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Filling the void at 'Linebacker U'
Sean Lee’s injury means PSU’s deep crop of linebackers has a chance to shine
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Article RatingTyrell Sales is used to turning towards linebackers like Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor and Sean Lee for advice.
Now, Penn State’s next generation of ‘Linebacker U’ is turning to Sales.
With the ACL injury to Lee that will sideline him for all of 2008, Sales is now the elder statesman in Penn State’s linebacking corps.
Lee is still there, and will be with his team during the season, but on the field it’s up to generation next to carry on the tradition.
So when Penn State lines up against Coastal Carolina on Aug. 30, you will definitely see Sales. Fans will likely see Navarro Bowman, Chris Colasanti, Josh Hull, Bani Gbadyu and maybe even Andrew Dailey, Nate Stupar or freshman Mike Mauti.
“We all bring different things,” said Gbadyu. “Tyrell, he’s got the experience, he’s got that swagger to keep the linebacking crew together. He’s confident. He’s one of the coolest people I know. He keeps us together.
“I’m told I’m more of a finesse, speed, and Navarro is more of a hard hitter, going on instincts. (Navarro and I) both bring a lot to the table, so it’s a good thing for everybody no matter who plays or who does what, it’s going to be a great group and I look forward to seeing what happens this year.”
Lee was seemingly set to assume the middle linebacking position this season and lead the stacked Nittany Lions defense into what many feel can be a marquee season.
Then during a drill in the spring, Lee’s ACL shattered chasing down one of the quarterbacks during a practice.
‘Linebacker U’ was without its leader.
Lee, who appeared at last Friday’s Lift for Life, looks like he could hit someone tomorrow and be fine physically, but will instead work with linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden and possibly don a headset this fall to lend his two cents to the coaching staff.
“If I could do a drill a million times that would make me play this year I would but this injury takes time,” Lee said.
In the meantime Lee has taken part in stretching exercises and doing leg presses. He will resume running in about three weeks.
“I come up to the runs in the morning and the drill six’s (passing drill) and seven-on-seven’s in the afternoons and work with the young guys and I’m sweating when I want to be out there doing it. It’s a good experience that has slowed me down and made me learn a lot more.
“I know I’m right on schedule and I know I am just going to keep doing what (doctors) tell me and keep doing the work everyday and being consistent, I think that is the key to getting better,” Lee said.
What isn’t entirely known is the starting rotation at linebacker for the fall.
This spring the coaching staff went with Sales, Gbadyu and Hull.
Bowman and Colasanti will certainly compete for time. Mauti, a true freshman, experimented with time at safety this spring, but is likely moving back to linebacker. Dailey saw action on special teams a season ago.
In other words, even though Lee isn’t going to suit up, there’s plenty of talent to go around. The names may have changed for now, but ‘Linebacker U’ is alive and well in 2008.
“That’s why it’s going to be a lot of fun this camp to watch the competition,” Lee said. “The competition is going to push the guys to be better, push them to levels they might not have thought they could play at and they’re going to have to step up because obviously we’ve had a tradition of playing tough linebackers and we want to continue that.”
“I think that brings out the best,” Gbadyu said. “Nobody is laid back, nobody is saying ‘I got the starting spot, I’m chilling.’ Everyone is going to go out there, work hard, bust their butt, knowing that the next guy in line is trying to take their job so that bushes everybody.”
Bowman is an interesting case.
Late last season he was removed from the team temporarily to clear up off-field issues. He did not travel with Penn State to the regular season finale against Michigan State, or to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.
Earlier this summer he learned his fate and was welcomed back to the squad by Paterno after his issues cleared up.
“I’m very eager,” Bowman said. “I’ve been eager to play for Penn State for a while and I got my feet wet last year and plan on really helping my team and living up to the full scholarship I earned in high school. I missed playing football. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t miss playing football but I’m ready for this season to get started. I’ve got a lot to prove.”
“He’s an unbelievable, physical person,” Gbadyu added. “He loves contact and that’s the type of instinct and swagger you need to play linebacker. If he plays, it’s going to be a good group. No matter who plays, Navarro, Ty, Dailey, Mauti, you know you’re going to get the best out of them. (Coach Vanderlinden) trains everyone to do the same thing. No matter who’s there it’s going to be the same thing, great defense all year long.”
Hull can play all three positions, according to Gbadyu. Colasanti and Mauti figure to see action on the outside behind Sales and Hull, with Bowman fighting Gbadyu for the inside spot.
“There’s nothing set in stone right now,” Sales said. “We’re just going to go out there and play. We’ve been able to play with a lot of great football players that have come to Penn State, played early and did a lot early to get their name out there and to us, it really doesn’t matter. We just want to go out there and play.”
But it all comes back to Sales, who is now the de facto leader with Lee out.
“He’s going to be the main guy with the most experience,” Lee said. “He’s probably going to have to call the huddle, he’s going to have to step up. I think he’s got all the tools, the ability, the leadership qualities to do it. Now it’s his turn and I think he’ll do it.”
NOTES: Cornerback A.J. Wallace said last Friday that he thinks Tony Davis is expected to stay at cornerback this coming season. “Since we’ve been doing drill six, he’s been doing corner,” Wallace said. “I think he’s moving back to corner just adding more depth to what we have already. It’s going to be a tough battle during camp. It’s going to bring a good challenge and make everyone better.” Wide receiver Jordan Norwood is officially on his own after his family moved to Waco, Texas, this offseason. Norwood’s father, Brian Norwood, a former defensive backs coach at Penn State will take the reigns as Baylor’s defensive coordinator this fall. “It’s not too tough,” Jordan Norwood said. “It’s settled down now with everything. They’re settled down there and I’m ready to go up here, so it’s alright.” Norwood added that now; “I guess I’m just a regular college student, away from my parents.”
