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Backs in front
The Penguins’ running backs have been the highlight of camp — so far.
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
On the final play of Saturday’s scrimmage, YSU freshman running back Allen Jones broke free on the right side of the field and scampered 39 yards into the end zone, where he was hoisted in the air by one of his linemen.
It was a fine finish to a fine performance, as Jones ran for a team-best 149 yards on 23 carries with three TDs.
But it wasn’t quite good enough for Penguins coach Eric Wolford.
Afterward, as Jones was getting interviewed, Wolford yelled over and said, “Ask him about his pad level.”
OK. What about your pad level?
“It’s a new thing for me in college football,” said Jones, an Ursuline High graduate. “You’ve got to get lower in everything you do.
“I’ve just got to catch up with the game speed and know everybody on the field has speed like me or even better.”
After 10 days of practices, the biggest story coming out of Stambaugh Stadium has been the team’s tailbacks. Even with bruising redshirt freshman Torrian Pace — arguably the best back of spring practice — out with a hamstring injury, the Penguins have looked strong in the running game.
Heralded freshman Adaris Bellamy started things off Saturday with a 45-yard TD run before leaving with a bruised knee after just six carries.
Starter Jamaine Cook had 81 yards on 22 carries with two TDs and freshman Jordan Thompson (who looks more comfortable every practice) had 81 yards on 21 carries with two TDs. For the day, YSU ran 83 times, compared to just 24 passing attempts.
“We’re all stepping our game up,” Jones said of the running backs. “Whenever you’re in, you’ve got to get the most out of it because the next guy’s going to come in and do the same thing.”
Wolford feels his young backs are still running too high — “I’ve seen some times where we can get some more yards out there if we run behind our pads,” he said — but thinks it’s due to them pressing to make a play.
“They’re trying to make a play so they’re high and they’re looking ahead for the next cut instead of just getting their pads down and getting that extra three or four yards,” he said.
Redshirt freshman Kurt Hess worked with the first team, completing 14 of 21 passes for 195 yards and two TDs. Junior Marc Kanetsky completed 5 of 11 for 51 yards with a TD and redshirt freshman Najee Tyler was 5 of 11 for 62 yards.
“I see a great improvement from the spring until now,” said Hess, who spent the summer working with his receivers. “Just knowing the offense more and settling in and getting more reps every day, it helps the game slow down, which makes it easier for me.”
Hess’s favorite target was senior Dominique Barnes, who had four catches for 53 yards and a TD. Sophomore Julian Harrell added 67 yards on three catches and junior widout Pat White (Warren Harding) had 53 yards on two catches.
The defense had a few nice moments — a goal-line stand in which it stuffed Cook at the goal line, for instance — but needs to get better, Wolford said.
“We didn’t do as well as I want,” said Wolford, who was also unhappy with the defense at the “Monday Night Football” session earlier this week. “We’ve got to get better at it. Got to get better at third down, got to get pressure.
“If we don’t get pressure, we’re getting exposed.”
The Penguins worked on a variety of situations, including third-and-short, third-and-long, red zone offense, overtime (needing a touchdown to win), the two-minute drill, the four-minute drill and running plays at both 1 yard lines.
“We try to work on all those situations so when they happen in a game, we’ve been there before,” Wolford said. “We don’t want any panic.”