Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images New coordinator, same high-quality defense Last week, we covered the reasons to be excited and concerned about the offense. This week, we’re moving over to the defensive side of the ball, and I’m giving you three reasons why you should be absolutely giddy about the D continuing to play at a top-notch caliber. 1. Abdul Carter + Dani Dennis-Sutton = Bash Brothers Yes, Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac will be missed, but with Carter moving from linebacker to defensive end to pair up with Dennis-Sutton as the presumed starting edge rusher, look for these two to wreak havoc on opposing offensive linemen and backfields throughout the season, not unlike the Bash Brothers in D2: The Mighty Ducks throwing around opposing hockey players like rag dolls. I almost feel the slightest bit sorry for all the quarterbacks that will have to deal with one or both of these guys coming right at them. 2. Some Big-Time Portal Pickups With both starting cornerbacks off to the NFL, Terry Smith realized he needed some immediate help via the transfer portal and boy, did he get what he desired in a pair of SEC transfers in A.J. Harris (Georgia) and Jalen Kimber (Florida). It’s Harris especially who has been heaped with a massive amount of praise this offseason as one of the leaders of the secondary, and he backed it up with a strong performance in the Blue-White game, so you can safely sharpie him in as one of the starting corner spots. While Kimber won’t be expected to start, he will also be expected to be a key part of the rotation. Although a James Franklin-led PSU program will always emphasize recruiting and developing kids out of high school, they will certainly not hesitate to seek quick remedies when necessary, and the pickups of Harris and Kimber are a prime example of such. 3. A Seamless Transition at Coordinator While the 2024 edition of the Penn State defense may not be as dominating from a statistical standpoint as their 2023 counterparts, don’t expect much (if any) drop-off with Tom Allen now coordinating the defense. While Allen’s methods may differ somewhat from Manny Diaz’s, both are known for playing an aggressive style of defense that attempts to dial up the pressure on opposing offenses. If you haven’t seen For The Blogy’s video detailing Allen’s tendencies, I highly suggest doing so. Perhaps a hidden value in having Allen on staff is that he’s a seasoned veteran coaching in the Big Ten, having spent nearly the last decade at Indiana as their defensive coordiantor and for the past seven years as head coach. Having gone up against Penn State on an annual basis, he has a perspective on PSU’s strengths and weaknesses from an opposing coach’s standpoint that he can relay to Franklin and also apply to his new crop of players at his disposal. Speaking of players at his disposal: Allen will be working with a level of talent and depth that he could only dream of working with at his previous coaching stop. Any article from Penn State sports websites or YouTube videos interviewing the current defensive players, there is one common theme and it’s nothing but praise about how great of a teacher he is and how his intensity motivates everyone else in the room, not unlike Andy Kotlenicki and the offense. Source: https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2024/6 ... -tom-allen