UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa . -- Jason Cabinda approached the line of scrimmage and the Nittany Lions' middle linebacker barked out one command after the next.
There were plenty of different faces in new places as Brandon Smith got the start at the Will linebacker spot and the Lions' depleted rotation of defensive ends was without starter Ryan Buchholz for the second week in a row. Starting linebacker Manny Bowen missed the game for what James Franklin said was a violation of team rules. Smith, who said he learned Wednesday he'd get the start, has plenty of game experience and the Lions weren't shy to continue rotating the players in front of him, which of course meant added duties for Cabinda.
"You can't take things for granted," Cabinda said following the Lions' 35-6 win against Rutgers. Cabinda finished with a game-high 11 tackles and one tackle for loss. "You gotta communicate more, you can't just assume that guys know or this or that, or that guys heard the call or whatever. You saw me in that game move up to the line multiple times and scream to calls and make sure guys are where they need to be and that's just from a veteran aspect knowing that you've got younger guys up front."
At one point in the first half the Lions deployed a defensive line that included redshirt freshman defensive tackle Ellison Jordan, redshirt freshman defensive end Shane Simmons, senior tackle Parker Cothren and redshirt sophomore defensive end Shareef Miller. Freshman defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos continued to get worked in while Kevin Givens also continued working outside in place of Buchholz, who now is at least off crutches.
Penn State had four tackles for loss, including a half sack each by Ayron Monroe and Antonio Shelton against a one-dimensional Rutgers team that posted just 43 yards passing all afternoon. The Lions were gashed for 101 yards rushing in the first half, but after they shored up their tackling they didn't give up a point after the six surrendered in the opening quarter.
It helped that Smith, who played the Mike linebacker spot last year when Cabinda was hurt, was on the same page with Cabinda since that was once his spot.
"I was able to echo the calls and anticipate what Jason was going to say because I'm used to making the same calls," Smith said. "I think the extra level of communication was helpful."
While Koa Farmer earned the start, which has been the case all season, sophomore linebacker Cam Brown took on an increased role, splitting reps with Farmer. Wanting to continue to expand Brown's role was part of the goal this season after he was thrown into the fire one year ago out of necessity.
"Cam is a guy who we want to start using a lot of different ways," Franklin said. "We think he can be the boundary backer as well as the field backer. Koa is playing a lot of reps, he’s in a situation where he’s really backed up by our star package, not necessarily by a linebacker that we’re rotating in right now, so we wanted to be in a situation where Cam could get some work to the field, to make sure were getting production out of that position."
So, look for more from Brown here on out. Also, it's unclear if Bowen will return to the lineup next week or not.
SECOND DOWN
A lot of plays were left on the field.
While DaeSean Hamilton said he was surprised the Lions went to the hook and ladder play in the third quarter -- assuming they'd only pull it out if it was an "end-of-the-world situation" -- the result was Barkley's highlight play of the day.
Still, Barkley yet again was the victim of circumstances against Rutgers with no place to run. With left tackle Ryan Bates out for a second consecutive week, redshirt freshman Will Fries got the start at left tackle and Chasz Wright started at right tackle. Rutgers' odd-man fronts proved challenging for a Penn State line that only paved the way for 90 rushing yards -- only 35 of which were Barkley's.
"We still have to be able to run the ball a little bit more consistently and protect a little bit more consistently on offense," Franklin said. "I thought we had some big plays out there that we left on the field."
The big plays that they left were more than just the ones where Barkley had no place to go. There was a shot play to Saeed Blacknall that Trace McSorley --who finished with completions on 16-of-21 passes for 214 yards with two touchdown and no interceptions -- lofted beautifully but the wide receiver fell down. That would've netted a sizable gain, but instead it was another call that the Lions will likely go back to later in the year.
The Lions continue to get big play after big play from Hamilton, who had three catches for 47 yards -- including a 22-yard touchdown in the first half. They also got a solid performance from redshirt sophomore Juwan Johnson, who finished with five catches for 78 yards with a long of 25. It went a ways in helping the Lions win the explosive play battle, but they continue doing so without much on the ground.
Seemingly when the shot plays are good this offense looks like a finely-tuned machine. When they're not connecting? Well, they look average at best and that might even be too generous considering the struggles with the run game. But they continue to make up for a little bit of that with their mobile quarterback.
The Lions got Miles Sanders involved early and even went back to their two-quarterback package, showing some creativity and getting backup Tommy Stevens on the field. It's safe to say Sanders has supplanted Andre Robinson on the depth chart this season and while next week is likely Barkley's last game in Beaver Stadium, Sanders had a 14-yard run on the opening drive that could be a glimpse of what's to come.
While no coach nor team will ever make this admission, the Lions must have a good idea of what they have behind Barkley and in the next couple weeks -- and likely the bowl game too -- that player should get some valuable reps.
THIRD DOWN
Special teams is the one sure thing ... maybe?
Rutgers' opening kick was booted short enough so that Barkley couldn't run up to it in time and the Scarlet Knights recovered.
"I don’t even know if that was necessarily a designed deal for them, I think they were going to try and pop it up there and it got caught in the wind and we should’ve fielded it," Franklin said. "Obviously not the way you want to start the game."
