Analysis: Penn State Defense Among Nation’s Most Disruptive

Only Ohio State (second) slots higher than Penn State among Big Ten teams. New coordinator Tom Allen has adjusted well in-game, especially in the second half. Penn State got off to slow starts defensively in every game other than a 56-0 throttling to Kent State, allowing opening drive touchdowns to Bowling Green and Illinois. It would be the only points the No. 19-ranked Illioni would score. 

Penn State is allowing 11.5 points per game, is fourth in the nation in total yards allowed (226.5), 10th in rushing yards (72), and allowing 155 yards per game in the pass game. 

Sack numbers ticked up following Saturday’s 21-7 win against Illinois. Penn State recorded five sacks, including two from Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy National Player of the Week Abdul Carter. Playing both defensive end and linebacker, Carter leads the Lions with three sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. 

Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton have combined for four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. Penn State’s secondary is starting to shape itself out as transfer corners AJ Harris and Jalen Kimber become more comfortable in the defense. There’s still some work to do in the back end, but promising signs with Jaylen Reed controlling the last line of defense.

Tony Rojas, Dom DeLuca, and Tyler Elsdon have stabilized the middle of the field and get better when the game goes in attacking the run. Penn State has forced as many fumbles (four) as interceptions and 16 more TFLs than their opponents through the non-conference schedule and the start of Big Ten competition.

Tackling needs to go from good to great to become one of the top five statistical  defenses in the land and a key ingredient to success as Penn State enters its toughest strength of games.

Penn State is a 27.5-point favorite against UCLA Saturday at noon but travels to Los Angeles next weekend to play No. 11 USC at the LA Coliseum in what could become a top-10 matchup. Ohio State lingers Nov. 2 after a date with the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison.