For Penn State fans, their 0-2 start in Big Ten play could be down to a number of things. It could be down to Matt Campbell simply not being the coach the program thought he was. It could be that Rocco Becht can't adjust to Big Ten play. It could be that a moribund rushing attack can't produce big plays. Or even that a defense that looked fantastic through three weeks has suddenly come crashing back to earth.
However, perhaps the most popular reason is that Penn State have been missing their big play threat at the wide receiver position in Koby Howard. While he may not have been able to save the offense completely, perhaps they could have had a few more big plays over the past two weeks that could have swung them games if he were healthy. Now
though, Penn State fans may want to brace themselves, as the latest update on his return isn't as promising as originally thought.
During his press conference this week, Matt Campbell addressed that Howard was at the very least "a couple of weeks away". While it certainly sounds promising, consider that the blue and white will play perhaps their two toughest games of the year without him: against the 19th ranked Trojans at home in the White Out game and then on the road against a Michigan team that may not beat you with offense but certainly has a Big Ten quality defense. By the time Howard could be set to return, Penn State could be in a even bigger hole.
Still, any time the Nittany Lions can get Howard on the field should be exciting simply due to his electric start to the year. At the time of his injury, Howard was seventh in total receiving yards in the country and in yards per game. What's even more absurd that on just 12 catches, he averaged a ridiculous 28.7 yards per catch. As a result of his absence, Rocco Becht's passing yards average has rapidly declined, with him only averaging 178.5 yards per game in the past two games, both against Big Ten foes.
Even Matt Campbell has had to address what Koby Howard has brought to the offense when he has been on the field. "One thing that Koby brought was consistency, right?" Campbell said. "He was the guy that was consistently executing, and (receiver Chase Sowell) is doing that right now at a really high rate, and (tight end Ben Brahmer) and some of those guys. But when you had Koby, Koby was the guy that was creating matchup (problems). And you were creating a lot of those matchups in the first couple games to kind of get him situated".
That's why the news of an extended stay on the sideline was initially so worrying and that now his absence is prolonged, his missing presence will be ever more felt.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State WR gets new injury update
