Football RB spot still up for grabs

Finding a replacement for arguably the greatest running back in recent Penn football history, Kris Ryan, forces one to look in unusual places.

For instance, the defensive backfield.

That is where fifth year senior speedster Stephen Faulk has spent the last three seasons as a cornerback and return man for the Quakers. Currently, Faulk is leading a three way battle for the running back position, ahead of senior Todd Okolovitch and junior Jake Perskie.

While adding the track star's speed to the offensive side of the ball increases the big play potential there, it does hurt a secondary already weakened by injury.

Entering camp, the secondary appeared to be a strong point for a Quaker defense hurt by graduation in the front seven. However, currently both projected starting cornerbacks are out of action, with last year's defensive rookie of the year junior Rudy Brown unable to practice because of a concussion.

"We're losing 30 games of experience in the backfield," Penn head coach Al Bagnoli said. "So it's going to be difficult."

Given the potential lack of depth at cornerback resulting from the injury, it is not unreasonable to expect Faulk to get significant action on both sides of the ball.

"Certain situations, game situations will provide all the answers there," Bagnoli said. "It depends if he's providing all the answers [at running back] or is part of a rotation"

Safeties Vince Alexander, Duvol Thompson and Kevin Stefanski will need to pan out for the secondary to keep afloat until the cornerback situation resolves itself. Stefanski, the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the year, is also returning from a season ending knee injury he sustained a year ago.

"He's not 100 percent yet, more like 95," Bagnoli said. "But he's close."

With players returning from injury and playing multiple positions the secondary will certainly have its work cut out for itself in practice with the Sept. 21 game against Lafyette looming.

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The big play.

With Faulk joining the offense and big-armed senior quarterback Mike Mitchell taking over the reigns at quarterback, the potential is there for more long gains from the Penn offense. Last season, the Quakers relied on long drives and controlling the ball.

"Everyone expects us to stall out so we don't feel much pressure, but we feel we can be better than we were last year," said Rob Milanese, last year's leading receiver. "We know we have the players to make some big plays. Last year we depended on longer drives which is tough."

Much of the optimism rests on the arm of Mitchell and an improving offensive line that can give him the time to use it.

"He's ridiculous," Milanese said. "He's a gutsy player who will take chances down the field."

Providing him the protection to go down the field is an offensive line that returns three starters and has improved greatly since the spring.

"Most people have been doubting the line, but thus far they've been carrying the offense," Milanese said. "They've been dominating like we need them to do."

"They're the keystone of what we're trying to do on offense," Bagnoli said. "We think we have some gamebreakers on offense with Milanese and Faulk and Perskie. Unless they hold up it negates a lot of the speed and athleticism we're looking to use."

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