Blue White Illustrated

P E N N S TAT E FO O T BA L L >> 2 0 1 9 K I C KO F F S P E C I A L New approach excites PSU's special teams players I f there were any speculation that new Penn State special teams coordinator Joe Lorig would fall in step with the rigid sta- tus quo that can often restrict coaches, it was quickly dispelled by taking a look at kickoff return personnel the Nittany Lions employed when they opened their summer practice to the media. There stood Micah Parsons, a prized young linebacker and hulking physical specimen, back deep as one of Penn State's return men. It's a role Parsons had been lobbying for. It's also evidence of Lorig's flexibility – and by extension, the whole staff's. Lorig, the Nittany Lions say, brings with him an ideology that contrasts starkly with that of former coordinator Phil Galiano, who was often so focused on exact meas- urements that it left some special teams players feeling boxed in. Lorig, simply put, has players feeling more relaxed. "It's not about having to space out three to four yards," punter Blake Gillikin said. "It's about being in the relative area of people. It's not about having to think about certain numbers and keywords and techniques and stuff like that." Penn State's special teams will have a more simplified style, one that Gillikin says will allow the Nittany Lions to use their speed more. Where before they were focused on specifics, now the Lions find themselves focused on athleticism — something re- turn man K.J. Hamler offers in abun- dance. "I like how he coaches," Hamler said. "His coaching style is very different. He's more aggressive. Whenever he wants the ball in my hands, he's going to try to get it to me. He told me just to focus on my in- stincts. You know, if I feel like I can take the ball out, then take the ball out. He doesn't like taking knees and stuff like that." No, he doesn't. The American Athletic Conference learned that the hard way. Under Lorig's eye at Memphis, kick re- turner Tony Pollard tied the NCAA record for kickoff-return touchdowns with seven. With a player of Hamler's raw talent set to take on the majority of the kick-return duties for the Nittany Lions, you can sense the potential within Penn State's kick- and punt-return units. Lorig can, too. That's why he's been badgering Hamler dutifully with the same line: "Did you catch punts today?" Naturally, Hamler has caught more punts during this off-season than he has at points throughout his tenure in Happy Valley. It's a product of what seems like a renewed sense of optimism on the part of the Nittany Lions' special teamers. "I've met with him so many times," Gillikin said. "He's told me so many great things about his plans for this year and things like that. He always talks about that stuff, but he really puts it into practice." Part of the simplicity Lorig has brought that the players like so much involves in- dividualization, which he said is largely unique among college football special teams coordinators. Just as Penn State's offensive line may break off for a specialized meeting with its specific position coach, the Nittany Lions are breaking down their special teams units, too. That means the guards, tackles, snappers and so on are all meet- ing in very small groups to break down film so they can try to get better. "It creates a lot of buy-in. It creates buy-in from assistant coaches as well, because they are in there coaching the position, rather than listening to the spe- cial teams coordinator run the position," Lorig said. "In my experience, when spe- cial teams are valued and when they are productive is when it's a group thing, and everybody doesn't just look to the special teams guy. Obviously, I'm responsible for it. I'm accountable for it. But it's a group process. It's not about me. It's about us." Lamont Wade, who is currently locked in a competition for Penn State's vacant starting safety spot, has certainly bought in. Lorig's results speak for themselves. Last season, his Memphis team allowed just 17.88 yards per kick return, good for the No. 16 mark in the nation. The Tigers didn't allow a single kickoff or punt return for a touchdown in three years under Lorig. But for Penn State's players, the root of the buy-in comes from the fact that he lets them be themselves on the field, free to use their tools without too much limitation. "He always says simplicity equals speed," Wade said, "and we're behind him 100 percent because we're bought into that." ■ | NEW COACH Penn State players say Lorig has streamlined the Lions' spe- cial teams units, giving them an op- portunity to make better use of their speed. Photo by Ryan Sny- der

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