Penn State expected to see Temple spread the field and air the ball out this past Saturday, giving an early test to the Nittany Lions' secondary.

The exact opposite happened.

It was Penn State's revamped defensive line that was tested early and often Saturday.

And they struggled at times.

As many expected, the young, inexperienced and lighter front four had difficulty stopping Temple's rushing offense, giving up just over five yards per carry to the Owl's featured tailback Makonnen Fenton.

"It's basically just lack of experience," junior defensive end John Bronson said. "A lot of guys have never been in a college football game so they didn't know what to expect. As the game went on, they got more attuned to the game and they finally figured it out."

The blame for the soft run defense seemed to go to the young and undersized defensive tackles. Starting interior linemen sophomore Tamba Hali and redshirt freshman Ed Johnson each tip the scales at 280 pounds, noticeably less than last year's starters, Jimmy Kennedy (330 pounds) and Anthony Adams (293).

"We lack size, but we have speed," Johnson said. "I don't think that the size really matters. We're all strong. We can all play a side, so I don't think that's a big factor."

At times, Johnson was baited by the play action set up by Temple quarterback Mike McGann, effectively taking him out of position to make a play.

"We weren't being disciplined," Johnson said. "It wasn't nothing

that we couldn't stop and they weren't doing anything we didn't prepare for in practice, it's just we weren't being disciplined and we weren't doing our jobs. That's all that was. We weren't taking our gaps and executing plays that were called."

The entire line is not to blame. On the ends, 6-foot-5, 260-pound Lavon Chisley and 6-foot-3, 270-pound Bronson recorded three sacks collectively, holding their own by generating solid outside pass rush pressure. Their statures are that of prototypical collegiate defensive ends.

They also have game experience. Bronson is the lone returning starter on the line and while Chisley did not start last season, he did see meaningful playing time. This showed on the field, as the two appeared more comfortable handling the Owls' no-huddle offense than their more youthful counterparts on the line.

"Those guys did a good job because the first game is tough, especially since we had to go against the no-huddle which we didn't expect," linebacker Gino Capone said. "They're fighting to look back at me for the signals because they're spreading us out. It was a great experience to be in a game like that."

Inexperience, maybe. But does Chisley buy in to the fact that the lack of size had anything to do with Temple's success running the ball?

"Definitely not, because size doesn't matter," he said. "We all play with intensity and we all have big hearts so I don't care if I was inside, those guys did a good job no matter how small they are."

To help develop the much-needed experience, Chisley said all the young talent can do is play as many downs as possible.

"I just think it's going to take time and practice every day," Chisley said. "We have a long season so it's our first time being together as a unit. We'll get better week by week."