James Franklin all but confirmed the worst kept secret in State College on Wednesday when talking about the highly discussed left tackle position after practice.
“If we were playing (this) Saturday, I think Paris is in a position to start at left tackle,” Franklin said.
It’s a move that has long been anticipated but not an automatic as Penn State’s junior college transfer prospect Paris Palmer has struggled in the early stages of his career to get his feet under him.
All things considered Penn State’s ability to get the 6-foot-7, 297-pound Palmer up to speed has been priority No. 1 this summer. The Nittany Lions have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. Much like last year though, it comes down to how well the offensive line can play. If Penn State can move the ball there could be something special in the works. Another season of 40+ sacks, and it might be another bumpy finish.
If Palmer is at least serviceable on Christian Hackenberg’s blindside this means more than a few good things for fans. For one it puts Andrew Nelson back at right tackle, the position he is most comfortable in. It also keeps Angelo Mangiro at center for the second straight year. A move that seems obvious, but with Mangiro the most flexible lineman of the bunch, his ability to play tackle could have led to a shakeup if Palmer wasn’t ready to go.
Beyond that, Brendan Mahon and Brian Gaia are expected to start at left and right guard respectively although Derek Dowrey is putting his name into the mix as well as Wendy Laruent who had a strong summer session.
“And then the other four (starters) are basically what you’ve seen,” Franklin said. “I do think there’s a little bit of a battle going on inside with Gaia, Dowrey and Mahon for those two (guard) spots.”
But what has Palmer done better to earn the spot in the starting rotation? It’s the little things.
“He’s just getting better, he’s getting better in his footwork, he’s getting better in his hand placement, he’s getting better in his assignments. He’s more confident in what he’s doing,” Franklin said. “I do think the big difference is, he’s got four other guys next to him that are taking a much more active role in his success, telling him specifically what to do and making the calls.”
That’s fairly high praise for a player who Franklin said reminded him of the struggles the line had in 2014. Perhaps making Franklin’s word of caution a fitting conclusion to all-but naming Palmer the starter.
“He still has got a long way to go but I think he’s improved and I think right now at this point he gives us the best opportunity to play and play well.”
Who well? Check back in a few weeks.
