JoePa: No overhaul needed for Penn State's special teams

Joe Paterno admits to the game-changing problems with his special teams unit, just don't tell him that a major overhaul is in order.

The system isn't the problem, the Penn State coach hammered home.

The personnel is, and that's where he needs to find answers and find them quickly. The Nittany Lions are ranked near the bottom of the NCAA's 120 Division I teams when it comes to net punting, punt returns and kickoff returns.

And those specials breakdowns have directly led to both of his team's losses.

"We'll spend a little more time with them (at practice). We took a good look at them Sunday and (Monday)," Paterno said. "I think we're going to make a couple of personnel changes."

On Tuesday, he planned on going to practice and, "challenging a couple of guys so that we can find out whether we really have the right people in there."

But he bristled when pressed on how his special teams are coached -- duties split among all position coaches instead of one assistant handling everything. Larry Johnson was the last official "special teams coordinator" from 1996 to 1999, but he also coached defensive ends and received help from other assistants.

"We haven't had (just one guy exclusively coaching special teams) in years and years and years, if ever. I can't remember. We've always had one guy coaching this, one guy coaching that. Everybody helps out. But we never had (just) a specialty teams coach. Now, your memory plays tricks on you

after you've been around as long as I have, but I don't believe that."

When he was asked about the effectiveness of his current system, he said, "I know where you're coming from. No, it's working. We've just got to do a little better job, get some better people in there. That's my problem, all right? I've got to make sure we get guys in there who can get the job done.

"It's not the scheme, it's not the coaching, it's a question of whether I'm giving them enough time or I've emphasized it enough and the whole bit."

Later, he was asked to explain the merits of splitting up the special teams' coaching job.

"Because that's the way I like to do it. We've always done that. I grew up with that when I played in college. I grew up with it when I came here as an assistant coach.

"We haven't been bad on special teams through the years. Let's don't get carried away, guys. I'm not about to change. I think we're doing fine. I think the coaches are doing fine. As I mentioned earlier, if there's anything that I would question, it's whether we may not have the best people in there."

Rather, Paterno said he redshirted some talented freshmen because he did not want to waste an entire year of eligibility on special teams play. In hindsight, he said he may have made the wrong decision.

Certainly, something must be changed.

Just look at the numbers:

The Lions rank 115th nationally in net punting (31.73 yards per punt), 114th in kickoff return yards (18.22 per try) and 107th in punt return yardage (5.16).

And though senior Jeremy Boone is arguably the best punter in the Big Ten, he has had two blocked this season and a few other near misses. The first block against Iowa was returned for a touchdown and shifted the entire game. And two long punt returns vs. Ohio State did the same.

More shuffling: Injured guard Johnnie Troutman likely will miss Saturday's game, possibly forcing redshirt freshman Matt Stankiewitch into a starting role.

He's OK: Tailback Evan Royster, who slightly injured his knee in pregame warmups last Saturday, practiced on Monday and apparently is fine, Paterno said.

Spotlight again: Center Stefen Wisniewski is featured in the November issue of Sports Illustrated Kids. The story highlights Wisniewski's typical day on the football field and in the classroom as a student teacher in 10th grade English. He also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated's college football preview issue with quarterback Daryll Clark.
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