Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/727005
thing. The quarterbacks do not get the banging in practice and the stripping and things that other positions do. You just can't afford to have those guys get- ting hit like the other positions. So that's something that we just need to continue to emphasize: ball security, two hands in the pocket, and being physical and durable enough to make sure [that when] you're getting tackled, you come down with the ball. I think there's a difference between fumbles and [instances in which] you get hit while you're delivering the football. When you take one hand off the ball and actually throw and you get hit from the blind side, that's a little bit different than the other ones. We need to protect the quarterback better in those situa- tions. The other hits where he's getting hit while he has the two hands on the ball or the ball is tucked away, that's something that we need to get fixed. There were several absences on de- fense at Pitt, like Jason Cabinda, Kevin Givens and Grant Haley at Pitt. Do you think that affected you guys, and do you expect to have some of those same absences against Temple? Whenever you're missing starters and missing guys who have played signifi- cant reps for you, and you're a young football team, there's no doubt, it cre- ates challenges. You have less-experi- enced guys on the field who have to step up in more prominent roles. There's no doubt about it. Kevin Givens is already a redshirt freshman and is starting and playing a big role, and then you lose him. Jason Cabinda has played a lot of football here and was playing at a high level, and not having him is significant. And throughout the game, Brandon Bell and Nyeem [Wartman-White] had some times where they were banged up. All of those things kind of factor into it, there's no doubt about it. You want to be as healthy as you possibly can be. You want to have as much experience on the field as you possibly can, but that's part of the game. We understand that. The offensive line has given Trace time to throw on a number of plays, but obviously he didn't have time on some big ones at Pitt. How do you evaluate the line so far, and what are the next one or two steps that they have to take? I think they've taken strides. I don't think there's any doubt about it. I think those guys worked real hard in their off- season. I think Coach [Matt] Limegrover has done a nice job. We're still not where we want to be in terms of being able to impose our will on defen- sive lines and be really physical. That's something that should show up in the run game. That's something that should show up in pass protection. I think they're headed in that direc- tion. We need to be more consistent. We need to be more physical. We need to have more of a finisher's mentality. But, it's like on Saturday, that defense is de- signed to make you one-dimensional. I think we had 38 runs called in the game, but they overloaded the box, and it doesn't make sense to hand the ball off when they have extra men in the box that you can't block. That's something that depending on what the defense gives us, is going to create opportuni- ties. We had plenty of opportunities in the passing game because of their com- mitment to stop the run, and that's why you saw the game play out the way it played out. There are about 500 lettermen coming back for their reunion Friday night. Do you plan to be involved in that in any way, and what would it be like to have that many players back for a game? I think it's great. One of the things that makes us special is when we're able to get this type of support and guys come back who feel a real strong con- nection to the university and the foot- ball program. Myself, Terry [Smith], Wally Richardson and all of guys are continuing to build and work on those relationships. That's something that's very important. I'm glad all of those guys are going to be back in town and going to be at the game this weekend. That's the type of support that has made this place so special for so long. There are some plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Joe Paterno's first game coaching the Nittany Lions for the Temple game Saturday. I'm interested to know what Joe Paterno symbolizes to you, personally as the coach of Penn State today. I've stated this before. You know, all of the wonderful things that have hap- pened here academically, all of the wonderful things that have happened here athletically, and in the community as well, those things have been signifi- cant, and I think I've stated that before. But my focus and our team's focus is on Temple and the game this week. And all of those other decisions are for the ad- ministration. Our focus is on Temple. S E P T E M B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 13 PSUtixman@gmail.com www.PSUtixman.com Get your PSU Football Tickets at go t ti cke t s? k c i t t t e k man@g .PSUtixm www.PSUtixman.com at ootba Get yo k c i t t o gm .PSUtixman.com all ur s t s e k