WOULDN'T MIND SEEING A.I. RETIRE A 76ER
Here’s my projection for the defense depth chart that will come at the conclusion of the spring session on April 25. With Penn State – as with many programs – you can’t take its two-deeps at face value.
DEFENSIVE END
Jack Crawford / Eric Latimore
With the early departures of Aaron Maybin and Maurice Evans end suddenly became an area of concern. Crawford played sparingly as a freshman, but is expected to contribute immediately. At practice on Friday, he looked quite the specimen. Latimore could start on either side, but will be part of a three-to-four man revolving door.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Jared Odrick / Ollie Ogbu
Odrick may get demoted briefly for his disorderly conduct arrest last month, but Joe Paterno didn’t seem too concerned about Odrick’s behavior. He could have left a year early for the NFL but wisely stayed for his senior year. Ogbu adds depth at a position that is fairly stocked.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Abe Koroma / Devon Still OR Brandon Ware
Koroma looks a lock to earn back the spot he lost last year due to a marijuana possession arrest. Still has had bad luck with two major injuries in his first two years at Penn State. He’s been flip-flopped at end and tackle, but looks destined to stay inside. He could move outside if need be. The enormous Ware (6-3, 347) is a project, but according to many observers he’s quick on his feet.
DEFENSIVE END
Kevion Latham / Tom McEowen
Latham has a good motor, but is slight (listed 6-2, 248). McEowen has been at tackle for the better part of his career, but hasn’t displayed the necessary strength inside. He could benefit from a change. The clock is ticking. Jerome Hayes has a ways to go to return from a September torn ACL. Here’s hoping one of the more collegial players on the team makes it back.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Navorro Bowman / Bani Gbadyu OR Nathan Stupar
Bowman might have been the top defensive performer at the Rose Bowl from either team. He’s a preseason all-American candidate. Gbadyu missed Pasadena for academic reasons. Some have suggested Bani is better suited to play strong safety. I think he stays penciled in here.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER
Sean Lee / Chris Colosanti
Lee said last week that he’s currently in the middle, but that he could just as easily go back to his old spot outside. Keeping him inside could make the decision on last year’s middle linebacker, Josh Hull, that much easier. Hull was overmatched and a demotion won’t look as bad if it came because of Lee’s return.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Josh Hull / Michael Mauti
Hull will get the nod here and may even start the season. But I can’t see the coaches keeping Mauti from the first team for another season. He’s too good. He’s Dan Connor reincarnate. He even struts the same as the former Lion.
CORNERBACK
D’Anton Lynn / Jesse Alfreno
The Lions lost ever starter in the secondary, but after the Rose Bowl some are saying that’s a good thing. Lynn lost his redshirt last season for just a couple of downs. But the word is he can play. He’s got great size (6-1, 198) and could have this position locked up by the Blue-White game.
STRONG SAFETY
Knowledge Timmons / Nick Sukay OR Gerald Hodges
Timmons may be holding this position until Hodges is ready. An early freshman, Hodges is already earning raves. Lee said he has the physical tools to step in right away.
FREE SAFETY
Drew Astorino / Cedric Jeffries
Dare I say, Astorino was better than Anthony Scirrotto last year, but just had to wait his turn. Lee said the sophomore has already jumped to the fore as a leader and will need to be that as the defense's centerfielder.
CORNERBACK
A.J. Wallace / Knowledge Timmons
There are four or five incoming freshmen that could push either Lynn or Wallace, but the senior finally gets a chance to put his stamp at the corner. He’s been an enigma for three years. Can he finally live up to his advanced billing?
You asked and you receive. Here's my projection of how the Lions' two-deep offense depth chart will look at the end of spring practice. I'll also look ahead to some possible changes before the season opener against Akron on Sept. 5. Defense to come later.
QUARTERBACK
Daryll Clark / Kevin Newsome OR Matt McGloin
No brainer here. Clark is the starter. The backup is the question. With Pat Devlin onto Delaware the Lions were pressed under center but luckily snagged Newsome and had him enrolled by January. McGloin is a redshirt freshman walk-on out of Scranton. He'll be listed on the second team, as well, but Newsome will be the guy even though he's still got a lot to learn.
