ALTOONA, Pa. -- The depth of the Penn State offensive line is a far cry from when James Franklin took over the program in 2014.
"I was thinking back when I got here six years ago we had five offensive linemen on scholarship until we moved some guys over from defense," Franklin said after practice Wednesday night. "I think about some guys, right now, we would have loved to have then. We're just in a really good position and I think (offensive line coach Phil Trautwein) is excited to be working with them."
That's no surprise, because Trautwein is coaching a deep, experienced group with five starting linemen who have starting experience and three of whom -- Will Fries, Michal Menet and Rasheed Walker -- started all 13 games in 2019.
With that type of experience from the starters, it creates more competition for the depth positions, including the two-deep among the rotating linemen.
"It's hard to say because we've still got some battles going on right now, but I think two examples, three examples, probably Caedan (Wallace), Des (Holmes), Juice (Scruggs)," Franklin said. "But those three guys probably jump out to me as guys that (have) really done a nice job and there's a lot of confidence in. But we just got a really good group."
Depth is good at every position group, but a group with quality depth that is tasked with blocking for your quarterback and a quality running game is an ace in the hole Penn State hasn't had in recent memory.
Under former line coach Matt Limegrover the offensive line seemed to underachieve, resulting in his dismissal following the Cotton Bowl. Enter Trautwein, as well as new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who missed out on quality time observing and analyzing the groups they inherited as a result of spring practices being canceled due to the coronavirus.
While they might have lost out on time then, they've been able to maximize the delay of the season with extra fall practices and teaching time.
"We probably could have gotten a better feel, 'Traut' could have got a better feel, Kirk could have got a better feel this spring and then kind of look at some moving parts more," Franklin said. "But I will tell you the amount of practices we've had has allowed us to still do that to a degree, but I do think they were coming in somewhat blind because they hadn't been through it in the spring."
Much will happen as the season goes on, but it's certain Franklin and company will do whatever they can to improve the quality of depth and gain experience along the offensive front.
"I feel like we got some moving parts and we've got some other wrinkles to allow the other guys some experience, as well," Franklin said.
More from Franklin's availability Wednesday evening:
• On game-day setups: "It will be different. Obviously, the idea there was to have more space and to space everybody out. That's also why some people aren't dressing their entire team, so you could spread people out that way as well. But for us, not really."
• On family traditions going away due to COVID-19: "One of the things that has been really cool is we've really kinda created a tradition and really strong family atmosphere that Friday nights at the hotel after our meetings, it's been really cool. There's parents all over the hotel and in the lobby and a great opportunity for them to connect so those Friday nights have been special for everybody. That's kinda what we're saying, we're not going to have any visitors at the hotel and we're going to try and limit it as much as we can after the game.
• On how that'll be different in Happy Valley: "Home games are going to be different because their parents will be in town and maybe staying the night and going out to dinner and that's where we're trying to emphasize as much as we can the social distancing and the masks."