Penn State Football: Examining Nittany Lions’ biggest strengths, weaknesses in 2022

A weakness for Penn State Football – Rush defense

While having one of the nation’s best interior defensive linemen in PJ Mustipher returning is a huge plus, it takes more than one player to stop a good running team.

Mustipher’s fellow defensive tackles have yet to prove they can consistently be good run defenders against the best of the best. Can some of them become very good at it with more experience and development? Absolutely, but until it is proven, it will remain a major question mark for the Nittany Lions.

Defensive end is another position that, for the most part, no current Nittany Lions have shown an aptitude do be a great run defender.

Taking a look at linebacker, Penn State Football will need to replace the production of Ellis Brooks, who recorded an even 100 tackles in 12 games last season, as well as Brandon Smith. Curtis Jacobs will move over to fill one of those two roles, but what about the other?

Jonathan Sutherland, a safety turned linebacker, will probably be stepping into Jacobs’ old role at the SAM. Being that linebacker is not his natural position, it remains to be seen how well he can perform against the run from the second level.

Finally, Jaquan Brisker was tremendous in run-support at safety, often playing close to the line of scrimmage like a hybrid linebacker. It is unlikely that his replacement, either Keaton Ellis or Jaylen Reed, will be able to replicate the versatility and production in run-support that Brisker had.

Penn State Football ranked 67th in the country last year in terms of rush defense, allowing 152.7 yards per game on the ground, and losing some of their best run defenders will likely add insult to injury in terms of defending great running teams.