The Lions' secondary in a familiar place

Tom Bradley has been here before. The man is not only in charge of the team's defense, but the cornerbacks and secondary. As preseason camp inches closer (begins Aug. 10), Bradley knows all too well the challenge of having to completely rebuild a secondary that loses all four senior starters from the previous season's Big Ten Championship team.

In 2004, Penn State's pass defense was ranked No. 6 nationally at 162.3 ypg, while the Lions were No. 4 in pass efficiency defense with a 99.8 rating. Penn State allowed only five touchdown passes all season, with just two coming in the eight Big Ten contests. That unit only lost one starter, Andy Guman, but he was replaced by a former starter, Chris Harrell.

The next season, 2005, the unit slipped a bit statistically, allowing 211.7 ypg and 11 touchdown passes. But those numbers were mostly due to opponents' frantic garbage time passing as Penn State rolled to easy blowout wins. The secondary also grabbed 16 interceptions, and held opponents to just 5.8 yards per attempt.

With all the starters off to the NFL (all four were either drafted or FA), combined with the loss of 3/4 of an elite defensive line (93 ypg), the defense looked shaky at best going into 2006.

But Bradley pulled off a remarkable feat. The defense was not only as good as the 2005 edition, it actually improved. Penn State allowed a paltry 284.5 total ypg (87 rush ypg and 197 pass ypg) which was even better than the 2004 defense. The 14.4 ppg allowed in 2006 was Penn State's best mark this decade, until last year's defense matched it.

So, we know Bradley can do this. He's done it before. But there is a twist this time around -- Penn State now has the benefit of four years' worth of top-notch recruiting behind it, when in 2006, the talent level depth still left much to be desired.

The defensive line, despite the recent losses, still has plenty of VHTs (a little Phil Steele action for ya) in the two-deep and the best DT duo in the Big Ten, and the linebackers return the best group in five years.

The secondary will remain the main concern for Bradley and Joe Paterno, but all the doom and gloom could be premature, just as being overly optimistic would be.

AJ Wallace and Knowledge Timmons have been around the program a long time. Wallace was rated as the No. 1 corner out of high school, and has started six in his career. True soph D'Anton Lynn is another VHT, who played in almost every game last season.

Penn State brought in five defensive backs in this year's recruiting class, which should give the overall talent here a shot in the arm.

Although Bradley doesn't directly coach the safeties (Asst. Kermit Buggs), this group must be in lock-step with the corners this year.

Drew Astorino filled in as the third safety (PSU uses 3 safties instead of a nickelback) last year, and also started three games. Behind him is soph Nick Sukay, a VHT who has been caught by the injury bug. Sukay is now healthy and ready to push for Astorino's spot.

Penn State's HERO (SS) position is an open race, but VHT soph Andrew Dailey (former LB) is now leading. Behind Dailey is junior Cedric Jeffries, who has seen action in 26 games. The wildcard in all of this is VHT true frosh Gerald Hodges, who saw significant time in the spring game, and who the coaches are very high on.

At last week's Big Ten Media Days, Paterno told reporters, "We're going to have to take some young people and put them in key spots. There will probably be a couple of kids I haven't seen play yet. But that will go on for a while."

Looking at Penn State's defensive backfield, it's hard to imagine Paterno's comments were directed elsewhere.

You will also be able to find this article on PhilSteele.com soon!

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Quick thoughts: Blue White Game

Penn State will now move into the long abyss after the Blue White Game and before the summer practice sessions begin. But first, let me point out a few things about the game.

Offense...

• Daryll Clark and Evan Royster could very well carry the team this year. While Royster only logged three carries, they amounted to 21 yards. He looked fluid, as usual, and shouldn't have a problem with the Rose Bowl injury. Clark was sharp, real sharp, going 10 for 13 on the day. This is the best quarterback situation, in terms of a returning starter, Penn State has had in more than a decade.

