O’Brien’s confidence should help team
I continue to be impressed with Penn State Coach Bill O’Brien.
In particular, the confidence he is exuding as he heads into his first season at the helm of the Nittany Lions, amid adversity never before experience by any college football coach.
He constantly talks about the positives he sees in the guys who have stuck with the program, and I get the sense there is more to this than just coachspeak.
Oh, there is some of that, no doubt, though we have gotten used to Joe Paterno’s constant downplaying of how good his team could be.
O’Brien has been praising the often maligned Matt McGloin at QB, and I can’t help but think O’Brien will make McGloin a much better quarterback.
This week, though, O’Brien is expressing confidence in the secondary, an area where all four starters left after last season. That’s good news as it is an area of concern, with the front seven hopefully able to help by slowing run games and pressuring opposing quarterbacks.
O’Brien also says up to seven receivers are in the mix to see some playing time, and while none are stars coming in, he seems to feel the group can get the job done.
Every team has optimism in August, but from where I sit, O’Brien’s words seem to be more than just salesmanship.
