Terry M. Smith Wednesday Media Notebook: Michigan State

Penn State football interim head coach Terry M. Smith addressed the media on Wednesday evening ahead of the Land Grant Trophy clash with Michigan State on the road.

1. Working Against Different Quarterback Packages

With the quarterback situation at Michigan State being undecided as of Monday, Penn State will have to prepare their defense to face both Alessio Milivojevic and Aidan Chiles on Saturday. Smith said that the defense has “certain periods” that the defense will “focus on an athletic quarterback” – one he said that requires a spy in some coverages – and also on a pocket passer, wherein he said that the defense does not “have to have that spy.” Chiles is likely the “athletic quarterback” that Penn State will focus on in some of those periods, running 81 times for 227 yards this season. On the other hand, Milivojevic is more of a pocket passer as nine of his 19 carries this year were recorded as sacks.