Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/325716
Bill Zimmerman to us. Some things are similar, but others are different. I personally enjoy it. I think it's a good offense for what we have. We're going to get the ball to the play- makers." It took a little while to get to know the new staff and to let down the defenses that went up after Bill O'Brien left to be- come head coach of the Houston Texans. One of the main reasons Hackenberg had signed with Penn State was to play for O'Brien, who had worked with Tom Brady during his tenure on the New England Patriots' staff. The veteran coach's sudden departure and the subsequent hiring of an entirely new staff created apprehension. New offensive coordinator John Donovan could sense it immediately. "It's only natural [for that to happen] when you build something with somebody, especially at a young age," Donovan said. "Now you've got a whole new crew, a whole new system. What are they gonna do? Am I gonna fit with what they want to do? These are natural questions to have." Hackenberg and his team- mates began getting their an- swers in the spring. As they started working with the new staff, the concerns abated, and players and coaches came out of the off-season drills with a sense of mutual respect. The coach- es were particularly happy to see Hack- enberg meet all the goals they had set for him based on the film they'd watched of his performance as a freshman. "I think he likes what we do and he's comfortable," Donovan said. "He's got all the physical tools, and behind the scenes – in the classroom and the film room – he's a smart kid. He's able to pick it up. That's been the most impressive thing on our end, how well he's been able to adapt." The focus now shifts to informal summer drills – workouts with receivers and de- fensive backs in which the of- fensive skill players will work to get their timing down with Hackenberg. "We just really want to be on the same page for the season because we want to have a comfortable relationship," wideout Eugene Lewis said. "We'll throw and catch and hang out. We just want to have the best relationship possible. He's basi- cally the main leader on the team, so the more comfortable you make a quarterback, the better things will be." Things are already pretty good, to hear Hackenberg's coaches and teammates tell it. He may have been forced to make a break with the past, but it's not a clean break. The qualities that made him suc- cessful under the previous coaching staff remain. Said Donovan, "That guy is the leader. At that position, in this system, you've got to be a smart guy, and he is. He's done a great job." ■ HEAVILY ARMED Hackenberg warms up prior to Penn State's game against UCF last season. The fresh- man QB threw for 262 yards in his second appearance in Beaver Stadium.