YSU’s challenge: Pitt’s new offense

Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator, so the Penguins’ defensive coaches, including coordinator Jon Heacock, are unsure what to expect.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Saturday afternoon Jon Heacock will take the field with his Youngstown State football team.

It will begin his ninth season as head coach, but it will also mark the first time in nine seasons that Heacock will also be the team’s defensive coordinator.

Heacock and the Penguins will open the season at the University of Pittsburgh in a 1 p.m. kickoff at Heinz Field.

Last year, after the Penguins struggled through a disappointing 4-8 season, Heacock’s defensive coordinator, Jeff Mills, left for another job.

Heacock, who spent seven seasons as the Penguins’ defensive coordinator under Jim Tressel, contemplated for a couple of months after Mills left before finally deciding to take over the defense himself.

“I’ve always been a defensive coach, it’s what I know best,” he said at the time.

Now Heacock is finding out once again just some of the problems a coordinator is up against.

For starters, Saturday’s opponent, Pitt, has a new offensive coordinator and a new offense that Heacock and the Penguins know little about.

“They lost a lot of people on offense last year and we really don’t have a good handle on just what they’re doing on offense,” he added. “We have an idea, but that’s all.

“The good thing is that they don’t know just what we’re going to be doing on defense, either.”

Heacock knows the Panthers will be tough.

“Even though they lost so much, you know that they’ll have a host of talented players ready to step up on Saturday,” he said.

“I know that Pitt is really good on defense, they have everybody back from last year,” he said. “I’m a defensive coach and I’ve studied their defense and it’s pretty good, especially their defensive line.”

But Heacock is also pretty excited about his own team and what its accomplished since last season.

“It’s been a long haul since December,” he said. “We’ve accomplished a lot, probably not enough to please the head coach, but we’re ready to play an opponent.”

The Penguins head into the opener in pretty good physical shape and with considerable depth at most positions, which Heacock feels will play a major role in how the team does on Saturday.

“One of the keys to this game is being able to keep our guys fresh and rested,” he said.

Heacock disclosed on Wednesday afternoon that an undisclosed number of players were suspended for Saturday’s game. He did not disclose how many players, if any were starters, or for how long the suspensions would last.

He described the suspensions were for “a violation of team policies.”

“We’re dealing with it,” said Heacock. “I am disappointed because we didn’t do what we needed to do as a YSU football family. But [the players will] pay a penalty and we’ll move on.”

Heacock intimated at least some of the suspended players could serve more than one game.

“It’s one game now,” he said. “I’m not completely sure where I’m headed.”

The Penguins are pretty deep at most positions, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. There aren’t a lot of seniors on either side of the ball.

The Penguins will start just one senior on the offensive line, Fitch High’s Brian Mellott, while defensively there will be two senior starters in Mychal Savage at end and Crispin Fernandez at tackle. Fernandez is the only defensive lineman who played in every game a year ago, while Savage suffered a season-ending injury in the opener and received a medical redshirt.

Probably the area with the most seniors who will see action is in the offensive backfield. Led by senior quarterback Brandon Summers, the top three tailbacks behind him are all seniors — Kevin Smith, Jabari Scott and Dana Brown.

The only other senior starter is wide receiver Donald Jones along with his backup Aaron Pitts.

There will also be one freshman and two redshirt freshmen in the starting lineup. Cardinal Mooney graduate Taylor Hill will start at one outside linebacker, while redshirt freshman Bill Dugan of Poland will start at right tackle on offense. Redshirt freshman James Cravens, who transferred to the Penguins this summer from Ball State, will start at fullback.

The Penguins also have several players on the injury list who won’t play Saturday, including potential starter Lenny Wicks at cornerback along with junior fullback Kyle Banna of Canfield, junior defensive end Jamie Frasure and redshirt freshman fullback Gary Thornton of East.

mollica@vindy.com