p u r d u e - p e n n
s t a t e
p r e v i e w
Darrell Hazell said, "they're good" — but
they're down bodies and attrition has
been taking a toll these past few weeks.
On defense, the Lions are allowing
nearly 200 rushing yards per game in Big
Ten games, which would seem encouraging for Purdue even though Purdue's
maybe the worst rushing offense in college football.
Defensively, Penn State isn't its usual
self, with injuries at linebacker certainly
not helping, allowing 37.6 points in Big
Ten games, a number obviously inflated
Penn State by the nine touchdowns given up to the
DaQuan Jones' 10.5 tackles for loss top Penn State, and he has two of
Buckeyes.
the team's 17 sacks.
"Being honest, though, this seaZach Zwinak has scored nine touchdowns
son has just been a living nightmare
this season, but lost three fumbles. Tailback for Penn State defensively, both in terms of
Bill Belton has lost a fumble in each of the the talent it has and, more important, the
past two games.
healthy talent it doesn't have," Bauer said.
Penn State's the only team in the Big Ten "There are severe limitations in the secondwith a worse turnover margin than Purdue. ary in terms of combining both athleticism
The Nittany Lions are typically very good and the knowledge that comes with experiat the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ence, the linebackers are literally decimated
ball — "Without saying too much," Coach and have no depth to back it up." j
opponent newsstand
• Centre Daily Times: Penn State striving to avoid injury
• Centre Daily Times: Penn State loses linebacker for the season; receiver banged up
• Harrisburg Patriot-News: Linebacker discusses Penn State's defensive struggles
• Harrisburg Patriot-News: Turnovers pivotal for the Nittany Lions
• GoPSUSports.com: Bill O'Brien press conference
• GoPSUSports.com: Purdue game notes
Text is linked live to corresponding story
What You Need To Know
About Saturday's Opponent
BY GOLD AND BLACK
STAFF
The last time...
WORTH NOTING
R Turnovers have
been a significant issue
for Penn State in 2013,
with its turnover margin
of minus-seven being
the worst in the Big Ten.
Bill O'Brien's team
has given the ball away
19 times and taken it
away 12.
Freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg has thrown eight
interceptions, but the
real issue for the Lions
has been fumbling.
They've lost 11 of them,
one of the highest totals
in college football.
(Maryland's 15 are
an NCAA high.)
Penn State's lost at
least one fumble in all
but one of its games
this season and put
the ball on the ground
more than once in all
but two of its games. It
lost both of its fumbles
Tom Campbell
Raheem Mostert's 71-yard kickoff return was one of Purdue's highlights
in its last visit to Penn State on Oct. 15, 2011. The play set up a Caleb
TerBush-to-O.J. Ross touchdown pass that cut the Lions' advantage to
13-12 with 4:02 left in the third quarter. In the end, PSU prevailed 23-18.
GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 10 • 10
