Scott Loefler: PSU secondary "completely different" from what he saw when he coached at Michigan

[tboyer]

Of course some of this is ritual buttering-up from an underdog opponent coach but there's truth to it. PSU's secondary is really good, on a totally different level from Paterno/Bradley days. The thought that PSU has 4 safeties capable of playing at an all-B10 level -- that's pretty mind-boggling.

Penn State's a Big Ten Contender, Bowling Green's Scot Loeffler Says

Loeffler, who lavished praise on the Nittany Lions, has led Bowling Green to some impressive wins as an underdog.

www.si.com

 

[Obliviax]

I didn't mention it but of all the things we saw on Saturday vs WVU, the most impressive was the S play. Those guys are big, strong and fast. They close and they tackle. S play is underrated. The key to any defense is the way the S play. These guys can support the run stopping game and cover.

 

[voltz99]

Of course some of this is ritual buttering-up from an underdog opponent coach but there's truth to it. PSU's secondary is really good, on a totally different level from Paterno/Bradley days. The thought that PSU has 4 safeties capable of playing at an all-B10 level -- that's pretty mind-boggling.

Penn State's a Big Ten Contender, Bowling Green's Scot Loeffler Says

Loeffler, who lavished praise on the Nittany Lions, has led Bowling Green to some impressive wins as an underdog.

www.si.com

Who is the 4th S?

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

Michigan coaches just teach to cheat and grab. PSU does not.

 

[SR108]

Who is the 4th S?

Can’t remember his name but I believe he is a true freshman that they believe will be really good. Franklin hopes to get him a lot of reps in the next two games.

 

[lazydave841]

Can’t remember his name but I believe he is a true freshman that they believe will be really good. Franklin hopes to get him a lot of reps in the next two games.

DeJuan Lane.

 

[voltz99]

DeJuan Lane.

Capable of playing at all B10 level?

 

[lazydave841]

Capable of playing at all B10 level?

I've not seen enough to say that. I just answered who the 4th safety is.

Franklin talked like Wallace, Martin, and Smith could all play RB at or near the level of Singleton and Allen. Coach-speak is a very tough thing to navigate.

 

[tjp013]

Capable of playing at all B10 level?

if he's playing in game one of his frosh campaign, on the road against a team that doesn't suck, I'd say they think he's pretty good.

 

[Delcolion915]

Capable of playing at all B10 level?

Yes. Probably the fastest player on the field in just about every game he will play in.

 

[bdroc]

Of course some of this is ritual buttering-up from an underdog opponent coach but there's truth to it. PSU's secondary is really good, on a totally different level from Paterno/Bradley days. The thought that PSU has 4 safeties capable of playing at an all-B10 level -- that's pretty mind-boggling.

Penn State's a Big Ten Contender, Bowling Green's Scot Loeffler Says

Loeffler, who lavished praise on the Nittany Lions, has led Bowling Green to some impressive wins as an underdog.

www.si.com

I agree. Paterno had great players and great teams but DBs were often not a strength.

 

[psuno1]

I agree. Paterno had great players and great teams but DBs were often not a strength.

Brian Miller, David Macklin, Alan Zematias and Leonard Humphries say Hi. Paterno had a couple good Db's

 

[voltz99]

if he's playing in game one of his frosh campaign, on the road against a team that doesn't suck, I'd say they think he's pretty good.

3 snaps v 60

 

[bdroc]

Brian Miller, David Macklin, Alan Zematias and Leonard Humphries say Hi. Paterno had a couple good Db's

Of course there were some good ones but those teams were usually better stopping the run than stopping the pass.

 

[Cowbell Man]

Of course there were some good ones but those teams were usually better stopping the run than stopping the pass.

Vinny Testaverde and Dan Marino are struggling to read that sentence

 

[bdroc]

Vinny Testaverde and Dan Marino are struggling to read that sentence

Doug Flutie had no trouble

 

[Obliviax]

Capable of playing at all B10 level?

He’s 6-2, 203. Big and fast.