That play zapped the momentum away from the home team, throwing the defense out there on a short field where they were able to hold Rutgers to a field goal. It was a sudden change situation for the defense, something Franklin said they haven't handed well this season, but they answered the bell to limit Rutgers to a field goal. Conversely, it was a blunder from a special teams group that's been much improved this season.
"[There are] just some things that we have to get cleaned up," Franklin said. "I think our special teams may be the most consistent thing that we’ve had this year."
Early on, it was Penn State's struggles with field goals and of course there was the blocked punt against Ohio State. There've been three return touchdowns this season, two from Barkley and one from punt returner DeAndre Thompkins. Punter Blake Gillikin continued helping the Lions flip the field while they've done better on coverage against the Big Ten's elite return men with Irv Charles and Nick Scott helping to lead the charge. Returner Jamarion Grant didn't torch the Lions, instead had one punt return for 12 yards and fielded four kicks for 82 yards, including a long of 29.
Cabinda even sniffed out Rutgers' fake punt that he ripped through to blow up on 4th-and-2 in the third quarter. Knowing the situation there -- with Rutgers trailing 21-6 and at their 48 yard line -- Cabinda said he had a feeling maybe they'd go for it and just made the head's up play. That's a momentum changer and the Lions turned the short field into a touchdown four players lead to open up the game.
FOURTH DOWN
Hangover or not?
There might be a little bit of a separation between coach and state. Franklin said on his radio show Thursday night that he felt the Lions let the Ohio State loss carry into the Michigan State game, but players haven't sounded so sure.
"I don't think the losses affected the way we played," Cabinda said when asked about Saturday's slow start for the defense too.
Well, maybe it wasn't on Saturday but Penn State looked to come out flat and after falling behind 6-0 looked lifeless during the first half. The crowd also seemed deflated, perhaps the result of what had transpired the past two weeks had gotten to them, too. The Lions' drive chart didn't do much to give the crowd life, either. Their opening drive? Five plays, 17 yards. The next? Three plays for two yards.
What wasn't working early on? Mike Gesicki said it was a matter of adjusting at the half to some looks Rutgers showed that they weren't expecting.
"I really couldn't tell you," receiver Juwan Johnson said. "We just weren't clicking. We just weren't ourselves. We just sort of put a drive together and once the first thing clicked we sort of blew up. We knew what to do and just worked their weaknesses."
Right, that drive was the Lions' first of the second quarter and third series of the game. On that drive McSorley hit Gesicki for a gain of 19 yards, hit Hamilton for 25 yards and capped it with his 20-yard touchdown run. Once Penn State got that first chunk play of the drive -- also their first chunk reception of the game after Sanders had the 14-yard run on their first possession -- they settled in. When the chunk plays are there this offense rolls. When they aren't? Well, it looks more like their first two drives.
"For us, it's just whatever they call, whatever coach Moorhead calls we just have to make it work," Johnson told me. "It's not like he called the wrong plays or whatever. We just didn't make it work. ... Whatever good plays, chunk plays we've just got to make the play."
QUICK HITS
• Left tackle Ryan Bates and starting defensive end Ryan Buchholz missed their second consecutive starts. Franklin hasn't ruled either player out for the season and it seems like a positive sign that Buchholz is off crutches now and both are walking under their own power.
• Freshman quarterback Sean Clifford had his right hand wrapped and didn't go through warmups. This better explains why Clifford, the Lions' third quarterback, didn't make the trip to East Lansing last weekend. Jake Zembiec, the fourth-string quarterback, wasn't suited up either. Zembiec's arm is out of a sling, but he's still not throwing in warmups.
• Gesicki caught his 11th career touchdown in the fourth quarter, tying him with Jesse James. The senior has a reception in 24 straight games.
• Gesicki looked like he wanted to leave his feet after hauling in a pass in the second half and after he's gone airborne the past few weeks he wisely decided not to. Gesicki said the staff hasn't said anything to him about maybe not putting himself in harms way to extend plays, but he did hold back on the one reception where he contemplated leaping.
"I did think about it," he said with a laugh. "I would've done it if there wasn't another guy behind the initial guy who was coming to tackle me. Once I learned him I would've gotten smacked so I was just trying to play smart there."
• The game ended with a marriage proposal. That's right not even Beaver Stadium could escape the season without one. However, unlike the jumbotron usage that some proposals require, the Lions' team, including the coaches, were in on this one.
Former Penn State offensive lineman Chance Sorrell, who stayed on with the team after walking away from football as a strength and conditioning intern, proposed to his girlfriend while the players and Franklin looked on from the corner of the end zone after singing the alma mater.
Haven’t seen this one before but the game ended with a marriage proposal and PSU’s players and coaches were in on it. pic.twitter.com/ByGxXs97uA
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) November 11, 2017
• The Nittany Lions close out the home slate next weekend against Nebraska for senior day. The start time has yet to be announced. Several of the Lions' seniors, including safety Marcus Allen, said this moment arrived faster than they thought.
Keep in mind this was the first group of players at Penn State that committed to Franklin, which likely will make for an emotional moment for them and their head coach next Saturday. How they manage those emotions right before kick is always part of the challenge that comes with the final home game of the season.