How Penn State's Receivers Can Boost the Big-Play Run Game

Marques Hagans, the Lions' receivers coach, wants the group be 'selfless' in the offense.

As Penn State continues to work its big-play run game into gear, receivers coach Marques Hagans believes his group can help. By being more physical and finishing more perimeter blocks, the receivers can position Penn State's backs better to deliver explosive plays.

"I do think a lot of times when the big runs happen, not only is the [offensive] line doing their job and the tight ends doing their job but receivers are finishing their job on the outside," Hagans said on a Zoom call this week. "When all those things work together, I think we have some really special running backs and they deserve an opportunity to be one on one with defenders so they can make guys miss or run them over. I think that's when when the big plays come. We’ve got to do a better job of not just being active but working to finish on the perimeter so the big plays can happen."

Penn State heads to Northwestern with an offense that has flipped its pregame expectations through four games. Instead of scoring on explosive plays, the Lions are doing so with long drives. Penn State leads the Big Ten in scoring offense (40.5 points per game) despite recording just one play longer than 40 yards. Instead, the Lions have built a time-of-possession machine, averaging 37 minutes per game with the ball. That leads the nation and, in the Big Ten, is more than 5 minutes longer than the conference's No. 2 possession team (Maryland).

As Hagans said, the Lions have been "finding ways to win games," even as their offense ranks 12th in the Big Ten in pass plays of 20+ yards. Penn State has just seven, while Ohio State leads with 20. Hagans said his receivers would "stay the course" in pursuing explosive plays against defenses preventing them. But he also wants those receivers to give backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen more room to break big runs. Neither back has a carry of 20 yards or more this season.

"We've got to be more involved in finishing in the run game," Penn State's first-year receivers coach said.

Penn State Looks for Receiving Consistency

This has been a major receivers room topic since the preseason. Head coach James Franklin has said often that the receivers need to be more consistent in running routes, getting open and making contested catches. KeAndre Lambert-Smith has proven his No. 1 grade in training camp, leading the team with 21 receptions. But the group has been inconsistent behind him.

Hagans wants his receivers to be more consistent in everything, including how they celebrate.

"We've got to continue to make plays in the pass game when our number is called but, more important, we’ve got to be more involved in finishing in the run game," he said. "The guys are doing a pretty good job in special teams, which is something that’s really important to our group as well. We put special teams before offense because that's a selfless thing. 

"And then we've got to be more willing to finish in the run game and then win our one-on-one battles when our opportunities are called: create separation, get open, make the plays, make guys miss. And continue to bring energy by celebrating with out teammates, being the first guys there when they score, helping guys up off the ground. Just making sure that we understand that it’s a selfless group and we put the team first."

Dante Cephas' Development at Penn State

Cephas started his first Penn State game against Iowa, making one catch for 11 yards. He has five catches for 82 yards, moving gradually through the depth chart at Penn State since arriving from Kent State in May. Cephas caught 130 passes the past two seasons at Kent State.

"Dante's best football lies ahead of him," Hagans said. "Funny as it sounds, he's starting to settle in and find his way and the offense is starting to slow down for him. He's staring to grasp things better, and now he can focus more on playing as opposed to thinking."

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