• I was pleasantly surprised by the backup running backs, particularly Brandon Beachum. He had good power, and speed, which wasn't one of his strong points coming out of high school. Beachum should be able to step right in, should the need arise.

• The wide receivers will be fine. All that gloom and doom about losing (as of today) two NFL Draft picks (Williams and Butler), and a free agent (Norwood), might have been premature. Derek Moye and Graham Zug complemented each other perfectly, and had no issues making some tough catches. Clark seemed very comfortable throwing to his wideouts.

Defense...

• I'm not quite sure what to make of the secondary. In case we've already forgotten, Clark is the league's best quarterback, so of course he can make a defense look silly. However, that doesn't clear up the Kevin Newsome/Matt McGloin performances. They both looked fantastic (McGloin in particular). Or, does that mean the secondary is just really that bad?

• The defensive line was very interesting to watch. One thing I was shocked by, was that Larry Johnson, Sr. put all four of the best linemen on the field at the same time. It was Jack Crawford and Jared Odrick (!) at the ends, with Ollie Ogbu and Abe Koroma inside. That is easily the best single unit going into the season, and I couldn't be happier with that situation.

Everything else...

• I don't remember a Blue White Game being so hot. Actually, most of the years that I've attended, it's rained. What made things worse, though it was my own doing, was that I walked around the stadium about three times, to get all the best camera angles. Yeah, you're welcome.

• The crowd was great. Supposedly 76,500 fans showed up, but I'm not sure you can accurately estimate it to the hundreds. It's possible, though, which is why they should figure out a way to count the people as they enter. After all, Ohio State blew us away this year, by about 20,000 fans.

• I promised an update on the future non-conference opponent Penn State is talking with. I spoke with someone inside the athletic department on Saturday, and they told me that a series with Boston College is "all but signed." They weren't sure when anything would be finalized, but that things are moving towards renewing that old rivalry. Let's just hope that things go better than the last few meetings with the Eagles.

Coming up...

• Monday, I'll have the photo album up and ready to go. It could be later in the day, so check back sometime in the afternoon.

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Blue White Game preview: Defensive Backs

Three years ago, the Penn State football team lost all four senior starting defensive backs. Everyone was freaking out about how the program could sustain losing that kind of veteran talent, and continue to win. Well, Penn State emerged just fine, and continued to play at a high level in the defensive secondary the last three seasons. Now, with four seniors again lost to graduation, some with NFL futures on the way, and only two somewhat experienced players returning, Penn State must again find itself a new secondary. The talent returning this year is even better than before, but the experience is far from what is needed to contend for another championship. This weekend, fans will be treated to seeing the newly formed secondary in action. They can only hope things go better than the last time Penn State had to defend the pass... against USC.

CORNERBACKS

• No. 4, Knowledge Timmons. Senior. Starter.

What we already know: Timmons has been the special teams guy for years, but now is his chance to shine. He's lightening fast, and has so-so height (5'10") for a corner. He played in all 13 games last year, and almost every game the last three years. In 2008, he logged 15 tackles, an interception and a pass defended. The coaches like his work ethic so far this season, citing that he really started to mature mentally before last season. That's good news for a guy with so much talent and experience, especially with the youth in the rest of the defensive backfield.

What to expect: It would be very comforting to see him pick one off of Clark on Saturday. At the very least, Timmons needs to play like a senior who's seen everything but a start. He will be the only senior defensive back on the field this weekend, which will automatically make him the go-to leader. Joe Paterno has worried a lot about the secondary, and this unit cannot afford a timid Timmons.

• No. 8, D'Anton Lynn. Sophomore. Starter (until AJ Wallace returns).

What we already know: Lynn was a huge pickup from the Lone Star State in last year's recruiting class. He came to Penn State with excellent measurables (6'1" 190) for a corner, and has the speed to catch any receiver. The coaching staff was a bit worried about pushing Lynn into the lineup too soon, but reports showed that as he played, he improved. In 2008, Lynn played in nine of the last 10 games, finishing with three tackles and a pass defended.

