This is the 33nd in a 33-day series about Penn State football leading up to the Blue-White Game on Saturday. Click here for past installments in the series.
Penn State will take the field on Saturday for the final exam of spring practice. For the past 14 practices the Nittany Lions have focused on fundamentals and learning some of the basics of Bill O’Brien’s offense and John Butler’s defense.
While fans won’t see every wrinkle and play that the Nittany Lions have to offer, there are plenty of things to keep an eye out for when the teams take the field.
1. Quarterbacks: Bill O’Brien has done just about everything possible to keep the quarterback battle split down the middle. Equal reps in practice and equal praise to the media. O’Brien won’t be able to keep it under wraps any longer though as both Steven Bench and Tyler Ferguson take the field for the first time in front of the crowd.
Consistency has been the biggest issue for both, but both have shown the ability to throw the ball well in practice. It might take a little time for both to settle in on Saturday, but expect a mixed bag of good and bad. It’s better to feel as though the position is a work in progress rather than a lost cause.
2. Freshman: Penn State sits firmly in its second year under NCAA sanctions meaning it’s all hands on deck to contribute with a limited roster. Subsequently a few freshman faces might have a chance to make an impact right away. O’Brien says he won’t use players who aren’t ready, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t giving some of them serious consideration. Wideout DaeSean Hamilton could be a name to watch, tight end Adam Breneman is another obvious name to keep in mind.
3. Butler Communication: With defensive coordinator Ted Roof headed out the door after his first season, the promotion of defensive back’s coach John Butler puts a new face behind the helm of the Nittany Lion defense. The high energy, hands-on coach has been around the program for a year and is well-versed in the defensive workings.
The Blue White game usually has a pretty watered down defensive scheme mostly for the sake of player safety. With that in mind how Butler interacts with the defense from the sideline could be interesting to watch. Last season he was jumping around yelling and shouting. Now that he has a much larger unit to deal with it could mean a change in pace for him on the sideline. It’s hard to imagine Butler ever truly calming down though.
“Coach Butler, he’s a very smart coach,” defensive back Adrian Amos said this offseason. “Before he got the job he knew what everybody was supposed to do. When I was in the meeting room with him he’d tell me what the linebackers were supposed to do and what the defensive line was suppose to do. It wasn’t a surprise to me when he got the job.”
“He’s a competitor, he’ll do whatever he needs to do to get what he needs to get from you. Some people need more push, he’s animated, he’s out there running around yelling and screaming.”
4. Leaders: Penn State lost plenty of leaders this offseason to graduation. While the likes of Michael Zordich and Michael Mauti will never be replaced, players will need to step up on and off the field to fill those roles. Offensive guard John Urschel has stepped up in some areas but he won’t be the only one. Defensive back Adrian Amos is one of the most versatile secondary players Penn State has had in years. Amos is not a particularly outspoken player but the Supa Six member might lead more with his play than anything else.
It could be tough to see leaders emerge during a single scrimmage, but interactions in the huddle, on the field, and on the sideline could shed some light on the issue.
5. Running Backs: Bill Belton and Akeel Lynch will both get a crack at the field behind Zach Zwinak who is primed for a second season at the starting spot. Lynch is the unknown asset of the bunch after his redshirt season, so seeing what he has to offer is the biggest story for this position. Belton also has changed physically over the offseason and has a significant chip on his shoulder to prove people wrong. All three backs ought to get plenty of time on Saturday. Each will offer something different and each will be in the mix this coming year.
Recent Stories:
Day 6: O’Brien Looking to Get Everyone Involved in Running Game
Day 5: Ficken Ready to Continue Streak Into 2013
Day 4: Will Penn State Be as Aggressive on Fourth Down in 2013?
Day 3: What the Loss of Zordich Means for the Fullback Position
Day 2: Does Anyone Care About the Score?
