Notebook: Brent Pry previews Penn State defense

With a new coordinator in Kirk Ciarrocca installing a new system on the offensive side of the ball, Brent Pry and his defense have spent much of this strange offseason away from the spotlight.

Pry, entering his fifth season as the leader of Penn State's defense, will be looking to hone things on his side of the ball, not reinvent them.

Still, there are holes to fill and weaknesses to correct as the Nittany Lions move into the 2020 season.

Pry discussed that and more during a Zoom press conference on Wednesday. Let's dive into some of those topics:

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Despite allowing only 16 points per game last season — good for third in the Big Ten — Penn State's defense had its share of faults.

It was in the bottom half of the conference in yards against per game for the first time since 2016, largely due to a somewhat unexpected tendency to give up big plays.

Pry said Wednesday that he feels Penn State's defense has addressed and resolved that issue from a schematic standpoint. He added that he now feels like the Nittany Lions have more overall depth on defense, making it easier for them to rotate and withstand any injuries that might occur.

"There were some areas that we feel like we have to do a little bit more," Pry said, "take a few more chances whether it's to minimize points against a high-flying offense or be a little bit more aggressive in some areas that we haven't been in the past."

There will be places up for grabs in the Penn State secondary, including the cornerback slot vacated by John Reid, who was drafted by the Houston Texans.

Reid started 40 games over the course of his Nittany Lion career, and replacing his experience and ability won't be easy.

Even with that in mind, Pry is excited by the names he sees on the depth chart.

"We've got some good options, man," he said. "I love what Joey Porter is doing. There won't be a longer guy in the league that can move like he does. I love Marquis Wilson, you talk about a guy that made a key interception in the Cotton Bowl as a true freshman, and he's done that through this whole session here, he's a ball hawk. Then you've got Keaton Ellis, that had gotten a ton of experience last year, good and bad, but growth and development, a mature guy, high football IQ. So we've got great candidates. I feel like right now we've got four good corners that we can go in with."

On the other side of the field, Pry is glad to be able to count on a veteran.

Tariq Castro-Fields will return for his senior season. While his junior year might have been more up-and-down than many Penn State fans would have liked, Pry said he's excited about the season Castro-Fields can have.

"I'm so thankful he came back," Pry said. "He's such a tremendous young man. I consider him the total package. He wants to improve the physical piece of his game, which I think he's doing. He's just very mindful, very conscientious, he's got a great skillset, he's got length, he can run, student of the game."

Penn State has reached 40 team sacks every year since Pry took over the defense.

If the Nittany Lions were to reach that total again in a shortened 2020 season, it would certainly be a remarkable feat, especially considering who the Nittany Lions must replace along the defensive front.

Yetur Gross-Matos has taken his nine sacks to the NFL, and fellow starter Robert Windsor graduated too.

But Pry's confidence hasn't wavered.

"I think we've got a ton of guys that can rush the quarterback, and not just at the d-line position," he said.

The sack total, in his mind, doesn't tell the full story, though. For Pry, the key is disrupting the quarterback.

He said he's eager to find out of guys like Jason Oweh and Shaka Toney can help Penn State do that with just four pass rushers.

"Hopefully we check that again and feel good about rushing four," Pry said.

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