What to expect: If Lynn wants to get more playing time this fall, or even get the nod as the first sub in, he can use a good game on Saturday. While he's young, I don't expect Lynn to crumble under the pressure, mainly because most of the wide receivers are just as in-game inexperienced as he is. Lynn should do fine, and if he can make a few good plays in front of what could be a record crowd, it will be a great way to end spring practice.

• No. 20, Devin Fentress. Redshirt Senior. Backup.

What we already know: Fentress was one of just five true freshmen to play in 2005, and that's saying a lot considering the other names who did: Williams, Norwood, Scirrotto, King. While his height (5'10") may not be great, he's reported to be a solid contributor and a hard worker. He was supposed to be a wide receiver again this year, but with the depth issues at corner until the true freshmen arrive in June, Fentress will continue to play here. Fentress played in six games last year, but didn't record any stats.

What to expect: Fentress will most likely work with the second team, if not be one of the staring corners. He could team up with Shelton McCullough as the two corners going up against Daryll Clark and the offense. With depth such a big concern this off-season, Fentress has to use his experience to make the unit better as a whole. I'm not expecting him to take over on Saturday, but he has to have a solid outing, with no big mistakes.

• No. 16, Shelton McCullough. Redshirt Junior. Backup.

What we already know: McCullough played in only three games last year, but actually put together a relatively nice stat sheet: A tackle, two passes defended and two pass breakups. He is one of the taller corners on the team, at 6'0", and has the weight to back it up. McCullough is quick off the line, but lacks the elite pass coverage skills to contend for a starting spot.

What to expect: As I stated in above, McCullough will probably play opposite Fentress as starting corners for the second team. They can make a big impact by slowing down the offense, especially when the defensive line can't quite get to Clark fast enough. McCullough needs to build on the good plays from last season, and go into the summer with a good game this weekend.

• No. 35, Jesse Alfreno. Redshirt Junior. Backup.

What we already know: Alfreno might contend for one of the lead backup spots this summer, provided he keeps working hard. The coaches like his attitude, and rewarded him with appearances in two games last season. His build (5'11" 195) gives him the frame to work with at corner.

What to expect: Alfreno still has two seasons left, so it's not urgent for him to emerge this spring. But it would be nice. On Saturday, the defense needs the backups to play like they could start right away if needed, and that includes Alfreno.

Injured: No. 1, AJ Wallace. Senior.

What will happen: Wallace has been suffering from a nagging hamstring injury for a few months. While he does work out with the team, he hasn't gone full strength for a long time. He should be fine for the regular season, and will be the starter opposite Knowledge Timmons. Wallace could also continue as one of the best kick returners Penn State has, especially with Derrick Williams' graduation.

SAFETIES

• No. 13, Andrew Dailey. Redshirt Sophomore. Possible Starter (Strong Safety).

What we already know: Dailey was a prized linebacker coming out of high school, and has played admirably on special teams so far. In 2008, he appeared in all but one game, logging five tackles. He has great size (6'2" 228) and is fantastic in run support, as expected from a former 'backer. The coaches really like his development, and is one of the top two candidates in the battle for this position.

What to expect: I'm kind of stuck on whether or not he'll start for the first team, as Nick Sukay (more in a sec) is also right up there for the starting spot. But if Dailey gets the nod, I will be expecting a lot of big hits over the middle. Dailey, should he win the spot, will be replacing Anthony Scirrotto, a known hitter. If a ball comes his way, and it's there for the pick, it would be very comforting to see Dailey come down with it, considering how the secondary has failed to make big interceptions (Ohio State game aside) the past few seasons.

• No. 10, Nick Sukay. Redshirt Sophomore. Possible Starter (Strong Safety).

What we already know: Sukay was hampered by a sesamoid bone injury that required surgery last summer. He's a great prospect at the position at 6'1", 206 lbs. Because of his injuries, the coaches haven't committed to giving him the starting spot over Dailey, but it's still up in the air. He has the talent, but has to stay healthy.

