ALTOONA, Pa. -- Ta'Quan Roberson has been at Penn State for three years, and has been the backup quarterback all this season. Christian Veilleux has been there 10 months, and has never taken the field in a game.
Roberson got 90 percent of the second-team reps in preseason camp. It was obvious to the coaches that he was way ahead of Veilleux then.
Roberson has played mop-up duty a couple of times this season, then was forced into action in the loss at Iowa after Sean Clifford got hurt. He struggled mightily, to say the least.
Still, until Clifford can return, everyone has just assumed that Roberson will be the starting quarterback, based on all of those factors above.
There's really no reason to believe that Veilleux is close to being ready. How could he be, based on so few reps up to this point playing behind both Clifford and Roberson?
And based on what we saw from Roberson at Iowa, one would think he needs all the meaningful reps he can possibly get to be as prepared as possible going forward.
But that's not how Penn State is going to do things this week. That's where we'll start out my Tuesday Takeaways:
Roberson and Veilleux will split reps evenly this week
It's going to be a competition, Franklin said, to see who will start Saturday against Illinois. Franklin wants everything to be a competition -- it's one of his four core values -- so that part may not bey a surprise.
"We'll split the reps between those two evenly, make it a competition," Franklin said.
OK, but isn't it fair to wonder why there would need to be a competition this week for Roberson?
No doubt, he didn't look good at Iowa. So there probably should be concerns that he's maybe not very good and Penn State needs to have Veilleux ready to go just in case.
That's reasonable, again based on what we saw from Roberson in 2 1/2 quarters against the Hawkeyes.
But on the other hand, wouldn't it make sense for the Penn State coaches to be doing everything they possibly can to develop every aspect of Roberson's game within the offense this week, to make sure he's absolutely as prepared as possible?
In other words, treat all of this like a cram session for a test. Talk him up as much as possible. Make sure he knows this is his offense this week and let him know that the coaches have all the confidence in the world in him?
Give Roberson all of the first-team reps.
"The reps in general are gold right now," Franklin said.
The fact that is NOT going to happen, and that the reps will be split up, is really interesting. The fact that Roberson, with all of his experience, is still in a competition with a true freshman who hasn't played yet or gotten any meaningful reps, well, doesn't that give people even more questions about just how good Roberson is or is not?
Look, I fully expect Roberson to start. I fully expect Roberson to be the quarterback until Clifford returns.
There's a good chance that Franklin is saying all of this stuff about it being an open competition just to keep some kind of strategic advantage over the upcoming opponent. Why name a starter if you don't have to, right? It also helps keep Veilleux engaged, and that is very important nowadays with reserve quarterbacks.
Let's hope those reasons truly are the case here. Because if Penn State coaches really believe there needs to be an open competition where both Roberson and Veilleux are getting equal reps, I cannot possibly see how that maximizes Roberson's development this week.
But it's just Illinois, right? The Lions are favored by 23 points, so they'll probably win easily regardless of who is at quarterback.
But Ohio State is looming next week. Maybe Clifford can return for that. If not, don't the Lions need to be putting all of their stock into preparing Roberson for that monumental challenge?
Here's what Franklin said about the pros and cons of splitting reps:
"I have worked with a coordinator in the past where he's going to pretty much give all the reps to the starter and no reps to the backups, and the whole reason is just every rep is critical to get them ready to play on Saturday. But I think there's always got to be a developmental aspect, that we've always in spring ball and and summer camp given reps to all three quarterbacks in the top three spots on your depth chart. And then once the season starts, it's the emphasis obviously on your first two."
UPDATE: Tuesday 10:45 p.m. I posted this in our comments section for clarification after some feedback from readers suggesting it's a good idea to get both QBs some reps.
Some people may be missing my main point here. I'm not talking about just getting Veilleux some reps right now. That's fine. He needs reps to get ready just in case. I'm talking how ridiculous it is to split first-team reps and have it be an open competition during game week. That is not smart at this stage right now.
WaywardSon had a good post in the comments section that I'll address specifically.
There was a CLEAR starter once the season started in all of those previous QB situations between McSorley/Stevens, Clifford/Levis. They weren't having open competitions and splitting first-team reps during game weeks. That never happened (perhaps with the exception of Iowa game week last year when Clifford was benched for Levis). There was a starter and a backup.
That's what I'm talking about here. Sure, get Veilleux as many reps as you can this week WITH THE SECOND TEAM. Maybe a few with the first team.
But the starter is Roberson. He has to be. There's no way he cannot be the starter, given all the major factors and experience components I pointed out in this story. Veilleux has done virtually nothing of consequence up to this point from a meaningful reps standpoint, while Roberson has at least been around and taken lots and lots of practice reps and some in games.
Hey, maybe Roberson stinks. I'm certainly willing to acknowledge that. We'll see how he does. But what I'm pointing out in this story is that it's absurd to have an open competition during game week between these two guys -- one of whom has been around a long time and already had clearly beaten out the other guy in preseason camp. Make sure Roberson gets all the reps he needs so that he's fully ready to go -- this week and beyond.
