Defense will look to get tougher for coming season
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley interviewed for head coaching vacancies at Pitt and Temple in the offseason.
Both Pennsylvania schools passed on him, but Bradley has not let it alter his approach this spring with the Nittany Lions.
"There's no reason to look back, only ahead," he said.
Bradley is entering his 33rd season as a member of Joe Paterno's coaching staff and his 37th year at Penn State, where he played for Paterno from 1975-79. Bradley, in his 12th season as defensive coordinator, had guided the Lions to six consecutive Top-15 finishes in total defense and scoring defense until last year. That's when his injury-riddled unit slumped to No. 35 in the country in total defense (346.85 yards per game) among 120 Division I teams and No. 50 in scoring defense (23.69 ppg).
"Because of injuries, we got so thin on defense, we couldn't afford to do things at practice because we couldn't afford to lose another guy," Bradley said. "We were down to bare bones last year."
Lack of depth was a major issue for the Lions, who dropped three of their final four games to finish 7-6, including a 37-24 setback to Florida in the Outback Bowl.
Starting defensive ends Jack Crawford and Eric Latimore were hampered by injuries, as were linebacker Michael Mauti and backup Gerald Hodges. Starting free safety Nick Sukay, from Greensburg Central Catholic High School, was lost for the season in the sixth week due to a torn pectoral muscle. Crawford (foot surgery) and Latimore (wrist) have been limited this spring. And defensive end Pete Massaro, who started the final 11 games a year ago, suffered what is considered a serious knee injury Friday in practice and is out indefinitely.
Penn State will need its key players to be healthy this fall, given that the Lions ranked 74th in run defense (165.62 ypg) last season and 118th in red-zone defense, allowing 34 scores (26 touchdowns, eight field goals) in 37 chances inside its 20-yard line.
"The disappointing thing is, we made mental mistakes we shouldn't have made," Bradley said. "We didn't tackle well. We were not sound.
"Some of our priorities this spring are going to be to get tougher. We're going to have to be a tough, physical football team with the way the schedule lines up."
First Published March 28, 2011 12:00 am
