Episode Details

Penn State football got a shot in the arm this week the safety Ji'Ayir Brown announcing that he is returning for his final season. But what does that mean for the Penn State defense? Besides getting back a veteran player, host Thomas Frank Carr breaks down what Penn State can do with Brown in their defensive system next season. 

First, T-Frank looks at what Brown wants out of his final season at Penn State. He asked the safety what he would come back for if the Lackawanna transfer stayed and where he wanted to improve his game. Brown had a precise answer and has one particular stat the senior would like to accumulate next season. That answer gives T-Frank a clue as to Brown's expectations and where he will need to play within the scheme to accomplish that. 

The next element to consider with Brown's return to Happy Valley is the players surrounding him in the defense. So, who is the likely candidate to start opposite of Brown? The obvious answer is his backup, Keaton Ellis. How has the transition from corner gone for Ellis? Both Brown and the former State College Little Lion weigh in. The other player to consider is freshman standout Jaylen Reed, who worked his way onto the field late in the season. T-Frank looks at each player's strengths and explains how he sees all of the pieces fitting together. 

Finally, T-Frank explains how new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz could change the picture with his defensive style. With that in mind, T-Frank explains what he saw from the Miami defense under Diaz and the type of players and body types that Diaz used at each position. With the similarities in the scheme, it's easy to make. Despite that, T-Frank isn't sure that the new defensive coordinator will bring a carbon copy of his old principles to Penn State. 

He wraps up the show, evaluating where Penn State's safety room stands heading into the offseason. 

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