FOOTBALL SUPPLEMENT 2015
THE WAIT IS
OVER After 28 years waiting for the opportunity to become Penn's head coach, Ray Priore finally takes the helm of the Red and Blue. >> PAGE 10
THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
In the trenches Torgersen and his tools What to expect in 2015 Rebalancing the offense The Wait is Over Secondary to none Different coaches, different culture Ivy League players to watch 2015 Ivy League outlook editors
Riley Steele Colin Henderson Laine Higgins Holden McGinnis
photo editor Ilana Wurman
reporters
Thomas Munson Tom Nowlan Jacob Adler
CopY editors Paola Ruano Nick Buchta
4 6 8 9 10 12 14 17 18
desiGn editors Kate Jeon Joyce Varma
CoVer desiGn Kate Jeon Joyce Varma
New coach, new expectations rileY steele
I
f there is one narrative you can expect to find in this issue and referenced consistently throughout the entirety of Penn football’s season, it is one of change. By now, the storylines surrounding the Quakers over the past 18 months are fully ingrained in everyone’s minds: Al Bagnoli is gone. Ray Priore is in. Alek Torgersen is back. Veterans like linebacker Dan Davis and wide receiver Conner Scott are not. It would be a waste of space to tell you that the 139th version of the Red and Blue on the field is in few ways similar to those that came before it. This isn’t the smash mouth, ground-and-pound, three yards and a cloud of dust squad that won Ivy titles in 1982 and 2002, not to mention 2012. But you know that, and this supplement features various different methods of explaining that in greater detail. This is the fourth time I’ve prepared to watch the Quakers kick off their season since arriving at Penn. As a senior, I’ve witnessed a handful of different styles of play over the past three years, not to mention the varying degrees of success that have accompanied the team’s shifting offensive schemes. But that’s on the field. What seems to have, rather unfortunately, gone unnoticed is the shifting paradigm defining Penn football as a program at large. When the Ivy League released its preseason media poll last month, it unsurprisingly predicted a sixth-place finish for the Quakers in 2015. While that slot doesn’t seem terribly kind for a team that won the Ancient Eight less than three seasons ago, few around the program realistically have any sort of legitimate disagreement with the ranking. And that’s because expectations for Penn are lower than they’ve been in decades. True, the preseason poll is often flawed — it foresaw a first-place finish for the Quakers in 2013 and generously ranked them fourth in 2014 — but it’s hard to argue that, after a 2-8
campaign a season ago, the team deserves to be viewed more favorably than anyone besides perennial losers Columbia and Cornell. Still, the entire atmosphere surrounding Penn is different, unlike anything I’ve ever seen associated with the team that resides in Franklin Field. Maybe it’s the former athlete in me, but it’s difficult to shake the feeling that players’ senior seasons are supposed to be the ones that count the most. Obviously, in this situation, I’m viewing this from my senior vantage point. But it’s impossible to dismiss the feeling that — knowing everything I do about the history of Penn football — sixth place is unacceptable. There are myriad ways for the Quakers to define success this year; finishing sixth isn’t one of them. Over the past two seasons, the Red and Blue have exhibited different forms of unsatisfying play: An eight-game losing streak bridging 2013 and 2014. Gut-wrenching losses to Jacksonville and Harvard last year. Embarrassments against Villanova and Fordham. However, in spite of last year’s dismal record and the media’s disenchantment with what Penn is poised to do this year, there are plenty of reasons for the program to feel optimistic, none of which have anything to do with talent or player development. In 2013, the Quakers were burdened by injuries and a quest to become the first team ever to win four Ivy titles in five seasons. The following season, Penn became consumed with sending Bagnoli out on top, feeling the added pressure of trying not to disappoint a legend in — what was perceived to be — his final season. If the 2012 Ivy championship team was a work of art, the past two seasons have been different types of paint jumbled in unrecognizable patterns. Most importantly, 2015 represents a blank canvas upon which the Quakers can get back to producing whatever they want. There is no pressure. There is no retirement parade. There is Priore. There is a clean slate. There is excitement. There are players. There are games. And there is Penn, ready to begin working its way back to the top of the Ancient Eight.
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Big guys up front provide stability Veteran linemen return on both sides COLIN HENDERSON Sports Editor
Penn football operates under a microscope. This is true just about any year, but this year especially. The team features a new coach with a new set of coordinators, and, entering 2015, the Quakers’ margin of error seems precipitously low. In this state of flux, there is no escaping the scrutiny that the Red and Blue will face. With that said, it seems curious that the biggest guys on Franklin Field have consistently been the most overlooked. “The big boys ... A lot of the dirty work gets done up front,” senior defensive lineman Dan Connaughton said. “Not a lot of praise, but we don’t really look for that.” However, in a year largely defined by uncertainty and turnover, Penn football will need to look to its men up front on both sides of the ball to bring supply
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New offensive coordinator John Reagan will look to his veteran-heavy offensive line to provide stability for the rest of his squad throughout the 2015 season. Led by senior Tanner Thexton, who will protect Alek Torgersen's blind side, the line will look to improve in the running game.
