wise, the line has performed up to the
o>-season expectations, which were
none. The bright side here is that among
the ective. PSU's
simply doesn't have it.
GRADE D
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Give it up for the
highest-performing positional unit on
the team. Beginning with the opener in
Ireland – when Anthony Zettel wreaked
havoc to the tune of three tackles for
loss, a sack and a fourth-quarter fumble
recovery – this unit has been solid since
day one and ranks as one of the best de-
fensive lines in the country.
GRADE A
LINEBACKER Mike Hull has been ful-
enses, and
the DBs have shown they can tighten up
when needed. Trevor Williams might be
one of the team's most improved defen-
sive players since the opener, and Adrian
Amos and Jordan Lucas are proving their
worth. This unit will have a chance to
build upon this grade later in the season as
it faces some of the conference's strongest
passing attacks.
GRADE B
SPECIAL TEAMS Sam Ficken has had
a couple of his kicks blocked, but when
he's able to get them li?ed, he's been
money. But there haven't been many oth-
er bright spots. The punts have been er-
ratic and return coverage has been spotty
at best. Despite a career-long 41-yarder
by Jesse Della Valle vs. Northwestern, the
punt-return game has been nearly non-
existent, too. Grant Haley has shown
some =ashes as a kick returner, but he's
yet
to cash one out. The Nittany Lions
could really use a spark here.
GRADE
C+
COACHES
Through six games, it's
been a tale of two sides. For o>ensive co-
ordinator John Donovan, it's been about
trying new things – anything – in order
to light a ense.
Whether it's an unbalanced line, six O-
linemen at once, the wildcat, throwback
passes or reverses, you can't fault this
sta> for trying. They just have yet to ort
on the recruiting trail. Sure, there've
been some losses, but a
