Midweek Musings - Let’s See Some New Faces

Penn State is 0-3, and appears to be suffering from some level of dysfunction this season. Coach Franklin has admitted that being apart from his family has affected him, there appear to be issues with how the offense was implemented, the back end of the defense has been very suspect. The list goes on.

The best hope for the Lions is a middling bowl game at this point, and keeping everyone healthy. With that in mind, why not try out some new faces? Get some real live game reps for players that will take elevated roles in 2021 and beyond. Don’t disrespect those players that have stuck it out with the Blue and White by benching them for the rest of the season, but let’s get some rotation going on.

At quarterback, I’d love to see how Will Levis has progressed this past off season. Players like Ta’Quan Roberson and even Micah Bowens should get some reps. Worst case, the offense continues to plod, best case, one of them provides a missing spark and the team can start winning some games.

On the offensive line, I’d like to see some more Juice Scruggs and Des Holmes, but really if the OL is going to be meh, I wouldn’t hate general experimentation. Maybe there’s a diamond in the rough somewhere in there?

WR and TE I’m mostly okay with, other than perhaps getting Kuntz on the field a bit more.

The front seven on the defense seem okay to me as well, but the back four have been off. Why not give some of the younger players - especially the safeties - a chance? Castro-Fields will be gone after this season, the Lions may want to get his backup some more snaps just so that his loss isn’t felt nearly as keenly.

In general, I just think that the focus of the 2020 season should change a bit. The team doesn’t have any real hopes of a prestigious bowl, and will struggle to finish .500. May as well start prepping for next year!