Penn State has a championship-caliber defense
Five games into the season, Penn State has yet to allow a team score more than 20 points. It may not be on the same level of achievement as Georgia (who is?), but Penn State’s defense has managed to come up with big plays and set the tone in games every week so far. From coming up with big stops and turnovers against Wisconsin in Week 1, to holding off Auburn in Week 3, and pitching a shutout in Week 5, Penn State’s defense has lived up to the billing as one of the best in the Big Ten.
Penn State’s defense was able to make sure Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. never got in any comfortable rhythm and later made sure a switch at QB wouldn’t spark the Hoosiers offense (Penix left the game with a shoulder injury). Jack Tuttle led a promising drive for Indiana but the Hoosiers resorted to a field goal attempt down 21-0, and it was blocked.
Sure, maybe Indiana isn’t the same team they were a year ago, but a shutout in conference play regardless of the opponent is worth celebrating.
A defense that allows Jahan Dotson to get loose is in danger
It is impossible to keep a man on Jahan Dotson on 100 percent of the plays a team plays on defense. But those times when Dotson does get in open field are lethal. As a Penn State fan, you love seeing Dotson find open space, because you know Sean Clifford is going to see the opportunity for the big play with his best wide receiver.
Penn State did just that on a fourth-down play in the third quarter. On 4th-and-4, Clifford extended the play long enough to allow Dotson to peel off into open space as the Hoosiers attempted to close in on Clifford. Clifford saw Dotson open and seized the moment to let Dotson go to work.
WATCH: Penn State turns 4th down play into 30-yard touchdown
Jordan Stout is one of the best dual-responsibility kickers in the nation
Penn State kicking specialist Jordan Stout had a tough season opener with a short missed field goal and a missed extra point, but he made up for it with his performance punting the football. Since that opener, Stout has not missed an extra point attempt and he has missed just two field goals in seven attempts (both from long range). That’s been good to see, but Stout continues to impress with the way he handles his punting responsibilities.
Against Indiana, Stout punted the football six times, and he averaged 46.33 yards per punt. His first punt on Penn State’s first offensive series was booted 50 yards and out at the Indiana 14-yard line. His second punt went 51 yards and was caught with a fair catch at the Indiana nine. His third punt was fair caught at the Indiana 11 after traveling 42 yards. Stout had two more punts that didn’t go inside the Indiana 20-yard line but each went 46 yards and was fair caught by the Hoosiers with no punt return possibility.
Penn State’s Stout is making a strong case to be considered among the best punters in college football. And with some tough games coming up for Penn State, that could prove to be an asset in games that could develop into field position matchups.
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