UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State has been struggling to kick-start its offense.

The seventh-ranked Nittany Lions have produced just 13 points in the first quarter of the past six games.

That's a miniscule average of 2.2 points for a team that is rolling up 39.4 per game and ranks 12th nationally in scoring heading into tomorrow's Big Ten Conference showdown against No. 17 Michigan State at Beaver Stadium.

"We're definitely concerned about it," wide receiver Deon Butler said. "We feel that we need to get a faster start, and I think guys just need to relax and calm down. We need to get back to our old ways, when we played with a lot more confidence, a lot more swagger."

Penn State has not scored on its opening possession of a game since putting together an eight-play, 67-yard touchdown drive Sept. 6 against Oregon State that was capped by tailback Evan Royster's 15-yard run.

"We have to shake those slow starts and get them out of our system," center A.Q. Shipley said.

The Lions typically script their first 10-12 plays of the game, the exception being third downs.

"If we're comfortable with 12, we'll put 12 down and we'll work from that script," coach Joe Paterno said. "If we don't have 12 that we're comfortable with, we'll work with 8-10 to start the football game."

The Lions have struggled with executing those plays in the opening 15 minutes. There have been a few first downs mixed in with a number of three-and-outs.

Butler said his teammates need to stop bickering about the play calling and start making some big plays.

"The problem is, you got a lot of guys on our team that have played a lot of football," he said. "We, obviously, kind of know what we're talking about when we see defenses being thrown at us and what really could work."

Butler and Shipley talked about the problem and then addressed it with the underclassmen.

"Too many times guys, myself included, were saying they thought we should have been running the ball a little more and then maybe were saying something on the sidelines [about it]," Shipley said. "Like Deon said, we got to get back to having fun, and whatever play is called, executing it."

Penn State has scored just 76 points in the opening quarter of its first 11 games, but the Lions have registered 161 points in the second quarter, 114 in the third and 82 in the fourth.

"We are doing some things a little different and sometimes it takes awhile to adjust to it," Paterno said. "That's still an excuse. We should be better to start off."

Penn State scored nine touchdowns in the opening 15 minutes of the first five games but has produced just one touchdown and two field goals in the first quarter of the past six games.

"It all comes down to execution," said quarterback Daryll Clark, who needs 22 yards passing to surpass 2,000 for the season. "Yeah, [I'm concerned] a little bit. I know we're capable of doing way better."

The Lions' dismal first-quarter numbers are hard to figure, given that the "Spread HD" offense has accounted for 70 scoring drives -- 50 touchdowns and 20 field goals. The average drive has taken seven plays and covered 60 yards in a little more than three minutes.

Penn State also is ranked in the top 20 nationally in three offensive categories, and leads the Big Ten in two others.

Against Indiana, Clark had a career-high three turnovers, -- two fumbles and an interception. But the Lions did recover to register three touchdowns and a field goal on their first six possessions of the second half.

"Even though the scoreboard didn't reflect it, we were out there having fun," left guard Rich Ohrnberger said. "This team hasn't lost its fun. We're not going to be uptight, not going to be serious.

"The implications are great. We're playing under a lot of pressure, but it's a team that responds well to pressure."