What to expect: I want to see how well Sukay runs. If he looks confident, and can go full speed, I'll feel much better going into the summer practices. I imagine Sukay has been itching to get onto the field, since he's come so close for two seasons. If he doesn't win the starting spot, we could see plenty of him anyway, in the three-safety/nickel-back package.

• No. 28, Drew Astorino. Redshirt Sophomore. Starter (Free Safety).

What we already know: I'll admit, it seemed like Astorino came out of thin air last season. As a redshirt freshman, Astorino played in all 13 games, and actually earned three starts, including at Ohio State when Scirrotto was out with a concussion. He doesn't exactly fit the mold of a play-making safety, but at 5'10", 195 lbs., Astorino packs a big punch for opposing receivers. He tied for the team lead with two interceptions last season, while totaling 39 tackles, five pass breakups, and seven passes defended.

What to expect: With the departure of two very good (Rose Bowl aside) safeties, it will be up to Astorino to set the pace for this unit. He likes the big hit, and doesn't shy away from any opponent. I expect him to display good leadership on Saturday, and continue to play bigger on the field than he appears on paper.

• No. 6, Gerald Hodges. Grayshirt Freshman. Backup.

What we already know: Hodges is one of those rare true freshmen who will be able to play right away for Joe Paterno. Ok, so he's actually a "Grayshirt," meaning he enrolled this past January. But that doesn't take away from the fact that he's already contending for the top backup position behind Sukay and Dailey. Hodges is blessed with the perfect build for a safety (6'3" 210) and even better speed for his size.

What to expect: In terms of defensive backs, I'm most excited to see how well Hodges holds up in a real-game setting like he'll see on Saturday. Similar to my expectations for the backup cornerbacks, Hodges should be able to hold his own against he first team offense, with maybe a small flap here or there. I don't expect him to get lost in the action and give up any big plays.

• No. 7, Cedric Jeffries. Redshirt Junior. Backup.

What we already know: A solid prospect out of The Garden State (like yours truly), Jeffries has the physical build (6'2" 215) to be a successful contributor this season. He saw a good deal of action last year, playing in every game, and finishing with 16 tackles.

What to expect: As one of the top backups going into the spring workouts, Jeffries can continue to provide quality depth to the position. Joe Paterno has been overly critical (justifiably in most cases) of the safeties this spring. That should give Jeffries the green light to leave it all on the field this weekend, and give the coaches something good to say at the next meeting.

• • •

Coming later today...
Special Teams

Previously...
Monday: Quarterbacks and Running Backs
Tuesday: Receivers and Tight Ends
Wednesday: Offensive line,
Thursday: Defensive Line (pt. 1), Linebackers (pt. 2)

Next up...
Saturday night: Report from the game, photos, etc.

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P.S. I know U., 2008 – Part 4, Defense and Special Teams

Today I’ll go over the defensive backfield, and the specialists at Penn State. Then on Monday, we’ll look at the coaching staff. This won’t be full of messy stats (even though I do love them, oh so much), but it also won’t be straight opinion. This is just to get everyone in the loop when it comes to the key figures for 2008. Hope you enjoy P.S. I know U., 2008.

As before, I’ll describe each player in one of three ways - Great, Good, Decent. ‘Great’ indicates that player is a sure starter, and should get all-conference or All-America. ‘Good’ means that player is a solid starter, someone the team can rely on to do the job. ‘Decent’ goes to many of the backups who will see time in the rotations. I figure there isn’t a player on the two or three deep that is below decent, or PSU is in real trouble.

Part 4, Defense and Special Teams - Defensive Backs, Kickers and Punters

:: Defensive Backs :: [1st Team] A.J. Wallace, Lydell Sargeant, Tony Davis, Anthony Scirrotto (S), Mark Rubin (S) [2nd Team] Drew Astorino, Willie Harriott, Knowledge Timmons, Cedric Jeffries, Nick Sukay

[1st Team]
No. 1. A.J. Wallace [CB, Jr., 6-1/188] – Great. A.J. could become the most prolific kick returner in PSU history with two seasons of eligibility left. Oh yeah, and he’s a pretty damn good cornerback, too. We all know about Wallace’s importance to PSU, so I won’t go on. He’s an All-American returner and All-Big Ten candidate at CB. 2007: Played 652 snaps. 33 tkl, 1 int, 3 fr.