Franklin addresses LSU situation
The coach was asked if he ever gets tired of addressing reports of his name being linked to other jobs, as it has been this week at LSU, and how he handles that sort of thing internally.
"I guess the best way to describe it is, I care what people think and I want to handle things the right way all the time with the players with the staff with the administration," Franklin said. "I want to use the golden rule, right, and treat people the way you'd want to be treated. So, yeah, I want to come to work every single day and do my job and and help these players achieve their dreams and the staff and do right by the university and the community, so yeah, I do."
Penn State AD Sandy Barbour discussed the frequent links of Franklin to other jobs during an appearance on "The Nitwits" TV show over the weekend. Her comments, according to Mark Brennan from Lions247:
“James knows that he’s very much appreciated (at Penn State). He's wanted here, and as we have at all times, (we’ve) made sure that he's in a good position, both with what we're investing in the program and what we're investing in him.”
Franklin said Tuesday that he had seen Barbour's comments and appreciates being wanted at Penn State.
"It's a positive from this standpoint," he said. "There could be a different conversation going on. If there had to be a choice between two, I'd rather be this conversation than the opposite (of not being wanted)."
Clifford update
Franklin did not mention Clifford taking part in practice this week when saying Roberson and Veilleux would split reps evenly. The coach also reiterated what he had said previously about Clifford doing everything he can to return from injury.
"Sean has shown his toughness over the years, both physically and mentally," Franklin said. "I literally just walked, coming over here to the press conference, and saw him in the facility. He kind of lives in there watching film and obviously now getting treatment and doing everything he possibly can to put him in the best position to get back as soon as possible, whenever that may be.
"So, we'll see. But it won't be because of a lack of effort on his part. He's going to do everything that he's supposed to do for the doctors and the trainers and their recommendations, make sure that the parents are informed and involved in the process, as well. And then, as I've told you guys before, mentally, in terms of preparation and how he approaches the game, as good as I've been around. So he's doing all the right things. Not surprised by that. And hopefully that will put him in the best position to come back as soon as possible."
This aggression will stand, man
How aggressive were Franklin and Penn State in the transfer portal quarterback market during the offseason?
Franklin had already admitted that having three scholarship quarterbacks was not enough. But the Lions didn't add another quarterback, which begged the question of why?
Was there no one available who wanted to come to Penn State? Or could it have been that the coaches knew they had a veteran starter in Clifford and were willing to roll the dice that nothing would happen to him?
Clearly, with Clifford now out, the issue of quarterback depth and quality is a major concern for the program.
I asked Franklin about the transfer portal topic Tuesday, and if he has any regrets about not bringing in another quarterback.
"I don't see how we could have been more aggressive," Franklin said. "We were thorough, and we evaluated every single guy that was out there. We had some guys come in and actually work out, by the rules."
That's believed to be the first time Franklin publicly acknowledged bringing in quarterbacks to work out.
"I think you guys heard me say a year ago that we were committed to doing it if we found the right situation and it made sense," Franklin added. "But just to sign a guy to sign a guy, no, we actually think that would have been detrimental. There's no way to get them all reps and to develop them so. So for us, we did everything we possibly could, but again that goes back to my point a little bit before, based on your current situation and what your quarterback roster and seniority looks like puts you in a different situation."
Franklin earlier had mentioned that he wouldn't make promises to players in the transfer portal about starting, and at the quarterback position, certainly guys who transfer want some assurances that they will play.
"When you're looking at going into the transfer portal and possibly bringing guys in, most guys want to come in and be guaranteed the starting job, depending on where they're at and in their careers and why they're leaving," Franklin said.
"So you're talking about where your program is, what your situation is, did your starter just graduate, makes it a very attractive, you know transfer portal designation. Do you have a returning starter that they're going to compete with? And then also the impact on your current roster, as well as the impact on recruiting. So you kind of got to balance all of that and make sure that that you're in a good situation and trying to be as upfront as you possibly can and transparent so everybody has all the information that they can make really good decisions with."
Losing Mustipher a big blow
Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher was gaining national recognition on watch lists, but his season ended with an injury at Iowa.
Mustipher was a major force on Penn State's defensive line, and a big reason the Lions' defense as a whole has been good this season.
"He is just a tremendous young man," Franklin said.
"He's handling it extremely well, like he does everything. But sometimes when guys are handling things too well, that that concerns me too," the coach added. "You kind of got to give him a big hug every single day and check on him and ask him how he is and tell him if he needs anything that we're here. My daughter Shola made him made him some cupcakes the other day, just just trying to love on him and support him as much as we possibly can."
Parsons visits State College
Micah Parsons and Odafe Oweh are having big rookie seasons in the NFL so far, and Franklin raved about the two former Penn State defensive standouts.
He also had some information on Parsons, who's off to a great start with the Dallas Cowboys.
"Micah is actually here right now, he's here in State College," Franklin said. "Micah obviously has really grown to love Happy Valley and State College. He's here all the time. He's got great friends; I think you guys know him and Jesse (Luketa) are like best friends."
PODCAST: Check out our podcast below, where we discuss the QB situation and how vital it is that Sean Clifford is able to return to action.
