RickinDayton
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Thanks for that info.
Off Season Articles Thread
- Thread starter GregInPitt
- Start date
Sherriff Coffee
Well-known member
Live Updates: Penn State Football Media Day
James Franklin and the Nittany Lions meet the media for the first time ahead of the 2025 season.
Takeaways from Franklin PC:
-he seems to like the 3 WRs we brought in. Mature, captains, production. Depth exists, so I assume we have a 2 deep he will trust. Essentially a call that we need playmakers on the field (ARon big catch vs Michigan in the 4OT game shout out), but tone wise, I think we've upgraded and developing.
-Knowles further into install than you'd expect. Sounds like less attacking on defense from the front 6. (My interpretation is less gap jumping and more lining up and going straight ahead) LBs more reading responsibilities. Secondary will play less straight man, more zone coverage coming.
-OL depth is huge. Reading between the lines, I think we see Donkoh and Cousins split RG reps early and Rucci at RT until somebody struggles or outplays the other. Mentions the 6 OL sets and ability to play even a 7th (more as a substitute, not a 7 OL formation).
-TE room definitely 3 deep today. Big praise for Dinkins ("severely underrated"). Rapp sounds 100%, bigger, stronger, faster. Reynolds improved as well.
-expected Smolik to return rusty, but he didn't. Pushing QB2 competition all the way through the season and into the spring (coach speak IMO)
-Safeties. Still a battle for the 2nd and 3rd safety. Named Mack, Lane, Belgrave-Shorter, and Toure. Will play the best player at 5th safety spot, be it a CB or Nickel.
-he seems to like the 3 WRs we brought in. Mature, captains, production. Depth exists, so I assume we have a 2 deep he will trust. Essentially a call that we need playmakers on the field (ARon big catch vs Michigan in the 4OT game shout out), but tone wise, I think we've upgraded and developing.
-Knowles further into install than you'd expect. Sounds like less attacking on defense from the front 6. (My interpretation is less gap jumping and more lining up and going straight ahead) LBs more reading responsibilities. Secondary will play less straight man, more zone coverage coming.
-OL depth is huge. Reading between the lines, I think we see Donkoh and Cousins split RG reps early and Rucci at RT until somebody struggles or outplays the other. Mentions the 6 OL sets and ability to play even a 7th (more as a substitute, not a 7 OL formation).
-TE room definitely 3 deep today. Big praise for Dinkins ("severely underrated"). Rapp sounds 100%, bigger, stronger, faster. Reynolds improved as well.
-expected Smolik to return rusty, but he didn't. Pushing QB2 competition all the way through the season and into the spring (coach speak IMO)
-Safeties. Still a battle for the 2nd and 3rd safety. Named Mack, Lane, Belgrave-Shorter, and Toure. Will play the best player at 5th safety spot, be it a CB or Nickel.
AK PC:
-more QB2 competition talk. No inclination one way or other.
-WRs brought in are fantastic teammates. No selfishness. Being leaders.
-Rapp is hungry. Have to hold him back, wants all the reps.
-team has maturity and experience. Team responding to adversity very well. Throwing curveballs at them in practice to keep them on their toes.
-Allar mobility is improved further. Trying to get him more involved with the overall thinking process with the coaches.
Knowles PC:
-football is complicated, gotta have answers to everything. He's gotten better at installing his defense. He's charged with being great now. If it's complications, he has to adjust and if not thats his fault.
-very impressed with Rojas. Even more physically developed and his knowledge is impressive already. Jumped out first 3 days. Amare has a lot of natural LB skills. Rare to see with all the converted players these days. Natural instincts is big, Amare has it. (Reading between the lines, Amare is your Mike and green dot)
-really impressive with Ford first 2 days, particularly after he wasn't available during spring. Having DTs who can tackle and not just eat blocks is huge. Changes how you plan your defense.
-corners are IMPRESSED and a real STRENGTH of the defense. Asked about AJ and Washington, Knowles tells them not to forget about Collins and Dixon. Praise for Smith and DB culture. Going to set things up for them to make plays.
Justin Lustig PC:
-Tracy, Pena, Ross, Denmark, Josiah Brown, and Koby Howard all in punt return competition. Really excited about Howard.
-potential for major improvement in special teams. Year 2 for him, year 2 for the returning starters.
-Gabe pushing Riley for punter.
-Dixon stands out. Probably will burn his shirt for special teams even with corner being deep. (Didn't explicitly say that, my take between the lines)
-no Intel on kick return. Weekly, game time decision. Sounds like Singleton will still be back there with maybe Matrin and Smith.
