Penn State Football: How Nittany Lions Plan on Remaining a Top-10 Defense

The biggest development, and perhaps most alarming criticism of Penn State's defense the past two seasons has been a weakened run defense. This is the biggest area of concern for the team, after seeing it contribute from Penn State dropping from a top-10 defense overall in 2008 and 2009 to 35th-best in 2010 and 20th-best in 2011.

A defensive improvement in the running game, with Larry Johnson Sr. remaining on staff to lead the defensive line and Ron Vanderlinden continuing to coach the linebackers, should be enough to get Penn State back to being discussed as one of the top defenses in the country.

Going back to 2007, Penn State was a top-10 run defense holding their opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game. In the 2009 season Penn State's sixth-ranked run defense allowed 89.85 rushing yards per game. In 2010 that total nearly doubled, with Penn State allowing 165.62 rushing yards per game (74th). Penn State also saw their streak of games without allowing a 100-yard rusher snapped by Trent Richardson, who rushed for 144 yards and took on a heavier work load in the absence of 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. Richardson would not be the last to break the century mark that season against the suddenly porous run defense. Six other players also did what was once thought to be near impossible.

Penn State Run Defense By Season (Yards Per Game)

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
93.77	93.23	89.85	165.62	133.31

So how will the run defense improve in 2012, despite losing Devon Still and Jack Crawford on the defensive line? A healthy Pete Massaro at defensive end could help add some strength and skill on one side of the line, and the maturing Jordan Hill should keep the middle of the defensive line tough to break through. Remember, Massaro missed the entire 2011 season with a torn ACL, but all indications suggest that he will be ready to go when the season kicks off in September. Those two players alone should keep the defensive line playing at a respectable level, with Sean Stanley and DaQuan Jones providing the extra muscle on the line.

Of course, the linebackers will also help to slow down the opposing running game, with a healthy Michael Mauti adding not only solid tackling skills but a veteran leader on the field capable of tracking down the ball carrier the way so many Penn State linebackers have before him. Mauti's season ended prematurely last fall due to an ACL injury. Having him back and in good shape, along with a growing Glenn Carson and an athletic and dominant Gerald Hodges should make the linebacker position an improved unit in the fall.

If the defensive line and linebackers can avoid any devastating injuries, then the run defense has the potential to cut down on opposing rushing yards despite some tough running games lining up on the other side of the field in 2012. In non-conference action Penn State opens against Ohio (24th in rushing last season), and hosts Temple (seventh) and Navy (fourth). And do not forget about the conference rush attacks on the schedule, such as Nebraska and Wisconsin, with Heisman favorite Montee Ball in the backfield.

One thing Penn State's defense struggled to do last season was to get off the field. Opponents had a third-down conversion rate of 38.35 percent last fall against Penn State, which ranked the Nittany Lions right around the middle of the pack at 52nd in the nation. In 2010 Penn State's defense held opponents to a third-down conversion success rate of 31.68 percent, sixth-best in the country.

Penn State Opponents Third-Down Conversion Rate by Season

2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
36.14%	32.26%	31.77%	31.68%	38.35%

Last season Penn State opponents averaged 17.7 first downs per game. That is still a relatively decent average for Penn State's defense, which ranked 24th in the nation in first downs allowed (Alabama led the nation with 10.1 first downs per game; Penn State had 16 first downs against the Crimson Tide when they played in September) and sixth in the Big Ten. That average was down from allowing 18.0 first downs per game in 2010 (29th), which shows a positive trend, but in 2009 Penn State was ranked fifth in the nation after allowing 14.8 first downs per game. Rounding things off, since 2009 Penn State has allowed  between three and four extra first downs per game, which can add up to enough time on the game clock to keep Penn State from having one more chance to score if needed.

Stats referenced in this article provided by CFBStats.com.

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