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YSU’s offensive line looks strong again
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Since Trevor Strickland arrived at Youngstown State in 2011, the Penguins have produced one NFL offensive lineman (Oakland Raider Lamar Mady), another who spent most of last season’s training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers (Chris Elkins) and a third who got a tryout with the Jacksonville Jaguars (Kyle Bryant).
Which is why his comment after Tuesday’s practice should raise some eyebrows.
“Since I’ve been here, this is probably the most talented offensive line we’ve had, top to bottom,” he said.
The Penguins’ offensive line has been a team strength over the past five years, in no small part because it was Eric Wolford’s specialty, and this year should be no different. Strickland, a left tackle, is one of four returning starters, alongside junior guards Dylan Colucci (on the left side) and Brock Eisenhuth (on the right) and sophomore right tackle Justin Spencer, who earned preseason first team all-conference honors.
All four of those players are at least 6-foot-5 and weigh 300 pounds.
YSU did lose center Stephen Page (Newton Falls) to graduation, with sophomore Cole Newsome (who suffered a sprained knee on the first day of practice) and junior Matt Bell competing for that job.
“It’s good for us to have that chemistry,” Spencer said. “Losing Stephen Page was a huge loss, but ... whoever steps up and gets it, they know everything too. We have chemistry with everybody and that’s all you can ask for.”
The continuity continues at coach, where Carmen Bricillo was retained after spending the last five years with Wolford. His lines have given up just 49 sacks in the last 47 games and have paved the way for at least 2,000 rushing yards and 2,000 passing yards in each of the last five seasons.
“I think Carmen is a heck of a football coach,” Penguins coach Bo Pelini said. “He loves what he does and has a great rapport with the players. We’ve got some good veterans and some good young talent in the group and I think he’s the right guy to develop it.”
Added Strickland: “He knows his stuff and he works really hard. He’s always in his office and you can talk to him, even if it’s not always about football stuff. He’s just a real people person and a great coach, too.”
Pelini does have one complaint. Like his linemen, Bricillo has grown out his facial hair this summer, but it falls short of Grizzly Man status.
“It’s a bad look,” Pelini said, grinning. “But he’s got to do what he’s got to do.”
As usual, YSU will be a run-first team, which is a good thing since the Penguins have struggled pass-blocking at times this month. Some of that has to do with YSU’s defensive line — “You really can’t afford to do anything but your best on every play because if you don’t, you’re going to get beat,” Spencer said — but some of it is because they’re a better run-blocking unit.
On the plus side, YSU will remain a run-first team under Pelini and offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery, who was also retained. Junior Martin Ruiz, a preseason first team all-conference selection, has rushed for more than 1,000 yards each of the last two years and junior backup Jody Webb had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards last season.
With a more experienced line in front of them, there’s no reason why those numbers can’t improve this fall.
“Overall, they’ve been pretty good,” Pelini said of his linemen. “I didn’t think they had their best day today [Tuesday] but I think the overall effort has been good. They have a lot of potential, like we do in a lot of areas.”