Having options isn’t always a good thing — sometimes it means everyone is equally average — but in the case of Penn State receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield, he looks at the Nittany Lions’ receivers’ room and sees lots of options – and he means the good kind.
“Since I’ve been here this is the deepest my room has been,” Stubblefield said. “So guys gotta come ready to play each week.”
If true that’s certainly good news for Penn State as it looks to replace first round NFL Draft selection Jahan Dotson who is set to make his league debut with the Washington Commanders later this fall. In the meanwhile Stubblefield will work with the duo of Western Kentucky transfer Mitchell Tinsley and returning Nittany Lion Parker Washington. It’s a pairing that could very well end up being among the better 1-2 punches in the Big Ten.
For now Stubblefield just has to wait though, player-led offseason workout periods can’t happen under the watch of the coaching staff. In turn its up to guys like Washington to figure out the best way to utilize the time.
Fortunately for receivers the job is somewhat straightforward: get open and catch the ball.
“Parker has put together a catching routine for these guys daily that is more than what we’ve had in the past,” Stubblefield said. “Guys are investing more in what they’re doing amongst themselves. So I’m excited to see the continued development of the guys that have been here.”
Having lots of option does pose practice challenges of course. Deciding who exactly gets on the field for any given rep can be a juggling act between proven vets like Tinsley, Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith and the new faces like Jaden Dottin, Kaden Saunders and up and coming deep threat hopeful Malick Meiga.
That being said, as Stubblefield pointed out, it sure does beat the other less enjoyable options. Better to have good problems than bad ones.
“It can be difficult and that’s a good thing,” Stubblefield said of balancing reps and making depth chart decisions. “Because we want it to be where, if the two comes in, it’s not that big of a drop off or it’s not a drop off at all. That’s what we want to have happen. And so yeah, it is a tough decision and we make it as a staff. It’s not just all on me. Everybody has input on it, but it’s a good thing to have.”
