UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- While there are plenty of matchups to dissect before Saturday night's showdown at Beaver Stadium between No. 2 Penn State and No. 19 Michigan, one of the more interesting chess matches will take place on the sideline.
"One of the things that's going to be great for the fans in our stadium, and I think for people across the country that are watching the game, you're going to be watching two of the best defensive coordinators in college football," James Franklin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "Probably doesn't get any more Big Ten than that."
Franklin coached with Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown when the Lions' head coach was the offensive coordinator at Maryland and Brown was the defensive coordinator for the Terps. What Franklin saw in Brown then in 2009-2010 was a a coordinator who wasn't afraid to unleash some unorthodox looks at offenses, as long as it came with aggressive play.
"They're going to solve their problems with aggression," Franklin said. "That's something I remember years ago Don talking about. It still shows up on tape. His answer for the game of football is to be aggressive, be aggressive in the way he calls the game, be aggressive in how their players play. They're a big wreck-the-decision-maker, try to get to the quarterback as much as they possibly can and either sack him or make him uncomfortable in the pocket, and don't give any yards away, no free-access throws. That's what he believes. He's done a really good job."
Michigan has a few notable difference-makers on this defense -- a unit that's surrendering just 14.7 points per game -- including defensive tackle Maurice Hurst and defensive end Rashan Gary. They've more than had the Lions' number too, with Penn State scoring just 39 points in the past three meetings with the Wolverines since the Lions' four-overtime thriller.
"Went back and kind of researched [Hurst] a little bit in terms of what people are saying about him. Probably a top-10 pick. It looks like that on tape," Franklin said. "Got a lot of respect for him and his game, how he plays, the motor he has. He's an impressive guy to watch. Rashan Gary, we all know about him. An impressive athlete."
Gary, once a five-star prospect from New Jersey's Paramus Catholic, was long on Penn State's -- and everyone else's -- recruiting radar. This Michigan defense also features sophomore cornerback Lavert Hill, a name familiar to Penn State fans since Hill was once a Penn State verbal pledge. There's also kicker Quinn Nordin on the other side, the player who also flipped his pledge from Penn State to Michigan, despite the flashy commitment video that will forever live on thanks to the Internet.
"I'm happy for him and his family," Franklin said of the kicker. "Doing a great job. Has made I think 85 percent of his field goals, a couple over 50 yards. Is doing a great job there."
Despite all the star power on the Michigan defense, this Nittany Lion offense is drastically different than the one that took the field last September in Ann Arbor. The team is 15-1 since then and Brent Pry's defense is much improved, too.
Penn State entered the bye week on a high note and with the No. 1 scoring defense (nine points per game) and a group that's No. 2 in turnover margin (+12), while the Wolverines have the top-ranked total defense (223.8 yards per game) and have held opponents to 14.7 points per game (8th in the FBS). Penn State's defense -- ranked 9th overall in total defense -- has thrived off creating takeaways this season, consistently striving for three or more per practice and per game.
These types of results are what Franklin expected when he promoted Pry, then the Lions' linebackers coach to defensive coordinator before the start of last season.
"Brent really understands and sees the big picture of the game, understands the motivational aspects of his players, understands morale, staff morale, player morale," Franklin said. "I think he's a big picture football coach. He gets it. He connects well with the players. I think the players respect and appreciate and like him, which those things are important. But he's a wealth of football knowledge and experience.
"He's a good person. Brent is one of my guys when I'm having difficulty with a decision. That's [strength coach] Dwight Galt, as you know. I'll bring those guys in," he continued. "It's evolved into Terry Smith, really my whole staff. But really probably from the beginning, it's Dwight, Brent. Those guys have been tremendous resources."
FOLLOWING THE PLAN
Self-scouting was a big part of the Lions' bye week, but it didn't result in any personnel changes to the offensive line, Franklin said.
Despite the Lions listing redshirt freshman Will Fries as the starter at right tackle, Franklin said both Fries and Chasz Wright will continue to play. Hey, why read into those depth charts anyway, right?
"To be honest with you, I didn't even know that Will was ahead of Chasz or Chasz was ahead of Will," he said. "They're both going to play. It's not a big deal. They're both going to play. It's 'or'. I wouldn't make it out to be more than what it is."
Trace McSorley was sacked five times in each of the past two games so, against this stingy Michigan defense that makes yards tough to come by, the o-line will have a tall order.
JUST FOR KICKS
Penn State needed to clean up some protection issues with the field goal unit during the bye week and, much like the o-line, there won't be changes coming there either.
"I believe in Tyler Davis as much as I believe in any player on our team. He'll be ready when the time comes. We're there to support him every step of the way," Franklin said. "No different than the questions about the O-line, we're going to keep working at it, keep loving those guys up, keep getting them ready. Tyler will finish this year on a real high note. Going to win some games for us."
Davis hit just 6-of-13 field goals thus far and had two of them blocked. Stabilizing right tackle and ironing out the kinks with the field goal unit were among the Lions' top priorities during the bye week.
HE SAID IT
ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit was very complimentary of Penn State's players and not just the current Lions during a podcast last week with Saquon Barkley.
"As far back as I can go, when I meet a Penn State player, former player, or a current player, of all the schools out there that I've covered, the Penn State player is the most consistent," Herbstreit said on the podcast.
"I have four boys that if they could grow up to be like you or grow up to be like a Jason Cabinda or Todd Blackledge or Bobby Engram or Ki-Jana Carter, you go down the list of Penn State players -- Curt Warner. You just go any decade you want to pick. ... As a person, why are all these Penn State guys the same? All so buttoned-up? All so consistent?"
Franklin said it was one of the best compliments the program could receive and then reiterated that he wants his players to succeed on the field, but also off it. He highlighted defense end Shareef Miller among the team's many examples of players who have matured on and off the field since arriving at college.
"Kirk Herbstreit is a graduate of another school in this conference, has been doing this for a long time, travels all over the country. I think him saying it to me, there's a lot of value in that," Franklin said. "Kirk didn't have to say that. I talk about studying best practice. There's nobody that has got a better perspective on college football than Kirk Herbstreit because he travels all over the country seeing it."
UP NEXT?
Franklin will meet with the media Wednesday night following the Lions' practice. I'll have a report and video to follow. Five players will also meet with the media throughout the day, including McSorley.