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5566

YSU Penguin Athletics / Photos: Today's Practice

« on: August 19, 2011, 11:03:13 PM »

I went to today's practice. It began to storm with lightning, so we went into WATTS. VERY impressive structure. I have some nice photos ...I will try to get them out tonight for everyone to see. This team in very different than last season. Tomorrow's scrimmage will tell a great deal. There is no written depth-chart ...so this will be the scrimmage to go to. I expect to see people there ...10am.

5567

YSU Penguin Athletics / Vindy 8/19 Football Update

« on: August 19, 2011, 07:45:51 AM »

Solid practice: YSU had just one practice on Thursday morning and coach Eric Wolford was pleased with his team’s effort. “The kids are working hard,” he said. “I always think it’s easier if you know you’ve got a one-a-day and you’re not saving yourself for the next practice. We got a little sluggish at the midway and had to get it going but that’s usually the job of us coaches, to a light a little fire under their tail.” The practice ended with sophomore RB Jordan Thompson getting stuffed at the goal line on a third-and-1. “That’s the name of the game, keeping them out of the end zone,” Wolford said.

Saturday’s scrimmage: YSU will hold its second and final scrimmage of training camp on Saturday. YSU will warm up around 10 a.m. with the scrimmage starting around 10:30 at Stambaugh Stadium. “We need a good, healthy scrimmage,” Wolford said. “It’s not going to be as long as normal [but] we need to still get a few positions settled.” The Penguins practice twice today, at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. They are off Sunday. Practices are free and open to the public.

Calling it a career: Sophomore linebacker Mark Brandenstein (Mooney), who was redshirted this year due to concussion-related symptoms, said he is done with football. “I went to three doctors and they all said the same thing, that it’s just going to keep coming back,” he said. Brandenstein played mostly special teams last fall, appearing in all 11 games and making 13 tackles. His aggressive, head-first style helped him earn first team All-Ohio honors as a fullback/linebacker his senior year with the Cardinals and he admitted he wasn’t likely to play differently if he resumed his career. He is working with the team’s strength and conditioning staff this season.

5568

YSU Penguin Athletics / Stubbs, Liste excel in special teams session

« on: August 17, 2011, 06:44:42 AM »

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State wideout Andre Stubbs has a chance to put the special in special teams.

Stubbs, a true freshman, had lengthy returns on both punt and kickoff returns on Tuesday as the Penguins devoted much of their 12th practice to special teams.

“I like him,” YSU coach Eric Wolford said of Stubbs. “He’s tremendously explosive, he’s fast, he’s good with the ball in his hands and he can make guys miss.

“He’s hard to tackle in a phone booth. He can shake you up real quick.”

Sophomore punter Nick Liste (Niles) also had a good day, booming all four of his punts more than 45 yards. Liste, a preseason all-conference pick, averaged 41.4 yards per kick, placing 15 of his 41 punts inside the 20.

“He’s a great punter,” Wolford said. “He’s obviously hitting the ball really well and he’s placing the ball very well.”

In addition to special teams, YSU worked on some short-yardage plays with the defense getting the best of the offense in third-and-1 situations.

“You’ve got to be able to get one yard,” Wolford said. “I know we’ve got some guys banged up but you’ve got to be 100 percent on third-and-short.”

One of the day’s biggest highlights involved newly-converted tight end Will Shaw, who caught a 40-yard TD pass from Kurt Hess.

“He’s done very well,” Wolford said of Shaw. “It’s only his second day at the position and we’re very encouraged by what we see there.

“He’s strong, he’s athletic and he has a presence to him. I expect him to be a contributing guy on this team.”

YSU returns to practice today for a morning and evening session. The Penguins’ early practice starts at 9 a.m. while the second workout is at 5 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium.

The Penguins will hold their second scrimmage on Saturday at 10 a.m. Wolford said he wants to solidify his 60-man roster after that scrimmage.

YSU opens the season on Sept. 2 at Michigan State.

Jackman commits

The Penguins picked up their second verbal commitment of the 2012 class in Lexington senior Tyler Jackman, according to the Mansfield News Journal.

Jackman (6-2, 200), who plays safety, was recruited as an outside linebacker. He had 46 tackles, including 35 solo, last fall and earned first team all-district honors.

He also had offers from Army and Air Force.

The Penguins’ first 2012 commitment came from lineman Matt Bell of Hickory, Pa.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Penguins picked up their second verbal commitment of the 2012 class

« on: August 17, 2011, 06:43:23 AM »

The Penguins picked up their second verbal commitment of the 2012 class in Lexington senior Tyler Jackman, according to the Mansfield News Journal.

Jackman (6-2, 200), who plays safety, was recruited as an outside linebacker. He had 46 tackles, including 35 solo, last fall and earned first team all-district honors.

He also had offers from Army and Air Force.

The Penguins’ first 2012 commitment came from lineman Matt Bell of Hickory, Pa.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Football Updates 8/16

« on: August 16, 2011, 06:15:13 AM »

Position changes: Junior linebacker Will Shaw was switched from linebacker to tight end, one of three position changes announced Monday. Shaw played all 11 games at safety last year, starting eight. He was moved to linebacker in the spring but was limited with a hamstring injury. YSU coach Eric Wolford said he talked with Shaw about the switch on Sunday and Shaw was initially hesitant. “After one practice [Monday morning], he was like, ‘Wow, I can be pretty good at this,’” Wolford said. The other changes involved freshmen: Brandon Green moved from DT to the offensive line and CB Parnell Taylor was moved from CB to WR.

Future in doubt: Senior DE David Rach (South Range) could be academically ineligible this season, Wolford said. “He had a class where he didn’t get the grade he expected to get, which is unfortunate because he busted his tail in it,” Wolford said. “He’s trying to talk to the teacher because he thinks maybe they made a mistake, but if he doesn’t get his grade changed, he will be ineligible.” Rach, a secondary education major, started all 11 games at linebacker last year.

Depth chart: Wolford posted his first depth chart Monday but did not release it to the media. He hinted it has quite a few underclassmen. “Just because you were a starter on a 3-8 team doesn’t mean you’re gong to be a starter this year,” he said. “You’re not grandfathered in.”

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YSU Penguin Athletics / An influx of depth and talent has YSU’s defensive line thinking big

« on: August 16, 2011, 06:09:29 AM »

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

After a solid — and slightly overlooked — first season on Youngstown State’s football team, there is probably no defensive lineman with a safer job than senior Andrew Johnson.

He doesn’t see it that way.

“I feel like I can’t take any plays off [in practice],” said Johnson, who transferred in last summer from Bowling Green. “Just because I’m a senior and this is my last go-around doesn’t mean I’m guaranteed any playing time because we have that much talent.”

That wasn’t the case last year, where players such as Johnson and then-senior DT Torrance Nicholson wore down in games because YSU didn’t have enough depth to give them a breather.

“We definitely went out and recruited with depth in mind,” defensive line coach Tom Sims said. “We wanted to upgrade our talent also and we felt like we did that.”

Junior college transfers Nick DeKraker and Josh Fenderson arrived in the spring and 10 more defensive linemen joined the team this summer, including Grand Rapids Community College transfer Aronde Stanton, a junior defensive tackle.

“He’s really coming on and doing a good job,” Johnson said of Stanton. “Watch out for [No.] 94 this year.”

DeKraker, Johnson, Obinna Ekweremuba and sophomore D.J. Moss (Fitch) were the first team defensive linemen in Saturday’s scrimmage, with Stanton, Fenderson and pass rushing specialist Daniel Stewart also getting first-team looks.

Of those, the undersized (5-foot-11) Moss might be the biggest surprise.

“He’s an overachiever,” Sims said. “He has to do everything right and he has.”

Said Moss, “I’m just working hard, trying to do things right and make a name for myself.”

While an offensive lineman might play all 70 snaps, even the best defensive linemen are limited to 40-50 and Sims plans to rotate liberally, particularly since so many conference teams play an uptempo style.

“The best way to put it is, a great miler will lose to an average relay team,” Sims said. “We’re a work in progress. We feel like we took some steps forward this week but we’ve got a long way to go before our first game.”

