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Penn State Football: 5 reasons the Nittany Lions will struggle in 2017

By Andrew Miller

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin looks on against the USC Trojans during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 10: Garrett Sickels #90 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hits Zander Diamont #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers in the third quarter during the game on October 10, 2015 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 10: Garrett Sickels #90 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hits Zander Diamont #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers in the third quarter during the game on October 10, 2015 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

3. Loss of Garrett Sickels and Evan Schwan cost the defensive line

The defensive tackles are one of the best parts of the defense. Defensive ends Garrett Sickels and Evan Schwan departed. Junior Torrance Brown and sophomore Shareef Miller replace them. Freshman Shane Simmons and sophomore Ryan Buchholz get time in the rotation.

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Sickels and Schwan combined for 12 sacks. They were Penn State’s sack leaders. The next sack leader, Brandon Bell, also departed. Buchholz is the returning sack leader at defensive end with 2.5. Kevin Gives is the overall returning sack leader.

Defensive tackle combo Curtis Cothren and Parker Cothran is great. They’ll anchor the Penn State d-line. The defensive ends is the weak point opposing offenses attack.

The defensive line is not the strongest point of Penn State’s defense. A few new faces will step up. Some of Penn State’s breakout stars will come from younger defensive lineman. The turnover is a tall task for Franklin.

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