Penn State Football: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Iowa

Penn State Football: Grading the Nittany Lions vs. Iowa

By Dylan Burd | Oct 15, 2019

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scrambles on a keeper in the second half in front of linebacker Nick Niemann #49 and defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Safety Jaquan Brisker #7 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates an interception with safeties Lamont Wade #38 and Garrett Taylor #17 in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

C+. . . . THE SECONDARY

The one way that teams are going to try to beat Penn State going forward is through the air. That doesn’t mean the Penn State secondary is bad; it’s just not nearly as good as their front seven.

The secondary didn’t have a great week in Iowa, as they allowed Nate Stanley to throw for 286 yards and touchdown. That’s almost more than the Penn State offense had in total in the game (294). The big positive for the secondary was the fourth-quarter interception by safety Jaquan Brisker.

Safety Lamont Wade and cornerback John Reid tied for the team-lead in tackles with seven. Reid also allowed the one Iowa touchdown, as Hawkeyes’ wide receiver Brandon Smith caught a 33-yard pass over him.

Safety Garrett Taylor and cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields each had six tackles and a pass defensed as well.

There’s no reason this secondary should struggle this much vs. Shea Patterson next week, but I still anticipate Michigan attempting to throw on Penn State.

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