STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -Part of the slogan that Penn State uses to market the football team provides perhaps a perfect description for the defense: “No Names. All Game.”
There are no stars like Paul Posluszny or Dan Connor this year, but the defense is still tough and peaking at the right time – just as the No. 6 Nittany Lions (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) head into a Saturday night test at Wisconsin.
Most of the spotlight this season in Happy Valley has been hogged by a potent offense scoring 45 points a game.
“Not at all, I’m very happy for the success for the offense,” safety Anthony Scirrotto said when asked if he felt the defense was overlooked. “Our job is to get them the ball to score.”
The stat sheet shows impressive numbers for the D, too: ninth in the country in points allowed (11.7), eighth in total defense (250.3 yards), and 11th against the run (80.2 yards).
e trouble of its own on offense, the Nittany Lions’ defense stepped up on the road.
Penn State is “one of the first things that jump out to you when you take out the Big Ten stats,” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. “Those are some impressive numbers.”
And potentially bad news for the Badgers and quarterback Allen Evridge, who is taking heat for his shaky play with Wisconsin off to an 0-2 conference start.
Bielema maintained that Evridge was still the starter, but added that he expected more production from the position. Both Evridge and backup Dustin Sherer were unavailable for interviews this week.
The Badgers are still known for a power running game behind burly tailback P.J. Hill and the tough matchup presented by tight end Travis Beckum.
In contrast, Penn State’s defense is composed of a rather anonymous bunch.
Until the start of the season, Penn State may have been known more for off-field trouble, like the problems tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor had before being kicked off the team in August.
Bednarik Award-winning linebackers Connor and Posluszny led the defense in recent years but both are now in the NFL. Sean Lee would have become the star had he not had a season-ending knee injury in spring practice.
from a three-week stay in coach Joe Paterno’s doghouse for an off-field issue.
Through it all, the defense has held on.
The schedule may have afforded them a break, allowing young guys to gain experience in nonconference blowouts before the rigors of the Big Ten.
That maturation showed at Purdue, and linebacker Navorro Bowman said the key is playing faster.
“Yeah, I think so. We went out there with our hats straight,” said Bowman. “That makes a better defense when all 11 guys are anticipating things and reacting as a whole.”
Bowman, a sophomore, has made a big impact so far and looks to have the athleticism and explosiveness to be a force in the future. Another sophomore, defensive end Aaron Maybin, has a team-high seven sacks after taken over the starting spot from Evans, while senior end Josh Gaines provides the emotional lift.
With the roster shuffling settled for now, the defensive line remains the strength of the defense. After Bowman, linebacker play has been OK, though at times inconsistent – it’s a hard job to step into the shoes of a Posluszny or Connor.
The veteran secondary is also solid, but has been burned deep on occasion the last two weeks. Against the Boilermakers, though, Penn State did a good job of tackling and limiting receiving yards after a catch.
ense.”
“I think most of the teams we’ve played, we’ve measured up to and could handle what they were doing. This is a little different,” Paterno said about the Badgers. “We’re in a little different situation this week.”
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