BUILGING BLOCKS: Robertson leads young secondary

Junior cornerback may have had beyter '95 season than all-Ivy pick Kevin Allen, says coach Heading into the 1996 season, an optimist might describe Penn's situation at cornerback as youthful. On the other hand, a pessimist would probably fret about inexperience. Whether you see the glass as half full or half empty, it is true that the Quakers will not have a senior corner lined up against Dartmouth's wide receivers in the season opener this Saturday. "It's probably different than other years, when it's been a veteran kid coming back," Penn secondary coach Rick Flanders said. Graduation hit the Quakers' defensive backfield hard, claiming three all-league players. One of those was cornerback Kevin Allen, a second-team all-Ivy performer two seasons ago and a first-teamer as a senior. But that's not to say Penn's cupboard of talent is completely bare. Junior Larrin Robertson returns after starting all 10 of the Quakers' games last season. Robertson, who defended six passes and had one interception in 1995, finds himself switching roles from newcomer to tested veteran in the space of one year. "It's an odd situation for me, being the veteran of the squad," Robertson said. "But I definitely learned a lot from the guys last year that graduated. So I just hope what they taught me I can pass on to these guys." Flanders called the 5-foot-10, 175 pounder the "most complete" of all the Penn corners and is looking for the Bloomfield Hills, Mich., native to be a steady presence in the defensive backfield. Flanders will no doubt be happy if Robertson plays like he did last year. In Flanders's opinion, Robertson was as good as Allen, if not better. "Nine out of 10 games, he very well might better than Kevin Allen, although Kevin Allen got the first-team all-league [honor] because he'd done it for three years," Flanders said. "If you honestly said who had the better season, Larrin might have actually played better." While Robertson will be a constant at one corner, the other starting spot is still up for grabs. The two contenders for the assignment are sophomores Chris Parsons and Joe Piela. Parsons and Piela are both 5-foot-9, but the similarities end there. Parsons, from Sarasota, Fla., is a speedy coverage specialist, according to Penn head coach Al Bagnoli. In fact, Flanders says the 160-pound Parsons "could be our best flat-out coverage kid." On the other hand, Piela, who weighs 25 pounds more than Parsons, is the stronger run defender. Piela, of Fair Lawn, N.J., appeared in every game last year and picked of one pass. "Basically, Piela reads," Robertson said. "He's very good at reading routes, reading quarterbacks. He was a quarterback himself in high school, so he knows that whole situation." Bagnoli said that whoever is not chosen as the second starter -- Parsons or Piela -- will see plenty of time in the Quakers' nickel and dime packages. "We still have a whole full week left to practice and make a final decision, but they both played well in the scrimmage against Millersville," Bagnoli said. Sophomore Justin Edmondson and freshmen Melvin Alexander and Hasani White are also expected to see some action in passing situations. There is also the possibility of moving senior John Bishop from safety to corner. So although Penn may lack experience, it will certainly have depth. "We're more versatile this year," Flanders said. "I'm not saying we're better. I think we're better able to handle some injuries, and I don't have to worry so much about motivating second-line kids." All of the Quakers cornerbacks better be motivated and prepared to play. No doubt opposing offenses will be eager to test the young group. "That's expected," Robertson said. "It's not so much that we're young, but our front seven is very good. So teams are going to have to go through the air against us. That's something we have to be ready for."