Depth a concern on PSU line

Injuries and suspensions have left the team thin up front on defense.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — It’s time for Joe Paterno to start tinkering with the roster again.

Injuries and suspensions have whittled down depth on the defensive line at No. 17 Penn State, so the Hall of Fame coach is pondering different possibilities to get more bodies in the trenches — perhaps shifting a player from offense, or bringing along some younger reserves quicker than planned.

“We’ll look at possibilities,” said Paterno, who likes experimenting with players at different positions. “I’m not in a hurry to make a move but we may ... I’m just not sure what we’re going to do.”

Fortunately for Paterno, the defense has held up just fine, so far, despite the adversity. The Nittany Lions are holding opponents to 12 points a game in the season’s first two weeks — both blowout wins.

Popular end Jerome Hayes tore a ligament in his left knee during last weekend’s rout of Oregon State, joining promising freshman tackle Devon Still on the season-ending injury list. Still broke his left ankle in the preseason.

End Maurice Evans and tackle Abe Koroma were suspended before the Oregon State game by Paterno for an off-field issue. Paterno said at his weekly news conference Tuesday he’s still uncertain whether they’ll play Saturday at Syracuse in the renewal of an old Eastern rivalry.

He is impressed, though, with how his squad had dealt with the latest round of adversity. Penn State has had a string of off-field concerns since April 2007.

“I have a gut feeling, I have an intuitive feeling that we have some people that have pride,” Paterno said about his defense. “My gut feeling is that these guys will be get better and better. They’re coachable, intelligent. They want to be good.”

End Josh Gaines, a three-year starter, has picked up the slack with his energetic play, while sophomore Aaron Maybin has three sacks.

“We’re just staying tight, staying close, keeping everything together,” said Gaines, a senior captain. “We still got a lot of guys who can play, a lot of guys who can do different things.”

Those guys are young, though, and haven’t had much experience yet.

The depth chart lists freshmen or sophomores as the top backups along each of the four defensive line positions.

One of those backups, 6-foot-5 freshman Jack Crawford, normally plays end but has been moved inside.

His 248-pound frame isn’t the typical body type associated with tackles, who in college can tip the scales at least 40 to 50 pounds heavier.

Already affecting Penn State’s depth before the latest defensive line concerns emerged was the offseason dismissals of tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor for off-field troubles.

Paterno hopes the defense can pick up the slack, in part by trying forcing more turnovers, which would allow them to get off the field faster and hand the ball over to the offense.

Nice plan, considering the Nittany Lions’ “Spread HD” has looked like a juggernaut in the blowouts of Coastal Carolina and Oregon State, averaging 55.5 points and 524 yards.

“It’s awesome to see the offense do as well as they are,” safety Anthony Scirrotto said. “Putting up points on the board puts a lot less pressure on us.”