Expectations high for receivers

First-year coach Dave Elliott is molding a talented class of wideouts.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;By PETE MOLLICA & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Over the years Youngstown State has had its share of talented wide receivers, going back to the late 1970s when one of the best to ever wear a Penguin uniform was Jimmy "The Flea" Ferrante.
Since then there have been others, like Herb Williams, Don Zwisler, Renauld Ray, Willis Marshall and Elliott Giles, to name a few.
But the 2004 class of Penguin wideouts might just be the best overall group the team has had in a long while.
On the job training
The man given the job over blending this class of receivers together is a newcomer to the YSU family. Dave Elliott took over as wide receivers coach just days before spring practice began.
"This group is working very hard, and the big difference is that they are catching the ball very well this spring," said Elliott.
Elliott, who has 25 years of college coaching experience, came to the Penguins after spending the last three years at Central Connecticut State. He also was a former head coach at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
"I spent eight seasons coaching the wide receivers at Iowa State," he added.
He's a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he was a two-year starter at defensive back and a member of four Big Ten championship teams. He also spent a season with the Montreal Allouttes of the Canadian Football League, playing for Marv Levy.
"Some of our younger guys are really playing well this spring, and with the return of some of our veterans and the addition of Matt Rycraft, there has been some great competition going on this spring," he said.
Wideout experience
Junior Kyle Smith returns as the team's top receiver from a year ago, while senior Phil Larmon, who is having a good spring, was also a regular.
Rycraft, a West Branch High graduate, spent last season as the team's backup quarterback. He was a wide receiver his sophomore season, but played sparingly.
Besides those three, the Penguins have junior Damian Wright, sophomore T.J. Peterson, redshirt freshman Rory Berry, junior Chris Goffer and sophomore Cody Clark. Senior Jim Smith, another wideout, has missed most of the spring with an injury.
Elliott said that the key to being a good receiver is being able to catch the football.
"Nothing deflates an offense quicker than a receiver dropping a pass that's right in his hands," Elliott said.
"They also have to have the ability to get open and run the right routes, and they also have to be a good blocker downfield," he said.
"It also helps when you have some good quarterbacks who can get them the ball when they're open," he said, "and we've been pretty blessed with that this spring."
Team effort
Elliott said that everything has been blending together this spring.
"The quarterbacks are throwing well, the offensive line is giving them time to throw and the receivers are getting open and catching the ball," he said. "It's a combination of all three that makes for a successful passing game."
Larmon agrees with his coach.
"I think that just about anyone in this group could step in and do the job this year," Larmon said. "The young kids are really coming on."
What's turned things around?
"I think just getting a little more confidence, some more repetitions, especially with the quarterbacks," Larmon said. "Really, the offensive line is doing a good job giving the quarterbacks time to throw. It was never a problem of getting open, but all three things need to happen for the plays to work."
Larmon said that the group works well with Elliott.
"He's a great guy." Larmon said. "He's a teacher, not a screamer. He'll scream when he has to if we're loafing, but he's been a great addition to this staff."
The Penguins canceled their practice for today and will work out Monday at 3 p.m. The Red and White team draft luncheon will be held Wednesday at noon, followed by the final practice session.
The Red and White Spring Game will be played Friday at 7:30 p.m.
& lt;a href=mailto:mollica@vindy.com & gt;mollica@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;