The Penn State Nittany Lions” pass rush has been noticeably absent during their Big Ten campaign. In their most recent game against Ohio State, the defense managed only 14 sacks over eight games, a significant drop compared to the 44 sacks recorded in 16 games last season.
Interim head coach Terry Smith stated on Monday that the defensive line performed admirably against Ohio State. He noted that they applied considerable pressure on quarterback Julian Sayin, with statistics indicating 15 quarterback pressures. “We felt like we got a lot of pressure on Sayin,” Smith remarked. “We have to continue to develop that and get more pressure on the quarterback.”
Despite these claims, Sayin had ample time in the pocket, completing 20 of 23 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns without being sacked in the Buckeyes” 38-14 victory, marking Penn State”s fifth consecutive loss. Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and linebacker Keon Wylie both missed a crucial opportunity to sack Sayin on a third-and-5, allowing him to escape and scramble for a first down, which subsequently led to a touchdown pass.
Historically, Penn State has been among the top teams nationally in sacks, but this season has seen a stark decline. Dennis-Sutton, who was a preseason All-American, has recorded only two sacks so far, with none coming in Big Ten action, a significant drop from his 8.5 sacks last season. Smith attributed this decrease to the new defensive philosophy under coordinator Jim Knowles, stating, “This defense is more gap control. Last year”s defense was more vertical push up the field. It”s just a different philosophy.” He also noted the absence of Abdul Carter, who had 12 sacks last season, as a critical factor in their struggles.
Of the 14 sacks Penn State has achieved this year, nine occurred during non-conference matchups against teams such as Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova. The Lions failed to record any sacks against both Oregon and Iowa, as well as in their latest game against Ohio State. In addition to their low sack total, the team has only achieved 43 tackles for loss, a significant reduction from 119 last season, with just 14 in five Big Ten games.
In the upcoming matchup, Penn State”s cornerbacks will face another significant challenge against the No. 2 ranked Indiana this Saturday at noon. Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza ranks second nationally in pass efficiency, boasting a completion percentage of 72.3% along with 2,124 yards and 25 touchdowns against four interceptions. Indiana leads the country in scoring, averaging 46.4 points per game and ranking third in total offense with 504.9 yards per game.
Wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt have been standout performers for Indiana, combining for over 1,200 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. Smith expressed concern about the upcoming challenge, stating, “It doesn”t get any easier. They”re very similar to Ohio State in their style and approach.” Last week, Penn State struggled against Ohio State”s receiving corps, with Tate and Jeremiah Smith combining for 11 receptions, 247 yards, and three touchdowns. Smith noted, “One of the reasons why it happened is that our guys were sitting on routes a little bit too much.”
In addition, running back Nick Singleton was seen returning kickoffs for the first time this season against Ohio State. Though he watched as several kickoffs resulted in touchbacks, he was later replaced by younger backs Corey Smith and Quinton Martin, who struggled with decision-making. Smith explained that with the game situation changing, they wanted to give younger players opportunities, although it resulted in poor decisions on returns.
