll see that a lot of these lesser-known players who are playing special teams should make the trip.

However, there have been a few player absences from the lineup at various points this season (Ayron Monroe vs. Akron, Mahon and Cam Brown vs. Georgia State) so there almost always seem to be some game-day surprises. Also, we'll see if Torrence Brown, who was carted off the field last week makes the trip. Also, what's the status of Oruwariye after he was hurt two weeks ago and didn't suit up last week? Will he make the trip or is he still hurt? Also, tight end Nick Bowers still hasn't dressed this season so one has to wonder what's going on there.