-Knowles is very detailed, great teacher. Helped him a lot (he's also outside LB coach) to learn how to coach defense (15 years experience as offensive coach prior he mentioned)
-more QB2 competition talk. No inclination one way or other.
-WRs brought in are fantastic teammates. No selfishness. Being leaders.
-Rapp is hungry. Have to hold him back, wants all the reps.
-team has maturity and experience. Team responding to adversity very well. Throwing curveballs at them in practice to keep them on their toes.
-Allar mobility is improved further. Trying to get him more involved with the overall thinking process with the coaches.
Knowles PC:
-football is complicated, gotta have answers to everything. He's gotten better at installing his defense. He's charged with being great now. If it's complications, he has to adjust and if not thats his fault.
-very impressed with Rojas. Even more physically developed and his knowledge is impressive already. Jumped out first 3 days. Amare has a lot of natural LB skills. Rare to see with all the converted players these days. Natural instincts is big, Amare has it. (Reading between the lines, Amare is your Mike and green dot)
-really impressive with Ford first 2 days, particularly after he wasn't available during spring. Having DTs who can tackle and not just eat blocks is huge. Changes how you plan your defense.
-corners are IMPRESSED and a real STRENGTH of the defense. Asked about AJ and Washington, Knowles tells them not to forget about Collins and Dixon. Praise for Smith and DB culture. Going to set things up for them to make plays.
Justin Lustig PC:
-Tracy, Pena, Ross, Denmark, Josiah Brown, and Koby Howard all in punt return competition. Really excited about Howard.
-potential for major improvement in special teams. Year 2 for him, year 2 for the returning starters.
-Gabe pushing Riley for punter.
-Dixon stands out. Probably will burn his shirt for special teams even with corner being deep. (Didn't explicitly say that, my take between the lines)
-no Intel on kick return. Weekly, game time decision. Sounds like Singleton will still be back there with maybe Matrin and Smith.
-Knowles is very detailed, great teacher. Helped him a lot (he's also outside LB coach) to learn how to coach defense (15 years experience as offensive coach prior he mentioned)
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One of the interesting notes I took away from Franklin's presser is when he was talking about the receivers he mentioned the RBs and how he wants to get them in space and how they have improved as receivers. His direct quote...."They grew dramatically last year as receivers. I expect them to take another step this year and I want them to get the ball in the space as well."
Utilizing Singleton, Allen and even Martin as receivers can add another dimension for us. Remember Singleton 's TD catch vs USC? More of that.
Utilizing Singleton, Allen and even Martin as receivers can add another dimension for us. Remember Singleton 's TD catch vs USC? More of that.
GregInPitt
Active member
- Injuries:
Off season injured that may be or are ready to play are still listed as "limited" until they go through their first contact practice. Seems that the team is healthier than the current injury listing might indicate.
WR's.
Hudson - previous team captain. Experienced senior
Pena - also previous team captain
Ross - made plays vs Iowa.
Need more WR playmaking. Now more depth.
LB's.
Rojas is ready to play at a very high level.
Franklin complimented Campbell's playmaking while at NC, but immediately mentioned the competition with the other LB's, Deluka, Wylie, Speca, so I read this as Campbell is not now a starter but will for sure play a lot, and that he sees the LB competition that is developing talented depth depth as very good for the defense.
OL, just like in the secondary, it's a battle to get the best 5 players on the field as well as to build depth. In the secondary the 5th best DB may be a Safety or a CB. Better depth than he's had in his 12 years at PSU, for the most part.....
Off season injured that may be or are ready to play are still listed as "limited" until they go through their first contact practice. Seems that the team is healthier than the current injury listing might indicate.
WR's.
Hudson - previous team captain. Experienced senior
Pena - also previous team captain
Ross - made plays vs Iowa.
Need more WR playmaking. Now more depth.
LB's.
Rojas is ready to play at a very high level.
Franklin complimented Campbell's playmaking while at NC, but immediately mentioned the competition with the other LB's, Deluka, Wylie, Speca, so I read this as Campbell is not now a starter but will for sure play a lot, and that he sees the LB competition that is developing talented depth depth as very good for the defense.
OL, just like in the secondary, it's a battle to get the best 5 players on the field as well as to build depth. In the secondary the 5th best DB may be a Safety or a CB. Better depth than he's had in his 12 years at PSU, for the most part.....
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