Penn State defensive end Yvan Kemajou can see the progress when he watches the film.
He can see quarterbacks being hurried, see the pocket collapsing, and a pass rush that has become increasingly disruptive through the first three games of the season.
Kemajou also sees opportunities being left on the field.
“We’ve been getting good rush, good pressure, but we really need to finish and get the sacks,” Kemajou said.
That distinction has become one of the defining themes for Penn State’s defensive front entering Big Ten play.
The Nittany Lions have generated 50 pressures through three games, including five sacks, 12 quarterback hits and 33 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). The progression has been particularly noticeable against Buffalo, when Penn State generated 18 pressures on only 34 pass-rush opportunities.
Kemajou has been at the center of that improvement.
Through three games, the 6-foot-3, 252-pound edge defender is among the leaders at Penn State with 10 pressures consisting of one sack, three quarterback hits and six hurries with a 72.0 pass-rush grade.
His individual trajectory mirrors the defense’s.
Kemajou earned a 61.3 pass-rush grade against Marshall before improving to 65.1 against Temple. Against Buffalo, he jumped to 79.0 while generating four pressures on 16 pass-rush snaps.
That development comes as Kemajou becomes increasingly comfortable in defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s system.
“I think I’m just being more comfortable and knowing what type of plays, or the way Lynn wants us to play,” Kemajou said. “Just getting more comfortable in that, and I was attacking every practice, just trying to get better at my craft.”
Part of that work has involved expanding his pass-rush repertoire.
Kemajou considers speed one of the foundations of his game, but he has emphasized developing more power this season. That becomes important as tackles adjust to an edge rusher trying to win around the corner.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I try to mix things up,” Kemajou said. “I’ve been working a lot more power this year, which has been good, but I’ve definitely always been the type of guy who wants to get around you, speed work off the edge.”
Penn State can also create favorable matchups through personnel.
The Nittany Lions have shown a third-down package featuring four defensive ends, giving Lynn multiple options to attack protections. With Max Granville out long term, Kemajou, Alexander McPherson, Ike Ezeogu and Caleb Bacon have become increasingly important pieces of that rotation.
“It’s just good having all of us out there ready to rush,” Kemajou said. “We practice a lot, so just being able to be with guys where you can play off each other, rush off each other, is really good.”
The interior can help create those opportunities, too. Kemajou specifically pointed to Penn State’s bigger defensive tackles and their ability to command double teams, potentially leaving him with more one-on-one opportunities.
But whether the pressure comes from Kemajou, another defensive end or inside, Penn State’s next step remains unchanged.
Its 50 pressures have turned into only five sacks so far this season. Against Buffalo, 18 pressures produced just one. Penn State is disrupting quarterbacks with increasing regularity; now it has to finish those plays.
Kemajou understands pressures matter. He understands a quarterback hit can affect a throw and a hurry can destroy timing.
He just isn’t satisfied with stopping there.
“Affecting the quarterback is definitely important,” Kemajou said, “but I want to be able to finish the job and get there.”
For Kemajou that mindset summarizes where he and the Nittany Lions’ pass rush stand entering conference play.
They are getting closer and now they want to get home.
