On a defense that hasn't allowed a touchdown yet this season, Justin King and the rest of Penn State's starting defensive backs may have the least to do with it.
The reason? The Nittany Lions' young defensive line, questioned because of its inexperience heading into the season, has exceeded outside expectations so far, creating constant pressure for opposing quarterbacks.
"When we only have to cover a guy for three or four seconds, it makes our job a lot easier," King said.
Last Saturday, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen rarely had the opportunity to heave a pass longer than five to seven yards.
One week earlier, Florida International's Wayne Younger looked desperate at times, scrambling from defensive linemen until he retreated to the sideline for good in the third quarter.
Both Clausen and Younger were making their first collegiate starts against the No. 12 Lions (2-0), and both were constantly harassed in the pocket, leaving Penn State's defensive backs to admire the pressure the front four has been able to exert.
The defensive line has 8.5 of the Penn State's 13 sacks this year. The number is surprising to some, given the unit returned only one regular, defensive end Josh Gaines, from last season. Gaines, though, hasn't been shocked.
"To be honest with you, in the summer, we practiced real hard, and I knew we were going to surprise some people when the time came," Gaines said.
Through two games, the Lions have allowed 130.5 passing yards per game (16th in the nation), to go with their top-ranked minus-3 total rushing yards allowed per game.
Gaines, primarily a run stopper, is among eight linemen who rotate consistently in and out of the game.
Gaines, who considers himself the leader of the unit "by example," starts at one of the end positions; Maurice Evans begins the game at the other. Ollie Ogbu and Jared Odrick start inside at the defensive tackle spots.
Collectively, the starting four have 3.5 sacks, but the Lions have gotten valuable production from whoever happens to be on the field.
Jerome Hayes, who moved from linebacker to end two weeks before the season, is coming along as an outside pass rusher, Gaines said. He is tied for the team-lead with two sacks along with fellow linemen Aaron Maybin and Maurice Evans.
The depth has allowed the level of play to continue at a high level.
"When we rotate, we don't skip a beat, and I like that," Gaines said. "You can't sleep because there are guys behind you that are willing to step up."
The constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks, in turn, hasn't allowed offenses to attack any of the defensive backs.
"It doesn't bother me," King said of being untested so far.
"If they throw it to us, they throw it to us."
The defensive line doesn't mind if the opposition never gets the chance. Gaines said if the secondary is having to work, the defensive line isn't doing its job.
"We take a lot of pride in what we do as whole unit -- being up tempo," Gaines said.
"We look at that, and we take it real personally."
And so far, the motivation is working. The line is statistically one of the best in the nation through two games, but linebacker Dan Connor said he's not so sure if the guys in the trenches are really linemen at all.
"You watch them on tape," Connor said, "and they look like linebackers."
