PSU defense is improving
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State has spent much of its first two games creating questions such as: When will the offensive line come together? Can the running game progress to where it will take pressure off the passing game? And when will the kicking game, especially on field goals and kickoff coverage, come around?
Amid all these questions, the lack of uncertainty or drama in the defensive front four thus far has to be helping coach Joe Paterno sleep a little better at night.
Anchored by 300-pound all-American candidate Jared Odrick at tackle, the defensive line has shut down the first two opponents, Akron and Syracuse. With the linemen controlling the trenches, the linebackers can swoop in, sometimes unimpeded, and make the tackles.
"I think they've been huge for us," senior linebacker Sean Lee said. "They've helped us, not only the linebackers but the whole defense in general.
"They're getting off the ball and they've had control of the line of scrimmage. They hold up two linemen at a time, and that makes our life easier and helps us make plays."
It's the way the defensive coaches have drawn it up. Lee and fellow linebackers Nathan Stupar and Josh Hull rank 1-2-3 in tackles in the two games, combining for 52.
With Odrick and tackle Ollie Ogbu plus ends Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore handling things up front, the defense appears frequently in this week's NCAA rankings.
The Nittany Lions are 10th against the rush, yielding 46.5 yards per game. They are tied for 12th in yards allowed, with an average of 193.0, and tied for ninth in points given up, with 7.0 per game.
The unit has had 19 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. While Lee has a team high of five, sidekicks Odrick and Ogbu, a 6-foot-1, a 285-pound junior, have hammered their way into opposing backfields for 5Z\x stops for losses between them.
One would expect that from Odrick, who considered entering the NFL draft before returning for his senior season. But Ogbu, who split time with two other defensive tackles last season, has played well in the early going.
"He's come to the front," Paterno said of Ogbu. "Obviously, he's had to step into some big shoes, but he's done a good job. Odrick is the one that runs that show for him."
Ogbu said it doesn't bother him to pave the way for teammates to make the tackles.
"Not at all," he said. "I play a position that's not as noticed as linebacker. We're doing all the dirty work and that's fine. It's not like I'm a glamour guy wanting to be on TV. I just want to make plays."
He might have a chance to make more if Odrick can sustain his level of play, which will most likely result in double-team blocking against him.
Crawford and Latimore, both sophomores, also had a huge responsibility taking over at end for Aaron Maybin, Josh Gaines, and Maurice Evans, all of whom spent the summer in NFL training camps. They have shown promise early.
Crawford, a native of England who came to Penn State from St. Augustine Prep in South Jersey after just two years of organized football, has a sack and another tackle for a loss among his six stops.
