Victory Bell Rings
Fansided

Penn State vs. Temple Position Grades

By Shane Lunnen

Sep 17, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players sing the alma-mater following the completion of the game against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Sep 17, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions players sing the alma-mater following the completion of the game against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 10
Next
Sep 17, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State University students wave their pompoms during the fourth quarter against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren- USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State University students wave their pompoms during the fourth quarter against the Temple Owls at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Temple 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren- USA TODAY Sports /

Linebackers

It’s the one position that the Nittany Lions could ill afford to have injuries this season and they have lost all three starters for an indeterminate amount of time.

Jason Cabinda and Brandon Bell were already sidelined before Saturday and during the game there was deja vu to last year’s Temple game. Nyeem Wartman-White was injured while on the field during a punt return.  He went to the locker room and came back later with a leg brace and crutches.

In their absence, Manny Bowen, Jake Cooper and rarely used Brandon Smith filled in the best that they could.  Smith was the big surprise, leading the group in tackles with eight plus a half tackle for loss.  Cooper chipped in five tackles and Bowen had three along with his first career sack.  Bowen also nearly had an interception, but couldn’t hang on to the ball.

If the three starters are not ready to go next week and there is no indication that they will be, the learning curve jumps up quickly for those three backups against Michigan.

Grade: C+

Home/Penn State Football