clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Penn State Depth Chart and Injury Report Versus Army: If It Ain't Broke...

If we score 37 points each game for the rest of the year, that'd be swell.

Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

In an earlier edition of this column, I called James Franklin a troll. I stand by that today, and upgrade it to Master Troll. Let me explain.

Despite a rash of injuries both leading up to and during last Saturday's win over San Diego State, the Penn State depth chart remains exactly the same this week as it was during the previous one. Akeel Lynch, Saquon Barkley, Brandon Bell, Andrew Nelson, Jordan Lucas, and Marcus Allen, all of whom either didn't play or sustained injuries in some capacity last week, are listed right where they were. Presumably we will hear nothing about their availability until gametime Saturday.

As frustrating as this may make the life of, say, someone writing a post centered around the depth chart and its impact on the upcoming game, it's a smart move on Franklin's part. He has no reason to show his hand at any point. Giving the opposing team more information on your strategy is bad. That's a pretty simple concept. There's no required disclosure of an injury report, and using that to hurt an opponent's ability to gameplan is not really gamesmanship, it's smart. You might think you have a right to know what's going on as a donor or alumnus or fan or whatever, but you don't. Franklin's job is to put the team in the best position to win, and this helps that.

On the bright side, Adam Breneman is alive! He's still not on the depth chart, but hopefully his recovery from injury (seemingly the reason he's missing time now) is going well. Get well soon Adam, we miss watching you make fools of outside linebackers attempting to cover you.

Still, if the players listed above, along with one or two others who have had nagging injuries, don't start the game, receive limited time, or don't play at all, don't be too surprised. It's Army, at home, the week before taking on a good Indiana squad for homecoming. The coaching staff and players will want as much of the team at 100% as possible heading in to the teeth of the Big Ten schedule, especially after being embarassed by Northwestern on homecoming last season.

Never stop going in, Jimmy.

Coaches: HC James Franklin OC John Donovan DC Bob Shoop
Off. First Team Second Team Reserves
QB #14 Christian Hackenberg #9 Trace McSorley #4 Tommy Stevens
RB #22 Akeel Lynch #26 Saquon Barkley #8 Mark Allen/#24 Nick Scott
FB #34 Dom Salomone

WR-X #12 Chris Godwin #13 Saeed Blacknall #84 Juwan Johnson
WR-Z #7 Geno Lewis #80 Matt Zanellato
TE #88 Mike Gesicki #11 Brent Wilkerson #87 Kyle Carter
WR-F #5 DaeSean Hamilton #3 DeAndre Thompkins #10 Brandon Polk
LT #73 Paris Palmer #59 Andrew Nelson #58 Chance Sorrell
LG #53 Derek Dowrey #71 Albert Hall
C #66 Angelo Mangiro #55 Wendy Laurent
RG #72 Brian Gaia #68 Kevin Reihner
RT #70 Brendan Mahon #60 Noah Beh
Def. First Team Second Team Reserves
DE #95 Carl Nassib #52 Curtis Cothran #19 Torrence Brown
DT #98 Anthony Zettel #91 Tarow Barney #93 Antoine White
DT #99 Austin Johnson #41 Parker Cothren
DE #90 Garrett Sickels #94 Evan Schwan
OLB #11 Brandon Bell #25 Von Walker #43 Manny Bowen
MLB #40 Jason Cabinda #8 Gary Wooten #33 Jake Cooper
OLB #42 Troy Reeder #35 Matt Baney
CB #15 Grant Haley #29 John Reid #21 Amani Oruwariye
FS #2 Marcus Allen #28 Troy Apke
SS #9 Jordan Lucas #6 Malik Golden #7 Koa Farmer
CB #10 Trevor Williams #1 Christian Campbell #12 Jordan Smith
Sp. First Team Second Team Reserves
K #99 Joey Julius #95 Tyler Davis
P #37 Chris Gulla #92 Dan Pasquariello
KR #24 Nick Scott #7 Koa Farmer #26 Saquon Barkley
PR #3 DeAndre Thompkins #8 Mark Allen #10 Brandon Polk
LS #44 Tyler Yazujian #41 Zach Ladonis #97 Nick Cox
H #37 Chris Gulla #93 Robby Liebel #16 Billy Fessler