Oct. 29, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" The Nittany Lions return home to face Illinois on Saturday during a noon kick (ESPN2) inside Beaver Stadium.
Leading up to the contest against the Fighting Illini, defensive coordinator and safeties coach Bob Shoop talked with the media on Thursday. Take a look at a Q&A with Coach Shoop.
Q: What areas do you feel like the defense has met or exceeded your expectations and what areas are you looking for the defense to improve down the stretch?
Shoop: "Each week is a little bit of a different challenge for us. For me, one of the things that is really important is that there is a difference between playing well and playing winning football. And for the most part, this unit has done a good job of playing winning football. There are areas we need to improve upon, especially in the last couple weeks. But I'm really pleased with the group overall. Certainly, the defensive line has been exceptionally disruptive. The tackles for loss and sacks have been really good. We always talk about stopping the run, eliminating big plays and taking the ball away, and up until maybe the last couple weeks, we've done a really good job stopping the run and minimizing the run. Army doesn't really count in that respect. Where we need to improve is eliminating big plays, plays that last year were eight to 10 or 12 to 15 yards have now become 18 to 20. That is continuing to work on pursuit and tackling. We've met our tackling grade during five out of the eight weeks, but it was just the last couple weeks that we've done a poor job as it relates to tackling. I know that is something Coach (Franklin) has addressed a couple times. And I promise you that we are continuing to work to be the defense everyone wants to see by flying to the football with a bad attitude and a bad mindset and being good tacklers. We aren't the first guy to miss a tackle on Ezekiel Elliott or JT Barrett. I can promise you that. And we won't be the last. And last week, with some of the quarterback run pieces, we need to do a better job on that, as well. We have done a really good job with takeaways. I think we are averaging near the top of the Big Ten in regard to that. With the playing winning football piece, we've sat here a lot of times and said the defense played really well, but didn't end up winning the game. I thought last week was a great example of playing well when the game was on the line and stepping up in the fourth quarter with five-straight three-and-outs. We had three takeaways in the fourth quarter. We had two fourth down stops and executed exceptionally well during the clock situation. To me, I like stats and I like numbers because they tell a story and share a picture, but the story of last week's game was playing winning football and stepping up when the game was on the line. I couldn't be more proud of our guys doing that."
Q: You talk about improving some on the tackling. How do you go about doing that in the middle of the season?
Shoop: "We've had five of our games this year where we achieved our tackling grade, which is 11 or less missed tackles. We allow one per position, but it's not specifically one per (guy). We have met that. The last two weeks, certainly, we haven't tackled like any of us would want to. To me, it's about, and I think Grant Haley may have said it earlier in the week, it's about emphasizing the fundamentals and not taking anything for granted. Certainly, you can't do much live in the course of practice. But each of us as coaches during individuals does some form and fit tackling. In team drills against the scouts, it's about emphasizing a good finishing position ââ'¬" knees bent, chest up, eyes up ââ'¬" fundamental position. Sometimes I think at this point of the season it's difficult to emphasize those things because legs are worn down. People are weary. It's a grind. We are in week nine here. And we understand that's something we need to improve upon to be the type of good tackling team. It's the proper fundamentals."
Q: Can you talk about Jason Cabinda's transition at middle linebacker and how he is doing, and also about Troy Reeder?
Shoop: "I'm glad you asked that. I said in the offseason that the 'Mike' and 'Will' positions aren't a whole lot different in our scheme. They are the two more box-style backers. When Nyeem went down against Temple, on the bus ride back, Jason said put me in there, I got this. That's kind of his personality. To me, he brings some things to the table that I've seen very, very few guys have. As good of a player as Mike Hull was, Jason has some of the leadership qualities at that position ââ'¬" from the personality to the vocalness to the commanding his troops ââ'¬" that is very rare and special to us. He has emerged as a significant leader on the defensive side as a very young player. When we moved Jason inside, we had to elevate Troy and Troy is a guy who had a really good spring. When his opportunity came about, he has risen to the challenge and played at a pretty high level during his first seven career starts. Let's keep in mind here that this wasn't the plan heading into the season. We moved Jason to a position he had never played at this level. We elevated Troy, who we expected to be a backup this year. And those guys are playing at a pretty high level. They've learned some lessons the past few weeks, but I think with those two and Marcus (Allen); certainly the defensive line is a group of veterans and warriors out there, these guys are young players and the future is very bright for Penn State and the Penn State defense. Cabinda and Reeder, those guys are warriors. Marcus Allen, that guy is a warrior. They battle every single day. It's very important to them. And all they want to do is win."
Q: Unit wide, how do you think things are going with depth and development as the season has worn on?
Shoop: "Up front, the d-line is the deepest position on the team. The success they have played with this year demonstrates that. We talked about before the season that a guy like Carl Nassib could emerge. And he sure has. To me, he deserves every ounce of recognition he is getting. He continues to stay humble. He continues to work hard. He continues to prepare. We need him to play at a super high level as the season goes on. And AJ (Austin Johnson) and Zettel are doing the same. Garrett Sickels has played really well. I've watched Torrence Brown emerge and make plays at critical times. Tarow Barney and Parker Cothren have made plays. And then you get to the second level. Jason and Troy have done a great job. Brandon Bell certainly hasn't been 100 percent all year, so guys like Von Walker, Manny Bowen and Jake Cooper have stepped up emerged. And Manny continues to be a demon on special teams. We are going to try and continue and get him reps to get better. You go back to the Temple game, those two guys (Bowen and Cooper) were on the scout team on Thursday and because of a series of unfortunate things during the second quarter, those guys found themselves both in the game during the second half, maybe not full comprehending the gameplan. To watch them develop during the season has been fun. And in the back end (of the defense), too, Jordan Lucas and Allen have missed time. Troy Apke and Malik Golden have stepped up and played very well. Troy is a guy who has been a warrior on special teams. I work with Malik every day and for him to come up with the key interception at the end of the game was exciting. Christian Campbell is a guy who has played his best football the last two or three weeks. We've talked about John Reid, too. Grant Haley came up with a key interception early against Maryland. The depth is continuing to work and get better. The exciting thing to me is that a lot of that depth is young guys."
Q: How has Garrett Sickels evolved as a player for the defense?
Shoop: "Arguably one of the more underrated players on our defense and possibly in the Big Ten. He's an under the radar guy. He was highly recruited. Let's keep in mind that he was in the same class as Hack and stayed loyal to Penn State during a difficult time. You could always see the guy had talent. When we got here in the spring, it was a matter of learning the defense and functioning and executing your assignments. He's a guy who is the first one out for walkthrough every single day. He's always composed. He always has a great attitude. He embodies our core values...He's also someone who anyone who follows Penn State Football should be very proud of because as good of a player as he is, he's an even better person.
Q: Has Carl Nassib even exceeded your expectations with the way he has played this year?
Shoop: "It's hard to say he hasn't. The productivity has been off the charts. We are talking about a record setting year as far as sacks and tackles for loss and caused fumbles. He came in (to my office) in January and closed the door behind him and said, 'invest in me, I'm a good investment.' And it sure has been. He works hard. He's humble. He keeps his mouth shut. You guys have probably seen it; he doesn't enjoy all of the attention. He's kind of turned off by it. He practices hard every day. He's a great teammate. He's a guy who is going to be successful in whatever happens...What we need him to do is rush Wes Lunt this weekend and continue to build on those sacks. And what we need him to do is finish the season like he is capable of doing. And there is no reason to think he won't do it. But I can't be happier about him. I can't be more proud of him. His approach hasn't since day one. That speaks to his character."