Penn State Blue-White Game Defensive Grades

by Adam Bittner on Apr 20, 2011 12:52 PM EDT in Football

Today, we mercifully put a wrap on our Blue-White Game coverage as we take a look at the defense's performance in the contest. As we were with the offense, we're going to be generous in our evaluations given the meaninglessness of the game and the crappy conditions at Beaver Stadium. Hopefully, we'll highlight some noteworthy performances, however, for those of you who missed the game.

Defensive Line

There were a lot of should-be regulars missing on the defensive line Saturday, so it's hard to really get a grasp for where the unit stands at all right now. That said, it was nice to see Kyle Baublitz slip free and get a couple of sacks. Brandon Ware also looked good, as we've heard throughout spring practice, in registering a couple of tackles. Devon Still earned a pair of tackles himself. The running backs had a tough time slipping through the first level of the defense, which is a credit to the defensive line. Grade: Pass

Linebackers

Glenn Carson had a game-high five tackles from the linebacker spot. Lots of other familiar names mixed it up well, too. Mike Hull registered four tackles, coming in right behind Carson on the White defense. Michael Mauti led the blue defense with three tackles and Gerald Hodges and Khairi Fortt each had a pair. The backers looked good in run defense and a couple guys even helped break up some passes. All around solid day for that group. Grade: Pass

Secondary

As on the defensive line, there were a lot of guys missing here, but the unit looked pretty good nevertheless. Mike Wallace of Primary Element fame (yeah, I'm going to keep doing that until he becomes a famous football player) picked off the first pass of the game from Robert Bolden and guys were breaking up passes all over the place. Not only did the receivers have trouble getting open at times, but when the quarterbacks managed to get them the ball in a catchable spot, pressure on the receivers forced a lot of drops if not break ups. Nice performances. Grade: Pass

Overall

It's just the spring game, and the conditions were pretty terrible, but it was good to see a defense that struggled forcing turnovers last season make some plays. The two defenses combined to force four fumbles and pick off a pass. Not bad for one half of football. the offenses certainly helped with their sloppy play, but plenty of sloppy teams victimized them Penn State defense last season and the Nittany Lions didn't always take advantage. Give them credit for making things happen on Saturday.

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YOU ALL GET A PASS!

“Pass to what?”

PASS TO SUMMER SCHOOL!

NOTHING PROVES YOUR EFFORT TO ME IN PRACTICE LIKE PROJECTILE VOMITING!

"I am almost ashamed at my actions, but not really." - usn_kologi, 197 lbs

by ReadingRambler on Apr 20, 2011 1:32 PM EDT reply actions

Projectile vomiting?

That’s for amateurs. If you were a hero you’d have rhabdomyolysis.

It's even possible that Jim Tressel drinks out of the toilet

by jman07 on Apr 20, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Iowa

Where heroes are made

"I shoot, I score. He shoots, I score." - Dan Gable

by ClaybornSmash on Apr 20, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

And kidneys destroyed

It's even possible that Jim Tressel drinks out of the toilet

by jman07 on Apr 20, 2011 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Ramblermyolisis?

by Pentimental on Apr 20, 2011 8:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You need to do a photoshop for that!

Good to see you, Pentimental! How ya been?

This is BSD, the crazy stirs itself.

by Paige2PSU on Apr 20, 2011 9:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Great! Thanks. How about you?

by Pentimental on Apr 21, 2011 12:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Pretty good, thanks! Hope you’re not affected by the wildfires in TX too much.

This is BSD, the crazy stirs itself.

by Paige2PSU on Apr 21, 2011 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I was looking right at Brandon Mosby Felder on his TD pass

It was cool, he ran a perfect post corner route and McGloin let go of the ball while he was just making his corner cut. He ran a perfect route and the CB got burned because of good offensive execution.

From this day on I shall respect Rex. I shall never misuse Rex Kwon Do. I shall be a champion of Freedom and Justice.

by psu on Apr 20, 2011 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

BM-F

- in 2 yrs of B/W game action, 3 TD’s.

Total ‘PSU’ TD’s in the last two springs: 3.

I hope he can prove production in catches this season.

" When you cross that Blue Line, you are mine...Across the Blue Line, it's all football. " " And what you need to do in your life is paint Blue Lines everywhere. " - Joe Paterno 2009

by BlueWhiteLife on Apr 20, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought Kersey had the two TDs last year?

Or, was Moseby-Felder here in ’09?

Fire Dan Snyder

by Cari Greene on Apr 20, 2011 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I forgot how tall Baublitz is

He’s listed at 6’5" and he looked hilarious in that worn-out blue jersey they slung over him.

I tried to closely watch the Stank/Jordan Hill battles, more so after I thought I saw Stank get Hill turned real nicely on one running play. But after that, Hill just pwned him. I’ve been on dude’s bandwagon since LJ talked Joe into letting the true frosh on the field in mid-09, saying something along the lines of ’Hill’s ready.’ So, I’m psyched to see if the DTs will pick up their play early this season, instead of mid-season like last year. Can Devon Still stay on his feet against Alabama?

jtothetweet
"I am amazed that people still think apologizing in such a way as to make it clear that it was the victims who misunderstood is acceptable. I had hoped that the sorry-if-you-are-oversensitive school of apology would by now have been thoroughly discredited." - former Penn State & NBA player, John Amaechi

by jtothep on Apr 20, 2011 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

I watched Stank closely

and thought he did admirably.

Publicity is like poison; it doesn't hurt unless you swallow it.
Joe Paterno

by tlrpsu on Apr 20, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

So did I actually

I was surprised with his play, happily. And here’s where we asterisk the base defense, no stunts pressure, right?

But Hill’s a challenge for Olineman, b/c so much of his weight is in those tree trunk thighs, and he gets so loooowwwwwww, low, low, low.

by jtothep on Apr 20, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

PROOF!

" When you cross that Blue Line, you are mine...Across the Blue Line, it's all football. " " And what you need to do in your life is paint Blue Lines everywhere. " - Joe Paterno 2009

by BlueWhiteLife on Apr 20, 2011 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Secondary deserves props

They looked very impressive considering all the projected starters where on the bench. This defense looks talented and deep. I’m still concerned about the pass rush but with a couple DT’s emerging and the possibility of using some of the LB’s as stand-up DE’s, this defense could be downright scary.

by Jared Slanina on Apr 20, 2011 2:56 PM EDT reply actions