some much-needed stability. Much has been made of junior quarterback Alek Torgersen’s development within the Red and Blue system. And while his sophomore campaign was marred by inconsistency, he may have the support he needs up front this year to mature as Penn’s leader
on the offensive side of the ball. To protect Torgersen, the Red and Blue return five starters from last year’s offensive line, a group that helped make Penn the second-most prolific passing team in the Ivies. “The connection that we going on between the O-line right now
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[is pretty special],” senior Tanner Thexton said. “The communication that we have is pretty valuable I’d say.” Of particular importance is Thexton, who missed the final two games of 2014 to injury and will be tasked with protecting Torgersen’s blind side throughout the upcoming season. The Quakers also return several key members of their 2014 defensive line, most notably seniors Connaughton and Austin Taps and junior Corey Power. Last year, both Connaughton and Power consistently showcased their abilities, Connaughton by playing in all 10 games and Power by showing flashes of brilliance, including an 11-tackle performance against Dartmouth. And while Taps was hampered by injury last year, he will look to regain his 2013 honorable mention All-Ivy form this year, rounding out the allimportant front of the Quakers’ 3-4 defense. However, despite all the experience that they bring to the table, Penn’s offensive and defensive linemen also bring their fair share of question marks to the table entering the new season. The O-line, for instance, did not consistently show the ability to create room to run for Penn’s running backs in 2014, a group that admittedly was beat up, but ultimately was not given enough opportunities to get to the opposing defense’s second level. Similarly, the D-line was
not particularly effective in the Quakers’ 2014 efforts to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks and ultimately cause turnovers. Furthermore, there remain questions of depth on the defensive front entering the new season. “First of all, you’ve gotta find a one-deep,” new defensive coordinator Bob Benson said. “Then you take it to a 1.5. And then you try to see if you can get twodeep.” It remains to be seen if the Quakers can go two-deep on the defensive line and how the rest of these questions resolve themselves in 2015, on both sides of the ball. However, the potential success of Penn’s linemen depends on something much more substantial. In the weeks leading up to the team’s opener, Penn’s coaching staff seems to have zeroed in on a philosophy of “grit and grind.” To hear Priore tell it, it’s an attitude that needs to be embodies by everybody for the team’s success, but common sense dictates that it is a philosophy best backed by experience and consistency. “I think [the linemen] are a group of blue-collar, hardworking guys,” new offensive coordinator John Reagan said. “And you can build off that.” So in 2015, there’s no need to look under a microscope to find the embodiment of the team’s changing identity. Instead, just look to the big guys in the trenches.
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TIME TO EVOLVE
Returning starting QB looks to diversify his game LAINE HIGGINS
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Sports Editor
In 2014, then-sophomore Alek Torgersen earned the starting spot. As a junior, he needs to have an even bigger year. thomas munson | dp file photo
Alek Torgersen has something to prove. This year, it’s not about proving he’s capable of locking down the top spot at quarterback. After a record-setting performance characterized by a strong passing game, the junior has already shown he has what it takes to start in the shotgun. In 2015, it wasn’t even a question who would return as starting quarterback. No, this year, Torgersen must prove he’s capable of the developing the other offensive weapons in his repertoire. We know he can throw – the Huntington Beach, Calif., native’s 2,689 passing yards in his first year of starting were the third most in a season for any Quaker quarterback. The question is if Torgersen can grow as a player and adapt his game to the changing lineup on the field. “The mark of any program since I’ve been in the league, you live and die by the quarterback play,” coach Ray Priore said. Thus, quite possibly, the
split-second decisions Torgersen makes in the pocket this year could make or break the season for Penn football. That’s a lot of weight on one player’s shoulders. Despite those heavy expectations, Priore has faith in the 20-something year old conducting his offense. “Teams that traditionally have been the most successful in the league are those that bring back their starting quarterbacks,” he said. Put another way, Torgersen feels ready to shoulder the burden, be it the weight or blame or the elation of success, for whatever comes in the 2015 season. Why? It’s simple. “I have a lot more confidence in myself this year,” Torgersen said. “Going into last year, it was my first time starting. So you come in, you don’t know what to expect, you haven’t thrown in games really.” Despite that confidence, the makeup of Penn’s starting lineup is fundamentally different this year. Gone are
Spencer Kulcsar, Conner Scott and Mitch King, three of the squad’s top receivers last year. Their absence illustrates the beauty of college football; thanks to the natural life cycle of graduation, the playbook must change from year to year to accommodate the shuffling around of the roster.
that’s just unreal,” he said. At Dartmouth in 2014, the then-sophomore set a school record for pass attempts in a single game with 61. “We need a strong run game. You can’t just throw out the pass.” That mentality of diversifying the playbook is new for Torgersen. He’s no longer just trying to pick up yards
2015 marks the second consecutive season in which Penn has overhauled aspects of its offense — John Reagan was hired as the team’s offensive coordinator in February — after transitioning to a pass-first spread system last year. “The thing about last year was that our offense was so
school that can reign atop the Ivy League. “Obviously 2-8 isn’t good by anyone’s standards,” Torgersen said of last year’s dismal record. “We don’t have anything to prove to anyone, I don’t feel.” For the quarterback, this season is more about improvement and less about
"The mark of any program since I’ve been in the league, you live and die by the quarterback play." - Ray Priore
Head Football Coach
Granted, sophomore Justin Watson — one of the quarterback’s favorite targets in 2014 — will still be around to lead the receiving core. “Justin’s a stud. You can’t dispute that,” Torgersen said. “We’ve been working a lot so hopefully this year we can light it up.” In order to be successful, though, Torgersen knows that he will have to light it up elsewhere on the field as well. “Throwing like 61 times a game or something like that,
wherever he can, something the coaching staff has noticed since spring practices began. “He’s learned, I think, in a very short time between spring ball and camp and has been making very good decisions,” said Priore. “He’s learned to be smart with the football.” Beyond just developing greater intuition in the pocket, Torgersen is learning to master yet another offensive scheme with the start of Priore’s tenure as head coach.
