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Penn State practice update, team mindset, more, with Nate Bauer: BWI Daily

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•11/04/21•

ThomasFrankCarr

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How is the Penn State team mentality after an 0-3 Big 10 skid? (Photo: Thomas Frank Carr)

The Penn State Nittany Lions football team faces the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday in a key game for both teams.

The winner will climb to .500 in conference play, while the other sinks to the basement of the Big Ten East.

What sort of practice did Penn State have last night?

BWI host Thomas Frank Carr and senior editor Nate Bauer were both at practice last night and give their impression of the mood, and tenor of the team. 

In fact, their differentiating views spark a debate about how Penn State should view the game coming up with Maryland. Does the fact that the team has lost three games help relieve the pressure of expectations? Or is avoiding a spiral to end the season it’s own pressure?

They also briefly touch on backup Ta’Quan Roberson, who was at practice this week after he was limited during Ohio State week.

Then they take questions from fans on Twitter about the team as they head into the final month of play.

Listener Questions

-Does Mike Yurcich have the players on the roster to execute the schemes and plays he wants? Or is there a difference between what he would call and what he is calling? 

T-Frank points to one area that he’s noticed a difference in the play-calling of Yurcich from previous stop to his current time at Penn State. Without the full story, he can’t give a conclusive answer but points to the noteworthiness of the absence of one particular scheme.

-Will Caziah Holmes see time at running back at any point during the season? What about other young players?

Bauer gives his thoughts on how coaches can come to change their minds about a player that they decided to redshirt early in the year.

Penn State vs Maryland Preview; Identity

Then T-Frank and Bauer delve into a relatively broad topic about team identity. What do you do when can’t do what you want to do? How do you adjust? They bring the topic up to discuss Penn State and Maryland, who have both suffered from identity problems on one side of the ball or the other.

One key area for both teams is the quarterback position. Is Sean Clifford finally back to full strength?

From there they take that conversation and apply it directly to the game. How will those identity problems for both teams shape the way this game plays out? T-Frank finally offers a firm stance on what he thinks Penn State will be able to do offensively against a Maryland defense that struggles to stop the big play. 

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