Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 8:49 PM | 2 comments |
 

Green sidelined for the spring
options
 

I guess the information I got from the team about the three injured players in the Rose Bowl was incorrect. One of the three will miss spring practice and that person is running back Stephfon Green.

Green dislocated his right ankle and will miss 3-4 months, according to team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli. That should be enough time for the speedy tailback to be ready for the fall. It could impinge upon his development in the backfield. Green has lots of talent, but he has some learning still to do and could use the reps carrying to ball to cut down on his turnovers.

Evan Royster is expected to return as the starter at running back, but it's also nice to have a backup that can push a first teamer. Reserve Brent Carter is recovering from an ACL injury and should be close to 100 percent by the fall. Freshman Brandon Beachum is another option in the backfield.

Royster and tackle Dennis Landolt, both of whom injured their left knees in the Rose Bowl, are expected to healthy enough to participate in spring practice. Here's the team's official release on Green.

 
Posted by Jeff McLane @ 8:49 PM  Permalink | 2 comments
2
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:36 PM, 01/14/2009
    Jeff, two questions. 1) Are you surprised Maybin is leavin? I guess if he does in fact go in the 1st Rd it was a good decision, but he may need to add a little size in order to play well in the NFL, and 2) The Lions have quite a few returning starters, but none of them are wideouts. Since Williams, Butler, and Norwood dominated the receiving corp for 3-4 years, what can we look forward to in 2009 and beyond?
    — MrPhillie
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:54 AM, 01/15/2009
    No, I'm not surprised. He's being told that he's a likely first-round pick. When that kind of money is on the table it's hard to pass it up. I'm sure he's supremely confident in his abilities, but when you're a one-year wonder like Maybin was, maybe it's wiser to go now as opposed to next year when he'll be a focal point for opposing teams' blocking schemes. We saw what USC did to him. As far as the wideouts go, I think the Lions will be OK - not great - at that position. Joe Paterno didn't seem too worried the day after the Rose Bowl loss, but he should be somewhat. After four seasons of Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood, I don't think people realized how skilled those two smurfs were. Now Brett Brackett, Graham Zug and Derek Moye bring more in size, but they don't have Butler and Norwood's speed and the jury is still out on if they have as much heart. All three have gotten enough experience, though, to make the transition not too rocky. It looks like Brackett and Moye will be on the outside, while Zug is in the slot. Chaz Powell will likely take over some of Derrick Williams' role as a multi-purpose wideout. I'm not sure if the redshirt freshmen or the incoming freshmen will be good enough to get on the field - unless Penn State can snag recruit Justin Brown.
    — Jeff McLane


2 comments
About Joe Juliano
Joe Juliano has been a staff writer for The Inquirer for 20 years, covering college sports, golf and the Penn Relays.

This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.

Joe McIntyre is a senior at Penn State majoring in journalism. He covered the Penn State football beat in 2011 for the Daily Collegian. Follow him on Twitter here @JoeMcIntyre5.
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