used to a style, on that was so focused on running and pounding, and we changed that style to something that was very unique,” Priore said. “That takes time. I don’t care what program you’re in, it takes time to evolve.” With this evolution naturally comes expectations; expectations of fans, of coaches, of rival teams. But the one thing that Torgersen does not feel responsible for proving is that Penn still has what it takes to be a football
anything to do with those expectations. “We want to just go out there and get better and that’s what we’ve been trying to do every day,” he said. “This whole camp, spring, everything, we’ve been striving to get to the end goal, which is the season.” So now we know he belongs as starting quarterback. As the minutes count down to kick off on Sept. 19, it’s just a matter of what Torgersen does when he takes that first snap.
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[Disclaimer: Swamis is an exercise where The Daily Pennsylvanian’s editors makejokes and pick the Ivy League football games. Enjoy. -Riley] We’re honored that you think this is staged. We’re flattered man, in fact, we’re amazed. That’s right, after a nine-month absence, the Swamis are back and better than ever, ready for the gift that is Ivy League football. But to quote the poet laureate Andre Nowzick, we be beefin. You see, since we’ve been away, a lot has transpired in the Ivy universe. Some of it’s been
good — we see you Brandon Copeland and Tyler Varga. But a lot of it’s been rather unfortunate. After 23 seasons, former Penn coach Al Bagnoli, the best Philadelphia product since Will Smith, decided to retire in November. Then he unretired. Then he took the job at Columbia, a program that hasn’t won a game since 2012. Literally, it’s been so long since Columbia’s last win, Miley Cyrus — what’s good? — has managed to go from irrelevant to relevant to irrelevant again in that period. Despite Bagnoli’s move to New
York, new Penn coach Ray Priore still asked his predecessor to spit a verse on his newest album. Ungrateful with all that Priore and his hip-hop girlfriend Grace Calhoun gave him, Bagnoli accused Priore of using a ghost coach. INSANE! Now, with Quakers poised to avoid going back-to-back in the losing seasons department, and a month before Penn does battle with Columbia, we guess you could say Priore and Co. are a little … charged up. Prediction: QUAKERS HAVE DREAMS, LIONS HAVE NIGHTMARES.
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What to look for from Penn this season DP SPORTS EDITORS
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1. WHAT GAME ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR? Sports Editor Colin Henderson: Anybody who knows me knows that I rep the Lehigh Valley, as much as possible, so I’ve gotta go with the Quakers’ opening matchup against Lehigh. And while it’s cool that it will be the first Penn team not led by Al Bagnoli in some time, I’m most interested to see the end result, which is likely Penn’s best chance to pick up a nonconference win. Sports Editor Holden McGinnis: The easy one is Penn-Columbia. I mean who doesn’t want to see the interactions between Bagnoli and his former players?
But that’s too easy. For me it has to be the home opener against Dartmouth. We get to witness Dalyn Williams and a Big Green team that I think will win the Ivy title (sorry Harvard) at Franklin Field with what will probably be the largest crowd of the season outside of homecoming. Associate Sports Editor Tom Nowlan: It’s not often that the game against lowly Columbia is the most interesting tilt on the schedule, but this year it undeniably is. Of course, former Penn coach Al Bagnoli came out of retirement to take over the Lions’ program this summer. A lot has been written about that odd decision off the field, but this fall any controversy will be settled on the gridiron.
2. WHO IS MOST IMPORTANT TO PENN’S SUCCESS? Sports Editor Colin Henderson: I’m gonna step out on a limb here: senior defensive lineman Austin Taps. Taps has proven his worth as a dynamic force up front for Penn’s defense, earning honorable mention All-Ivy honors as a sophomore. Unfortunately for the Quakers, though, his 2014 campaign was plagued by injury. I look for him to come back with a dominant season in 2015, anchoring Penn’s 3-4 defense and wreaking havoc on opponents’ backfields. Sports Editor Holden McGinnis: It’s simple. Sophomore running back Tre Solomon. Last year Penn struggled to keep a
consistent running game going and losing the freshman early in the season didn’t help. I expect Solomon to take a step forward in an offense that new coordinator John Reagan refers to as “blue-collar.” Associate Sports Editor Tom Nowlan: Sophomore receiver Justin Watson. In 2014, one of the few bright spots of the Quakers’ play was the offense’s success in the short passing game. And while quarterback Alek Torgersen will be returning for his junior season, the Red and Blue lost top wideout Spencer Kulcsar to graduation. It will be up to Watson to take over that No. 1 receiver role, and the offense’s success will be directly tied to his ability to produce.
3. WHAT DEFINES SUCCESS FOR THE RED AND BLUE THIS SEASON? Sports Editor Colin Henderson: To me, you can’t define success for this team based purely on results from the field. Of course, a winning record would be amazing for any Penn fan, but that just isn’t a realistic expectation. Ultimately, I will look to how the team performs in its homecoming matchup with Princeton, because if it can get its fan base excited, that’s a big accomplishment in and of itself. Sports Editor Holden McGinnis: An Ivy League win other than Columbia or Cornell. Penn will be better than it was last year, but I just can’t see it getting by Harvard, Yale or
Dartmouth. I’d call three to four Ivy wins a success. Supporters of the program want the team to get back to title contention, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Associate Sports Editor Tom Nowlan: This year, Penn football fans are going to have to be very cautious with their expectations. Not only is the team coming off a lousy two-win season, they have undergone sweeping changes in several key areas, most notably within the coaching staff. That being said, it’s reasonable to hope that the team improves on its 2014 record — in other words, a fifth-place-orhigher Ivy finish would be considered a job well done.
THOMAS MUNSON
A
nyone who says numbers never lie didn’t watch Penn’s offense last
opposing defenses to stay on their toes. Defenders couldn’t sit on bubble screens or slant routes, thereby allowing big plays to develop. Torgersen may not have the same hybrid quarterback skill set as Ragone, but he can move around in the pocket and scramble when necessary. But establishing a consistent running game with its backfield could be just as successful for Penn. Last season, the Quakers’ top three running backs on the depth chart were all injured by end of the team’s Oct. 11 contest at Fordham, leaving the backfield depleted of options. In turn, without a consistent ground game, defenses were able to sit on the pass without much risk of anyone on Penn’s roster bursting through the middle for a big gain. Now, heading into 2015, the pressure rests on sophomore Tre Solomon to flip the script and force defenders to respect the run. After tearing his ACL against the Rams, Solomon has been working towards establishing himself as the Quakers’ every-down back and, at 6-foot,
200 pounds, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native has the size and power to be a legitimate threat in Ivy play. In his brief stint on the field as a rookie, Solomon was productive, accumulating 145 yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. If he could stretch that small sample size out consistently over an entire season, the Red and Blue may have just the one-two punch they need between him and Torgersen. But if Penn is going to make its offensive opportunities count in 2015, it will need to solve a factor equally as problematic as last season’s dearth of a run game and lack of explosiveness: ineffectiveness in the red zone. In no contest was the Quakers’ futility so apparent as their matchup against Fordham. That game saw Penn play so lackluster inside the 20 that kicker Jimmy Gammil set a school record with
five field goals, including four on failed trips to the redzone. On top of an improved rushing attack and more calculated throws, one solution for the Quakers may be to try and effectively utilize veteran tight ends Ryan O’Malley and Ryan Kelly. The two seniors are huge targets and often pose significant mismatches for opposing secondaries. Connecting with them could yield big dividends close to the endzone. Undoubtedly, the problem for Penn is not any one player, nor is the solution. But the Quakers have the talent to improve on their 2014 showing; now it’s time to put it all together and hope for the best. THOMAS MUNSON is a College sophomore from New York, and is an associate sports editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian. He can be reached at dpsports@thedp.com.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
season. A year ago, then-sophomore quarterback Alek Torgersen was near the top of not only the Ivy League, but the entire Football Championship Subdivision in multiple passing categories. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native was third in the nation with 26 completions per game. He was also 11th in the nation and second in the Ivy League with 268.9 passing yards per game. Despite this, however, the Red and Blue’s offense was at many points anemic, only managing enough consistency to collect two victories. In fact, the Quakers finished sixth in the Ivy League last year with 213 points scored — a mark nearly half that of league-leading Yale. Now, after losing Conner
Scott, one of the Quakers’ alltime great receivers, and tight end Mitch King to graduation, it’s time for Torgersen and a handful of other veterans to carry the torch and become consistent playmakers. New offensive coordinator John Reagan has implemented his version of the spread offense, which is nothing new for the Red and Blue. But the squad will have to break from the seemingly never-ending supply of two-yard screen passes if is going to start doing any serious damage. Gutsier play calling and fewer passing attempts — Torgersen set a school record with 421 last season — could do wonders for the Red and Blue. After all, Torgersen is a 6-foot-3 gunslinger with a big arm, and it’s time Penn utilized it more consistently. Football is a game of inches, but you can’t march down the field one inch at a time. When the Quakers last won the Ivy League title in 2012, there was significantly more of a balance within the team’s offense. Billy Ragone was a dualthreat quarterback who caused
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Following tough 2014 for Penn's pass defense TOM NOWLAN Associate Sports Editor
The play of Penn football’s defense in 2014 was, well, indefensible. The Quakers struggled mightily to stop opposing offenses a year ago, surrendering an average of 31.9 points per game. While quarterback Alek Torgersen and his short-yardage passing attack did a respectable job of putting points on the board, the defense’s
inability to keep the team in games sunk Penn to a 2-8 overall record. The nexus of the team’s defensive failings was its secondary. The Quakers’ ranked near the bottom of the Ivy League in nearly every pass defense statistic, from passing yards allowed per game (272.8, seventh in the conference) to interceptions (six, seventh in the Ancient Eight) to defensive touchdowns (zero). To make matters worse, the secondary lost starters Evan Jackson — its top statistical performer and the team’s leading tackler — and former second team All-Ivy
safety Dan Wilk to graduation. And although he was not a defensive back, the unit will also suffer from the departure of captain and team leader Dan Davis. However, new defensive coordinator Bob Benson feels that the team has plenty of potential leaders ready to assert themselves within the Quakers’ secondary. “The key to the leadership is going to be [senior linebacker Tyler] Drake and [senior linebacker] Jack Madden,” Benson said. “We’ve got some depth, we’ve just got to figure it out.” Despite the major losses, the secondary, along with the defense
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Senior defensive back Kevin Ijoma is one of Penn's most important players in 2015, as he will attempt to rejuvenate the team's secondary.
in general, will be dominated by veterans. Seven of the 11 projected starters — and three of the four first-stringers in the defensive backfield — will be seniors. However, while well-seasoned, the unit largely lacks on-field experience: Of those four starters, none have more than eight career starts entering 2015. Senior cornerback Kevin Ijoma paces the unit with eight starts to his name, and he sees promise in the secondary, specifically when it comes to their cohesive, teamfirst mentality. “Our team culture is a lot different. We’re a lot closer than we have been in the past,” Ijoma said. “I just can’t really explain it. Every day, everyone’s just focused on getting better. Everyone’s just all in it for each other. It’s much better than it’s been in the past.” Part of that change is attributable to the major shift in coaching structure that took place over the summer. Following former head coach Al Bagnoli’s retirement (and prompt unretirement to take the same position at Columbia), Ray Priore moved from defensive coordinator — a position he had held since 1999 — to the top coaching job after a season as head coach-in-waiting. In
turn, Benson replaced Priore as the defense’s boss and immediately started implementing major changes. “We’re installing an entirely new defense,” Benson said. “Any time you do that, you have to be very, very organized and prepared. And the name of the game is that it’s a people business. The players have to trust you, and you have to trust them.” Senior safety Ian Dobbins credits the change in team culture largely to the new faces in onfield leadership. “Aside from the coaching staff changes, we have three brand new captains seniors — Ryan O’Malley, Dan Connaughton and Drake,” Dobbins said. “They’re very good leaders, and I think they’ll be able to lead the team to a successful year.” It’s clear that the offseason has been one of immense change, both culturally and personnelwise for the Red and Blue. What remains to be seen, however, is whether that change will translate to positive results on the field — and in most cases, a largely inexperienced and unheralded unit led by a collection of brand new coaches would not exactly be reason for optimism.
LAST YEAR IN REVIEW
2014 RESULTS JACKSONVILLE 34 31 PENN Jacksonville, Fla. Saturday, Sept. 20
VILLANOVA 41 7 PENN Franklin Field Saturday, Sept. 27
DARTMOUTH 31 13 PENN Hanover, N.H. Saturday, Oct. 4
FORDHAM 60 22 PENN New York, N.Y.
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Saturday, Oct. 11
PENN 31 7 COLUMBIA Franklin Field Saturday, Oct. 18
YALE 43 21 PENN New Haven, Conn. Saturday, Oct. 25
BROWN 21 13 PENN Saturday, Nov. 1
PRINCETON 22 17 PENN Princeton, N.J. Saturday, Nov. 8
HARVARD 34 24 PENN Franklin Field Saturday, Nov. 15
PENN 34 26 CORNELL Ithaca, N.Y. Saturday, Nov. 22
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
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THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Different coaches, different culture Benson and Reagan take over as top assistants HOLDEN McGINNIS Sports Editor
Change is inevitable. Nothing continues forever … except for time and, maybe, space, but that’s not the point. This isn’t about science; it’s about football. At the end of last season, Penn found itself at a crossroads. As has been retold dozens of times, legendary coach Al Bagnoli’s tenure was coming to a close and defensive coordinator Ray Priore was his replacement-to-be. When Priore took over, he had a few orders of business to take care of. The first decision, or at least the first publicly announced decision, was hiring new defensive coordinator Bob Benson. “I’m thrilled to add someone of Bob’s experience to our staff,” Priore said in a statement at the time of Benson’s hiring. “We shared our first coaching jobs at Albany, and he has found success at every level since that time.” Benson spent last season as a defensive coordinator for Albany, where he helped turn around a defense that ranked 102nd in the FCS before his tenure to 42nd last season. Coincidentally, that season was Benson coming full circle as
a coach. He began coaching as a graduate assistant at Albany, while Priore was there as a defensive backs coach. Then, in early February, Priore announced the hiring of John Reagan, formerly offensive coordinator of Kansas and Rice. While at Rice, Reagan led the offense to two of its three most productive seasons in school history. Just as Benson did, Reagan began his coaching career at Albany, albeit nearly 10 years later. However Reagan has coached on the same staff as Priore before, as the former served as Penn’s tight ends coach in 1997. “The guys that we’ve brought in, we all knew each other. It’s putting the band back together again,” Priore said. “They’re bringing a great sense of energy and freshness to everything.” So while all three coaches had crossed paths in various capacities in their coaching journeys, last spring was their first chance to put together a shared vision and begin implementing their systems with the team. “When I went out and hired both John and Bob, both friends, very accomplished, very knowledgeable, I wanted them to be able to come in and implement their schemes. They are an extension of my office; we’re building this together,” Priore said. The vision is simple: “Play
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New Red and Blue defensive coordinator Bob Benson will have his hands full turning around a Penn defensive unit that struggled mightily stopping the pass throughout its 2014 season.
with pride, a hard-hat mentality, a toughness, a grit, a grind” as Priore describes it. On the defensive side of the ball, Benson is installing his new defensive scheme — a 3-4 pressure defense — and methodically prepare his players for opening day. “There’s challenges. There’s new terminology, new language, new personalities. Everyone has to get to know each other, and you need to be a very effective teacher,” Benson said. Benson put emphasis on the team running to the ball and creating turnovers and on the team’s need to be able to adjust during games in the modern world of spread offenses. Penn struggled at times last season with creating
turnovers, forcing only eight turnovers during its seven league games. On offense, Reagan wasn’t at liberty to talk much about specific schemes, but he did emphasize the same “blue-collar” principles that Benson and Priore did. What does that actually mean for Penn’s offense? College football has become very spread-oriented in the past decade, and it became even more apparent last year for the Red and Blue as the team relied heavily on a short passing game. Penn will likely try to put some emphasis back on its running game, which suffered last year due to a slew of injuries. Last season, the Quakers managed just 3.4 yards per carry.
“I don’t know if a schematic change requires a change in culture,” Reagan said. “With a new head coach and two new coordinators, there’s a change in culture … but not because of the scheme of the offense necessarily. Change may be inevitable, but it doesn’t need to be a bad thing. Priore sees the coaching changes as an opportunity to re-energize the team and build the team culture. “You need to coach not only the physical parts of it, but the mental parts. There’s a culture — you hear that all the time with the [Philadelphia] Eagles and coach [Chip] Kelly. We got to bring that same culture,” Priore said. “You win with culture.”
14 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
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Quakers bring back key offensive weapons THOMAS MUNSON Associate Sports Editor
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A year after he tore his ACL against Fordham, sophomore running back Tre Solomon will be an important factor in the team's offensive scheme in tandem with junior Brian Schoenauer.
this season are all upperclassmen. That experience will be key after a season in which Torgerson consistently felt the pocket collapsing in on him. The one slot on the line still up for grabs is right guard, where senior Daniil Lysenko is trying to hold off junior Nick Whitton. The group isn’t glaringly large — the heaviest projected started only tips the scales to 290 — although sophomore backup center Nathan Kirchmier does push 310 pounds. Defensive Line Senior nose guard Dan Connaughton highlights the group that will often line up only three wide under new defensive coordinator Bob Benson. The latter made it clear during the team’s Media Day that Connaughton is not only one of leaders of the unit, but the team as a whole. It’s fair to have faith in Connaughton, who has played in 21 career games and finished last season with 17 tackles. Two sophomores, Tayler Hendrickson and Louis Vecchio, will flank Connaughton. While the young duo is slated to get the starting nods at Lehigh, seniors Austin Taps and Lukas Nossem remain in contention for playing time right behind
it. Linebacker The middle part of Penn’s defense boasts both the team’s most intact position group from a year ago as well as the one that
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knee injury and manages to put together a handful of explosive plays. Wide Receiver/Tight End Cam Countryman is back. After missing the final eight games of last year’s campaign due to off-the-field issues, the senior wideout will see plenty of time alongside sophomore Justin Watson and senior Eric Fiore. Lining up with them will be two fellow seniors, tight ends Ryan O’Malley and Ryan Kelly. Of course, the glaring omissions here are Conner Scott and Mitch King, a pair of dynamic passcatchers who graduated in the spring. Scott compiled one of the greatest receiving careers in Penn history, and he leaves big shoes to fill. But the current corps of wideouts has plenty of experience under its collective belt as well, not to mention talent. Between a collection of upperclassmen and Watson — who set program records for receiving yards and receptions by a freshman last year — there are plenty of weapons for Torgersen to involve in the Quakers’ passing game. Offensive Line The five big men in charge of protecting Penn’s quarterback
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Penn football’s first game may come a full two weeks after most teams begin their seasons, but a high level of competition has been brewing for weeks in Quakers’ practices at Penn Park. As the Red and Blue approach their opener against Lehigh, position battles have been on the minds of many coaches and players. And while some players have separated themselves from the rest of those in their position group, a few question marks on the depth chart still remain. Quarterback There are no doubts heading into the year that Alek Torgersen will lead the offense onto the field in week one. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior showed snippets of excellence last season despite only having two wins to show for it. As a sophomore, the Californian was 11th in the country in passing yards per game with 268.9, and ranked third nationally with 26 completions per contest. Under new offensive coordinator John Reagan, it’s possible that those number decrease, especially with a rejuvenated and healthy backfield behind Torgersen. Senior Andrew Lisa comes into the season as Penn’s primary backup, but hasn’t shown indications of challenging Torgersen for the starting spot. Running Back One of the biggest uncertainties heading into the preseason was what the Quakers were going to do at running back. Last year, the Red and Blue were forced to institute a running back-bycommittee approach after their top three rushers went down with injuries. Sophomore Tre Solomon — who was knocked out for the remainder of 2014 when he tore his ACL against Fordham — views himself as the number two back heading into camp behind junior Brian Schoenauer. However, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Solomon end up winning the starting job once the season gets underway, especially if the sophomore demonstrates no lingering effects from last year’s
will miss one specific player the most. 2015 graduate Dan Davis was a two-time preseason AllAmerican, and the two-time first team All-Ivy linebacker was the cornerstone of Ray Priore’s defense. But with Benson now in charge, this season’s crop of linebackers is ready to go. The team’s defensive approach is designed to replace Davis with a group that doesn’t have to rely on only one person. The unit is not lacking in experience, and Benson pointed to senior Nolan Biegel and junior Donald Panciello as the squad’s cornerstones. Defensive Back The Quakers’ secondary took a beating in Al Bagnoli’s final season as the head coach. Penn’s defensive backs were continually beaten on long passing plays and were responsible for numerous explosive drives by opposing offenses. Three seniors will lineup alongside sophomore free safety Ephraim Lee with cornerback Kevin Ijoma ensconced as the defensive backfield’s leader. The fifth-year senior was sixth in the Ivy League with eight pass breakups and was a constant threat to rush the quarterback from the end. While the front seven will need to get to the quarterback with more consistency than last season, it will be on the back four to keep opponents on their toes.
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Breaking down Penn's talent
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30 seConds with:
IAN DOBBINS Is a hot dog a sandwich? No.
Who is going to win the Super Bowl this year? Steelers.
Best athlete in the world right now is ... ? Geez … That’s a tough one. If you base it on success, I’d say Michael Phelps.
If you’re stranded on an island, which one teammate would you bring with you? Uh … Erik Swanson.
You are the best on the team at ... ? Knowing the playbook.
What one superhero ability would you like to have? Invisibility.
What is the song of the summer? I don’t know. I just know the Weeknd’s pretty big this summer.
16 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
“Back to Back” or “Charged Up”? “Back to Back.”
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Cookies and cream. Off the field, who is the best-dressed person on the team? Miles Bartholomew.
WATCH
mouth and Harvard feature lineups full of formidable talent that will definitely give the Quakers a hard time on the field come game day. Take a look at three players bound to be atop all the Ivy League standings come November.
DARTMOUTH
Dalyn Williams, QB
Dual-threat quarterback Dalyn Williams was one of 22 FCS players named to the STATS Watch List for FCS Offensive Player of the Year this preseason. Last
Paul Stanton, Jr., RB
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Finishing second to fellow unanimous first team All-Ivy running back Tyler Varga of Yale in rushing yards last season, Paul Stanton, Jr., looks to take the rushing title for himself
B E C A U S E
DARTMOUTH
Will McNamara, LB
A unanimous first team All-Ivy pick at linebacker in 2014, Will McNamara
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is a favorite to lead the Ivy League in tackles for the second consecutive season and potentially a dark horse to pace the FCS in tackles per game. After locking down a starting role entering his junior year, he burst onto the scene in 2014 with 87 tackles (47 solo) and two interceptions. With the next four leading Big Green tacklers from 2014 returning to the gridiron, McNamara will captain what again looks to be one of the Ivy League’s top defensive units.
this time around. In nine 2014 contests (he recorded a carry in only eight), Stanton rushed 147 times for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns, with the pinnacle being his 235-yard, three-touchdown day against Penn. The Kenner, La., native reached the end zone in every game he logged a carry and cracked the 100-yard mark six times. The only games in which he didn’t reach 100 yards were in victories against Cornell and Columbia, when he received his lowest carry totals of the season. With Harvard favored to win the Ancient Eight after finishing undefeated in 2014, Stanton will be at the forefront of one of the conference’s top offenses yet again.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
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year, Williams led Dartmouth to a an 8-2 record and helped the Big Green finish only one game behind first-place and undefeated Harvard, while collecting the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week distinctions three times. He carries a sterling 39-to-3 touchdown-tointerception ratio through three seasons as a starter, a mark that does not account for the 14 touchdowns he has notched on the ground. Williams could easily step up his game even further with another season throwing to fifthyear senior wide receiver Ryan McManus, who was a first team All-Ivy selection at both receiver and returner in 2014.
