THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Defense looking to put rough season in the past By Audrey Snyder COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Heading into the 2010 season. Tom Bradley expected the Penn State defense to find a way to uphold the legacy of being one of the team's strongest assets. The staple of FOOTBALL Bradley's domi- nant defenses has come in the form of pass rushing legends such as Courtney Brown. Michael Haynes, Tamba Hali, Maurice Evans and Aaron Maybin. Add in the dominant lineback ers like LaVar Arrington, Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny, and Bradley has always had the luxury of working with marquee players. However, this season was the exception. With Jared Odrick. Sean Lee, Josh Hull and NaVorro Bowman being the latest players from Bradley's defense to head to the NFL, the defensive coordinator expected there to be growing pains for his defense in 2010 but certainly not this many. "There is no magic defense," Bradley said about the future of his unit. - I tell the guys all the time, I say, 'Hey, a great defense played by the wrong guys isn't bet ter than the wrong defense played by the right guys.' So we all have to look at ourselves and go from there." The Lions will have a lot to look at, as the defense finished one of Paterno's return pleases players, but raises By Brendan Monahan COLLEGIAN SrAFF ARITEP Quarterback Matt McGloin wasn't surprised when Joe Paterno . halted any further ques tions about his possible retire ment more than a week ago. "I want him back, - said McGloin, a redshirt sophomore. "But it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he was around for a couple more years. - Many others share that same sentiment, as Paterno has extended his time coaching the Nittany Lions on multiple occasions. The Penn State coach announced his plans last Tuesday to return for 2011, the final year of a three-year contract. Paterno must go through his end-of-season review meeting with athletic director Tim Curley and president Graham Spanier before the university will make a decision on Paterno returning. But with one year left on Paterno's contract, everything should remain status quo for the 83-year-old coach, who would enter his 46th season as head Heavyweight Wade benefitting from schedule By Mike Still COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Cameron Wade's two losses in five matches this indicative of the WRESTLING oualitv of his wrestling. The No. 7-ranked heavyweight in the country is 3-2 this season, but Wade's two losses have come against the No. 1 and No. 3 wrestlers in his weight class. Having seen arguably the coun try's best heavyweights so early in the year, the junior knows he can only learn from those losses. "It's always good to see the good competition," Wade said. 2010 by the numbers 1975: rushing yards surrendered, most since 2003 271: points given up by Penn State, most since 2001 19: passing touchdowns surrendered, most in the last decade 16: sacks recorded, fewest amount in the last decade 12: rushing touchdowns surrendered, most since 2008 its worst seasons statistically in the past decade. With 19 touch down passes surrendered the highest total during Bradley's 11- year tenure as defensive coordina tor coupled with a pass rush that recorded just 16 sacks. the defense fought an uphill battle all season. For a unit that's averaged 29 sacks per season since Bradley took over in 2000, the defense couldn't find a way to increase its production. As injuries mounted and key players like defensive end Jack Crawford and safety Nick Sukay missed extended periods of time, Bradley was forced to throw some of his younger players into the mix. As inexperienced players like Pete Massaro, Jordan Hill, Sean Stanley and Malcolm Willis became mainstays for the defense. moving past the unit's blown coverages and missed tack les became a reoccurring issue. Individuals got better. but we need to he better on defense." safety Drew Astorino said. "When you think of Penn State, vou think coach next September and pus senses a significant amount of lee way in any university dkcossions let alone his own as coach. Questions abound on whether Paterno's return hurts recruiting. Paterno hasn't visited a recruit since Terrelle Pryor in 2 , 0:; yet Penn State has broug.r.c. recruiting classes the past years. The 2011 recruiting clas.- , seemingly looks to take a dip in talent. as Penn State has nabbed only seven commits, two of which are considered four-star prospects. On the recruiting trail, opposing coaches telling recruits Paterno won't last the possible incumbent's entire collegiate career use Paterno's age against him. This strategy. as defensive coordinator Tom Bradley previously noted, has gone on for decades. since specu lation of Paterno retiring first started. and yet, Penn State has still been able to bring in some top-notch recruiting classes. Many current players, including redshirt juniors Joe Suhey and "But you definitely want to beat them... "Going in there and just keeping the match close or losing, there aren't any moral victories for me. I want to go in there and heat every body- After starting the season with a victory in Penn State's dual meet at Bloomsburg on Nov. 12. Wade took on No. 1 Zach Ley of Lehigh just two days later in the Nittany Lions' home opener. Though he battled Ley to a tie breaker. Wade fell to Ley. 4-2. in extra time and then lost to No. :3 D.J. Russo of Rutgers,-2. the fol lowing weekend at the Sprawl and Brawl duals on the road in Binghamton. N.Y of defense, that's what you always think. You think of coach Bradley, you think of the defense holding people to 10 points. under 100-yard rushers and that's what we've got to get better at.