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After poor 2010, YSU’s defense returns to form in 1st scrimmage
After poor 2010, YSU’s defense returns to form in 1st scrimmage
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
On the first play of YSU’s first summer scrimmage, Coach Eric Wolford set up a third-and-1 situation and ran his 220-pound running back, Adaris Bellamy, into the heart of his defense.
It was the type of play that would have gained 5 yards last year. This year, Bellamy was lucky to get a few inches, setting the tone for the next 21/2 hours.
After a rough 2010, the Penguins welcomed back an old friend on Saturday — their defense.
“That’s the way I like it,” Wolford said of his defense’s performance. “I absolutely love it. Every minute of it.
“I told the guys the other day we will never win a championship here until we play good defense. That’s pretty much the standard for teams winning championships.”
In a situation-heavy scrimmage, YSU’s defense allowed just one scoring drive of longer than 25 yards, twice stopped the offense on fourth-and-one plays and held the offense scoreless on five of seven red-zone opportunities.
It was a far cry from last year, when YSU’s offense had its way in scrimmages and the Penguin defense finished second-to-last in the conference in both scoring defense and total defense.
“They lined up and competed,” said defensive coordinator Rick Kravitz. “The guys realize we had some games we should have won last year if the defense had performed and now we know it’s on us if we want to get things right.
“I think the guys have taken that kind of attitude from the spring until now and even the new guys are jumping on.”
Junior safety Sir Aaron Taylor led the defense with 11 tackles, while defensive linemen Daniel Stewart and Nick DeKraker each had two sacks. (Quarterbacks were ruled down when touched, inside or outside the pocket.)
“Everybody seemed to step up and do their job today and we held them down pretty good,” said DeKraker.
Although Kravitz prefers to play a blitz-heavy scheme, YSU stayed in its base 4-3 defense for most of the 113-play scrimmage. With 29 new players on defense and several players still in class last week, YSU’s coaches were concerned at midweek that they were implementing too much, too soon.
“We kept it really simple today, which was good,” Kravitz said. “You don’t have to get after people if you can play base.
“Even though it’s against my philosophy, why do something just to do something?”
With starting tailback Jamaine Cook limited to a handful of plays with a tender ankle, the Penguins’ front seven held the other four running backs in check. Sophomore Jordan Thompson rushed six times for a team-best 24 yards while Demond Hymes (11 carries, 20 yards), Torrian Pace (11 rushes, 25 yards) and Bellamy (10 carries, 23 yards) struggled to find running room.
“I think the defensive line did a really good job today of containing the run, linebackers included,” Wolford said. “The only thing they got on us was a couple quarterback scrambles and that’s all fixable.”
Starting QB Kurt Hess completed 14 of 23 passes for 199 yards and two TDs, while Patrick Angle was 6 of 12 for 67 yards and Marc Kanetsky was 4 of 12 for 51 yards. Jelani Berassa led all receivers with seven catches for 113 yards and a TD.
The offense did not commit a turnover.
“The defense did a pretty good job against a pretty good group,” said Wolford. “I’d like to see a couple more turnovers.
“If you’re trying to be picky, that would be something.”
More news and notes from Stambaugh Stadium
Berassa’s back: After suffering a season-ending left ACL tear early in training camp last year, WR Jelani Berassa had a triumphant return in Saturday’s scrimmage, leading all receivers with seven catches for 113 yards. (No other receiver had more than three catches.) “It feels good to be back out here playing football again,” said Berassa, who practiced with a brace during spring practice but was not allowed to be tackled. “Coming off this knee injury made me work harder in the offseason to come back out here and have a good day like I did today.” Berassa, who suffered the same injury as a junior in high school, said it took eight months for the knee to feel normal again. He played Saturday with no limitations and no brace. “I knew I had nothing to worry about,” he said. “Last season was one of the hardest of my life, sitting out, watching my teammates, not being able to be out on the field playing the game I love. It feels good to be back out there grinding again.”
Taylor departs: YSU sophomore linebacker Taylor Hill has left the team. He stopped attending practice on Tuesday. “He still hasn’t come and seen me yet but the word is he left the team,” said YSU coach Eric Wolford. “That’s unfortunate, obviously, but like I said before, football’s not for everyone.” A Cardinal Mooney graduate, Hill (6-2, 220) originally joined Michigan as a freshman in 2008 but left the team in the first month. He led YSU in tackles as a freshman in 2009 but sat out last fall due to academic issues but played on the scout team during practices. He regained his eligibility in the spring and played with the first team defense in the spring game. Linebacker is YSU’s deepest position; there are 16 linebackers still on the roster.
Switching things up: YSU freshman Eric Franklin (6-7, 340) worked at left tackle with the first team for several series on Saturday, with junior Andrew Radakovich (6-6, 325) moving inside to left guard. Radakovich started the scrimmage at left tackle, where he has been the starter the past two seasons, and sophomore Fred Herdman at left guard. The move was due to a lack of depth on the line, Wolford said. With backup lineman Zach Larson (ankle) out for the year and sophomore guard Andrew Sinko (out 3-4 weeks) and junior guard Lamar Mady (out another week) banged up, Wolford is experimenting with different lineups. “We’re constantly evaluating,” Wolford said, “and trying to get the best five.”
Injury update: Sophomore RB Adaris Bellamy was banged up on a 6-yard TD run but is expected to be OK. True freshman tackle Brandon Ferguson had a defender roll up on his legs from behind late in practice and had to be helped off the field. “I hope it’s not serious,” Wolford said of Ferguson’s injury. “I’ve been really encouraged by some of the stuff I’ve seen him do.”