Offense better, but jury still out

The Penguins must slow Southwest Missouri State's running game.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;By PETE MOLLICA & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State's offense has struggled this season and no one is more concerned about it than offensive coordinator John Klacik.
Klacik, a Youngstown native and former Chaney High standout, is in his 15th season with the Penguins and his eighth as offensive coordinator.
He was happy to see the Penguins respond last week against Liberty after failing the two previous weeks to move the ball with any consistency.
Area of concern
Klacik, who is also offensive line coach, feels that experience, or lack of it, hampered the team early this year.
"We are very young on the offensive line," Klacik said. "Then, when you lose two starters it makes things that much more difficult. Young, inexperienced linemen just aren't capable of making adjustments out on the field during a game."
The Penguins (3-2), who snapped a two-game losing streak with a 34-3 win over Liberty, play host to Southwest Missouri State Saturday at 7 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium in the Gateway Conference opener.
"Whenever you are young you have to be patient," said Klacik. "Our job on offense is to do what we need to do to score more points."
Klacik said sophomore quarterback Aaron Marshall has been progressing this year.
"Every week he is making more and more plays to help us," he said.
Marshall has completed 35-of-72 passes for 442 yards and six touchdowns. He has also thrown six interceptions, but two of those came on last-play, hail-mary attempts against Kent State and Florida Atlantic.
He has also rushed 43 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Shuttle system
The Penguins have utilized three tailbacks much of this season and Klacik said that with the conference season starting the team will need all three.
"Our backs have to continue to run well," he said.
Sophomore Josh Cayson leads the team with 342 yards on 47 carries, while senior Mike Burns is right behind with 339 yards on 59 carries and he has scored four TDs. Senior Josiah Doby missed the first three games with injuries, but has 81 yards on 17 carries the past two weeks.
Junior backup quarterback Matt Rycraft is third on the team with 183 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown. The West Branch High product has completed 12-of-17 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown and has not been intercepted.
Sophomore wide receiver Kyle Smith and junior tight end Mike Roberts are the top receivers. Smith, from San Diego, has 12 catches for 229 yards and one TD, while Roberts, of Plant City, Fla., has 11 catches for 102 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively the Penguins need better play from its front line. There isn't one lineman among the top 10 tacklers on the team.
Top tacklers
Junior linebacker Yancey Marcum leads the team with 53 tackles, including three for losses, while junior defensive back Mike Bracken has 39 tackles, including six for losses. The top lineman is junior Nate Baston with 16 tackles.
YSU coach Jon Heacock expects a rugged battle with SMS.
"Every game has been close with them," he said. "They like to control the football and their plus-eight turnover margin has been impressive.
"We've got to be able to stop their running game and we can't make any turnovers," Heacock said.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;mollica@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;