It’s been quite the two weeks for Penn State’s defense. The narrow 34-27 win over Bowling Green on Sept. 7 showcased what was one of the team’s least efficient defensive performances in years. And it was in that game that standout safety Kevin Winston Jr., one of the team’s top overall players, sustained a “long-term” injury.
The general public can almost guarantee a dominant win for James Franklin’s program against Kent State on Saturday, but the Nittany Lions’ defensive players aren’t taking anything for granted. They plan to play that game with a purpose, to prove, once again, that they’re one of the nation’s top defenses.
“I think we’re used to playing dominating football around here. We’ve been doing it for a long time, so I think they do have a chip on their shoulder,” Franklin said. “I’m expecting that to show up on Saturday.”
It didn’t take long to flip the script against the Falcons. The missed tackles and communication issues were all controllable, linebacker Tyler Elsdon said. The difference between the first half, when Penn State allowed 24 points on 286 total yards, and the second, when three points and only 89 yards were allowed, was staggering.
It’s just a matter of playing with the same execution they brought forth in the second half through all four quarters and in every game that follows. That’s been the standard of the Nittany Lions’ defense through their previous two coordinators, Manny Diaz and Brent Pry, and there was no plan to change that under Tom Allen.
“We’re a very confident defense, and we know exactly what our identity is, so we know what’s expected of us,” Elsdon said. “So moving forward, we’d love to eliminate some of the problems that we had in that first half of Bowling Green and we have a great opportunity this coming weekend to prove that.”
For the optimists, there’s a silver lining to Penn State’s defensive dud in the first half against Bowling Green. That lies in the embarrassment that came with a sloppy performance that no player or coach would like to repeat. In a way, it’s better for the Nittany Lions that the bad half came against a team that could almost easily be put away after necessary adjustments.
“You know the reality is we played a half of football inconsistent than how we’ve normally played. Look at how the second half went,” Franklin said. “But as you can imagine, this early in the season, a half impacts you dramatically. It won’t impact you later in the season, when we’ve played a bunch of games.”
What will likely have an effect in both the near future and over the course of the year is Winston’s injury. Penn State’s safety room is already thin on depth after losing King Mack to Alabama in the offseason, and losing what may be the team’s best defensive player doesn’t do the defense any favors.
And it’s not only Winston’s impact on the field that the Nittany Lions will miss. A team captain, vocal leader and standard-setter, Winston’s absence could play a major role in the fate of Penn State’s defense. But for now, Winston will try to remain an active participant as best he can, leading a unit trying desperately to keep its pace.
“In practice, even though he’s hurt, he’s still there with us — the spirit, the impact is all still there,” defensive tackle Coziah Izzard said.
Winston’s injury shakes up the entire defensive back room. Jaylen Reed, who had begun to flash at nickel corner, will move back to safety. In Reed’s place will likely be cornerback Cam Miller, another veteran leader who has yet to truly establish himself as a dominant on-field presence.
Miller’s performance on Saturday, as well as that of the entire defense, is in the spotlight. That will only continue as the season unfolds. If the Nittany Lions are to find their historic defensive spark, it’ll come by following through on the standard that’s been preached for years.
“Being the No. 1 defense in the country,” Miller said. “That’s Penn State defense.”
