This Saturday, Adam DiMichele will finally get his second shot at the Penn State secondary.

After throwing for only 52 yards against the Lions two years ago, the Temple quarterback missed last year's game with a fractured tibia.

Now, DiMichele is healthy and Penn State coach Joe Paterno said the Owls signal caller is the best quarterback his secondary will have faced thus far.

"He's the leader," Paterno said of DiMichele. "He's the guy that runs the show and makes the plays. He creates the tempo of the ballgame."

Paterno prefaced his comment by saying Oregon State quarterback Lyle Moevao, who's No. 7 nationally in passing, struggled against Penn State because the Beavers got behind so early.

That said, DiMichele is a talented passer surrounded by a less-than-stellar group of receivers. He has completed 60 percent of his passes for 614 yards and five touchdowns this season, even though none of Temple's receivers average more than 50 yards per game.

He has thrown to 11 different targets this season and ranks in the nation's top 50 in both passing efficiency and yards.

While Paterno said DiMichele will pose the stiffest test the Lions have played, senior safety Anthony Scirrotto said come game time, he and his defensive backfield mates have already faced their most challenging competition for an entire week -- in practice.

"Playing against Daryll, Pat and the wide receiving corps that we go against every day just gets us more prepared," Scirrotto said, "especially for the secondary, because it helps us play faster.

"It gets you more prepared for Saturdays because when you're going against scout teams, it's more of a learning process. But then you switch it up and go against the ones, with their speed, and that gets you ready for game speed."

After losing corner Justin King -- with his two interceptions and 15 pass breakups in the 2007 season -- early to the NFL, the secondary was considered the defense's weakness. With King's departure, Tony Davis was moved from safety to what Paterno called his natural position, corner.

While the secondary lost its star in King, it's played at a statistically higher level than last season.

The secondary has allowed 186 yards per game, 28 yards less than last season.

The Lions have been thrown against 107 times, 20th most in the country, but still rank No. 20 nationally in pass efficiency defense.

With four interceptions through three games, Penn State has also doubled its interception total from the first three games of last season.

Scirrotto said the secondary was able to move on without King because he said there's more than enough talent at the backup spots.

"To have a great defense, you have to play as a team," Scirrotto said. "Obviously we've had some big name guys like Justin, but he didn't do it himself and he knew it. That's why our defense here is special, because we play together."

Redshirt freshman Drew Astorino is one of the players that has taken advantage of seeing the field this season.

Playing as the nickelback, Astorino is eighth on the team in tackles and also has an interception and three passes defended.

"Drew's been doing very well. He's starting to loosen up and he's starting to play," Scirrotto said. "He's a great athlete. This was expected of him, to be able to come in and do the things he's doing."

Astorino is the only new addition to a unit that was scorched by Ohio State, Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana for more than 250 yards in each game in 2007. But Scirrotto said this year's secondary is better than last season because it is more experienced and the players are used to practicing against quick receivers.

Since no one on the defense has had to play a full game, their legs should be rested for conference play, which Scirrotto said could be the difference between blown coverage and a pass breakup.

And while the Lions have yet to face any adversity on pass defense, the senior captain said the unit remembers those four conference games last season and wants a chance to silence Big Ten passers.

"When Big Ten comes around, we're going to be just as prepared as anyone else in the conference," Scirrotto said. "We're not looking over Temple by any means, but we're very excited to play our Big Ten games."