ALTOONA, Pa. -- Spring practice starts Monday for Penn State, and we'll get to hear from James Franklin during his press conference about what he expects from his squad during the 15 practices over the next month. The Blue-White Game will be April 23 at 2 p.m.
What should fans be focusing on for the Lions this spring? Let's cut to the chase with these three big questions:
1. What can we expect from the offensive line?
Let's face it, we can analyze everything about the Penn State program until we're blue in the face (pun intended). But if the offensive line stinks as much as it did last year, then all other topics of discussion will be moot, because there's no way the team will be able to live up to any goals and expectations.
But ... if the O-line does take a huge step forward, then hey now, the Lions could have something cooking.
There are reasons for optimism with the personnel, including the highly touted Landon Tengwall and also Olu Fashanu. Returning starters Juice Scruggs and Caedan Wallace should provide leadership.
Personnel is one thing. Scheme is another. The key this spring and summer will be for the offensive coaches to get everyone on the same page with regards to establishing what kind of identity the Lions want to have -- on the line and for the entire offense.
There was no identity last year, when Penn State had an embarrassing running game that failed to produce a 100-yard rusher in any game. I've written repeatedly that the Lions lacked the kind of toughness up front to have the kind of smashmouth blocking attack needed in the Big Ten.
What did Mike Yurcich see and do to correct the problem? Will his pass-happy system work in the Big Ten? Can he remain committed to the run -- something Franklin wants and will start demanding -- or is the Yurcich offense too much of a finesse scheme to succeed in a rugged conference?
We'll find out the answers to those questions this fall.
As for now, Yurcich, O-line coach Phil Trautwein and everyone else on offense needs to be working on finding ways to avoid repeating last season's disasters up front.
Penn State added No. 1 running back recruit Nick Singleton and returns Keyvone Lee, and if those guys have room to run, they can be very dangerous.
Can the offensive line find ways to create running room?
We'll see is about the best answer we have right now.
2. What's the plan for Sean Clifford this spring?
Will he be getting all of the first-team quarterback reps trying to improve and progress during his second season in Yurcich's offense? Or will the coaches decide to use Clifford more as a teacher this spring while getting Christian Veilleux and No. 1 QB recruit Drew Allar reps, along with Beau Pribula?
A case can be made for doing either of those things.
Clifford will be 24 years old this fall and in his fourth season as the starter. You'd think someone with his experience could skip some things in the spring and let the quarterbacks of the future get as much experience as possible.
But c'mon, for as much as experience as Clifford has, he's also still wildly inconsistent and absolutely still needs as many reps as he can get. Whether he's 24 or 44 and in his fourth or 14th season as the starter, Clifford is not so polished that he can just miss a whole bunch of first-team reps for any reason.
Sure, contingencies have to be in place to get Veilleux and Allar ready to play if needed. But Clifford still gives Penn State its best chance to win, especially if the Lions can establish enough of a running game that he doesn't have to do everything.
3. What will Manny Diaz bring to the defense?
We know what a Penn State defense is, and pretty much has always been. The Lions are going to be tough, disciplined, strong against the run and sure tacklers. (That last element has been missing at times in recent years.)
Brent Pry did an outstanding job carrying on the defensive tradition during his tenure as coordinator, and now he's the head coach at Virginia Tech.
Franklin made what looks like a terrific coordinator hire in Diaz, who has a strong defensive reputation and was Miami's head coach the past three years. We all can't wait to see if he'll bring anything like the Turnover Chain to Penn State.
The issue for Diaz is that he'll have to replace two All-Americans in safety Jaquan Brisker and end Arnold Ebiketie, plus linebackers Brandon Smith and Ellis Brooks, versatile hybrid end/LB Jesse Luketa and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields.
That's a lot of talent and experience for a new coordinator to have to replace in year one. There is talent returning, though, including CB Joey Porter Jr., LB Curtis Jacobs, and DT P.J. Mustipher.
Diaz will spend the spring both installing his system and getting to know a unit that still has some veterans but will need to rely on some younger guys taking on bigger roles, notably CB Kalen King.
It will be really interesting to see how long Diaz stays at Penn State. My guess is no more than two years, then another good head coaching opportunity will come his way.
THIS AND THAT
* Franklin's press conference will be at noon Monday. We'll see if he has any personnel updates regarding players coming or going from the program.
* Athletic director Sandy Barbour will hold a press conference at 3 p.m., her first since last week's announcement that she will be retiring this summer. Hopefully she will be able to provide updates on Penn State's facilities master plan and potential upgrades to Beaver Stadium.
* The football team will hold its first spring practice in the late afternoon.
* Penn State's pro day will be Thursday, beginning at 10:45 a.m. The participants will be Jaquan Brisker, Ellis Brooks, Tariq Castro-Fields, Max Chizmar, Jahan Dotson, Arnold Ebiketie, Drew Hartlaub, Vlad Hilling, Jesse Luketa, Brandon Smith, Jordan Stout, Derrick Tangelo, Rasheed Walker, Benjamin Wilson and Eric Wilson.
