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Oregon football coach Dan Lanning played linebacker in college and coached linebackers as an assistant coach, so he understands what it takes to have a great defense.
“Winning football always starts in the trenches,” Lanning said. “You know, our D-line has been game-changers for us this year. That’s probably a big piece of what this game is going to come down to, our D-line’s ability to do more with less in the run game and the pass game.”
The Ducks’ front four will test Penn State’s offensive line when the two teams meet for the Big Ten championship at 8 p.m. Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Top-ranked Oregon (12-0) piled up 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss last week in a 49-21 blowout win over Washington. Defensive ends Jordan Burch and Matayo Uiagalelei combined for 4.5 of those sacks.
The Ducks are tied for sixth nationally with 39 sacks.
“Their starting four is a really talented group and they’re really disruptive in both the run and pass games,” Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar said. “We need to do a really good job up front this weekend. I know our O-line is up for the challenge. It’s going to be a fun matchup.”
No. 3 Penn State has allowed just 11 sacks in 12 games, which is tied for seventh nationally. Ohio State, which has one of the best defensive lines in the country, dropped Allar twice.
Along with Burch and Uiagalelei, Oregon has defensive tackles Derrick Harmon and Jamaree Caldwell, who have combined for 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
“It’s their size,” Allar said. “They’re really big up front, but you wouldn’t expect them to move like they move. Their two interior guys are disruptive, too, No. 90 (Caldwell) is a bigger guy but he gets off the ball really well. They move him in and out, too. And No. 55 (Harmon) is really good, too.”
The Lions…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-offensive-line-receive-044600925.html
Author : Reading Eagle, Pa.
Publish date : 2024-12-05 04:46:00
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