No. 10. Lydell Sargeant [CB, Sr., 5-10/186] - Good. Sargeant lost his job to Wallace following the Ohio State blowout. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad corner. Lightening fast, and much more experienced this season, Sargeant should compliment Wallace nicely. Lydell was also a surprising third on the team in tackles last season, so I expect him to return to his early-season form. 2007: Played 809 snaps; 70 tkl, 1.5 tfl, 2 int.

No. 11. Tony Davis [Nickel Back (NB), RS Sr., 5-10/195] - Good. Davis has been moved around several times in the backfield. He began as the backup to Alan Zamaitis in 2005, then took over the spot in ’06. In ’07, he was moved to safety, but came down with appendicitis, forcing him to sit out the Ohio State and Purdue games. Tony was a much more valuable player in the secondary than he was given credit for, grabbing an interception at Illinois, and was great in run support. Plus, let’s not forget his game-changing fumble return for a TD against Tennessee in the ’07 Outback Bowl. While he’s not listed as the starting cornerback right now, that doesn’t mean we won’t see a lot of Davis throughout the year. He’s too good to sit the bench. I expect to see a rotation of the corners similar to the defensive ends, subbing and flipping on almost every play. 2007: 29 tkl, 1 int, 2 ff.

No. 7. Anthony Scirrotto [Saf., Sr., 6-0/192] - Great. I don’t care how many people are calling him overrated, Scirrotto is still one of the best safeties in the Big Ten. He had a down year in ’07, after his conference leading six interceptions in ’06. Still, he was a major force in the PSU secondary, and should return to ’06 form. 2007: 65 tkl, 1 tfl, 3 int, 1 fr.

No. 9. Mark Rubin [Saf., RS Sr., 6-3/216] - Good. I will never forget watching the 2004 Indiana game, as true frosh Mark Rubin made a diving, one-handed grab on third-and-long for the first down. PSU won the game, and that catch was a crucial play in the victory. A year later, PSU got all the WRs it needed, and Rubin injured his ankle, requiring surgery and ending his season before it even began. He then moved back and forth from WR to S. Then last year, he planted himself as the full-time backup to Tony Davis. When called upon for the OSU and PU games, he did well. Not great, but was serviceable. Rubin grew up a lot last year, and I think he’ll be an important part of the ’07 edition of the PSU secondary. 2007: 32 tkl, 1 tfl.

[2nd Team]
No. 28. Drew Astorino [Saf., RS Fr., 5-10/190] - Decent. You can’t get away from the buzz surrounding Astorino. Joe Paterno, the staff, and the fans have been just gaga about his potential coming out of spring and summer practice. We’ll see. He’s a former dual-sport star in football and basketball out of Edinboro, Pa. Drew made a big splash at the B/W Game this April, when he logged six tkls, and an int. He should get plenty of mop-up duty this year. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

No. 6. Willie Harriott [CB, RS Jr., 5-8/183] - Decent. Not blessed with size, Harriott makes it all up in speed. He was one of the “speed guys” who came in to PSU in ’05, but redshirted that year. He’s now setting himself up for 2009, when openings at CB will be there for the taking. He’s an experienced player for PSU, but won’t contend for the starting job this year. Harriott has played in games each year at PSU, mainly on special teams. That should continue this season. 2007: Played 48 snaps; 4 tkl, 1 pbu.

