Mills drills Penguins on defense

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The philosophy behind the Youngstown State defense is a simple one, according to defensive coordinator Jeff Mills.

“It’s all about the football,” Mills said. “They have it and we want it back.”

Mills, who is in his second season with the Penguins, implemented a new defensive structure a year ago and now in its second season things are coming together much easier.

“Our main objectives are to stop the run and fly to the football,” Mills said.

“The good thing about this defense is that it is in the second year and we have some veteran players returning who know what it’s all about. They know the terminology and they understand the system,” he added.

“On the flip side, we’ve got a lot of young players on this defense and they have to learn the defense and the terminology.

Mills preaches three things to his players about the defense. “Stop the run, get turnovers and eliminate the big plays.”

Mills knows that with every good defense there has to be a key starting point and with the Penguins that starting point falls right in the middle of the defensive front line in senior tackle Mychal Savage.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder from Hartsdale, N.Y. has been a starter since his freshman season and last year was named to the SportsNetwork All-American team. He’s been an all-conference selection three straight seasons.

“It all begins with Mychal and he’s had a great summer and fall camp,” said Mills.

The defensive line will be one of the strong parts of the defense as Savage is joined by sophomore Torrance Nicholson (6-3, 290) and senior Bobby Lykes-Knight (6-0, 310) is back along with redshirt freshman Brad Miller (6-2, 290) and junior college transfer Crispin Fernandez (5-10, 275), who has impressed Mills this fall.

At defensive end the Penguins have sophomore Luke Matelan (6-4, 250) and redshirt freshman Josh Myers (6-2, 260), who according to Mills gives the defense great speed on the outside. Sophomore Nick Mernedakis, a converted linebacker, and redshirt freshman Joel Younkins, a converted fullback, and sophomore Dionte Snow (6-2, 200) add depth and speed to the position.

The Penguins lost three starters at linebacker, including All-American James Taylor, four-year standout Jeremiah Wright and Rashod Cotton.

Returning is junior Rashon Simons, who started a couple games, while senior Mike Barlak, senior Nate Ward, sophomore Jordan Edwards and junior college transfer Draye Ersery all figure to be in the mix.

“It is still a question as to just how good we will be at linebacker this year,” Mills said. “But we have a former NFL linebacker in Jerry Olsavsky coaching them and he’s worked miracles before.”

The defensive secondary, where Mills is also the position coach, has a mixture of experience and youth.

“Last year we were strong at safety with inexperience at the corners,” Mill said. “This year the corners are our veterans and we have new faces at safety.”

Senior De’Angelo Wilson, senior Jarvis Richards and junior Lenny Wicks all return at cornerback.

The safeties are young, but have talent. Sophomores Nick Gooden and Brandian Ross both played as true freshmen, while sophomore Andre Elliott (6-2, 185) gives the secondary a big, tall athletic kid who sat out last season.

“I’ve told our kids all along that it is not so much where you are on day one, but it’s where you are at the end,” Mills said.

“For us to be successful we have to stay sharp mentally, we must tackle well and we must hustle at full speed from the snap of the ball to the whistle,” he said.

“The thing I like about this group is that they want to learn and they want to get better” he added. “Are there still concerns, yes.”

mollica@vindy.com