Fastest picks up knowledge

Coaches are busy trying to develop the team's defense.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Knowledge Timmons says he is the fastest man at Penn State, faster than even speedy cornerback Justin King or wide receiver Derrick Williams.
But Timmons, a track standout-turned-football player, might have a thing or two to learn about playing defensive back, especially if he is going to compete for playing time in the Nittany Lions' revamped defensive unit this fall.
Timmons, who has a scholarship for football, but not track, had two interceptions in Penn State's annual spring scrimmage on Saturday. After Timmons' second pick, in which he tried to return the ball out of the end zone, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley dispensed some advice.
"Take a knee," Timmons said Bradley told him. "He said, 'This is not high school, just take a knee and we'll just take it on the 20.' "
Work ahead
That might sum up the difference between Penn State's experience-laden defensive unit last season, and the squad that Bradley and coach Joe Paterno are trying to develop now. The coaches must replace seven of last year's defensive starters -- four in the secondary and three on the defensive line, including All-American Tamba Hali.
Potential is what everyone is talking about now.
"There's a lot of good young players on this team, and most of you guys don't even know about them," said junior linebacker Dan Connor, the only defensive starter from a year ago to play on Saturday.
Among the sidelined on Saturday was linebacker and team captain Paul Posluszny, who is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl.
In his pre-scrimmage news conference, Paterno singled out senior defensive lineman Jim Shaw -- and that was before he watched Shaw record two sacks on Saturday.
"He'll be a good defensive end," Paterno said. "But we're still short one. We have three or four guys who have potential that need to understand what it's going to take."
Player should help
Returning to the team after missing 2005 is defensive tackle Ed Johnson. He had been expelled for the summer and fall semesters for an off-field incident.
Saturday's game was a barometer that showed Johnson he still has a long way to go get back into game-shape.
"I'm not even close to where I used to be right now," Johnson said. "I'm still slow off the ball, I'm missing some explosiveness. I'm not making football plays."
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