At times in Indiana's games against Iowa and Cincinnati this season the Hoosiers offensive line has a great deal of difficulty protecting QB Michael Penix Jr. [6-3, 218] when he tried to throw the football vertically down the field. Penix Jr. threw three interceptions in its opening game of the season against Iowa and followed that up two games later with three interceptions against unbeaten and 7th ranked Cincinnati.
Two critical matchups along Indiana's offensive line are at their two offensive tackle positions. Indiana's Sr. LT Luke Haggard [6-7 , 305], who is a JUCO transfer from Santa Rosa C.C. in Calif., will try to matchup against Penn State's best outside pass rusher SDE Arnold Ebiketie [6-3, 256] and Indiana's mamouth RT Sr. Caleb Jones [6-8, 362] will try to handle Penn State's standup hybrid WDE Jesse Luketa [6-3, 247]. Luketa was moved to the standup hybrid WDE position this summer just before the start of the season from his Will OLB position where he started during the 2020 season replacing Penn State AA Will OLB Micah Parsons.
These are two key matchups for Penn State's defensive front four on defense. With Penn State expected to try and put pressure on Penix Jr. with a variety of blitz packages, how effective both Ebiketie and Luketa are putting pressure on Penix Jr. when he's throwing the football could end up be a big determining factor in the outcome of the game.
These are two matchups Penn State football fans should pay special attention too this evening in tonight's game. I believe this evening these are two matchups where Penn State will have a big advantage with Ebiketie and Luketa putting a lot of pressure on Penix Jr. throughout the entire game.
Two critical matchups along Indiana's offensive line are at their two offensive tackle positions. Indiana's Sr. LT Luke Haggard [6-7 , 305], who is a JUCO transfer from Santa Rosa C.C. in Calif., will try to matchup against Penn State's best outside pass rusher SDE Arnold Ebiketie [6-3, 256] and Indiana's mamouth RT Sr. Caleb Jones [6-8, 362] will try to handle Penn State's standup hybrid WDE Jesse Luketa [6-3, 247]. Luketa was moved to the standup hybrid WDE position this summer just before the start of the season from his Will OLB position where he started during the 2020 season replacing Penn State AA Will OLB Micah Parsons.
These are two key matchups for Penn State's defensive front four on defense. With Penn State expected to try and put pressure on Penix Jr. with a variety of blitz packages, how effective both Ebiketie and Luketa are putting pressure on Penix Jr. when he's throwing the football could end up be a big determining factor in the outcome of the game.
These are two matchups Penn State football fans should pay special attention too this evening in tonight's game. I believe this evening these are two matchups where Penn State will have a big advantage with Ebiketie and Luketa putting a lot of pressure on Penix Jr. throughout the entire game.
