Dey got heart ... and focus, too.

And this year they're back talking like they're better than ever. The Penn State defense is chock full of talent after spring practice and lost only one starter after last season. Two of the three team captains come from the defensive side of the ball.

"We got a lot of good," junior linebacker Paul Posluszny said. "Dan Connor and Tim Shaw, are very good linebackers. We don't have to worry about the line. Because of that I get a lot more time to work with the younger guys. It's a lot more helpful when you're younger and you got an older guy to help you out."

The Nittany Lion D was the only unit in Division I football to hold its opponents to 21 points or less in each game, but it is changing. Not physically, but mentally.

"I have no personal goals," senior cornerback Alan Zemaitis said at yesterday's captains' press conference. "It can't be about yourself, and [you] can't dream about being anywhere else."

The defense hit the ground running full speed this summer and took the all-for-one, one-for-all mentality along for the ride. With AZ and Puz leading the pack, it's supposed to be smooth sailing.

"Leadership is our biggest asset," Zemaits said. "I got a guy like Michael Robinson and Paul, it makes my job as a captain a little easier."

College Football News ranked Penn State the No. 1 defense in the Big Ten, and with and handful of top-ranked recruits the Lions have also been dubbed one of the top five sleeper teams by ESPN college football analyst Trev Alberts.

"This summer is different because we got a lot of guys willing to go the extra mile," Zemaitis said. "Derek Williams, Justin King, they want to succeed, want to put PSU back on top, where it should be. [We are] very confident in what we aspire to do this year."

The team could care less about the hype of its recent ranking, though. So much attention can be deadly to incoming freshmen, but the incoming class seems to be dealing with it well.

"When guys have this kind of hype, I was amazed that they have a good head," Zemaitis said. "There are no egos and they want it as bad as the next person. They [Williams and King] are grounded 'cause they're freshmen."

The team is eager about the start of this year, and the players haven't looked back at last year either.

"Anyone that we play, especially the first three games, they wanna score against us," Zemaitis said. "We're up for the challenge. We aren't gonna answer no game differently."

It's all about the present and no one is more excited than the defense. This is a close-out year for Robinson and Zemaitis and they plan to make the most of it.

"If this is an airplane, would I rather be a passenger or flying the plane," Zemaitis said. "If it's gonna be in my hands I feel a lot more comfortable. I will break my neck to get what I want out of this Penn State football experience. I'm not here to lay down or go through the motions. I'm here to get everyone together. We got a lot of freshmen out here ready to play, eager to play."

"We are one body, that's Penn State ... led by Joe Pa."