Penn State linebacker Jason Cabinda was on a teleconference with media members a few moments ago, and was pretty mum on his status for position this weekend against Buffalo. With Nyeem Wartman-White lost for the season, head coach James Franklin said Tuesday that Cabinda, Troy Reeder and backup Mike linebacker Gary Wooten would compete this week for that starting middle linebacker job in Wartman-White's absence.
"I think Wooten is an option for us at middle linebacker, I think Jason Cabinda is an option at middle linebacker, and I think Jake Cooper is an option at us for middle linebacker. We're going to spend this week trying to figure that out. That's based on what we get from the injury reports, and that's also based on what guys do at practice and how they take over that leadership role. Those things will be really important for us, but, yeah, we're going to have to look at some moving parts and getting guys ready to take over that responsibility, not just from a physical standpoint but also from a leadership and mental standpoint."
Cabinda was less clear, saying that he was "focused on that Will linebacker position" so far through practice this week.
"It's a great opportunity to step up as a leader of the defense," he said. "Obviously it's a difficult position to play. It's not easy. You've gotta make calls, adjustments and checks, and that's not easy to do when you're playing in front of 107,000 in Beaver Stadium.
"It's something that guys will take reps, it will be a combination of guys, and we'll kind of see at the end of the week how that all plays out and what happens come game time."
As for how Wartman-White is holding up:
"He's been a great resource for me," Cabinda said. "I was able to get with Nyeem on Monday and we came in and watched film for hours." Cabinda said he thought it was great that the linebackers as a whole were able to get together and watch film coming off the loss to Temple.
"I think Wooten is an option for us at middle linebacker, I think Jason Cabinda is an option at middle linebacker, and I think Jake Cooper is an option at us for middle linebacker. We're going to spend this week trying to figure that out. That's based on what we get from the injury reports, and that's also based on what guys do at practice and how they take over that leadership role. Those things will be really important for us, but, yeah, we're going to have to look at some moving parts and getting guys ready to take over that responsibility, not just from a physical standpoint but also from a leadership and mental standpoint."
Cabinda was less clear, saying that he was "focused on that Will linebacker position" so far through practice this week.
"It's a great opportunity to step up as a leader of the defense," he said. "Obviously it's a difficult position to play. It's not easy. You've gotta make calls, adjustments and checks, and that's not easy to do when you're playing in front of 107,000 in Beaver Stadium.
"It's something that guys will take reps, it will be a combination of guys, and we'll kind of see at the end of the week how that all plays out and what happens come game time."
As for how Wartman-White is holding up:
"He's been a great resource for me," Cabinda said. "I was able to get with Nyeem on Monday and we came in and watched film for hours." Cabinda said he thought it was great that the linebackers as a whole were able to get together and watch film coming off the loss to Temple.