If he wanted, he could beef up to 230 and play OLB

 

[tboyer]

Brian Miller, David Macklin, Alan Zematias and Leonard Humphries say Hi. Paterno had a couple good Db's

Of course there were some good ones but those teams were usually better stopping the run than stopping the pass.

It was a different era. Passing games weren't nearly as sophisticated and teams rarely had 3 top tier receivers, so if you could cover one and and then cover the field with zone, that worked most of the time. Bradley's scheme could fall apart when there were 3 top flight receivers on the field (Rose Bowl, USC, 2009)

 

[GregInPitt]

if he's playing in game one of his frosh campaign, on the road against a team that doesn't suck, I'd say they think he's pretty good.

Also a need for depth at Safety, and the need to develop next years Safety’s as all three of this years starters cold leave, although Wheatley likely returns. We will likely see the true freshman Toure play some as the year goes on as well….

 

[KC-KS-Lion]

Of course some of this is ritual buttering-up from an underdog opponent coach but there's truth to it. PSU's secondary is really good, on a totally different level from Paterno/Bradley days. The thought that PSU has 4 safeties capable of playing at an all-B10 level -- that's pretty mind-boggling.

Penn State's a Big Ten Contender, Bowling Green's Scot Loeffler Says

Loeffler, who lavished praise on the Nittany Lions, has led Bowling Green to some impressive wins as an underdog.

www.si.com

The team and staff seems to be on a roll attracting and developing safeties, which makes the defense better and the team more competitive against teams with varying strengths.
I think a capable two-way safety is the most underrated position in both the college and pro game.
it might get overlooked in college because of other gaps.
Look at how few safteties get drafted high in the NFL, and those that do that don't pan out (Cine from Georgia).
I thought Shawn Mayer, when healthy, was the PSU satety that stood out as making a difference both ways.
Boyd was a hitter, but not sure he was as good in coverage.
I think Zemaitis and even Amos were more saftey-like in their play.

 

[tjp013]

It was a different era. Passing games weren't nearly as sophisticated and teams rarely had 3 top tier receivers, so if you could cover one and and then cover the field with zone, that worked most of the time. Bradley's scheme could fall apart when there were 3 top flight receivers on the field (Rose Bowl, USC, 2009)

Kim Herring and Michael Zordich along with Mark Robinson all 1st team A-A

 

[Lion_Backer]

Kim Herring and Michael Zordich along with Mark Robinson all 1st team A-A

Also, Franco's (RIP) younger brother Pete (RIP) was a 1st team AA safety also in the late '70's IIRC.

It makes me sad thinking about that they're both gone.....

 

[bdroc]

It was a different era. Passing games weren't nearly as sophisticated and teams rarely had 3 top tier receivers, so if you could cover one and and then cover the field with zone, that worked most of the time. Bradley's scheme could fall apart when there were 3 top flight receivers on the field (Rose Bowl, USC, 2009)

Agree but Flutie didn't need 3 top tier receivers when BC passed for 605 yds in a game PSU won 52-17.

The old bend but not break defense.

 

[CJFisJoePaII]

Joke spot after 1st down play - the screen pass never sniffed the LOS let alone get anywhere near 36.

 

[91Joe95]

I agree. Paterno had great players and great teams but DBs were often not a strength.

To me it's simply the differences between man and zone schemes. Man is more exciting but gives up bigger plays and more penalties, zone gives up shorter passing plays but fewer yards after the catch.

 

[tjp013]

Also, Franco's (RIP) younger brother Pete (RIP) was a 1st team AA safety also in the late '70's IIRC.

It makes me sad thinking about that they're both gone.....

Forgot about Pete-great job!

 

[Kasparaitis]

Of course some of this is ritual buttering-up from an underdog opponent coach but there's truth to it. PSU's secondary is really good, on a totally different level from Paterno/Bradley days. The thought that PSU has 4 safeties capable of playing at an all-B10 level -- that's pretty mind-boggling.

Penn State's a Big Ten Contender, Bowling Green's Scot Loeffler Says

Loeffler, who lavished praise on the Nittany Lions, has led Bowling Green to some impressive wins as an underdog.

www.si.com

Relying on anything coaching opponents say is like taking political advice from the opposing party. (Without naming names.)