2017 Preseason Practice Articles/Discussion
- Thread starter Judge Smails
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How Penn State's newfound depth is changing its tactics
Why depth means more than greater injury insurance and internal competition
And even that may have been underselling it.
Back then, Reid aligned as the team's starting boundary cornerback, played across special teams and took on nickelback responsibilities when the Nittany Lions dipped into their subpackages. Whether third down or other high-leverage situations, Penn State leaned on No. 29.
This season, of course, the Lions don't have that luxury. Reid has been lost to a significant knee injury. Yet even had he returned, it's safe to say the veteran cover man would've had company atop the team's reps leaderboard thanks to the new luxury Penn State does enjoy: quality, dispersed depth.
This depth became a popular talking point for Franklin this offseason, not only for the fact it padded the Lions' injury insurance but heated up their in-house competitions. Since training camp, the annual home for a team's the most critical competition, ended, his players have echoed those comments.
"It's really good to see where our depth is right now," said Trace McSorley. "It was something we felt confident in, but just got that reassurance in camp that now we've got a lot of really good depth and a lot of really good competition across the board, and it's something that will benefit us in the long run."
Lamont Wade has three interceptions so far in spring ball. (Photo: Sean Fitz, 247Sports)
Penn State has benefitted in the interim, too.
Surrounded by senior cornerbacks on the outside, heralded freshman Lamont Wade has been allowed to focus on mastering Reid's old nickelback duties. The position, known in the team's playbook as "star," makes different demands than that of a perimeter corner. So instead of overloading Wade's plate with learning both spots, the Lions have charged him with the single task of starring at the star; a position Penn State employed on roughly 35 to 40 percent of its defensive snaps a year ago.
"That's a big role in this day and age in the way football has kind of evolved," Franklin remarked.
Wade's tunnel vision is both a byproduct of the stability starters Grant Haley and Christian Campbell afford the Lions and the trust they have in back-ups Amari Oruwariye and Tariq Castro-Fields. Castro-Fields, another freshman. should see game action on rotational or situational bases this year, just like redshirt defensive end Shaka Toney.
Said Franklin on Wednesday: "I think you could look at Yetur [Gross-Matos] and specificallyShaka [Toney] and say they may not be ready to be every-down players, but could Shaka Toney get up and get in and rush the passer on obvious passing downs? There's no doubt about it."
And that's exactly where expectations stand early on for the quick-twitch end, who's been subbing in for third-down reps during team periods in practice. Previously, Penn State had been forced to deploy its starters (even those rotating defensive linemen) more frequently than it preferred due to the lack of depth Toney and Co. now provide.
Expect to see plenty of Shaka Toney this season. (Photo: Sean Fitz, 247Sports)
In 2016, defensive end Garrett Sickels played nearly two thirds of the Lions' defensive snaps, while three freshmen saw greater than 22 percent. Mike Gesicki ate up nearly 90 percent of all snaps at tight end, and wideouts Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton each eclipsed 84. Safety Marcus Allen played more than 900 snaps, good for more than 90 percent of all Penn State's defensive plays.
Moving forward, however, not only will these starters receive more than the occasional breather. They'll watch as Wade, Toney and others are placed in positions that immediately maximize their impressive, yet still raw and unfinished, skill sets. Unshackled from prior roster limitations, the Lions coaching staff can tinker more freely with various combinations and packages.
When then freshmen Kevin Givens and Ryan Buchholz hounded passers on third downs last season, Penn State offered us a glimpse into the power of specialization.
This season should be a full unveiling.
"I don't think there's any doubt specializing is a way to get a young guy some reps and to gain some experience while you're also creating depth," Franklin said. "That's something that we're all in favor of doing."
Author: Andrew Callahan
Why depth means more than greater injury insurance and internal competition
- As told by James Franklin last November, Penn State's John Reid stood "clear and above pretty much anybody else" in recorded game reps.
And even that may have been underselling it.
Back then, Reid aligned as the team's starting boundary cornerback, played across special teams and took on nickelback responsibilities when the Nittany Lions dipped into their subpackages. Whether third down or other high-leverage situations, Penn State leaned on No. 29.
This season, of course, the Lions don't have that luxury. Reid has been lost to a significant knee injury. Yet even had he returned, it's safe to say the veteran cover man would've had company atop the team's reps leaderboard thanks to the new luxury Penn State does enjoy: quality, dispersed depth.
This depth became a popular talking point for Franklin this offseason, not only for the fact it padded the Lions' injury insurance but heated up their in-house competitions. Since training camp, the annual home for a team's the most critical competition, ended, his players have echoed those comments.
"It's really good to see where our depth is right now," said Trace McSorley. "It was something we felt confident in, but just got that reassurance in camp that now we've got a lot of really good depth and a lot of really good competition across the board, and it's something that will benefit us in the long run."
Lamont Wade has three interceptions so far in spring ball. (Photo: Sean Fitz, 247Sports)
Penn State has benefitted in the interim, too.
Surrounded by senior cornerbacks on the outside, heralded freshman Lamont Wade has been allowed to focus on mastering Reid's old nickelback duties. The position, known in the team's playbook as "star," makes different demands than that of a perimeter corner. So instead of overloading Wade's plate with learning both spots, the Lions have charged him with the single task of starring at the star; a position Penn State employed on roughly 35 to 40 percent of its defensive snaps a year ago.
"That's a big role in this day and age in the way football has kind of evolved," Franklin remarked.
Wade's tunnel vision is both a byproduct of the stability starters Grant Haley and Christian Campbell afford the Lions and the trust they have in back-ups Amari Oruwariye and Tariq Castro-Fields. Castro-Fields, another freshman. should see game action on rotational or situational bases this year, just like redshirt defensive end Shaka Toney.
Said Franklin on Wednesday: "I think you could look at Yetur [Gross-Matos] and specificallyShaka [Toney] and say they may not be ready to be every-down players, but could Shaka Toney get up and get in and rush the passer on obvious passing downs? There's no doubt about it."
And that's exactly where expectations stand early on for the quick-twitch end, who's been subbing in for third-down reps during team periods in practice. Previously, Penn State had been forced to deploy its starters (even those rotating defensive linemen) more frequently than it preferred due to the lack of depth Toney and Co. now provide.
Expect to see plenty of Shaka Toney this season. (Photo: Sean Fitz, 247Sports)
In 2016, defensive end Garrett Sickels played nearly two thirds of the Lions' defensive snaps, while three freshmen saw greater than 22 percent. Mike Gesicki ate up nearly 90 percent of all snaps at tight end, and wideouts Chris Godwin and DaeSean Hamilton each eclipsed 84. Safety Marcus Allen played more than 900 snaps, good for more than 90 percent of all Penn State's defensive plays.
Moving forward, however, not only will these starters receive more than the occasional breather. They'll watch as Wade, Toney and others are placed in positions that immediately maximize their impressive, yet still raw and unfinished, skill sets. Unshackled from prior roster limitations, the Lions coaching staff can tinker more freely with various combinations and packages.
When then freshmen Kevin Givens and Ryan Buchholz hounded passers on third downs last season, Penn State offered us a glimpse into the power of specialization.
This season should be a full unveiling.
"I don't think there's any doubt specializing is a way to get a young guy some reps and to gain some experience while you're also creating depth," Franklin said. "That's something that we're all in favor of doing."
Author: Andrew Callahan
Unrivaled: The Penn State Football Story - Season 4 Episode 1
http://www.gopsusports.com/collegesportslive/?media=560643
http://www.gopsusports.com/collegesportslive/?media=560643
