Injuries, suspensions, departures and a defection have rocked Penn State's defense.

Yet, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley's patchwork unit has allowed just 24 points and 144 yards rushing in easy victories against Coastal Carolina and Oregon State.

The defensive line, once considered one of the team's strengths, has been decimated since late July. That's when the two projected starting tackles, Chris Baker and Phil Taylor, were dismissed for off-the-field issues.

Backup tackle Devon Still sustained a season-ending broken left ankle last month and stand-up end Jerome Hayes tore a ligament in his left knee on a special teams play in the fourth quarter Saturday to end his season.

The Nittany Lions already were thin up front because two starters -- end Maurice Evans and tackle Abe Koroma -- were suspended while an investigation continues into a raid at their apartment last week during which a small amount of marijuana was seized.

Throw in backup cornerback Willie Harriott's dismissal last week, season-ending injuries to backup safety Nick Sukay and middle linebacker Sean Lee, and cornerback Justin King's decision to bypass his senior year for the NFL draft, and it's hard to believe that this defense has not only survived, but thrived.

"I think the defensive coaches have done a great job when you consider the fact that they've had to play with a different group almost every week, because of injuries and other things," coach Joe Paterno said yesterday. "... They're hanging in there."

He said the loss of Hayes, who made his first career start against the Beavers in place of Evans, was important. But Paterno did not indicate whether Evans or Koroma would be cleared to play against Syracuse Saturday at the Carrier Dome, saying "I'm going to play it day by day for a while."

Evans and Koroma were not listed on the depth chart released yesterday by the school. Aaron Maybin was listed as the starter at left end and Eric Latimore as the backup. True freshman Jack Crawford was listed as the backup to Jared Odrick at left tackle. Ollie Ogbu remains the starter at right tackle and Josh Gaines the starter at right end, with Kevion Latham as the backup.

Paterno indicated after the game Saturday that he was considering moving Crawford back to end from tackle this week to provide some depth. Yesterday, he declined to reveal his plans.

"I'm not in a hurry to make a move, but we may," he said.

Maybin has a team-leading three sacks. Crawford has three tackles, but Paterno is high on him.

"He's only played football for two years," he said. "He came over here from England and had never played. But he's an awfully competitive kid. He's got a lot of natural ability. ... And before you know it, he's going to be one heck of a player."

Bradley just shrugs when the list of players he has lost is rattled off. "I think a lot of the other guys realize when something happens it's another opportunity to step up and be ready to go," he said.

Although Penn State's offense has been putting up big numbers, and the defense has been solid, Paterno said there's still a lot of work to do.

NOTES -- Tight end Andrew Quarless was one of three players Paterno originally suspended from the Oregon State game for his alleged role in the incident at the Nittany Apartments. But Quarless suited up, although he did not play. Paterno declined to explain his decision after the game Saturday, but tried to clear it up yesterday. "There are circumstances involved in this which I can't really get into, and I don't want to get into," he said. "I'm just trying to wait until I get this thing straightened out and then we'll see what happens." ... Former Syracuse greats Jim Brown, Floyd Little and Art Monk will join players from the Orange's unbeaten 1959 national championship team who will be in Syracuse for the world premiere Friday of "The Express," a movie about legendary Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ernie Davis, who led that title team. Davis was raised by his grandparents in his early years in Uniontown.