UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Bob Shoop stepped off the elevator after calling Saturday’s game from up in the box as usual. The Penn State defensive coordinator waited in the tunnel for a series of high-fives, pats on the back and hugs as his players exited the field.
There was a fist bump for safety Marcus Allen, a lively sophomore who returned to the field in Penn State’s 29-7 win against Indiana after he missed the previous game with a shoulder injury. Middle linebacker Jason Cabinda was greeted with a hug after roaming sideline to sideline at a position the sophomore continues growing into after being thrust inside because of starter Nyeem Wartman-White’s season-ending knee injury.
Out came a smile from defensive end Carl Nassib, usually intense and known by teammates as “Crazy Carl,” who leads the Football Bowl Subdivision with 10 sacks and five forced fumbles. Nassib’s disruptive linemates Austin Johnson, Anthony Zettel and Garrett Sickels followed.
When it comes to Penn State’s defense, a unit that is 10th in FBS in total defense (275.7 yards per game), 11th in scoring defense (14.3 points per game) and 26th in rushing defense (117 yards per game), there’s no shortage of playmakers. The unit was supposed to be the strength of the team again this year, and so far is more than holding up its end of the bargain while the offense — checking in at 103 in FBS (344.3 yards per game) — continues sorting through its challenges.
Finding answers for how to attack offenses is what Shoop does best, and with the Nittany Lions beginning preparations for a trip to Columbus, Ohio, to take on top-ranked Ohio State Saturday night, it’ll be the defense once again that will need to come up with some type of remedy to slow down Urban Meyer’s plethora of weapons.
Shoop adjusts his defense as needed to work to his players’ strengths, and Saturday when the Hoosiers pushed the tempo, the Lions responded with a no-huddle defense.
“They’re going fast and we’re already at the line, set up and ready to go,” Cabinda said. “We weren’t fazed at all. I think guys mature and there’s no panicking and all that stuff. Guys’ heads weren’t spinning in circles.”
The defense prides itself on “sudden change” stops, such as coming back on the field after the offense turns the ball over or, as was the case against Indiana, getting back on the field and stopping the offense after the Hoosiers’ surprise onside kick. These types of plays are a chance to stop the opponent’s momentum, and as Penn State prepares to head on the road for just the second time this season, the defense has to find ways to dig in against its toughest test to date.
“We spend a lot of time talking about and handling sudden-change situations,” coach James Franklin said. “I thought our guys responded really well, I thought our defense called a really good game.”
Penn State will need to exceed playing a really good game in all three phases to have a shot at the Buckeyes. For Shoop’s group to deal with is an Ohio State offense averaging 460 yards (26th in FBS), with 230 of those coming on the ground. Slowing down running back Ezekiel Elliott will be a priority and finding ways to mix up the pressure — something Shoop likes to do, as he’s not afraid to move a safety down to the line of scrimmage or flip Zettel outside to defensive end to find mismatches — will be key.
“It’s a great challenge,” Cabinda said. “We’re really excited. … It’s going to be a great environment. We just can’t wait to get up there and show them what we’ve got.”
Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter @audsnyder4.
First Published: October 12, 2015, 2:16 a.m.