Wednesday, October 3, 2018
CLEARING THE AIR
Youngstown State’s football players have tried clearing the air to get out of their recent slide. Following the Penguins’ 45-38 loss to Western Illinois last week, the team held a players’ only meeting. “We definitely took a step forward. It showed who really cared and a lot of different people went up and said their peace,” linebacker Armand Dellovade said. “It was nice to hear what everybody had to say. I think it was great for [team-building], it’s still just talk. We have to prove it on the field.” The meeting came at the behest of head coach Bo Pelini. “I pushed them in that direction because there’s some things that we have to get figured out,” Pelini said. “I understand that it’s up to me to get it fixed. There are some areas where I told them they need to look at themselves in the mirror.”
A SPOT START
A partial ban has opened the door for a former Cardinal Mooney standout. Starting linebacker Cash Mitchell will miss the first half of Saturday’s contest Southern Illinois because he received a targeting penalty in the second half of the Western Illinois game. Pelini said that in the team’s base defense, ex-Cardinal Ray Anderson will get the start. Junior Christiaan Randall-Posey and sophomore Terray Bryant — a former starting safety — could see playing time in the team’s other defensive packages. Anderson, a redshirt-freshman, declined to be interviewed after practice, deferring questions to Dellovade. “All camp and all spring, he’s worked his butt off. It’s good to see him finally get his shot,” Dellovade said. He definitely deserves it because he’s worked hard and he’s been learning from me and Cash. It’s finally time to see him step up and show everybody what he’s got.”
SAFETY SHUFFLE
Last Saturday, Pelini tried another tweak at safety. Junior junior-college transfer Devanere Crenshaw made his Penguins’ debut as the starting free safety. He was second on the team in total tackles with seven. The safety position as seen multiple changes since the losses of Kyle Hegedus and DeShon Taylor to season-ending injuries. “He did some good things and he did some things that weren’t as good. He’s still learning. He’s a work in progress, but the secondary is a work in progress, especially with the safeties,” Pelini said. “A lot of guys are learning and we’re keeping it simple.”