Penn State slow defensive start too steep to climb in Michigan State loss
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Penn State’s defense found itself in unfamiliar territory Saturday afternoon.
One of the most stout units in the program’s recent history, the Nittany Lions entered their game with Michigan State with four previous losses. But in keeping every opponent under 26 points scored offensively, deep holes had not been an issue on the 2021 season.
Michigan State upended that.
Immediately marching down the snowy Spartan Stadium field Saturday afternoon, Michigan State scored on its first possession. Traversing 76 yards on just eight plays, the Spartans’ running back Kenneth Walker cashed in with a 2-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
After a quick three-and-out for the Nittany Lions, the next possession for the hosts looked much the same.
This time, a 35-yard carry for Walker was the first of four chunk plays for the Spartans. Needing to escape from their goal line, a 99-yard, 10-play drive was capped when quarterback Payton Thorne hooked up with Tre Mosley for another touchdown.
With more than 21 minutes left in the half, the Nittany Lions had surrendered more first-quarter points than in any other game this season.
“That’s not like us to give up 14 points in the first quarter,” safety Ji’Ayir Brown said. “It was a very slow start. We didn’t execute. Guys have to come out fast, we have to come out more aggressive and we have to execute more on plays.”
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Through the 11 games of the 2021 season, that hadn’t been an issue for the Nittany Lions.
Even through the course of four losses before Saturday’s 30-27 defeat at the hands of the No. 12-ranked Spartans, Penn State had largely been steady defensively. Only Ohio State’s 17 points in the first half matched Michigan State’s production Saturday.
The Spartans did so both through the air and on the ground. Led by 268 yards passing on 19 of 30 completions with two touchdowns for quarterback Payton Thorne, the Spartans added another 183 yards and two scores on 47 carries on the ground.
Maybe more damaging, much of Michigan State’s success in its 451 yards of offense could be found on 167 yards passing on seven chunk plays, bolstered by another 98 yards rushing on five chunk carries.
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The second-most yardage created by an opponent, the Spartans’ 451 yards of offense put a dent in the otherwise confident Penn State defensive persona.
“They’re so well-balanced,” Brown said. “You can’t get a good jump on whether they’re going to pass or run the ball. They have a very explosive back, one of the best backs in the country.
“And they do a very great job at keeping their schemes balanced, whether they’re gonna run or pass the ball, So you can’t get no idea when they’re going to run or pass, so you have to prepare for both each now.”
In a game that saw the Nittany Lions match points in each quarter in the second half, it wound up being their undoing.
Hampered at every turn, the Spartans connecting for first downs on 9 of 18 third downs and another three of four fourth-down attempts, the Nittany Lions were left to lament what had transpired on the day, particularly at its start.
“We definitely came out with a slow start this game and we paid for it (because) we couldn’t bring it back,” Brown said. “We gave them 14 free points we definitely felt like they didn’t earn. It haunted us today. We lost by three points.”
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