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YSU still eyeing second option at wide receiver
YSU vs Penn St.
Gallery
By JOE SCALZO
YOUNGSTOWN
One of YSU’s biggest questions during training camp was, “Who is the team’s second-best receiver?”
After two weeks, the Penguins still don’t have an answer.
“That’s a position where we feel like we have some talent,” said Penguins coach Eric Wolford. “It’s time for them to step up.”
Senior Dominique Barnes, a preseason all-conference pick, has lived up to the hype with 13 catches for 156 yards and a TD in two games to go with an 86-yard punt return.
Junior Ely Ducatel is second on the team with five catches — no one else has more than three — but he has just 31 yards.
Ducatel appears to be the front-runner for the No. 2 job. After two weeks as a backup, Ducatel moved in front of Juilian Harrell on the depth chart this week, the offense’s only change since last week.
“At the end of the day, you ask yourself, ‘Do we have the best 11 players on the field?’” Wolford said. “We’re constantly evaluating that. We’ve got some positions right now we expect a little bit more of.”
The lack of production isn’t all their fault. YSU relied heavily on the running game in last week’s win over Butler and redshirt freshman quarterback Kurt Hess has (understandably) targeted Barnes more than anyone else.
Hess said Butler took away some of the things YSU did against Penn State but he also said the Penguins are a run-first team.
“We want to run,” Hess said. “If that stops working, we’ll be able to throw.
“The running game takes a lot of pressure off me. I can manage the game a little better, then when I have to convert and pass on third down or pass on fourth down, I feel confident enough to do that.”
Barnes grabbed the No. 2 role last year behind Donald Jones (now with the Bills) and led the conference in receiving touchdowns. While the Penguins might not have quite as potent a combination this fall, Wolford doesn’t want to rely too heavily on one guy.
“Dom has kind of been the bell cow there and we want to get some guys to step up to the plate,” said Wolford.
They should get their chance this week against Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils are going to be geared toward stopping the run first and, on passing downs, they like to bring pressure from all angles, leaving their corners in man coverage.
“Our receivers have got a great opportunity this week,” said Wolford. “We’ve got to win some of those one-on-ones. They’re going to get challenged.
“I think most of the time, when you’re dealing with young people in this sport we’re in, guys like to be challenged. That means you’re acknowledging them, you’re paying attention to them and we’ve put that challenge out there.”