The play of Penn’s defense has already been lauded at length this season, but what has flown under the radar throughout that discussion is the tremendous pressure being generated by the front seven.
While defensive coordinator Ray Priore’s unit has returned to the top of the Ivy League in total defense (improving from 249.8 yards allowed per game last year to 216.2 so far this season), and maintained the second-place position in scoring defense, the biggest improvement in 2009 has been in sacks and tackles for loss.
Last year the Quakers finished sixth in the Ivies with 17 sacks, but have already taken down opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season in their six games.
And Penn’s improved penetration has also yielded better numbers in tackles for loss.
Last year four Quakers finished in the top 20 in that category, led by nose guard Joe Goniprow with 10. So far in 2009 there are seven Quakers in the top 20, including four in the top 10.
Junior defensive end Brian Levine notched two against Yale Saturday, while sophomore linebacker Erik Rask led the way with four of his own. Those two are third and fourth, respectively, in the Ancient Eight, followed directly by junior defensive end Owen Thomas with 6.5 on the year
While the Quakers have more talent in the front seven than they’ve had in years, coach Al Bagnoli credits the talented tandem of cornerbacks Chris Wynn and Jonathan Moore with giving those skilled linemen and backers the freedom to attack at will.
“Philosophically we’re attacking a little bit more, and that goes back to who you have in that third level,” he said. “It allows you to do some of those other things, and we’re kind of capitalizing on some of that freedom in the front and second-level guys to kind of attack a little bit more. … so far it’s gone reasonably well. We’ll find out if it continues.”
Gimpy Garton. Starting quarterback Keiffer Garton — who Bagnoli continues to declare as his guy when healthy — probably won’t be available this weekend against Brown.
The coach officially calls him “questionable,” but Garton still has not practiced after suffering a knee sprain last week and missing the Yale game.
“He’s close to coming back,” Bagnoli said. “Still questionable for next week.”
Senior Kyle Olson, who went 8-for-21 for 94 yards with one interception against the Bulldogs, has continued taking the first-team reps this week.
In other news, running back Mike DiMaggio re-aggravated his ankle injury and missed the last two days of practice. Bagnoli calls him doubtful for Saturday in Providence, R.I.
Do-it-all Derham. Kyle Derham’s role as the de facto third-string quarterback right now raised a bit of concern for Bagnoli in the post-game press conference Saturday.
“Right now we’re kind of tugging at him to be a lot of things,” Bagnoli said.
“It’s kind of hurting his availability to be really good at one thing, which would be at wide receiver … He’s probably a jack-of-all-trades but not necessarily a master of any at this point.”
Derham isn’t quite so concerned.
“I’d say it’s affected my preparation very slightly … it’s not taking too much from me at receiver,” he said.
“But then again it’s nice to go into a game knowing exactly what I have to do to execute and win, and the past few weeks I’ve had to come out thinking I might be called on at quarterback, I might be called on at receiver, and I’m starting to get more comfortable with that role.”
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.