Now that the run game is seemingly fixed, Penn State’s pass rush is indisputably the most disappointing element of the team this season. Ranking No. 112 in the country in sacks per game, D’Anton Lynn’s defense has yet to record more than one sack in a Big Ten game this season.
However, Lynn, who spoke before head coach Matt Campbell during the team’s Tuesday press conference, wasn’t concerned about his unit recording just one sack against Washington quarterback Demond Williams in the team’s 28-25 road win. While a glaring lack of explosiveness along an intentionally oversized defensive line is largely to blame for the limited pressure on opposing QBs, according to Lynn, that was part of the plan last time out.
“This past week, our plan was more to keep him in the pocket," he said. "We felt like he was dangerous when he was out of the pocket. We wanted to keep him in the pocket, we felt like, when you could put pressure in his face, he’s not as accurate. There’s times when he’ll scramble when he doesn’t need to, and we had guys who were able to spy.”
Largely, that plan worked well against Williams, a diminutive dual-threat passer who was pressured on just seven of his dropbacks, and only had one scramble for the game as he finished with 172 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception on 19-of-33 passing.
Against Minnesota in Week 11, though, that plan can’t stay the same, so Penn State’s pass rush will get put to the test.
Drake Lindsey couldn’t be a more different challenge from Demond Williams Jr.
“He has a strong arm," Lynn said. "He can make every throw on the field. We have to try to affect him as often as we can. We need to try to, again, whether it’s getting sacks, getting hurries, making him get off of his spot. I would say that’s the biggest difference between the two of them. This past week, it was the exact opposite."
A 6-foot-5, 230-pound junior, Lindsey got legitimate NFL draft buzz heading into the 2026 season, and will likely be an intriguing prospect for the 2028 NFL Draft, assuming he returns to college for another campaign. His rare combination of size and arm strength will keep NFL scouts interested, even if he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations this fall.
It was always something of a projection to talk about Lindsey as a 2027 NFL Draft prospect. And the reason he’s fallen short is obvious to see - it’s his play under pressure, plus his inability to create out of structure.
When kept clean, which he is for the 35th-highest percentage of his dropbacks among 99 qualified FBS quarterbacks, he completes 66.2% of his throws, averages 6.5 yards per attempt, and has 11 touchdowns to three interceptions. When pressured, though, his completion percentage drops to 42%, his yards per attempt falls to 4.5, and he has four interceptions, with no touchdowns.
It’s a stark difference and an obvious challenge for one of the least-imposing defensive lines in the FBS. There is good news for the Nittany Lions, however.
Minnesota's offense may not burn D'Anton Lynn's defense either way
First, Lynn has an excellent secondary, with one of the deepest cornerback rotations you’ll find, which allows him to play a ton of man coverage and blitz at close to a 50% rate, which he did against Purdue coming out of the bye week. Also, probably his best edge rusher, Yvan Kemajou, has found another gear post-bye week, recording three pressures against the Boilermakers, while recording 0.5 sacks against Washington.
The biggest piece of good news, however, is that regardless of Lindsey’s ability and the strength of the offensive line in front of him, Minnesota ranks No. 111 in the country in EPA/pass, No. 134 in EPA/rush, No. 134 in available yards percentage, and No. 115 in offensive points per drive.
Any way you slice it, this is not a good Minnesota offense. When the 5-4 Golden Gophers have won games this year, they’ve dragged opponents down into the mud. As long as Penn State can stay mostly clean, it may not matter too much how much Lynn’s defense can pressure Lindsey because his offense has proven that it will find ways to stall regardless.
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