Rekstis directs defense
Jon Heacock's successor as defensive coordinator is on the lookout for new leaders.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Whenever the Youngstown State University football team has been successful, which has been often since 1990, a strong defensive unit has guided the way.
Defense has been the key for the Penguins in all four of their national championship runs and now, as they get ready for the 2001 season, the defense is once again being called upon to lead the way.
Jon Heacock, the new head coach, is a defensive guy. He coached the defense to three of its four national titles as the defensive coordinator.
Passing the torch: Now that he's the head coach, he has given the defensive responsibilities to his assistant, Pete Rekstis, and the third-year YSU assistant is excited about his new job and the prospects for the coming season.
The Penguins lost four starters off last year's defensive unit; two of them, Tim Johnson and Montrial Thomas, were All-American-caliber players.
But Rekstis feels that there is still plenty of talent on this year's unit and, although he knows the unit still has a long way to go, right now he's looking to find the new leaders for this year's group.
"This group has the opportunity to be as good as they want to be," said Rekstis. "We just need to decide which direction we're going to go in.
"I'm pleased with the way they've been working this spring," he added. "In our last scrimmage we were much improved, the tackling was much better and the big plays we did give up were more mental errors than anything else."
Rekstis said that he still has what he considers a veteran group.
"This group has played a lot of football games, but at the same time I don't think that anyone on this unit feels that he has reached his potential yet," Rekstis said.
"Tim Johnson and Mo Thomas were great players, but more importantly they were great leaders and that's what we need now," he added. "We need some of the older players to step to the front and show some of that leadership that we need right now.
"We need that to happen for us to be a good defense."
Ability to choose: Rekstis also feels that this year the defense has depth, especially at linebacker and defensive backs.
"I think that we do have more depth," he added. "We have 18 or 20 guys that we feel can play and we have some kids who aren't in that starting group who have to continue to push and work to get there.
"Hopefully, after this spring session is over, we can sit down and evaluate just what we have and come up with a two-deep roster that we can take into August when we get ready for the season."
Rekstis said that there isn't one area of the defense that he's overly concerned about right now.
"Each year in college football you have a new team because you lose seniors who were your leaders," he added. "I'm not saying that we're concerned, but we're still waiting to see who is going to be the ones to step up and be the new leaders this year."
Chilly workout: Tuesday, the Penguins braved the cold weather as they held their next-to-last workout of the spring.
"This feels like playoff weather," added Heacock.
Thursday, the Penguins will practice at 8 p.m. at Stambaugh following the Bob Dove Red and White Spring Clinic. Friday will be the Red and White Spring game at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh.