PENN STATE Nittany Lions' defense deserves better record

The struggling offense hopes to get untracked Saturday at Ohio State.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny says that during practices the defense stays on its side of the field and the offense stays on its side.
"And we each do our own thing," said Posluszny, the team leader with 56 tackles, including 6 1/2 for losses.
It's no different on Saturdays for the offense, which has scored two touchdowns in the last four games and averaged 6.8 points per game in the Nittany Lions' five losses. It stays on its side of the field.
If Penn State's defenders are wondering what the heck is happening on that other side of the field, they are entitled.
This is a defense that held Iowa to a mere two field goals last week, yet had nothing to show for it except a depressing 6-4 loss.
Ranked No. 17
This is a defense that ranks No. 17 in the country, yet is part of a 2-5 team that will try to break a four-game losing streak Saturday at Ohio State, where the Lions are 0-5 since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1993.
This is a defense that has had to hustle back onto the field 21 times after the offense has coughed up the ball to hold its opponents to two TDs and three field goals.
In other words, this is a defense, one that frequently employs 10 underclassmen, that deserves better.
"Frustrating" says Smolko
"A lot of us have been telling them we're sorry," tight end Isaac Smolko, the former Springfield High standout, said. "They've been playing the best defense in the league. It's frustrating for us, so it's got to be worse for them."
If so, they're not saying. The season has reached a point where the defenders can either throw up their hands and figure what's the use, or they can stay together with their teammates on the other side of the ball and continue to believe that the mess can be cleaned up.
"The only thing that's frustrating for us is losing games," said Posluszny, a sophomore who heads a promising group of young linebackers that includes freshman Dan Connor and sophomore Tim Shaw, a converted running back.
"We know the guys on offense are working hard and they're going to break through. I mean, even though things are tough, we have to stay positive and realize this could be the week things finally start to turn around."
The improvement from last season has been dramatic. A year ago, the Nittany Lions were known for making opposing running backs look like Walter Payton, allowing 209.1 yards per game on the ground. This season, the average is 113.4 yards, No. 30 nationally. None of Penn State's seven opponents has reached its average yardage total against the Nittany Lions.