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C O A C H S P E A K • E X C E R P T S F R O M J A M E S F R A N K L I N ' S W E E K L Y P R E S S E R How would you describe the Michi- gan defensive line? You had a lot of praise Iowa's defensive line last week. I think they're really good. I think the difference is that with Iowa, they were re- ally controlling the game on the defensive side of the ball with their D-line. They put a lot of responsibility and a lot of pressure on their D-line. It started and ended with their D-line. Literally, you saw on tape you would line up in empty formations, and they play a four-man box. They were able to do that because of how they coach and how they played those defensive line- men, especially with their length, which is really unusual. So I think it really started and ended with their D-line in a lot of different ways. Michigan, obviously their personnel is impressive. [Rashan] Gary, we all know about him. The defensive end we just talked about [Chase Winovich], we know about him. The middle linebacker [Devin Bush]. But I would say what re- ally is [noteworthy about] Michigan is the corners. It starts with their corners. They're able to put those guys on an is- land and play press man coverage all the time. Again, there are very few plays you look at on film and you see a light box. They're going to overload you in the box. Every- body is at the line of scrimmage pressur- ing you in your face. High pressure, run game blitzes, pass game blitzes, and it's challenging, there is no doubt about it. I think you guys have heard me mention this before. Reminds me when I first got to the University of Maryland. We played Florida State and they were really tal- ented and they played press man and they overloaded the box. There weren't a whole lot of yards when you watched the tape. You're fighting for every yard you could get. That's how I would describe them. Don [Brown] as a defensive coordi- nator and their defense, I would describe them as greedy. They want to take every- thing away. Most defensive coordinators and coaches don't really approach it that way. So it's really challenging. I think obvi- ously their personnel is extremely good. They've been recruiting well for a long time, even before this staff arrived. Per- sonnel has always been strong at Michi- gan. But I think obviously their scheme combined with personnel is very chal- lenging. What stands out about Shea Patter- son? I would say a couple things. They were able to go out and get an experienced quarterback, so they got a guy who has played a lot of football. He's been in big moments, those types of things. He's a guy who I would probably describe as being a lot like Trace [McSorley]. You watch him, and he's able to make plays from the pocket, from outside the pocket, and also able to make plays with his feet. Like I mentioned earlier, he's already played a lot of football. They were able to bring a guy into their program who had a lot of experience already and I think has really helped them. So he's added another dimension to their offense, and I would describe him in a lot of ways like Trace. Trace has been called the best player in college football. How is he, and what does Trace do to maintain his durabil- ity? I just think it's the collection of work. You know, it's all of it. It's not just the stats. It's not just the wins and losses. It's all of it. You think about what that guy has been able to do in his career, the number of wins. I mean, we played good football here at Penn State for a long time, and he's got a chance to be the win- ningest quarterback in program history. Probably the most important stat that you can get. He's done unbelievably academically. He's been a great teammate. He's been a great role model. He's been a great son, been a great brother. He's been a joy to coach. He's been a tremendous example, both verbally and through his actions. His production is hard to argue with, both in the pass game and in the run game. So it's the combination of all of it. There are players who have had really good years, but again, if you're coming up with a list of characteristics or attributes or things that you were looking for to de- termine a guy's career, you know, he's got most of the boxes checked. When you talk about how valuable he's been to this team, but more important, how valuable he's been to our organization over the last four years, I think one of the great examples of Trace's impact is Tommy Stevens. I think because of how Trace has been and his re- lationship with Tommy, to sit here and say that that didn't factor into Tommy staying, I think that was a big part. I think Tommy's respect for Trace and their rela- tionship. For Sean Clifford, you know, for [Will] Levis, for [Michael] Shuster, for all these guys. That's a strong room that we've got, our quarterback room, and it starts at the top with Trace and obviously with Ricky. There's just so many ways that I could describe it. When it comes to community service, he's been the model. He really has been. He'll leave a legacy here not just outside of our building with how he's treated people and how he's played, and he's been a warrior, but also inside our building. I mean, the same thing that you guys see, there are examples of that. Obviously, everybody knows he got dinged up in the game, so I'm not keeping that a secret. Well, literally by 7 a.m. he's done more than most people do all day to give himself the best chance to be healthy, to practice at a very, very high level, and then also to make sure that he can go and be present and dominate in the class- room. So he's just a great example. Obviously, he came in with a tremendous foundation from his mom and dad. I actually met with Mom and Dad and Trace yesterday. They've done a great job. And then we were fortunate to able to build on that. But it's been a real complementary process between our staff and Trace's parents, and all along this journey work- ing together for what was in Trace's best interest and what was in Penn State's best interest. On special teams, the guys have done some really good things there. How close are you to getting that whole clean special teams game? ABer [last] Saturday, we've still got a lot of work to do. I think some of it is person- nel. I think some of it is some of the things O C T O B E R   3 1 ,   2 0 1 8 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 10

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