If Ivy League teams are going to beat Penn this year, they'll have to do it through the air.
That's because while the Quakers may have trouble with opponents' passing games this season, their run defense should be dominant.
The team returns five of its starting front seven - including four All-Ivy selections - from the 2005 squad that ranked third in the league against the run, and midway through last season was tops in all of Division I-AA.
"It's got to be the strength of our team on the defensive side," head coach Al Bagnoli said. "It's everything you want: experience, size, athleticism and depth."
On the line, junior Naheem Harris, who earned second-team All-Ivy status as a sophomore, will start at nose tackle, backed up by senior Tom Stone.
The other starting tackles will be seniors Brian Fairbanks and J.J. Stanton, and the backups will be seniors Adam Licari and Mike Meridith.
Because of an inexperienced secondary - one that lost seven players to graduation this season - Penn will have to stop the run to be successful, and the down linemen realize the importance of this task.
"If we can start up front and shut the run down and force teams into the passing game, we'll be alright," Fairbanks said. "We have great faith in the guys behind us, but if we can get a great pass rush and not give the quarterback time, that will make it all that much easier for them."
Senior Jim Malizia, who led the team last year with six sacks and was named second-team All-Ivy, returns at defensive end.
He will be joined by senior Mark Herman, who saw limited action last season. Juniors Mike Marinelli and Brian Appleby should also get onto the field for significant playing time.
According to Bagnoli, although they are called defensive ends, they really play as outside linebackers in Penn's 3-4 defensive scheme.
The inside linebackers will be led by Kory Gedin. The senior was second on the team last season in total tackles with 65. Junior Joe Anastasio will play inside and could start, and sophomore J.D. Black should see some playing time as well.
That group will need to make up for the significant loss of first-team All-Ivy linebacker Ric San Doval, who led the team by a wide margin with 90 tackles last season, including a season-high 18 against Cornell.
The other starter who graduated is defensive end Al Wawszczyk.
"They're going to have to, at least early on, carry the game, as opposed to putting too much pressure on a secondary that's graduated seven kids," Bagnoli said.
Malizia said besides just stopping the run, it will be the job of the front seven to lead the team.
"An even bigger part is to provide a spark for our team, provide some plays and set the tone for each game," he said.
The players believe they are ready for that challenge and hope they can lead the Quakers to another Ivy League championship this season.
"We know what our goal is for the end of the season," Malizia said. "There's no question we want to win a championship. We wouldn't be here if there were another idea in mind."
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