COLLEGE FOOTBALL Klacik: YSU offensive line is green

There is only one returning starter, but improvement is anticipated.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State assistant football coach John Klacik is excited about the offensive unit this fall.
Klacik, a Youngstown native who played at Chaney High, is the team's offensive coordinator and is in his 16th season with the Penguins.
"We're a little thin up front on the line, but as a whole this group is exciting to coach," says Klacik.
Last season, injuries decimated the offensive line and there is only one returning starter who played in almost every game, tackle John Bartos, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound junior from Ursuline High.
"We're bigger and stronger up front, but at the same time we are still really very inexperienced there with only Bartos getting to see regular action last season," says Klacik.
Tanner will start
The Penguins will also start a true freshmen on the line this fall. Josh Tanner (6-2, 300) of Orlando, Fla., will be in the lineup Sept. 2 when YSU plays host to Slippery Rock at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.
"It is just a credit to Josh that he came in this summer with a goal that he wanted to play," Klacik says. "Right now he's had one of the best camps that I've ever seen a lineman go through.
"He's picked up the offense very quickly this fall, but he's still a freshman and he's going to make those young mistakes, but the one thing about him is that he's physically ready to play," adds Klacik. "If he wasn't one of the five best linemen out there he wouldn't be in there."
Klacik feels he has some outstanding skill players on offense this season.
"What that does is give us more options and the defense can't key on one or two people," he says. "We can do more things out there now."
The Penguins have depth at wide receiver and running back, although presently they are working with one tailback in junior Josh Cayson, while sophomores Monquantae Gibson and Regis Edgerson nurse minor injuries.
Edgerson is day to day, but Gibson remains doubtful for the opener with a shoulder injury.
"The thing about having that depth in those positions is that it enables us to always have fresh legs in the game at all times," Klacik says.
Klacik shows promise
Klacik is also excited about quarterback Tom Zetts, who is healthy and looking very good.
"Tom Zetts is a natural leader and the team feeds off him," Klacik says. "The thing is that he is still just a freshman without any real game experience and he's going to make mistakes.
"The thing about Tom is that he's capable of making that big play and the rest of the offense knows this. He's also not going to panic back there in any situation."
Klacik is very comfortable with the offense.
"We're still seven days from the opener," he said Thursday. "We're better now than we were and hopefully in seven days we'll even be better.
"I know this bunch has had a lot of fun this fall and they've all worked very hard."
The Penguins took today off and were scheduled to begin game-week preparations Saturday morning at 11.
mollica@vindy.com