Oct. 3, 2012
Penn State Football Press Conference
October 2, 2012
No. 1 - Bill Belton, Sophomore, Running Back
Q: How excited are you for the student Whiteout on Saturday and how important do you think it is for the student section to fill it up by Noon?
A: Going in to a big game, it's definitely important to have support there. We've had great support system all year; the student section has had the stadium rocking since day one, so it's definitely important to have them there and it's a big advantage having them there.
Q: Looking back on (last) Saturday, what were some things you did well and what are some things you need to improve on? How did your ankle feel when you woke up Sunday morning?
A: Sunday morning my ankle felt great. Some things I need to improve on: carrying the ball a little closer to my body, at times it can get a little loose but that's something I'm constantly working on with Coach London and Coach O'Brien has been staying on top of me about that, too.
Q: Do you feel comfortable at running back yet or is it still going to take some time and some game reps until you get fully comfortable at the position?
A: I would say I'm comfortable at running back. Growing up, I played running back all my life but the transition wasn't big at all. Basically, I'm comfortable at the spot I am at.
Q: Talk about, from the offensive standpoint, the importance of playing complementary football and how it's going to play into this weekend's game.
A: That's huge for this weekend. When the defense goes out there and makes a stop or creates a turnover we definitely have to take that opportunity and turn that into points. That's something we're getting better at as the season goes on; that's our goal going forward.
Q: With Zach Zwinak, how do you think you guys complement each other as running backs?
A: We have different types of backs. All five of us can do different things but with Zach especially, he's more of a downhill runner and is a big, strong, powerful guy and he brings a lot of things to the running game that some backs don't. I'm more of shifty, fast guy...We definitely complement each other and Zach's been doing a great job these last two games.
Q: What were some of the things you were doing in those three weeks between your ankle injury and the last weekend to get healthy and get back?
A: Just rehab with the guys in the training room. I basically stay with them throughout all my time and did anything I could possibly to get back on the field.
Q: Playing a ranked undefeated Northwestern on Homecoming, Glenn said it's a must win. Does the whole team feel that way? Is that something you guys have talked about?
A: Definitely, it's a big game. We have a good Northwestern team coming in here so we definitely have to be on our "A" game and play great football as a team. That's what we're working on this week and we're definitely excited for this opportunity.
Q: Take us through those three weeks you were trying to come back. Did you use anything as motivation thinking about scoring touchdowns or anything that really helped you get past that?
A: During those three weeks, I've played one game (Ohio). So I was constantly replaying that first game in my head and looking for things to improve on. That was kind of my motivation and just getting back on track health-wise. It was definitely hard to take an injury like that in the opening game. But I wanted to get back so I did everything I could to get me back.
Q: Talk about the importance for you guys as an offense to make sure you stay on the field this week and give the defense a chance to catch their breath?
A: Northwestern has a high powered offense, so it is definitely important for us to control the ball and kind of slow them down a bit to give our defense a break. Going into this weekend, we basically have a game plan to help our defense out and those are things we are looking forward to doing this weekend.
No. 40 - Glenn Carson, Junior, Linebacker
Q: What are some of the things linebackers practice during the week to get ready for pass coverage?
A: Every week is different. For pass coverage, we do a lot of 7-on-7 skelly (skeleton) drills, which are basically our offense against the defensive secondary. You can do that or break it down into individual drills and break on passes and do look-search drills. There are a lot of individual drills you can do.
Q: How difficult is it for a guy like you who's 230-240 lbs. to cover a 180-lb. receiver who runs a :4.4 40 [yard dash]? How big of a challenge is that?
A: It's definitely a big challenge and it's something I'm continuing to work on and improve at. When you're a 230-pound linebacker, it's tough to cover someone in space, but you have to know where your help is and kind of get the right kind of leverage on the receiver. You just do your part and get a feel for the play and anticipate what's coming instead of trying to react on the field.
Q: What does winning three games in a row do for the morale of the team?
A: It definitely helps. We're on a momentum roll here. The thing is, I think the two losses at the beginning of the season are helping us the most. It's keeping us hungry and, although we have a three-game streak here, we're still hungry and upset about those two losses in the beginning. That's what makes us a team. We still think about those two losses in a sense that we should have won those two games. We're upset about it and we're trying to make up for it and win. We're always hungry.
Q: With Northwestern changing quarterbacks, how quickly do you have to make a decision based on which guy is playing and where (Kain) Colter is on the field?
