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YSU offense trying to catch up with veteran defense
By charles grove
youngstown
In their first afternoon practice of the fall, the Youngstown State offense not only had to go up against a talented defense, but also temperatures nearing 90 degrees.
“When you get tired or you get hot, that’s when you find out who’s mature enough, who’s focused enough, disciplined enough to execute their football,” YSU head coach Bo Pelini said.
The offense, which is beginning to implement new schemes and formations on a daily basis now, is tasked with doing so against an “advanced” defense, according to YSU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.
“It’s a very veteran defense and we’re just so much further ahead,” Carl said. “We’re further than where we were last year. We’re playing faster because they’re not second-guessing their assignments.”
To the naked eye it appears the defense is dominating a sputtering YSU offense, but only a fraction of the playbook has been taught and the evaluation of all four quarterbacks vying for the starting job is still under way.
“We want to install something every day so we can get as much of the playbook in as we can before we start preparing for the first game but at the same time we want to make sure they’re comfortable with what we’re putting in so we can play fast,” YSU offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery said.
As far as the quarterback competition is concerned, Montgomery said mentally all four guys have been on it in practice and have the burden of not only going against an experienced defense, but going against that defense with a young receiving core.
“[The quarterbacks] have retained a lot mentally,” Montgomery said. “Hunter [Wells] and Ricky [Davis] have been in the program for a number of years so they’ve got a good grasp on what we’re doing and Trent [Hosick] and Nathan [Mays] are picking up more and more each day.
“We’re still trying to break in some receivers. I think we’re as deep in that position as ever but we’ve just got to be consistent in everything that we do.”
Davis said through the first two practices it feels like a more even competition than it was during spring ball.
“In the spring it felt like a 1-2-3 type deal but now with me and Hunter it feels more like a 1A-1B type of thing,” Davis said. “They’re kind of splitting me and Hunter getting us both equal amounts of reps and just letting us compete.”
Until the offense gets up to speed with the defense, the “Jack boys” plan to make as many plays as they can.
“That’s what we call ourselves,” cornerback David Rivers III said. “We bring the intensity. It’s our second year in the defense so everything is just slower for us so we’re able to fly around and make many plays.”
Today will be the first practice with shoulder pads. Monday will be shoulder pads again before the team’s first full-pads practice on Tuesday. Davis feels the offense will be able to perform better once blocking becomes easier when the pads get strapped on.
“The offensive line is struggling to hold those big guys like Derek Rivers from getting to me,” Davis said. “I think with the pads it’ll help everything.”
Wells agrees.
“It’s a big pillow in terms of feeling and I’m sure the running backs feel the same way because we’ve got a really good o-line,” Wells said. “It just gives everyone a lot more confidence.”