Depth Issues Might Impact Penn State's Spring Game
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Penn State's depth concerns on the offensive line this spring could affect the Blue-White Game. Head coach James Franklin has brought up the possibility several times recently ahead of Saturday's spring game at Beaver Stadium.
Franklin has said that the team's lack of numbers on the offensive line "may impact our spring game a little bit," which could include an adjusted format or limited scrimmaging options. Franklin wants the game to have a scrimmage component, though he added that "really we've got one offensive line right now."
During a recent scrimmage at Beaver Stadium, Penn State interspersed special teams work between scrimmage periods to keep the offensive line from being overworked.
"I want to make it as game-like as I possibly can," Franklin said of the Blue-White Game. "We'll have some scrimmage aspect. Whether it will be a two-sideline game [with the roster split into two sides] like we've done in the past, I'm not sure."
Franklin has noted several times this spring that Penn State is light on numbers at offensive line. The Lions' spring roster includes 11 linemen. They lost six linemen, including three starters, following last season.
Some reinforcements arrive this summer. Penn State will add at least four offensive linemen before training camp begins, including three freshmen and Cornell transfer Hunter Nourzad, who was an FCS All-American last season.
"Our numbers are really low," Franklin said earlier in spring drills. "This happens from time to time. We had a bunch of guys that have kind of moved on so our numbers are low. We have answers for training camp [in August], but right now there’s not a whole lot of answers. Even when we do our run-on tryout, typically you can get most of the positions except for offensive line. Just not a whole lot of those human beings walking around the planet, let alone on Penn State's campus. So we’re light there."
The NCAA Transfer Portal has impacted spring practice across the country, as several coaches have expressed concerns over depth, particularly on the offensive line. Michigan State, for instance, was among several schools that held an open practice in lieu of a formal scrimmage.
"There's a lot of programs across the country that are really struggling with depth and that spring games across the country have been modified because they don't have the depth to do a traditional spring game," Franklin said recently. "There's no doubt the landscape of college football has changed dramatically."
There is good news: Sal Wormley, who missed the 2021 season with an undisclosed injury, has returned solidly this spring. Franklin said that Wormley had won a starting job in 2021 before being injured.
Second, the offensive linemen who are practicing have been getting plenty of good work and the issue hasn't affected development elsewhere.
"Where we’ve done a pretty good job of being creative is, you have to be careful that [the offensive line issue] doesn’t limit the development of a bunch of other positions," Franklin said. "When one position is really challenged from a depth perspective, it makes it really hard to practice the way you want to practice, and then other units and other positions get impacted by it. But I think we've managed it pretty good."
Penn State's Blue-White Game is scheduled for April 23 at Beaver Stadium.
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