How Penn State Plans to Run Its Offense Without Mike Yurcich

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. | Ja’Juan Seider’s tryout began Sunday. Seider, Penn State's running backs coach, and tight ends coach Ty Howle will serve as co-offensive coordinators for the Nittany Lions following Mike Yurcich's firing. Head coach James Franklin said they will discuss specific play-calling duties this week but praised the work both have done thus far.

“They're doing a really good job right now. I've been pleased,” Franklin said Monday. “I think we're a little bit more collaborative right now than what we have been here recently. I think it's been good.”

As Penn State begins its search for a new offensive coordinator, the Lions still have a season to finish and an offense to improve. That falls to Seider and Howle, two of the team's more popular coaches. Seider has been at Penn State for six years and has long been regarded as one of the staff's top recruiters. Howle, a Penn State letterman and graduate, similarly has earned his reputation as strong recruiter. Franklin called both “fiercely loyal” to Penn State, a key reason for their temporary promotion. And now the most meaningful component of Penn State's roster lies in their hands.

“I know what I'm going to get from them. I know how collaborative they're going to be with our staff, and I also think they're widely respected by the players, and I think that's an important part of this as well,” Franklin said. “I think Rutgers is really good on defense, but I think we'll have a good plan that will put our guys in the best position to be successful.”

Howle, in his third season coaching tight ends, was in the booth with Yurcich, while Seider has been, and will stay, on the sideline. Seider, who has been linked to coordinator jobs in the past and intends to be a head coach, is the name to watch in the tandem. He’ll get two regular-season games, against Rutgers and Michigan State, to impress Franklin enough to contend for the full-time job. Sure, he'll also coach the bowl game, but Franklin said he plans to fill the job before then — much like he did with defensive coordinator Manny Diaz in 2021.

Regarding his involvement, Franklin said Monday that it will stay the same as it has been through his 13 years as a head coach (which isn’t exactly clear as it is). Graduate assistant Danny O’Brien will take on more of the quarterback-coaching responsibilities, while Franklin will join him in the daily position meetings.

The season-ending offensive focus seems likely to be targeted around quarterback Drew Allar and his development. Franklin was adamant after Saturday’s loss to Michigan that getting Allar into rhythm, especially with easy throws, was key in allowing the offense to open up. Asked Monday whether he had asked for those “easy throws” before the game, Franklin gave a noteworthy answer.

“I think you guys have heard me come in and talk, whether it's openers, third down, starting fast, all these things are things that we've had lengthy discussions about and had a plan for,” he said. “But a lot of the times when we got to the games, either we did not call the games that way or we did not execute the games the way we intended them to.

“Yeah, those things were asked for.”

Seider and Howle’s position groups will be focuses of the offense as well. Franklin cited the recruiting those two have done at running back and tight end as part of the reason they were elevated. He also called the positions two of the best of Penn State’s roster.

It would be important to see Penn State unlock Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen from the backfield, with a chance against two middle-of-the-road rushing defenses. Rutgers and Michigan State rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Big Ten, allowing about 130 rushing yards per game. Allen, really, has started to hit his stride, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Singleton has been perhaps the biggest offensive disappointment, dipping below 4 yards a carry and holding a 20-yarder as his longest of the season. 

Rutgers has been a stout passing defense this season, fourth in the Big Ten behind Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Maybe that will open the door for a run-heavy offense, as Singleton had a kick-return touchdown in the 2022 game, while Allen ran for 120 yards.

Michigan State, conversely, has the second-worst passing defense in the conference. The Spartans are allowing roughly 235 yards per game, a good chance for a struggling Penn State passing attack — specifically Allar — to let loose.

“Obviously we would love to finish on a really, really high note this year as a team, and then specifically as an offense and then at the quarterback position,” Franklin said. “No doubt about it.”

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For Penn State and James Franklin, another missed opportunity

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Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.

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