Well written article on the DL from the Collegian

[GregInPitt]

It seems that Durant could be the wild card that improves DT performance. Beamon seemed to plateau from the hype he generated early in his PSU career and it would not surprise me to see Durant as the starting 3-tech a few games into the 2023 season.

Penn State football’s defensive line still a strength with coaching change, new names emerge

“We go against I think what's going to be the best defense in the nation, with the best defensive staff in the nation,” quarterback Drew Allar said after Tuesday’s practice.

www.collegian.psu.edu

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

It seems that Durant could be the wild card that improves DT performance. Beamon seemed to plateau from the hype he generated early in his PSU career and it would not surprise me to see Durant as the starting 3-tech a few games into the 2023 season.

Penn State football’s defensive line still a strength with coaching change, new names emerge

“We go against I think what's going to be the best defense in the nation, with the best defensive staff in the nation,” quarterback Drew Allar said after Tuesday’s practice.

www.collegian.psu.edu

Why is Durant a wild card? We all know that he's going to get plenty of snaps.

 

[scrivener]

It seems that Durant could be the wild card that improves DT performance. Beamon seemed to plateau from the hype he generated early in his PSU career and it would not surprise me to see Durant as the starting 3-tech a few games into the 2023 season.

Penn State football’s defensive line still a strength with coaching change, new names emerge

“We go against I think what's going to be the best defense in the nation, with the best defensive staff in the nation,” quarterback Drew Allar said after Tuesday’s practice.

www.collegian.psu.edu

As is an annual tradition, DL, especially the interior, seemingly lags behind other positions on the team in having game changers and wreckers. The LB's have immense potential, obviously Abdul leading the way; and in the secondary, Kalen is the proven commodity. But, DL has to have an uptick, or we will continually see the same issues late in games vs upper echelon foes (typically only Mich and OSU). Not a huge fan of the hybrid DE/DL guys like Hakeem and others who are almost too big for end, but not strong enough for the inside -- but JF seems to like that construct. Time will tell, but we got royally pushed around last year by Mich, and nobody stepped up vs OSU in that front 4. All it takes is that position to become a strength, and the whole program could take that next step into December.

 

[RickinDayton]

It seems that Durant could be the wild card that improves DT performance. Beamon seemed to plateau from the hype he generated early in his PSU career and it would not surprise me to see Durant as the starting 3-tech a few games into the 2023 season.

Penn State football’s defensive line still a strength with coaching change, new names emerge

“We go against I think what's going to be the best defense in the nation, with the best defensive staff in the nation,” quarterback Drew Allar said after Tuesday’s practice.

www.collegian.psu.edu

Still think Beamon should be @ DE.

 

[GregInPitt]

Why is Durant a wild card? We all know that he's going to get plenty of snaps.

Because he has gotten bigger and seems to be the DT that has the most opportunity to take a jump in level of play. He played well as an undersized true freshman, and now at 275 seems to be getting singled out as a player that has improved and caught the attention of the coaches.

Beamon has been in the program for 4 years, and he didn't really excel last season. He's listed at 256 lbs. Do you believe he's a candidate to break out into an all B10 season? I don't.

Most of the other DT's that will form the rotation in 2023 are also known quantities, being in their 3rd, 4th or 5th seasons. Not that they couldn't take another step in play, but younger players usually have the most opportunity to improve. Other than Artis, who is also a candidate to surprise but is further down the depth chart at 1-tech than Durant is a 3-tech.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

As is an annual tradition, DL, especially the interior, seemingly lags behind other positions on the team in having game changers and wreckers. The LB's have immense potential, obviously Abdul leading the way; and in the secondary, Kalen is the proven commodity. But, DL has to have an uptick, or we will continually see the same issues late in games vs upper echelon foes (typically only Mich and OSU). Not a huge fan of the hybrid DE/DL guys like Hakeem and others who are almost too big for end, but not strong enough for the inside -- but JF seems to like that construct. Time will tell, but we got royally pushed around last year by Mich, and nobody stepped up vs OSU in that front 4. All it takes is that position to become a strength, and the whole program could take that next step into December.

Yes, depth at DT has cost us in big games.

 

[ryoder1]

As is an annual tradition, DL, especially the interior, seemingly lags behind other positions on the team in having game changers and wreckers. The LB's have immense potential, obviously Abdul leading the way; and in the secondary, Kalen is the proven commodity. But, DL has to have an uptick, or we will continually see the same issues late in games vs upper echelon foes (typically only Mich and OSU). Not a huge fan of the hybrid DE/DL guys like Hakeem and others who are almost too big for end, but not strong enough for the inside -- but JF seems to like that construct. Time will tell, but we got royally pushed around last year by Mich, and nobody stepped up vs OSU in that front 4. All it takes is that position to become a strength, and the whole program could take that next step into December.

The issue is we get few disruptive plays from the DTs. Rarely a sack or even TFLs and never against a Mich or O$U. Yes, we better be improved this year or Corum and Edwards will both hit 150yds.

 

[Wallace Breen]

Yes, depth at DT has cost us in big games.

Defensive end has cost us just as much. End is not the position of strength it is made out to be. It is only a strength on obvious passing downs.

 

[GregInPitt]

Why is Durant a wild card? We all know that he's going to get plenty of snaps.

Hate to link the other site, but this pretty much explains how Durant is a player that could surprise and make the whole PSU DT performance better, even though the majority of the players are the same.

Durant could go from the backup he was in 2022 to the star of the show, and a starter, jumping over the DT's he backed up last season into that starting and staring role.

Buzz builds for Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant ahead of second season

Penn State football defensive tackle Zane Durant has received plenty of praise duirng spring practice as he readies for year two.

www.on3.com

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

Still not sure why Durant would surprise. We all know that he's good.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

Any news on the transfer DTs