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YSU coach Wolford's second spring opener better than first
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
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Youngstown State’s Jamaine Cook runs drills during the Penguins’ first spring practice Wednesday at YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium. In coach Eric Wolford’s second spring opener, the team looked a lot more cohesive, energetic and organized than last year.
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YSU Head Football Coach Eric Wolford
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Wearing full rain gear, YSU football coach Eric Wolford came off the field following Wednesday’s first spring practice, looked up at the Stambaugh Stadium lights and said, “We have sunshine, just like I promised. We just had to bring it in.”
He also made fun of senior linebacker John Sasson’s tan and joked that one of the reporters was going to treat the rest to dinner at the MVR.
In short, it was a lot like last year’s first spring practice, at least off the field.
On the field was a different story.
Not surprisingly, the Penguins started their second season under Wolford looking a lot more cohesive, energetic and organized than they did at this time last year, when the coaches spent far too much time screaming and using words that Jesus wouldn’t like.
“It’s night and day compared to last year,” Wolford said. “I think for the players, it’s night and day also.”
Since being hired, Wolford’s obsession has been upgrading the team’s overall talent in order to build competition at every position. He said he feels like each position has at least one solid backup — “Unfortunately we’re not three or four deep right now, but that will come in time,” he said — and once again pointed to the team’s running back depth as what he hopes will be the model, rather than the exception.
“Our running backs look more explosive than they were last year,” he said. “When they have the pads on, we’ll get a better gauge of that.”
Junior running back Jamaine Cook, who Wolford calls the team’s best player and hardest worker, said he could see a huge difference between the start of spring practice last year and this year.
“It’s the second year in the offense and defense, so there’s not as much confusion,” he said. “Everyone knows their assignments and where they’re supposed to be.
“Everything went smooth. It wasn’t like the first day at all. There was a good flow.”
Sasson, the team’s leading tackler last fall, was one of the team’s two best offseason performers (along with Cook), leading the team’s 6 a.m. workouts before picking up a tan in Florida during spring break last week.
“It’s exciting to get out of the weight room and get back on the field with your teammates and do some football stuff, instead of just drills,” he said. “Last year people were trying to feel each other out and the intensity is a lot higher [now].
“People know what they’re doing a little bit more because we ran the same system last year and you can tell. It’s a little more fast-paced and higher intensity.”
Sasson was a bright spot on a defense that struggled last season, failing to hold leads in several conference games. He said he’s not worried about his statistics — “I’m not a big stat guy,” he said — but would like to make more game-changing plays and see more wins.
“We were so close in so many games last year,” he said. “I feel like everyone put in the work in the weight room.
“We knew what we needed to do and I think we’re getting there.”
Linebacker might be the most talent-rich unit on the defense, with Sasson and senior Deonta Tate getting pushed by a group that includes sophomores Taylor Hill (the leading tackler on the 2009 team who sat out last year due to academic ineligibility), Dom Rich (who started a few games last fall), Thomas Sprague and Mark Brandenstein.
“I hope I don’t need the young guys to push me, but it’s nice to have that depth behind you,” Sasson said. “You know you have to work every day because if you slip up, somebody’s going to take your spot.”