PSU plays to strength at linebacker
STATE COLLEGE — All summer long, Joe Paterno and his coaching staff tried to squash talk that Penn State might use a four-linebacker look more on defense.
Nice cover.
With a quartet of quick, athletic linebackers often scooting around the field, the 19th-ranked Nittany Lions frustrated Akron's offense in a 34-16 win Saturday at soggy Beaver Stadium. Penn State also at times used an odd-looking two-lineman, four-linebacker, five-defensive back scheme when Akron faced third-and-long situations.
That's different from the four-lineman look featured on last year's solid unit, so Heisman hopeful quarterback Brady Quinn might have something new to think about when Penn State visits No. 2 Notre Dame Saturday.
"We're trying to show a lot of different things and try to confuse them. We got a lot of speed on the field," linebacker Dan Connor said about playing Akron. Connor registered two sacks, one forced fumble and a game-high 13 tackles.
"We'll see what we do next week," Connor said.
Penn State's performance against Akron was far from perfect. There were blunders on special teams and the offensive line couldn't generate a running game. New quarterback Anthony Morelli clicked with his talented receivers, throwing for three touchdowns and 206 yards, but had a few mistakes.
Still, the Nittany Lions played with a comfortable, mostly double-digit lead after halftime. There were slick field conditions to deal with after the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto drenched Happy Valley, and opening-game jitters to get over.
Three starters graduated off last year's workhorse, four-man defensive line, including pass-rusher Tamba Hali. But all three starting linebackers, including Connor and all-American Paul Posluszny, returned, and the Nittany Lions have depth at that position.
Against Akron, linebacker Tim Shaw, who played the middle last year, often rushed quarterback Luke Getsy and had two sacks.
"We read all the rumors about it but did not know what they would do," Akron coach J.D. Brookhart said. "I thought it could be a logical move considering all of the good 'backers that they have."
Paterno likes the athleticism of Shaw, a converted running back.
"It was just a question of the team we were playing against and trying to get the best kids we have into the ballgame," said Paterno, who won his 355th career game and improved to 34-7 in season openers. "But it basically was a four-man line most of the day."
