You play defense, and you're fabulous. Fabulous in how you slam your body ruthlessly into opponents. Fabulous, perhaps, in how you reach up to get a piece of the ball. Or fabulous, maybe, in the way you nimbly flit about the field.

And since you're so fabulous, you'd like to have a swagger, and you'd like to boast -- but, unfortunately for you, your team is 2-5, undoubtedly preventing that kind of demeanor.

So goes the story for the Penn State defense. But just because these guys can't be as cocky as they'd like, that doesn't mean they can't still have attitude. And their flavor is simple enough -- these dudes can't get enough of this dominating defense thing.

"Sometimes we wanna stay out there," defensive end Tamba Hali said. "Even if they get the first down, some guys are happy because we get four more downs to do some things."

Well, that's certainly a fresh perspective -- and if this defense likes staying out there, that works out well, given the ineffectiveness of the Nittany Lions' offense Saturday. And, please, getting tired isn't an issue when you like what you do and are good at it, too.

"We're having fun out there," defensive end Lavon Chisley said, "so our motors are always going."

The essence of their game plan is simply explained and executed.

"They wanna run the ball, we don't want them to run the ball," Hali said. "We wanna hit them; we wanna get to the quarterback."

Fair enough. And when they do that -- which happens most of the time -- forgive them if they offer up just a little bluster.

"Whatever superstar they have, whatever," cornerback Alan Zemaitis said. "Say the best offense in the world. That's how we look at it every time we play -- we always end up having them think twice."

Day to remember

Defensive line. It's hard to pick just one of these guys.

They seemingly keyed in on big plays, like sacks and interceptions, and, in doing so, had their best outing of the year.

Day to forget

The entire offense.

Zero points scored? That's all, folks.

Did you notice?

Fans chanting "We want an offense" and "Where's Morelli?"

Instant replay was used for the first time in Beaver Stadium, on a second -quarter punt.

The irate fan berating kicker Robbie Gould as he walked off the field after missing a 51-yard and a 25 yard field goal.