Stroud, it could be a game-changer.Īrnold Ebiketie is a pass-rushing TFL machine up front for Penn State. However, because I don’t think OSU has been challenged on the front line, I went with a versatile pass rusher for the Nittany Lions. Brisker, Brown, Porter Jr., Castro-Fields - Penn State’s secondary is one of the most impressive units in the country, and I see a lot of similarities between them and recent Ohio State groups. Ellis Brooks, Brandon Smith, and Jesse Luketa make up one of the best linebacker groups in the country.Īnd don’t get me started on the secondary. The big DT was an important run stopper for them, but he was unfortunately lost for the season. Mustipher might have been PSU’s most important defensive player, as we saw what happened with him out of the lineup (Illinois game). I could have gone with half a dozen guys here, and felt confident in my choice for Defensive Player to Watch. Pick your poison: loading up the box against TreVeyon Henderson, or dropping eight in coverage to limit opportunities for Stroud and his receivers? Penn State will need big games from at least a few defensive players, of which they have some great ones. Even worse, the Buckeyes do not have to rely on one facet of the game. Unfortunately for them, they are about to run into a buzzsaw, more balanced and talented than Auburn or Iowa. The Nittany Lions limited the effectiveness of both teams. I will acknowledge that the schedule has not been great, but Auburn and Iowa are plenty capable of moving the ball. With the exception of one game, Penn State has been pretty darn good on defense.

Teams have to try and move the ball on them somehow, right? However, for as poor as the rush defense appears on paper, and for as badly as Illinois thrashed them on the ground, the Nittany Lions are only giving up 3.58 yards per carry – which would put them somewhere in the neighborhood of top-30. I think it’s impossible to defend giving up 357 yards rushing to a terrible Illinois team.

The Fighting Illini put up 357 yards rushing, which is about one-third of the total PSU has allowed on the season. Prior to this past weekend’s upset, PSU ranked inside the top-25 in YPG given up on the ground. The ranking for rush defense is heavily influenced by their most recent game against Illinois, and not necessarily indicative of the Nittany Lions’ ability to stop the run. Penn State currently ranks 6 th in scoring defense, 26 th in total defense, T-15 th in passing defense, and 62 nd in rushing defense. “the Big House - Columbus” /qzCeuFuSY3- Brutus Buckeye October 28, 2021

God hand game arnold