A: Identifying personnel on the field is an important thing and we work on that every game. For a quarterback situation, it's something we need to be aware of. We haven't diagnosed the film a whole ton yet. As we get further into the week it's going to determine how we play them and what defenses we're going to be in according to personnel they have on the field.
Q: How much has the team bought into Coach O'Brien's "one-game season" philosophy?
A: It's definitely an important thing. That's a strategy a lot of teams look to do. You can't get ahead of yourself. You just have to go one game at a time. Now we're into the Big Ten conference, I think everyone is excited about it and I think in the grand scheme, we want to win all these Big Ten games. Like I said, we're going to take it one game at a time. Northwestern is a very good team in the Big Ten and this is going to be a good challenge for us. We're looking forward to proving to everyone that we're in the running here.
Q: What's it like playing under Coach Vanderlinden?
A: He's a great coach. Obviously, you look into the NFL and see the kind of guys he's coached. I think they've taken the fundamentals he used and they carried them into the NFL. That's what's working for them. I was watching Sean [Lee] last night and he just doesn't miss tackles. That's the fundamental base he got at Penn State, learning under Coach Vanderlinden.
Q: Do you keep in touch with former players like Sean Lee, Navorro Bowman at all? Do guys like that ever reach out to you guys that are still playing here?
A: I talk to Sean every once in a while. When Josh Hull comes back I talk with him a little bit. When I was being recruiting I stayed with Sean and Josh Hull and those guys. I had a pretty good experience living with them. We talk on occasion. Those are two great guys and I really enjoy watching them play.
Q: As a player, what is the importance of "complimentary football?"
A: It's extremely important and goes along with field position. Like Coach says, different teams have to help each other out. If we get a good punt then it's the defense's job to get their offense off the field as fast as we can and pin them to their end of the field. That really gives the offense a chance to put points on the board. That's just how the game's played and it's really about field position and complementary football. If all the teams are working together well, you're going to win the battle of the field position and that's the most important part of football.
Q. Is there anything Coach O'Brien told you that was really tough to hear but necessary for you to hear?
A. During the time when the sanctions were revealed, he came right out and said it's not going to be easy and staying with this team is not going to be an easy choice. He was completely honest with everything we were going to face and it was a hard pill to swallow, but he was honest with everybody and left it into the player's hand to decide whether they wanted to stay or leave. He also said the benefits of staying at Penn State as well as the reasons why other players decided to come here and why future players will want to come here.
Q. What does that mean for the team to have your head coach that is so honest to you guys?
A. It's really important for your coach to be honest with the players because it really helps develop that strong bond and also because trusting your coach is so important. When you're on the field, its good to know that you trust that coach and that coach trusts you. Having that bond of trust when playing on the field is more than important.
Q. What kind of leader is Gerald Hodges and how is he different from Mike Mauti?
A. Mauti is more of a vocal leader, but Gerald comes out and says some things. He has a lot of leadership abilities and he just goes out and performs so well on the field, that's the biggest way he shows his leadership through the big plays he makes on the field and all of the hard work he puts in. He is more of a lead by example guy.
Q. Is there anything extra Hodges does?
A. Yes, but even the linebacker crew as a whole are always usually the first ones out on the field, getting out steps in and usually always works together. Gerald being the senior leads that and we're always trying to improve as a linebacker and Gerald is always putting in the extra time.
Q. With the game being on ESPN, Northwestern coming in at 5-0 and you guys having a three game winning streak, does this game have a big game feel?
A. Absolutely, everybody knows how important this game is and we are treating it like a big game. I have been around for two seasons and I know what the big game feel is and this is definitely a big game. We are all really focused for this game and it is a must win. We are really looking forward to playing this game and its absolutely one of the biggest games that I ever played in.
Q. How much do the players like and are conscious about the NFL scouts being around practice?
A. I can't really speak for everyone else but I'm not really that conscious about it. I just block it out and I come out to practice to work everyday regardless of whether there are NFL scouts there or not, I am going out to practice looking to get better. I just look to improve not just for myself but for the team, so I am not really that conscious of it, but it is nice to have them around knowing there are NFL guys looking at you and players on your team and giving us the opportunity to go to the next level.
Q. Your fake punt (at Virginia), was that a season highlight and are you looking to run the ball a little bit more?
A. It was definitely a good opportunity and I was really excited that we put it in and even more excited when we ran it. I was confident when I was running it because I played a little but of running back in high school and I was really excited to get the ball, not nervous about it, so if the opportunity is there, hopefully we get to do it again.