HARVARD
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PLAYERS TO
They're big. They're mean. And they're back. As usual, Dart-
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18 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
IVY LEAGUE ROUNDUP Harvard
Columbia
Coach (years): Tim Murphy (22) Record last year (Ivy finish): 10-0, 7-0 Ivy (1st) Player to watch: Senior running back Paul Stanton, Jr. The Skinny: The Crimson enter 2015 as Ivy favorites after completing the only perfect season in Division I a year ago. They had easily the best defense in the Ivy League, and outscored Ivy opponents by an average of 20 points. Stanton, Jr., rushed for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns in nine games, including 235 yards and three scores against the Quakers in November, and was a unanimous first team All-Ivy selection. Senior defensive back Sean Ahern is the only one of Harvard’s five first team All-Ivy defensive picks to return this season, but Harvard’s three leading returning tacklers from 2014 — senior linebackers Jacob Lindsey, Eric Medes and Matt Koran — combined for 184 tackles. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 1st
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Coach (years): Al Bagnoli (1) Record last year (Ivy finish): 0-10, 0-7 Ivy (8th) Player to watch: Senior running back Cameron Molina The Skinny: For the Lions, whose last victory came in November 2012 against Cornell, things can only get better. Perhaps longtime Penn coach Al Bagnoli can light a fire under a Columbia team that accused former coach Pete Mangurian of player abuse during the latter’s three-year tenure. Last year, Molina led Columbia in both rushing yards and receptions, and figures to again be a key in moving the ball downfield. On the other end, seniors defensive lineman Niko Padilla and defensive end/outside linebacker Toba Okinleye will be key contributors on a unit that only lost one impact defender from last season in Ray Pesanello. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 8th
Cornell
Coach (years): David Archer (3) Record last year (Ivy finish): 1-9, 1-6 Ivy (7th) Player to watch: Sophomore safety Nick Gesualdi The Skinny: Cornell looks to escape the gutter of the Ivy League this year, as the Big Red topped lowly Columbia in 2014 for their only win of the season. Four quarterbacks attempted 30-plus passes, and senior running back Luke Hagy was their only reliable weapon, posting 734 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards. Gesualdi was a pleasant surprise in the secondary, winning Ivy League Rookie of the Year while logging 58 tackles and four interceptions. Junior linebacker Miles Norris led the team with 71 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2014, while junior punter Chris Fraser was first team All-Ivy last year and will likely receive plenty of opportunities this year to make his way back. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 7th
Brown
Coach (years): Buddy Teevens (16) Record last year (Ivy finish): 8-2, 6-1 Ivy (2nd) Player to watch: Senior quarterback Dalyn Williams The Skinny: Both the preseason Ivy League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year — senior quarterback Dalyn Williams and senior linebacker Will McNamara — will suit up for the Big Green, who are anticipated to finish behind only Harvard in the Ancient Eight. Williams made first team All-Ivy after throwing for 2,119 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2014 while adding 444 yards and six scores on the ground. The Corinth, Texas, native will once again team up with fifth-year senior Ryan McManus, who caught 68 passes for 879 yards and eight touchdowns last year. The Dartmouth defense allowed the second-fewest points among the Ivies in 2014, much to the credit of McNamara, who led the conference in tackles per game with 9.7. Four other defensive starters that received All-Ivy recognition last season will once again dress for the Big Green, meaning defense will once again be an area of strength. In addition, both of Dartmouth’s kicking specialists made second team All-Ivy a year ago, and McManus was first team All-Ivy as a returner. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 2nd
Coach (years): Bob Surace (6) Record last year (Ivy finish): 5-5, 4-3 Ivy (4th) Player to watch: Senior wide receiver Seth DeValve The Skinny: The Tigers fell short of expectations last year, finishing fourth in the Ancient Eight after the preseason media poll projected for them to finish at the top of the standings. With quarterback Quinn Epperly having graduated, it appears Princeton will roll with junior Chad Kanoff, who beat out two other passers for the job, under center to start the season. The Tigers’ top two receivers from last season are also departed, but 2014 leading rusher DiAndre Atwater, son of eight-time NFL Pro Bowl safety Steve Atwater, figures to be a threat on offense if he can stay healthy for a full season. On defense, the 2014 second team All-Ivy junior duo of defensive lineman Tyler Desire and defensive back Dorian Williams looks to repeat or better those honors, but with a better team result. Princeton allowed an average of 28.6 points per game to Ivy opponents last year. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 4th
Coach (years): Phil Estes (18) Record last year (Ivy finish): 5-5, 3-4 Ivy (5th) Player to watch: Fifth-year senior quarterback Marcus Fuller The Skinny: Fuller will get a second chance as starting quarterback in 2015 after mixed results last season. While the stat sheet showed 2,618 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, it also displayed a below-average 54.7 percent completion percentage. In addition, the Bears finished fourth in points scored in Ivy competition, but that stat fails to include the context of the Bears putting up 42 and 41 points against Cornell and Columbia, respectively. With first team All-Ivy defensive selections Xavier Russo and Jacob Supron graduated, seniors defensive lineman Chad Berry and linebacker Ryan MacDonald will need to step up to keep Brown’s defense competitive. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 5th
Yale
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Coach (years): Tony Reno (4) Record last year (Ivy finish): 8-2, 5-2 Ivy (3rd) Player to watch: Senior quarterback Morgan Roberts The Skinny: After a surprising third-place finish in 2014, the Bulldogs were forced to reload on offense, as three of their top offensive playmakers in running back Tyler Varga, wide receiver Grant Wallace and wide receiver Deon Randall all graduated after earning first team All-Ivy recognition in their senior seasons. That means much of the offensive load will fall on Roberts, who warranted second team All-Ivy honors last year after accruing 3,230 passing yards and 22 touchdowns through the air. Although Yale’s defense was middle-of-the-pack in 2014, it returns two 2014 second team All-Ivy defenders in junior defensive lineman Copache Tyler and junior defensive back Foyesade Oluokun, as well as its second-leading tackler in junior linebacker Darius Manora. Ivy Media Poll predicted finish: 3rd
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Princeton
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Dartmouth
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20 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
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