Indiana presents another daunting challenge for Penn State defense
Tim Banks coaches Penn State’s safeties and carries the title of co-defensive coordinator, so he understands as well as anyone why Minnesota’s offense was so effective last week in a 31-26 win.
“Minnesota’s run game is one of the best we’ve seen,” Banks said Thursday. “We made a commitment to stop the run. That created a situation that put our secondary on islands. And then we didn’t do a good job of getting guys on the ground after the catch.”
After allowing a season-high 31 points, ninthranked Penn State (5-1 Big Ten, 8-1) faces another challenge from a strong offense when Indiana (4-2, 7-2) travels to Beaver Stadium for a game Saturday (12 p.m., Channel 6).
The Hoosiers average 34 points per game and lead the Big Ten with 308 passing yards per game. They also play at a torrid pace, although maybe not quite as fast as they did last season when they ran 100 plays against Penn State in a 3328 loss.
“Anytime you play a true spread team, it’s about volume,” Banks said. “If you run 90 plays and you’re right three times, that’s 21 points. You can play great defense but if you’re wrong just three times, that’s three touchdowns.
“We have to do a great job. We pride ourselves on having a good amount of depth at a lot of positions. Hopefully we’ll be ready for the challenge.”
Whop Philyor is Indiana’s top receiver with 59 receptions for 813 yards and three touchdowns. Peyton
Ramsey has completed
72 percent of his throws for 1,302 yards and nine touchdowns and is seeing increased playing time after a season-ending injury to Michael Penix Jr.
Tackling in space will be paramount to the Nittany Lions, who didn’t do that well last week at Minnesota.
“We’re always trying to improve,” Banks said. “It starts with having the proper alignment and getting back to the basics. We have to take great angles. We need to get guys on the ground when the ball is caught and finish plays.”
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Even though Penn State has failed to score at least
30 points in its last four games, Indiana coach Tom Allen has been impressed with the Nittany Lions’ offense.
“It’s a talented offense, no question about it,” Allen said. “They create a lot of issues for you. You better tackle well in space. You better be disciplined. You better handle their size and mass in the core, which is a big improvement for them over the last few years.
“That’s why they’re playing really good football.”
Penn State is averaging
37.1 points per game, which is third in the Big Ten and
17th in the country, and
432.8 total yards, which is fourth in the conference and 45th in the country.
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Penn State senior punter
Blake Gillikin has been selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for the third straight year.
That puts Gillikin on the national ballot for the Academic All-America team. Last year he became the first Penn State punter and the 34th football player to be a first-team selection.
He owns a perfect 4.0 grade-point average as a kinesiology major. He’s a twotime Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and a three-time Academic All-America selection.
A two-time team captain, Gillikin is tied for first on Penn State’s career punting list with a 43.13 yards per punt average. He set a school record with a 44.0 punting average last season.