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Penn State Football: Grades vs. Indiana

By Dylan Burd

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 16: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Jesse Luketa #40 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Jesse Luketa #40 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a play against the Indiana Hoosiers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

. . LINEBACKERS . B+.

It was an up-and-down day for the linebackers in Saturday’s game. They deserve credit for the run defense being solid and only allowing 2.9 yards per carry.

However, there were several plays where the linebackers missed several tackles, leading to bigger Indiana plays. It wasn’t only the linebackers, it was the whole team, but if you had to single out the linebackers’ biggest weakness in this game, it was missed tackles. Micah Parsons also dropped an easy interception on the first drive of the game, which was a miscue early.

Parsons was tied-second on the team in tackles with seven. He also had a QB hurry. Cam Brown and Jan Johnson had six tackles each, and Johnson also had a QB hurry and a fumble recovery on special teams.

Ellis Brooks and Jesse Luketa had three tackles each. Brooks was involved in a play early in the second quarter that ended in an Indiana fumble. He didn’t force the fumble himself, but he had the initial big hit that led to Marquis Wilson stripping the ball from Indiana wide receiver Whop Philyor nearly simultaneously.

Overall, the linebackers didn’t play a bad game, but we’ve seen them play much better at times this season.

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