Breaking down Penn State's Prowler Package evolution

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr08/01/23

ThomasFrankCarr

Abdul Carter Penn State Football On3
Penn State freshman linebacker Abdul Carter (11) celebrates a sack in the fourth quarter against Michigan State at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in State College. The Nittany Lions won, 35-16. (Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK)

We’ve discussed Penn State’s Prowler package several times this offseason, mainly through the lens of safety Ji’Ayir Brown and his ability to transform the defense through his versatility. In the past, we’ve discussed how Brown played in the defense, but today we’re looking at the structure. We’re doing this to understand what positions are up for grabs on defense, thanks to personnel moves this offseason.  It’s also important to follow how the defensive scheme evolved from week to week last season. We’ll chart the positional changes that Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz deployed each week and explain our assumptions regarding those changes.