RUNNING BACK
Evan Royster / Stephfon Green OR Brandon Beachum
Green is recovering from surgery on his broken leg and will be held out of spring drills. He should be 100 percent by the fall. The coaches will trod lightly with Royster so that sophomore Brandon Beachum gets plenty of reps. Brent Carter is skipping the spring, too, while rehabbing a torn ACL. It'll be interesting to see if Beachum can press Green in the preseason. With the Lions relatively young in the secondary I wouldn't be surprised if Carter is moved back to safety.
WIDE RECEIVER
Graham Zug / Chaz Powell
Zug is better suited to the slot and will line up there on most occasions. In limited action last year he showed that he was sure-handed. Powell may have the most ability out of all the receivers, as Joe Paterno noted on Friday, but he can be inconsistent. A lot of the plays designed for the departed Derrick Williams suit Powell, who may be faster.
WIDE RECEIVER
Brett Brackett / James McDonald
Brackett has the most experience out of the returning receivers. He's a big target at 6-foot-5 and could mold into the Joe Jurevicious type. McDonald is a fifth-year senior and will be listed as the backup after spring. But Wilmington, Del. recruit Justin Brown will probably run with the second team by September.
WIDE RECEIVER
Derek Moye / A.J. Price
Moye and Price are both tall guys -- 6-5 and 6-4 -- but Moye is a year older and is a year ahead in filling out his frame. He's listed at 195 pounds, up considerably from his incoming weight. Price is still rather slight at 173. Both have potential, though.
TIGHT END
Mickey Shuler OR Andrew Quarless / Andrew Szczerba
Has anyone seen the freshman year Quarless? The senior's numbers have dipped in both years after his promising rookie campaign. With so much talent he's been a huge disappointment. Maybe he can pull it together for his senior year. Shuler will probably get the starting nod by default. He's a better blocker than Quarless, but this position has been woefully underused in the Lions' offensive scheme.
LEFT TACKLE
DeOn'Tae Pannell / Nerraw McCormack
Arguably the most important position on offense after quarterback, left tackle lost the steadying presence of Gerald Cadagon to graduation. Pannell, a 6-5, 313-pound sophomore, will have this job by the Blue-White game. Blue chip recruit Eric Shrive, if he's as good as advertised, might step into one of the backup tackle roles by the start of the season.
LEFT GUARD
Johnnie Troutman / Matt Stankiewitch
Troutman slides into the spot vacated by jokester Rich Ohrnberger. Troutman is up to 6-4, 322 pounds, but he's untested like many of the o-line candidates. "Stank" has the goods to start at either guard position.
CENTER
Stefen Wisniewski / Quinn Barham OR Doug Klopacz
"Wiz" jumps over to center after two seasons at right guard. The junior has big shoes to fill with all-American A.Q. Shipley gone, but he's got a great head on his shoulders and should anchor the line. Klopacz is out for the spring, but early enrollee Ty Howie could compete for the backup spot by August.
RIGHT GUARD
Lou Eliades / Matt Stankiewitch
Eliades may get the nod at the end of spring because he's older, but "Stank" is even money to trump him by the preseason.
RIGHT TACKLE
Dennis Landolt / Ako Poti
Landolt is back on the outside and is a solid, if not spectacular, performer. Poti is a JUCO transfer from two years ago. Hopefully, Landolt stays healthy.
Joe Paterno had a point. Penn State held the coach's spring practice kickoff press conference yesterday and Paterno didn't really know what to say when he was asked about certain players and certain positions. He had only seen one practice without pads and was about to view the second day of drills. That may tell you something about this year's team. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. Here's the recap in this morning's paper of my yesterday back in Happy Valley.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Joe Paterno met with reporters today for the first time since the day after the Lions' loss to Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl. The 82-year-old coach is free of the cane his bad hip forced him to use last season and looked in fine health. Here are some of the highlights of his 30-minute press conference:
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Spring football is officially underway and with one practice in the books, probable captains Sean Lee and Daryll Clark met with the media inside the Bryce Jordan Center. Coach Joe Paterno will answer questions later this afternoon.
After a medical redshirt season, Lee is back at linebacker. The senior, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, said the limb is ready to go. However,
Here are a few of the highlights from their interviews:
LEE ON PARTICIPATING IN CONTACT DRILLS THIS SPRING:
That's up to them. I know that if I could play, I could play tomorrow. They're just being cautious. ... I'm not worried about the hitting when it comes to the knee. I'm going to find a way to hit. Seven-on-seven drills, the wide receiver catches the ball, I have pads on, I have to hit.