No. 4. Knowledge Timmons [Saf., RS Jr., 5-10/186] - Decent. Timmons, besides having the coolest name at PSU, would frequently jaw with Justin King about who was the fastest player on the team. He’ll join players like Harriott this year trying to move up in the depth chart for ’09. A special teams player, he’ll usually line up at gunner. In 2006 at Notre Dame, Timmons could have recovered a muffed punt deep inside ND territory, but rather than just falling on it, he tried to pick it up and run. He lost the ball, and it went back to ND in a 41-17 blowout loss for PSU. He should be better this year, with more experience, and more motivation to concentrate only on school and football. 2007: Played 92 snaps; 5 tkl.

No. 29. Cedric Jeffries [Saf., RS Soph., 6-2/210] - Decent. Jeffries actually saw considerable playing time last year as a RS frosh. He’s listed as a backup LB and S, but I’ll go with S for this purpose. He has great size and speed to go along with it. He should make more than a few tackles this season, as I expect him to rotate in and out of the lineup during meaningful plays. With more teams running spread-style attacks in ’08, guys like Jeffries could emerge as important depth behind the starters. Chances are that he’ll complete the move to LB before the season’s over, but he has a better chance to see the field at S. 2007: Played 154 snaps; 4 tkl.

No. 26. Nick Sukay [Saf., RS Fr., 6-1/202] - Decent. Sukay has been hampered by nagging injuries, but should be good to go by the Big Ten opener against Illinois. I was really hoping to see him and Chaz Powell emerge as the two safeties after this season, but Powell moved to WR, and Sukay will have to wait for his chance. Although not as highly rated out of HS as Powell, Nick offers good instincts and football smarts. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

:: Specialists :: [1st Team] Kevin Kelly, Jeremy Boone, [2nd Team] Colin Wagner (K), Ryan Breen (P)

No. 23. Kevin Kelly [K, Sr., 5-7/164] - Good. Kelly has endured an up and down career. But contrary to the fan base’s opinion, he’s been very consistent in the three years he’s kicked for PSU. Sure, everyone knows his game-winning kick in the ’06 Orange Bowl. But not many people really grasp that this kid is great at finding the end zone. He’s carried the rock to pay dirt twice already, one for a key 2-point conversion at Michigan in ’05, and scored a TD on a fake kick at Michigan State last year. If the coaching staff stays smart, they’ll use that fake kick play again. I think Kelly will go down as one of the best kickers ever at PSU. 2007: Scored 110 points, 20-26 FG, 44-45 PAT, 1 TD.

No. 41. Jeremy Boone [P, RS Jr., 5-9/184] - Great. PSU won’t overtake places like Tennessee for “Punter U,” but the Lions have made a strong case with the last two boomers. In 2006, Jeremy Kapinos was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, and finished out a stellar PSU career. In came Boone, and fans’ anxiety was quickly quelled. Boone is a candidate for Academic AA this year, and was named to several All-Big Ten teams, including a few 1st Team selections. 2007: 59 Punts for 43.0 ydpp, 25 punts inside 20-yard line; Ray Guy candidate.

No. 36. Colin Wagner [K., RS Soph., 5-9/170] - Decent. Wagner actually kicked two PATs last season in the opener against FIU. He made both. While he’s not pushing Kelly out of his job, he provides a great sub, should Kelly need a break. Received many honors as a HS K, and played in the Big 33 Game. 2007: 2-2 PAT.

No. 49. Ryan Breen [P., RS Fr., 6-2/194] - Decent. Breen will have some tough shoes to fill once Boone graduates. But then again, when Jeremy Kapinos left, we all thought the same thing. PSU has gotten very good punters in recent years, and Breen seems to fit that mold. He’s a big kid with a strong leg, and should provide a good backup. 2007: No Stats Accumulated.

(Ed. Note--I was going to cover the return specialists, but since I've already gone over those players, I'll just list them here: KR-A.J. Wallace; PR/KR-Derrick Williams; Backup PR-Anthony Scirrotto.)

Coming Monday: Part 5, Coaching Staff.

P.S. I know U., 2008:
Part 1, Offense
Part 2, Offense (cont’d)
Part, 3 Defense

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