5-2 scheme to feature two new linebackers

The defense that takes the field for the Penn football team at Dartmouth on September 21 will bear little resemblance to the one that finished up last season. In addition to the expected losses due to graduation, a number of players have shifted positions. With all the changes, Quakers fans will be running for their media guides to match names with numbers. The Penn linebackers, which originally appeared to be an area of stability with the return of second-team all-Ivy performer Tim Gage, instead will see two new starters. Gage's shift to the defensive line and Joey Allen's graduation will cause Penn to field an all new linebacking corps for the second straight season. The Dartmouth contest will mark the first time sophomore Darren MacDonald and junior Mark Van Meter take the field together as starters. But, according to the coaching staff, inexperience will not be an excuse for poor performance. "I fully expect them to step up and play well right from the start," Penn defensive coordinator Mike Toop said. Much of the confidence is due to history. While the names have changed, Penn's defensive system remains the same. The 5-2 defensive scheme asks the defensive linemen to occupy the blockers, freeing up the linebackers to make the majority of the tackles. It is a system that features the linebackers and relies on them to excel. "Ideally, they will be one and two in total tackles on the team," Quakers coach Al Bagnoli said. While Van Meter and MacDonald have only two career starts between them, they are by no means inexperienced at the collegiate level. Both saw significant playing time in all 10 games last year and have a solid knowledge of the Penn system. "Nothing should change this year," Penn linebackers coach Todd Orlando said. "These kids have played. They understand the tempo and intensity level needed for the college game." Both MacDonald and Van Meter realize they will have to make some adjustments in their approach to the games as they adjust to their new roles. "You have to be more mentally prepared during the week," MacDonald said, "and you have to be focused for every play during the game." But beyond their lack of starting experiences, the two linebackers couldn't be more different. Van Meter, the larger of the two linebackers, is more of a classic run-stuffer. He is a physical player, who will probably not be too popular with Ivy League running backs by the end of the season. MacDonald is the more athletic of the pair. He has good speed for his position and is extremely difficult to block. "Darren has tremendous instinct," Toop said. "He is a great pursuit player, who makes plays all across the field." The Penn coaches believe Van Meter and MacDonald will complement each other. Already, the duo has shown signs of being a lethal combination. "They complement each other real well," Orlando said. "They do a great job of working together." Van Meter and MacDonald will inevitably face comparisons to the dominating linebackers the Quakers have turned out in past years. Penn has had incredible success producing all-Ivy performers from its 5-2 scheme. In each of the past two years, a Quakers linebacker has gained all-Ivy accolades in his first season as a starter. In 1995, Kevin DeLuca stepped in and was named second-team all-conference. Last year, Gage followed suit with second-team honors, as well. But both Van Meter and MacDonald are hesitant to predict a one-season surge from the bench to the all-Ivy team. For now, they are more focused on team-oriented goals and the overall play of the revamped Penn defense. Toop is also reluctant to start comparing this season's duo to those that have roamed the field from Penn in the past. "Every kid is his own man," Toop said. "You can't try to fit him into a certain mold. At the end of the career, then maybe you can start making comparisons."

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