LEE SAID HE'S PLAYING AT MIDDLE LINEBACKER RIGHT NOW:
We've been changing things up. I can play any of the positions. The spring is a time to work on fundamentals. It doesn't really matter.
LEE ON GETTING BACK OUT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME:
Putting the helmet on for the first time, [I] kind of pulled my hair. It hurt a little bit. I got chapped lips from the mouth guard. It's just good to be back.
LEE ON NEXT SEASON:
We want to prove ourselves. We want to have another shot at a national championship or a Rose Bowl or a big-time game.
ASKED WHO'S STEPPING UP LEADERSHIP-WISE ON THE DEFENSE, LEE SAID:
[Safety] Drew Astorino is a guy who had a lot of experience last year and played well.
LEE ON NAVORRO BOWMAN'S 2008 SEASON:
I thought he was an all-American.
LEE ON PATERNO'S NEW HIP AND HEALTH:
He looks great. He looks practically he's old self. It shows just how amazing he is because he's been through two major surgeries that last three years. That shows just how much a fighter he is.
LEE ON WINTER WORKOUTS:
This was probably the longest winter workout I've been a part of since I've been here. [Paterno] wants us to be the same kind of team. And I think he didn't like the way we went out [in the Rose Bowl].
CLARK ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS SPRING AND LAST:
It's a little different. I'm still taking a lot of the reps. I'm not taking many reps off. Coach Jay [Paterno] made it for certain I was going to have to be the guy to be a big-time leader this year. I was well-prepared for that.
CLARK ON WORKING WITH TRUE FRESHMAN KEVIN NEWSOME, HIS POTENTIAL BACKUP:
I'm really impressed in Kevin because he asks a lot of questions that have to do with football. ... He's a very good student of the game and he's willing to learn. He's very, very coachable.
CLARK ON REGRETS FROM LAST SEASON:
I wish that pass was lower across the middle to Derrick [Williams] in the
Yes, absolutely. I was fine. ... Maybe I looked a little off and looked like maybe the concussion was affecting me a little bit.
It's a little bit of a comfort level now. With the fact that [Newsome] is really young and has a lot of learning to do. Not to just say him, I still have a lot of learning to do, as well. Naturally, for some players when they have that cushion they relax and you can't do that.
Jay told me that Joe was really, really upset about that game because he felt we gave them the game.
... Pretty stupid university. And yes, I'm a grad. The athletic department sent out a release on Monday that spring practice would kick off Wednesday with media availability of coach Joe Paterno and selected players. A few reporters, however, received a heads up that this could be canceled if the basketball team won at Florida in last night's NIT quarterfinals. Apparently, coach Joe Paterno didn't want to upstage the hoops squad (It's the NIT, Joe!).
Of course, no one expected the Lions to win. The Gators were 18-1 at home this season and this is, after all, Penn State basketball. But woe and behold, the Lions actually won the thing to advance to the semis in New York.This morning I texted Paterno consigliare Guido D'Elia, "What now?" He responded, "No go." An hour later I received a call from the communications department that today's session was being postponed till Friday.
I don't expect my readers to shed a tear, but if you were expecting a story in tomorrow's paper, don't. The NIT semis, by the way, are on Tuesday. I don't know how today would have stomped on the basketball team's parade. Again, it's the NIT!
UPDATE: Friday's press conference will be a joint venture with the basketball team piggybacking on the football team. Coach Ed DeChellis and his hoopsters will be interviewed first at 2:30 p.m., followed by coach Joe Paterno and his charges at 3:40 p.m. Aside from the fact that I don't cover Lions basketball, I can't imagine why I would arrive early.
Now that Temple has been bounced from the NCAA Tournament -- Sorry, Nits. It's better to have played -- I'm back on the Penn State beat full time. At least, for the time being.
Spring practice opens on Wednesday and will culminate with the Blue-White scrimmage on April 25th at 2 p.m. The team also announced to the media today that they will have availability with coach Joe Paterno and selected players following Wednesday's late afternoon practice. So that means we'll have updates and occassional stories in the paper from Thursday up until the 25th.
Thanks for reading and check back.
