THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
"Always go for the interception!" Nelson screams.
Over the last two games, during which the Penn State secondary seemingly has allowed receivers more cushion than an overstuffed sofa, not to mention 571 passing yards, it's been pretty obvious that Nelson is not issuing the directives. Those duties fall to defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who tutors the cornerbacks, and Brian Norwood, who works with the safeties.
The Nittany Lions' corners are taught to play several yards off the wideouts and the safeties generally don't crowd the box, the better to prevent giving up big plays in the passing game. That the scheme has worked so well for so long mostly is a testament to the faith the coaching staff has in the defensive line and linebackers to put enough heat on the quarterback to generate sacks and hurried throws.
Until a couple of weeks ago, the system, for the most part, had worked well. Even though Penn State gave up 318 passing yards at Indiana, the Lions sacked quarterback Kellen Lewis six times and forced four turnovers to eke out a 36-31 victory.
Against No. 1 Ohio State last week, however, the plan came a cropper in a 37-17 drubbing. Perhaps that's because of a slew of injuries to key players; defensive end Jerome Hayes (knee), defensive tackle Jared Odrick (ankle) and safety Tony Davis (appendectomy) all were unavailable, and remain so.
Perhaps it's because the Buckeyes max-protected quarterback Todd Boeckman, who was sacked only once, and had a good enough running game to force a lot of second- and third-and-shorts, giving receivers time and room to exploit the soft underneath coverage.
So, with criticism suddenly coming down on Penn State defensive backs like a quick, chain-moving slant on third-and-3, the focus will be on how they react in tomorrow's final home game against the Big Ten Conference's passingest team, the Purdue Boilermakers.
Although Purdue has gotten off 402 passes in nine games, an average of 44.7 per game, it has allowed only 12 sacks. Quarterback Curtis Painter mostly takes three-step drops and unloads the ball fast. But the Boilermakers send out a lot of receivers, making Painter susceptible, at least in theory, to a pass rush that gets there in a hurry.
And the more heat put on Painter, the less heat on frazzled Penn State defensive backs who feel they have been unfairly singled out for most of the team's recent defensive ills.
"A lot of people who know the kind of defense we run understand what's going on out there," cornerback Lydell Sargeant said.
And those who don't understand?
"Look, people are going to say what they're going to say and think what they're going to think," Sargeant said. "We're on an island. If we get beat deep and it's a Cover 2, it's, 'Where's the corner at?' "
Matt Hahn had reconstructive surgery on his right knee Wednesday, but he insists a little thing like a torn anterior cruciate ligament won't prevent him from going through the tunnel with his fellow seniors at Beaver Stadium for the last time in tomorrow's home finale against Purdue.
Matt Hahn had reconstructive surgery on his right knee Wednesday, but he insists a little thing like a torn anterior cruciate ligament won't prevent him from going through the tunnel with his fellow seniors at Beaver Stadium for the last time in tomorrow's home finale against Purdue."I'm sure I'll be able to come out of the tunnel, whether it's on crutches or on some kind of scooter," the 6-foot, 236-pound senior from Dix Hills, N.Y., said earlier this week.
Hahn suffered the first serious injury of his career in a 36-31 victory at Indiana on Oct. 20. Primarily a lead blocker and safety-valve receiver, Hahn blew out the knee in the fourth quarter on one of his rare opportunities to carry the ball.
"I got the ball up the middle and broke into the clear," Hahn recalled of the run on which he was injured. "I was going a little bit toward the right. From the corner of my eye, I saw the safety kind of flying up the middle of the field. I tried to cut off my right foot and back to the left, hoping he would overrun the plan. But when I cut, my foot got stuck in the turf. I didn't get touched by anybody."
The prognosis for a full recovery is at least 6 months, although Hahn intends to be most of the way back in time for Penn State's Pro Day in March. Hey, the NFL always can use an old-fashioned fullback who doesn't mind doing the dirty work for not much glory.
"Injuries are a part of football," Hahn said. "There's never really a good time to get hurt. But if I don't get into the right mind frame and I don't approach my rehab positively, I won't get better as fast as I can."
|
|
|
|
|
|
