New PSU offensive line coach Trautwein is drawing praise

From the moment they met in January, Michal Menet clicked with new Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.

“From the first second I started talking to him, I could already tell that I was going to like him,” Menet said Wednesday. “Before I even talked to him, I was excited that he played in the NFL and had that experience that he could bring to us. That’s a huge plus.”

The 34-year-old Trautwein, a native of Voorhees, N.J., was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference offensive tackle and a two-time national champion at Florida who was in the NFL for four seasons.

He said last month that getting Menet, a team captain last season and the leader of the offensive line, to buy into what he was coaching and teaching was critical.

“I love Coach Traut,” Menet said. “He’s a great guy to be around, kind of demands everybody to be better every day, which is something that I’ve always loved from a coach.

“He’s younger. He kind of gets it. He understands what we’re going through because he’s not very far removed from playing himself.” Trautwein replaced Matt Limegrover, who was fired. He’ll try to improve an offensive line that last season surrendered 32 sacks, 11th in the Big Ten.

He’ll also try to improve the running game, which finished fourth in the conference but averaged just 104.3 yards against Big Ten East rivals Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State.

“The biggest difference is probably the run game technique and fundamentals,” Menet said. “I like it more because I just feel like it’s more physical and more explosive, which I think is going to be a huge plus for us this year, especially with the talent that we have in the backfield.”

Right tackle Will Fries, a senior like Menet, said Trautwein uses many principles from renowned New England Patriots line coach Dante Scarnecchia. Trautwein spent the last two seasons at Boston College after serving as a graduate assistant there.

“He always talks about Coach Scarnecchia and the techniques he teaches,” Fries said. “I think the thing that kind of separates him from other coaches is not only how you’re doing the technique but why you’re doing it.

“I think that just builds a greater understanding of how you should play the game.”

All five projected starters on the Penn State offensive line this season received at least four stars as high school recruits. It might be the most talented group the Nittany Lions have had in a long time.

“There’s a ton of potential for our whole O-line as far as athleticism, talent and work ethic,” Menet said. “We all want to work hard and get better every day. That’s always been our mentality since I’ve gotten here.

“With some of Coach Traut’s new fundamentals, techniques and mentalities, I think our potential for this year is very high.”