The team embodies dual definitions of "sick," both good and ugly. Penn State's defense is that crazy-trendy-cool "sick," such as modern-slang term hipsters might use when describing a BMX stunt. And Penn State's offense is just the opposite, dictionary-definition sick, looking pasty and white and desperately needing resuscitation.

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These days, Penn State football needs at least two definitions, so disparate is the offense and defense. The defense, ranked 17th in Division I-A, allows just 14.6 points per game. It has kept the Nittany Lions close in games against some of the Big Ten's best teams. The offense ranks 83rd in Division I-A -- it has scored just 27 points in Penn State's previous four games. And, it's prevented the Lions from winning those close games. (See: Iowa 6, Penn State 4.)

Such a gap in performance points toward Penn State's biggest concern heading into a 12:10 p.m. game Saturday at Ohio State. With one unit looking close to flawless and one unit looking mightily flawed, Penn State players are wondering when -- if at all -- those differences might spark some animosity between the offense and defense.

So far, the Lions have been free of finger-pointing, a credit to a defense that's trying to prevent its frustrations from cracking team chemistry. Still, a few more losses could make that effort more challenging. Already, Penn State has lost four consecutive games, though the defense has yet to allow more than 20 points in that span. In those losses, the Lions average 6.8 points per game.

"From my point of view," quarterback Zack Mills said, "if we don't improve, I think the defense is going to get frustrated. We're just not getting the job done. All we needed, look back [against Iowa], was a field goal. They keep getting the job done and we don't. It's gotta be really hard for them not to get frustrated."

Defensive players are running out of tricks. They have yet to shut out an opponent this season, but Saturday, they limited the Hawkeyes to just two field goals. Field positioning, limited by Penn State's defense, led to two safeties on special teams.

This week, defensive players even spoke about creating their own points, about playing the immaculate game. But such targeted perfection -- seemingly far-fetched -- only pointed to the absurd dilemma Penn State defenders face.

Asked, following the Iowa loss, what more his defense could have done, Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis pondered the question.

"Every thrown ball that was in the air," he said, "pick it."

Offensive players have spent the past few days apologizing for their recent performance, hoping to assuage any hard feelings. "It's just a lot of us telling the defense, 'Sorry,' " tight end Isaac Smolko said.

Last year, chemistry problems formed as the team slumped, but this year, players said, that hasn't been a factor.

"We're feeling for those guys on the other side of the ball," said safety Andrew Guman, who lives with two offensive players -- Andrew Richardson and Tyler Reed. "We, as a defense, have confidence in them. It's just a matter of when and where."

"Though they've been playing well, they haven't been pointing any fingers at us," guard Charles Rush said. "I think it's admirable on their part that it hasn't happened, at least not yet."