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Penn State Football: key players and keys to success on defense in 2022

By Nick Kreiser

Nov 6, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23)and teammates enter the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Curtis Jacobs (23)and teammates enter the field before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Penn State Football key to success on defense – stop the run on the first level

STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 25: PJ Mustipher #97 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action during the first half of the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 25: PJ Mustipher #97 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action during the first half of the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

With a lack of depth and experience at linebacker, the Nittany Lions will not be able to rely nearly as heavily on the second level of the defense to make plays in the running game in 2022 like they did a year ago. As a result, the defensive line is going to have to be as advertised and be able to contain ball carriers near the line of scrimmage.

If they get pushed around too much and the linebacking corps has to shoulder a heavy workload when it comes to stopping the run, it could be costly for this defense.

PJ Mustipher and company on the interior figure to be a deep and talented unit, and there is plenty of talent at defensive end, so the defensive line projects as a great unit. However, many of its members are unproven, which means it’s just talk at this point.

The defensive front will need to go out there and prove to be able to consistently stop the run for this defense to truly be one of the best in the country.

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