Penn State defense to face formidable Maryland ground game
Penn State's players and coaches have remained stoic and steadfast in the wake of an abundance of injuries on defense, although you couldn't blame them if they took a long moment to consider why they've been so unlucky this season.
Penn State's players and coaches have remained stoic and steadfast in the wake of an abundance of injuries on defense, although you couldn't blame them if they took a long moment to consider why they've been so unlucky this season.
In addition to having their three starting linebackers out once again before the opening kickoff last week against Minnesota, the Nittany Lions also were without strong safety Malik Golden and lost three more starters - linebackers Brandon Smith and Jake Cooper and cornerback Christian Campbell - during the game.
Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer said, however, that while the sheer volume of injuries seems a "little bit over the top," the focus has to remain on making sure the next wave of players perform.
"We're not the only team in the country that has had injuries," Spencer said Thursday. "Our guys have to prepare as if they're starters because if they weren't starters before they've become starters now, and expectations are the same.
"You may scratch your head and say, 'Why us?' But we've got to move on, and we've got to prepare. Each week we're expected to play to a high level. That's what we demand from the kids, and that's what I demand from myself as a coach."
Because head coach James Franklin does not discuss injuries, there's not a full accounting as to who will and won't return for the homecoming game Saturday at Beaver Stadium against undefeated Maryland.
Franklin did say that Smith would be back but that linebacker Jason Cabinda, who hasn't played since the season opener, would miss at least one more game. The early-week depth chart listed Golden, Cooper, and Campbell as if they were playing.
Junior cornerback Grant Haley missed more than two games before being given the OK to return last week. Because he didn't start, the belief was that the coaches were going to work him in slowly.
That plan was scuttled when Campbell, the starter in Haley's spot, left the game early with an injury. In came Haley, and the junior played pretty much the rest of the game.
"Being back out there, it felt good with the atmosphere, just playing around and running around and having fun again," he said.
"It's been an unfortunate situation, but I think we can't let circumstances dictate your attitude. We come together, and we just know that we're going to play for each other. The next-man-up mentality has been a big thing. We have a relentless attitude and a positive attitude."
Penn State's defensive line has gone through the season relatively healthy. End Evan Schwan missed a game with an injury, but he is back and part of a rotation of nine or 10 players up front.
Because the Nittany Lions lost four players to the NFL after last season, the defensive line was inexperienced at the start of 2016. Given all the injuries at linebacker, the guys up front have had to mature even more quickly.
"I tell those guys that no one really cares about our injury situation," Spencer said. "Having said that, the expectation is for us to go out there as if this team was completely intact, and [injuries] can't be our Achilles heel at all. It's not about making plays, but it's being gap-accountable. If we're shoring up our gaps, we're doing a great job of reading our keys and making it a lot easier for the younger linebackers."
The front seven must step it up Saturday against Maryland, which is averaging 300 yards on the ground per game. The Nittany Lions have allowed two teams (Pitt, Michigan) to rush for more than 300 yards on them and have given up 217 rushing yards per game.
"This is a great challenge for us and we've got to be up for it," Spencer said.
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