Penn State Football Spring Practice Begins
By: Sara Eckert
Updated: March 26, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. -- The Penn State Nittany Lions held their first of 15 spring practices on
Monday afternoon while Bill O'Brien held a press conference earlier in
the day.
O'Brien wants to start spring practice with a clean slate to evaluate players in the new system he is implementing, saying he has not even watched offensive film from last season. Also, situational football will be a main focus of spring.
Of course the quarterback competition carries over from last season with Matt McGloin, Rob Bolden and now dual-threat Paul Jones -- who redshirted as a freshman and was academically ineligible last season -- back in the mix.
"I'll be clear on it -- it's an open competition. There is no starter and there won't be a starter named until possibly the night before the Ohio game, so there is no starter right now at that position," said O'Brien.
He views spring football as experimentation -- already making a few position changes -- and noted specifically today that Bill Belton will switch to running back and wide receiver Curtis Drake will be tested in the secondary.
And given his success as the New England Patriots offensive coordinator, particularly with the use of tight ends, O'Brien will implement the basis of that offense. In fact, since the team had not practiced until today, they have been watching film of the Patriots offense. He will also call the offensive plays during games.
O'Brien wants to start spring practice with a clean slate to evaluate players in the new system he is implementing, saying he has not even watched offensive film from last season. Also, situational football will be a main focus of spring.
Of course the quarterback competition carries over from last season with Matt McGloin, Rob Bolden and now dual-threat Paul Jones -- who redshirted as a freshman and was academically ineligible last season -- back in the mix.
"I'll be clear on it -- it's an open competition. There is no starter and there won't be a starter named until possibly the night before the Ohio game, so there is no starter right now at that position," said O'Brien.
He views spring football as experimentation -- already making a few position changes -- and noted specifically today that Bill Belton will switch to running back and wide receiver Curtis Drake will be tested in the secondary.
And given his success as the New England Patriots offensive coordinator, particularly with the use of tight ends, O'Brien will implement the basis of that offense. In fact, since the team had not practiced until today, they have been watching film of the Patriots offense. He will also call the offensive plays during games.
