Improving Penguins answer questions

Youngstown State's football team went into spring practice knowing it needed to get better and find answers to some key questions.
If Friday's Red and White spring game was any indication, the Penguins have answered a lot of questions and definitely have continued the improvement that began at the end of the 2004 season.
Coach Jon Heacock was pleased with this spring's effort and with Friday's game, because everybody had a good time and nobody was seriously hurt.
If Heacock has a real problems this fall it will be the kind that coaches love to have -- several players battling for starting positions.
Two-man battlefor backup QB
While Tom Zetts, the sophomore from Boardman, is the team's starting quarterback, the battle for the No. 2 spot tightened up between senior Aaron Marshall and sophomore Vince Gliatta.
Gliatta had a great spring and his performance Friday was every bit equal to that of Zetts and might have given him the backup nod going into the fall, although nobody has mentioned that yet.
The problem will even get a little more crowded come fall when two more quarterbacks join the Penguins as true freshmen -- Todd Rowan, the standout from LaBrae, and Antonio Magnone from Steubenville.
Magnone (6-foot-2, 210 pounds), is an all-around athlete who could be moved to another position in the fall.
The Penguins don't need five quarterbacks, and unless some serious injuries pop up, Rowan will likely be redshirted.
Marshall, a senior, might also be moved, but where? If he wants to see more playing time he will need to switch positions. Last season he saw only some mop-up action and was the holder for extra points and field goal kicks, a duty he'll have again this season.
Gliatta, who was recruited by Penn State as a defensive back, played mostly special teams last season, but if he's the No. 2 quarterback that might not be possible this year.
Zetts, because of his ability and work ethic, is only going to get better as time goes on. He had a very good spring and was outstanding again in the spring game, leading the Red team to victory.
Backfield a concernbecause of injuries
Tailback could be another problem. At one time it appeared the Penguins had too many good tailbacks with senior Josh Cayson and juniors Monquantae Gibson and Regis Edgerson, but injuries to Cayson and Gibson cut that position quickly and forced sophomore Brandon Nicholson into more action and he responded in both of the team's spring scrimmages.
The offensive line appears sound, with experience and depth for the first time in a long time even though there are only two seniors.
The receiving corps might be as sound as any position, with seniors Kyle Smith and Jameson Evans leading the way and a host of others waiting for a chance.
Going into spring drills the biggest question mark was defense, but there were a lot of questions answered during the 15 sessions.
The defensive front appears solid, bigger and stronger, and look for senior defensive end Brandon Brown to have a strong year. Newcomers Mychal Savage and Greg Jacobs add size and quickness.
Linebackers havea year of experience
The linebackers are much improved and bigger with Marty Hutchinson, Jeremiah Wright, Brian Koval, James Terry and Mike Andrews all with another year under their belts, plus the addition of sophomore Maurice Smith-Davis, from Howland.
Junior Jason Perry will challenge for all-conference honors. Assistant coach Mike Kolakowski said, "All he does is make big plays."
Senior Aaron Scales, sophomore Bobby Perez, sophomore Dorian Chenault, junior Justin Reams and senior Chris Goffer are all solid defenders, with a year's experience.
In junior Joe Bishop the Penguins might have the best punter in the Gateway Conference and redshirt freshman kicker Brian Palmer is off to a good start to what he hopes is a big career at YSU.
If the players continue to work hard over the summer then YSU fans might have something to get excited about come fall.
XPete Mollica covers YSU athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at mollica@vindy.com.