TV analysts and other such folks who like to oversimplify football will often say that a defense will try to make an opposing offense “one-dimensional” – stack the box to gum up the run game and encourage the offense to pass, or (in fewer cases) flood the secondary with extra defenders to deter the pass and offering a clear path to run the ball.
Manny Diaz and Penn State’s defense, it seems, don’t seem to care which dimension their opponents choose, only that, whether they decide to run or to pass, they wind up losing yardage.
An aggressive and effective defense once again ruled the day for the Nittany Lions in a 55-10 stomping of Rutgers that did not seem headed for a stomping in the first quarter. While a Penn State offense missing Parker Washington and relying upon several young offensive linemen struggled to find consistent footing and the special teams followed up Nick Singleton’s scintillating 100-yard return by giving up a 66-yard return to Aron Cruickshank, the defense found itself in a mildly alarming 10-7 hole.
