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It’s early, but YSU ‘D’ looks better
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
People sometimes talk about Youngstown State’s defense the way they talk about a rookie quarterback, saying things like, “If they’re just average, that’s good enough with this offense” or “If they can just avoid making too many mistakes, this is a playoff team.”
The challenge isn’t to win games, they say. Just avoid losing them.
When asked if that talk frustrates him, senior defensive tackle Nick DeKraker shook his head and said, “It doesn’t irritate us, it just fuels us. This whole offseason, the offense was pushing us and we were pushing them, too, and we’d bicker back and forth.
“It made both of us better.”
YSU finished third in the conference last year in total defense, giving up 347.2 yards per game in league contests, but the Penguins were just sixth in scoring defense at 27.4 points per game. They hit bottom in the finale, giving up a season-high 38 points (including 28 in the fourth quarter) to last-place Missouri State.
It prompted Penguins coach Eric Wolford to replace defensive coordinator Rick Kravitz with the fiery Joe Tresey in February and to bulk up his talent and depth. After the players spent the spring learning Tresey’s defense, the unit has looked better this summer.
So far, anyway.
“We’re flying around. We’re faster, we’re stronger,” Wolford said after Monday’s practice, the fourth of training camp. “It’s been a process to get to this point, but recruiting can solve a lot of problems.”
While several new faces are challenging for starting spots in the secondary, the defensive line is senior-laden. DeKraker, who played in all 11 games and started three last fall, joins senior DT Aronde Stanton (11 starts in 2011) and defensive ends Josh Fenderson and Luis Quinones at the top of the early depth chart.
That’s a bonus for a unit that lost three starters in Daniel Stewart, Andrew Johnson and Obinna Ekweremuba. That trio combined for 30 of YSU’s 56 tackles for loss last season and 16 of its 23 sacks.
“I don’t have to look at Aronde and make sure he knows what he’s doing,” DeKraker said. “I know Luis and Josh know the assignments. It’s a lot easier to concentrate.”
Wolford brought in six new defensive lineman, including massive junior college transfers Brandon Davis (6-3, 350) and Brandon Johnson (6-6, 280) to bolster a unit that is talented, but young.
“The defensive line is definitely more mobile,” Wolford said. “It’s quicker and stronger than we have been in the past and there’s more depth.”
The Penguins’ two leading tacklers from last season, sophomores Teven Williams (67 tackles) and Travis Williams (58 tackles), both return at linebacker to form what should be the strength of YSU’s defense.
“At linebacker, we can flat out run,” Wolford said.
That leaves the secondary, where 11 cornerbacks and seven safeties are competing for four starting spots. Safeties Jeremey Edwards (11 games, 10 starts) and Josh Garner (10 games, six starts) and cornerback Jimmy May (11 games, seven starts) have the most experience, but considering the secondary’s struggles last season, no one’s job is guaranteed.
“Our defensive back play has been a lot better than we have been,” Wolford said. “It’s only Day 4, it’s early. But they’re making our receivers work. And that’s the big thing, because I know we have a good group there.”