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The Penn State football defense was the best in the nation last year at tackling opponents behind the line of scrimmage.
The Nittany Lions led the FBS in sacks. They led the country in tackles for loss. They even were No. 1 in stopping the run.
But they can be better. And they probably should be in the fast-approaching 2024 season in the expanded Big Ten.
As in more timely, more impactful and even better at making big plays in the backfield. All because they should be better at defensive end — the position where they must replace an All-American at one spot and a team-leading 16 tackles for loss at the other.
Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter (11) pretends to conduct the Blue Band as they play the alma mater following a White Out football game against Iowa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions shut out the Hawkeyes, 31-0.
Better than they were with Chop Robinson (fist-round NFL Draft pick) manning one edge and Adisa Isaac (third-round pick) at the other.
That’s the key to this all.
Because as good as those two were, Penn State’s ever-important defensive end group is deeper now. It might be even more talented and certainly could be more productive overall.
Take Robinson. While he was a relentless, menacing rusher, he still missed more than three games last season (injury, opt-out) and was a bit surprisingly unproductive when he did play (four sacks, 7.5 TFLs).
Overall, the defense was steady but unspectacular in Penn State’s three biggest games: losses to Ohio State, Michigan and Ole Miss.
How Dani Dennis-Sutton, Amin Vanover, Jameial Lyons lift up Penn State football
Dec 30, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) hits Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/better-without-chop-robinson-why-090249081.html
Author : York Daily Record
Publish date : 2024-06-04 09:02:49
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