UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It’s no secret quarterback Christian Hackenberg’s statistics — 94-of-177 completions (53.1 percent), 1206 yards and eight touchdown passes — aren’t the types of numbers many expected the Nittany Lions’ big-armed junior to post this season.
Penn State’s offense, a unit that is 111th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, isn’t where James Franklin expected it to be in his second season at the helm. Hackenberg’s been asked to play a more conservative style of football, one focused on eliminating turnovers, moving the pocket so he can buy time with a porous offensive line and taking his deep shots only as warranted.