STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- It was a fleeting moment during one of Penn State's 15 spring practices, but in that moment it was clear quarterback Trace McSorley wasn't wasting any time thinking about the past or the weapons this offense lost.
As the quarterback pulled aside tight end Danny Dalton in Holuba Hall and delivered and earful after a turnover and then finished with an encouraging tap on the helmet, is was just one of many examples of this season of change for Penn State.
While McSorley orchestrated the Blue team for most of the first half during Saturdays Blue-White game those who used to take handoffs from him, block for him and catch his passes during the Nittany Lions' back-to-back 11-win seasons were in street clothes and waving to the fans.
"We still got a little bit of a ways to go," McSorley said after the conclusion of spring ball. "Last year is last year, we can’t lean on any of that. We got to put all of that away and get ready to work for this year. That’s the kind of mentality that we are able to come out of the spring knowing that last year is not going to have any effect on this year, and this year is going to be brand new."
During the course of the Blue-White game, one where several No. 26 jerseys were among the crowd of 71,000, Penn State continued answering questions that were at the forefront of spring ball. They don't have all the answers at the moment, but they started getting a clearer picture of this team, it's needs and what needs to happen between now and fall camp.
The need to replace Mike Gesicki's production was a focal point this spring and while injuries plagued the group -- so much so that those two-back looks the Lions rolled out against the White squad were the direct result of not having enough healthy tight ends for the scrimmage -- offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne's confidence in his old position group hasn't wavered.
Dalton spearhead the group this spring and Rahne praised Dalton's blocking and ability to convert a few first downs during the 15 practices. Nick Bowers and Jon Holland were both limited this spring while Zack Kuntz learned the ropes during his first semester on campus.
"I think we got good tight ends. I really do," Rahne said. "I like the guys that come back and everyone is ready to go. I think we have some guys who will surprise some people so I’m excited about what our tight ends can do and I’m excited about the tight ends that we have coming in as well. ... This offense runs best when we have a great tight end.”
The idea of having players who Penn State thinks they can win with in terms of establishing quality depth was a theme for the entirety of spring ball. James Franklin mentioned it one month ago ahead of the first practice and it was echoed Saturday evening after the 15th practice was in the books.
This offensive line is deeper and has more position flexibility. Michal Menet could play either guard spot or center, Franklin said, while center Connor McGovern gives them other options between center and guard. They return four starters up front and have three tackles who have Big Ten game experience, too. It was Chasz Wright who repped with the first team at right tackle on Saturday while Will Fries backed up Ryan Bates at left tackle.
"That’s probably the main difference that we’ve had over the last 4 or 5 years is we have upwards of 8-10 offensive linemen that can go into a game and feel really good about," Rahne said. Menet was the starter at right guard this spring and was one of the team's most improved players according to Franklin. "That’s a blessing."
On the other side of the ball the linebacking corps is still a work in progress, but the spring proved that they'll use Micah Parsons in some capacity at the Will and Penn State will continue working to find the best combination possible.
That linebacking position battle won't be much different than how the Lions iron out the depth chart at safety where Nick Scott and Garrett Taylor separated themselves but there's still a ways to go until anything is settled.
"I tell those guys, it doesn’t matter where you’re playing right now," defensive coordinator Brent Pry said of the linebackers and safeties. "Learn the position, learn the concepts, learn the traits, but ultimately you can end up somewhere else if you’re one of the top two or three at the position we’re gonna get you on the field.”
That same thought process of getting the best players on the field somehow, someway carried over to safety where Lamont Wade spent the spring undergoing a transition from cornerback that will continue this summer. As Wade works to better learn safety, one benefit of the spring is that he now knows corner and safety.
Pry left the door open for Wade potentially lining up at either spot in the future, which bodes well for the defense as they like his physicality but have plenty of depth at corner. As all teams know they're only ever one injury away from needing to rely on that versatility.
Ahead of them though, Pry said he now knows what he's getting from lineman Kevin Givens. The depth will continue being built behind Givens and Rob Windsor, but this spring Givens proved to Pry that he can be consistent. That was a challenge for him last year, but overcoming that and continuing to rely on Givens' versatility -- with Pry again adding that Givens could see time at defensive end at points this season should the matchup present itself -- was at least one question answered.
"You want to feel really good about what you’re putting out there at each of those 11 spots and now I feel like with Kevin we know what we’re going to get when we put him out there," Pry said. "There’s not going to be a lapse in his play. He’s in a good place and he’s gotta go out there and do it this fall and that’ll be an important piece for us defensively for him to play that way week in and week out."
