Penn State Q&A: Sean Clifford talks Michigan defense, health, his future, and more

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford could be set for his penultimate college football game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday when the Lions host Michigan.

Or, the three-year starter for head coach James Franklin could have many more on the horizon, if he was to come back for one final season.

The Ohio native was asked about that possibility on Wednesday during a conference call with reporters. Just like the week before, No. 14 wasn’t ready to think about the future before this season ends.

“I’m not looking at in any way right now, honestly, just more so taking advantage of this time with my team,” Clifford said. “When the time comes, I’ll have discussions with my family, the coaches, other players, but right now, it’s really hard to look in the future when you have so much in the present, so much opportunity.

“It would be stupid to look past that right now when we have such a great opponent come in to play us this weekend. The mindsets 1-0, and that’s what it is going to be until the end of the season.”

Clifford also discussed the matchup with the Wolverines, star receiver Jahan Dotson, and more. He is the feature of this week’s BWI Penn State Q&A.

Question: What are you anticipating from the Penn State-Michigan matchup and how will it feel to be back in Beaver Stadium?

Sean Clifford: “Really excited about the matchup. Obviously, it’s going to be a little bit different look, just because it’s a new defensive coordinator. I played them with Coach Don Brown for a while. I thought that he was a great coach, but the new guy’s doing some good things. Their defense is super stout. They play with speed but also a lot of aggression. They got some challenges upfront, with Aidan Hutchinson being one of them.

“I think that he’s a very talented player, a leader on that team. I think that they have a lot of things going for them, but we’re obviously excited for the opportunity. Really excited to get back into Beaver Stadium and try to go 1-0 this week.”

Q: The Michigan defense, what are they doing differently this year compared to last year with the new coordinator [Mike Macdonald]?

SC: “I think that they’re a little bit more multiple in their coverage scheme. In the past, they played a lot of man, lot of one-high stuff, and gave you a little bit of two-high. Flirt with both, but never anything exotic. Whereas now, I’m not saying they’re doing anything exotic, per se, but they’re doing more of everything. You’ll see some two high stuff, you’ll see the man, you’ll see little one high zone; they’re just a little bit more multiple in their scheme. I think that’s been working for them. They’ve really had success in it.

“They got the players to do it. It’s a challenge. It’s fun for me, because you have to put in that time, that film study throughout the week, to be prepared and go in and know that you’re confident in yourself and your teammates. So, really excited for the opportunity.”

Q: When you watched the film from the Penn State-Maryland game on Monday, what were some of the top things to build on?

SC: “I think the fast start is number one. We got to jump out to a quicker start. I thought that we had opportunities early and we didn’t capitalize, but I think that we did the exact opposite pretty much in the second half, where, we had those opportunities and we capitalized on most of them. I still think that we left a lot in the second half as well, a few plays, but I thought we did a really good job of responding from the first half.

“If you want to be an elite team, you got to start fast, and I thought that we were in spots and places where we could have made some big plays to change the game’s momentum, and we didn’t exactly in the first half. But, we got back on the saddle and really played a pretty clean second half. A lot to build on but a lot to like from that game as well.”

Q: How has Jahan’s work ethic impressed you over the years? How is it different than other players? And have you seen it rubbing off on some of the younger Penn State receivers?

SC: “I think that his work ethic has kind of been one of the things that has gotten him to this point. He played as a freshman. It takes a lot of work, a lot of studying, a lot of film to do that, and he had a role his freshman year, which is kudos to him. Ever since then, he’s never really taken a backseat seat. He’s always wanted more on his plate, and this year, obviously, he wanted to be the true leader in that room.

“He wanted to be a role model for the younger guys and a role model for the older guys as well. I learn things from Jahan every day. He’s a great friend, he’s a great player, and he’s very teammates. He’s working extremely hard to win these games, and I think that it’s inspiring.”

Q: What are the challenges with Michigan’s defense ends, Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo?

SC: “I think that they do a very good job of getting pressure on the quarterback. Both of them are extremely talented. They got speed off the edge, but they also got some pretty good moves that come with it. I think that both of them are also very good in the run as well. It’s just kind of apparent, when I think … 15 sacks combined with the two of them is a pretty impressive number. It’s just a little bit enhanced focus there.

“I got trust in both guys, Rasheed Walker and Caedan Wallace, my two tackles, and honestly the whole offensive line, to handle that, but at the same time, you got to give credit where credit’s due. They got a lot of talent upfront, and you just got to prepare for it.”

Q: We haven’t seen you contribute as much to the run game in recent weeks for very understandable reasons. Has that been tough on you to not be able to do it and do you feel as if you’re getting back to where you can do some of those things again?

SC: “I feel like I’ve not been involved as much in the rushing game, but I don’t know if I would say that was due to injury or any, you know, external source like that. I think it’s more, we’re putting up numbers in the past game, I feel extremely confident in the pocket right now, getting a lot of protection, guys getting open downfield. That’s kind of also influencing it. I feel there are some plays that I can make outside the pocket, and when they’re there, I’m going to make them but I’ve also grown up a little bit and I’ve understood that standing in the pocket and you know, waiting that extra half maybe second or two is going; there’s going to be guys, coming open, getting through your full progression.

“There are guys that will come open in the third, fourth, fifth part of the progression that, if I can get to them in time, those are explosive plays. I think it’s a little bit of a combination of both. I feel good, I feel great, actually, from a health perspective. One hundred percent, I would say. So, it’s not as much that I don’t want to run, it’s just there are things downfield that I’d rather get to in passing.”