Penn State offensive tackle Drew Shelton and safety Zakee Wheatley have watched how the Nittany Lions have responded to their shocking loss to UCLA.
Each was asked Tuesday to describe the team mood this week in one word.
“We’re hungry,” said Shelton, a Downingtown West product. “We know what we have to do. We have to find a way to get better no matter what, try to put it behind us and keep pushing.”
Unranked Penn State (0-2 Big Ten, 3-2) hopes to rebound against Northwestern (1-1, 3-2) Saturday at 3:30 (TV-FS1) at Beaver Stadium.
The Lions are coming off a game in which they allowed the most rushing yards (269) by an opponent in three years and the most points by an opponent (42) in a regular season game in three years.
Reviewing the film on Sunday with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was painful, as expected.
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley (6) stops UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava short of the sticks on fourth down in the fourth quarter last Saturday. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
“He took a lot of accountability as the coordinator, as well as the players did,” Wheatley said. “We came in on Sunday knowing we have to be better. We came in with that mindset. We have faith and trust in Coach Knowles.
“We came together as a defense and went over the corrections.”
Previously winless UCLA rolled up 285 yards and a 20-point lead in the first half before holding off Penn State 42-37 at the Rose Bowl. Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava accounted for 294 yards passing and rushing and five touchdowns.
The Lions stopped UCLA just four times, all in the second half, on a missed a 56-yard field goal, a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown, Wheatley’s fourth-down stop and a safety that the Bruins took.
Lions coach James Franklin said Monday that the defense isn’t playing as fast and aggressively as it has in the past.
“I’m really not sure,” Wheatley said when asked if he agreed with Franklin. “Everyone gave it their all and played hard. We just have to be better overall.”
Penn State looked better on offense than it did the previous week in a 30-24 loss to Oregon in double overtime when the Lions stalled for three quarters.
They averaged more yards per play than UCLA, but they were outgained because the Bruins ran 20 more plays than Penn State and had the football almost twice as long as the Lions.
“Obviously there’s always more that we can do,” Shelton said about the offensive line. “We knew what the expectation was that we put on ourselves coming into this year.
“I think a lot of it so far has just been some combination of four guys doing something right and one guy not holding up their end of the bargain.”
Shelton and Wheatley are well aware of the criticism the Lions and Franklin are receiving from the fans, who are disappointed about the back-to-back losses by a team that began the season ranked second.
“I stay off Twitter (X) during the season,” Wheatley said. “Whether it’s positive or negative, it doesn’t really change my goal and what I need to do. If you’re not in this building, if you’re not putting in the work or you’re not going through what we’re going through, I don’t pay attention to it.”
Franklin’s message to the players has been to stick together. Wheatley used the word “family” to describe the team’s attitude.
“We’re not going to get anything done by pointing fingers and separating from each other,” Shelton said. “Just stay together. This is one team. We have to have each other’s back and to keep moving forward.”
Wheatley said he has seen a sense of urgency on the practice field and inside Lasch Building.
“I wouldn’t use the term ‘desperation,’ ” he said. “We came in here Sunday and watched the film, knowing we have to attack and get better ASAP. Knowing that and going to practice with the right head on our shoulder, I think everyone’s ready to get better and grow.”
