Penn State football might be getting a familiar face back on the field this weekend against Maryland according to head coach James Franklin.
Offensive linemen Miles Dieffenbach, who suffered a torn ACL this spring, will be returning to the mix on the line against Maryland this Saturday. Even if in a limited role, after weeks of practicing with the team Franklin is hopeful to phase Dieffenbach’s 305 pound frame back into the equation.
“Yeah, I wish I kind of had a clear answer for you,” Franklin said when asked how much (or if) Dieffenbach would play. “You know, we’re kind of still determining that ourselves, and I think you guys have heard me say this before, it’s not just a physical aspect of it, it’s the muscle memory of the footwork and the techniques that he hasn’t done in six months.
“It’s also the confidence as well. I think a lot of it is really just kind of up to how practices go. He’s been practicing, too a degree, the last couple of weeks. Hopefully he will have a bigger role this week and that will allow us to play him in a game a little bit. I think that would be the ideal situation. How much that is, I’m not sure, we’ll see, but I think the biggest thing is we are never, ever going to put winning a game in front of what’s in the best interest of our players and our student‑athletes, and we want to make sure he’s prepared before we put him back on the field that’s mentally, physically, emotionally, that’s the whole package.”
As one might expect, nearly a half year away from the physical aspects of football can lead to some rust around the edges in every aspect of the game. While Penn State’s offensive line may not be the best the program has ever had, there is still something to be said for the chemistry built over a half season of play. Even if Dieffenbach is one of the best linemen on paper, there is no guarantee that he will be at his best right off the bat. So it’s a balance for Franklin, getting Dieffenbach back into play, and not tinkering too much with the positives starting to be established along the front.
From Dieffenbach’s perspective, the return has been a long time coming. The fifth-year senior has seen it all, and to miss out on the better part of his final season has been tough. But the ever-positive and smiling lineman has worked his way back to this moment.
“I feel pretty far along but there is no finite line where I’m ready, it’s kind of just a thing where you get a feel for it.” Dieffenbach said on Tuesday. “I’ve been practicing for a couple weeks now and getting better every day and that’s something I’m looking forward to. When I know it will know. It will be a family decision, team decision, and doctors.”
Even though he hasn’t been taking part in game action, Dieffenbach is still getting back into game action after practice, pairing up with defensive tackle Anthony Zettel.
“After practice I pick a defensive linemen like Anthony Zettel, who is one of the best in the country, definitely tops in the Big Ten, and we do one‑on‑ones, and I tell him this is a game rep, go as hard as you can on me, because when I get in the a game no one is going to take it easy on me.”
“So I try to get those game reps throughout practice and prepare myself for the speed and strength level it’s going to be playing in a real game.”
That real game might just be this weekend in a contest the Nittany Lions would love to win to get back on track.
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