2014 Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State Defense An Elite Bunch
By Joe Micik
Sep 6, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Mike Hull (43) during the second quarter against the Akron Zips at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Akron 21-3. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
There is no question that the Penn State defense is one of the best in the nation, and that is the challenge confronting Boston College.
More from Football
- Offensive Coordinator Ryan Day Leaves Boston College Football
- Colton Lichtenberg Commits to Boston College Football; Shores Up Kicking Game
- Soaring to Glory Show, Jan. 21, 2015: We’re Back, Baby
- Cost of Attendance: You Know, Boston College Has a Point
- Boston College Recruiting: Football Offers Jeremy Larkin, Jayson Ademilola
For a team that only went 6-6, some might ask how the defense could be so good and the team overall so ordinary. The answer, as we will see in the next set of previews next week, is their offense.
But when their offense is not on the field, the Penn State defense is doing great things. The numbers bear that out for the most part.
Still, as Boston College fans themselves learned in the earliest stages of the Spaziani era, a good defense can only do so much when an offense is not cooperating, and this is why Penn State never got much of anywhere this season. In a special way, it is impressive that they were able to put together a defense this good in James Franklin’s first season, considering that it was just average last year under Bill O’Brien and scholarship limitations are in place.
On December 27, the Nittany Lions will face an Eagle offense that has been elite, but only in one particular area. How will Penn State hold up against the Boston College rushing attack at Yankee Stadium?