- This season the Lions did lose the identity Astorino spoke of, as they gave up an average of 22.6 points per game, and for the first time since Shonn Greene in 2008. couldn't hold an opposing rusher under 100 yards. Bradley said lapses in play from the unit would usually happen during one or two series in past seasons. but this year. the mis takes would happen for quarters or even halves at a time. Going into the howl game and next year we're going to remem ber this [season cornerback Stephon Morris said. - We're going to feel it through out the whole training camp next year. throughout the spring and when we do play them tough teams again, because we do have a very tough schedule next year, we're going to remember this. And we're going to know how to finish games Nate Stupar noted playing for the same coach as their fathers. Sithe's lather Matt. was a run ning back from 1976-79. while Stupar < lather. Stephen. was a delensi , ,i' lineman during the sainc snan .Tatl Suhey •1 never Illot.oll Id have the 1 • coach all five years as my Stupar said. - That's some : htng we joke about ... It's fun. and s exciting because I've had IPaternol since my freshman yea': and he's been a great coach. - Current players have said Paterno's p);:ible retirement as coach bath: Htt_ trued much into their dec-i.,;HL- to come to Penn State. and many have alluded to his still significant involvement in the program, a notion under scrutiny for years. The intestinal flu and an adverse reaction to antibiotics hindered Paterno from attending several university events this past summer. At press conferences, the head coach has trouble hear ing questions and sometimes for gets players' names. Middle linebacker Chris Confident in his training, Wade titi•ill be ready if the opportunity arises later in the season to wrestle Ley or Russo again. just wrestled •.:;. - two bad matches. - the junior said. - I think I should he able to beat those guys ."s Wade "I train to beat those guys. I have the best training partners in the country: and I just need to go out there and beat those guys the next time I wrestle them." Coach Cael Sanderson hasn't lost any confidence in Wade either Defenseless The Nittany ions' sack total dwindled during the 2010 season 30 sacks -\ / \ 23 sacks 2000 2001 200 Source . Coke an archives Morris' optimism for the defense is shared by many of the players. The Lions will need to replace senior defensive tackle 011ie Ogbu, as well as senior line backers Chris Colasanti and Bari Gbadyu, but the younger player: had plenty of opportunities to compete this season. With the nucleus of the defense returning, Massaro said he's eer tain the team has the right players to be a successful defense. Though he said the defense's sta tistics weren't completely indica tive of its performance, he said this season's struggles will improve the unit's character. Colasanti said his head coach k still energetic and vocal at prac tices this season, even to a higher degree than previous ones. "I've always believed that when you're not excited to do what you love. then it's time to step hack.- Joe Paterno (right) points during , As a national qualifier last sea son, Wade is no stranger to toiud. competition, Sanderson said. And being forced to compete against the best at this point in the season will hopefully give Wade the urgency to just work that much harder. Wade knows what he has to work on from his two losses. When on top, he has to focus fighting off reverses, Wade said. He also wants to keep the pres sure up, fine tune his footwork and make conditioning a factor in every match. The Lions are hosting the Nittany Lion Open this Sun day, starting at 8:30 a.m. in Rec Hall. THURSDAY, DEC. 2, 2010 I 9 / 35 sacks 38 sacks\ 32 sacks 38 sacks 32 sacks 19 sacks 19 sar k Season But Ogbu said the injuries the unit suffered this season gave it a dcilci;:niy. but that a turnaround will be quick. When asked how he sees defense coming along next sci Hon. he feels Bradley's group \‘ iii once again return to top form. This team is going to be ,msloppable next year" he said. - Alit my words now. You can put this on any website. blog it. or do anything,. I guarantee you. We lia\t' a lot of great talent, and it's on!. :. - ;)ing to get better next year questions said Ile still loves to otu and coach and be vocal. l‘e has fun lVith it. W(' see that. , . e teed oft of that. I expected Inn come back:. reporter: bjmsl46@psu.edu Is loss to Michigan State to get back to work. Wade v, - ill look to put the losses behind him and compete at the level he knows he can this weekend. I'm working hard as it is Wade said - I just have to keep pushing for ward. I cant let those stay on my mind. I have to push past them and go out there and keep wrestling and working on the things I need to work on.- 1r , ,[1 reporter. massB6o@psu.edu ..„4 4 , Read about how the Nittany Lions worked over N. • the break : 45 sacks 16 sacks 2008 2009 2010 Ll' I' Coliegr aass22o@psu.edu psucollegian.com
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