YSU coach Eric Wolford’s philosophy is the closer you are to the ball, the less likely you are to play early in your career. Positions such as wide receiver or cornerback rely more on athleticism, whereas positions such as guard or defensive tackle are more strength-oriented.

Since freshmen typically need time to bulk up for the college game, it’s unlikely one of the newcomers is going to snag a starting spot.

But since defensive linemen rotate in and out so often, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a handful earned letters.

“Anybody that proves that they can contribute, we’re going to put them out there and give them opportunity,” Sims said. “So we’ll have a lot of people playing.”

YSU lost two starters to graduation, Nicholson and Luke Matelan, and senior-to-be Stephen Meadows left the team in the offseason after losing his starting spot to Ekweremuba in the final six games.

Like last year, Sims said players will be constantly evaluated.

“It’ll be day-to-day, play-to-play,” he said. “Lot of people talk about starters. I’m looking for finishers, people that I can trust at the end of those ballgames that are going to finish them.”

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Tickets

« on: August 14, 2011, 02:38:07 PM »

I have not received my tickets or passes as of yet. Any other season ticket holders ...have you received yours yet?

5573

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: report from the first scrimmage

« on: August 13, 2011, 08:03:47 PM »

The Youngstown State defense had one of its best scrimmage efforts on Saturday afternoon at Stambaugh Stadium since Head Coach Eric Wolford took over the program. The defense allowed just one long drive for a touchdown and stopped the offense on five of seven red-zone opportunities during the workout.

The defense allowed just one scoring drive of longer than 25 yards during the day. Two of the offensive units scores came on red-zone play while another came from 25 yards out. Starting quarterback Kurt Hess moved the offense 70 yards in eight plays for its longest scoring drive of the contest. He connected with Pat White on a beautifully thrown 30-yard touchdown strike in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

Hess completed 14-of-23 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Patrick Angle was 6-of-12 for 67 yards, Marc Kanetsky was 4-of-12 for 51 yards and freshman Dante Nania was 3-of-4 for 12 yards. Hess connected with Jelani Berassa on a 54-yard bomb, which came out of the offense's end zone.

Leading the offense on the ground was Jordan Thompson who rushed for 24 yards on six carries. Demond Hymes had 11 carries for 20 yards while Torrian Pace had 25 on 11 rushes and Adaris Bellamy had 23 on 10.

The offense did not commit a turnover in 113 snaps of scrimmage action. Thirteen different players caught at least one pass. The quarterbacks wore black jerseys and cound not be tackled during the workout.

The defense proved to be stout on numerous occasions. Twice, the unit stopped the offense on fourth-and-one plays. The defense was credited with 10 pass breakups on 24 of the offense's misfires.

Leading the defense in tackles was Sir Aaron Taylor who finished with 11. Daniel Stewart and Nick DeKraker had two sacks each while Obinna Ekweremuba had 2.5 tackles for losses, including 1.5 sacks.

During the red-zone session, the defense had five stops while the offense scored twice. Hess connected with Berassa on a 19-yard score and Bellamy found paydirt from six yards out.  On two possessions, the defense had sacks on third downs to end the series.

Late in the scrimmage, Thompson capped a 25-yard drive with a four-yard score.

Berassa led all wide receivers with seven catches for 113 yards and a score. Christian Bryan caught three passes while six players caught two each.

YSU opens the season on Friday, Sept. 2 at Michigan State. The contest will be televised on the Big Ten Network and carried on 570 WKBN AM.

Season and Individual Game Tickets for the 2011 season are now on sale through the YSU Athletic Ticket Office. For ticket information contact the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.

The Penguins return to practice on Monday with two sessions, the first set for 9 a.m. while the other is at 5 p.m.

Upcoming Practice Schedule

Sunday, August 14 -- OFF
Monday, August 15 – 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 16 – 10 a.m.
Wednesday, August 17 – 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Thursday, August 18 – 10 a.m.
Friday, August 19 – 9 p.m. and 5 p.m.

5574

YSU Penguin Athletics / Rogers honors friend by switching jersey number

« on: August 12, 2011, 10:27:23 AM »

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

Youngstown

On May 28, a 22-year-old U.S. Army specialist named Adam Hamilton was on a night mission in Haji Ruf, Afghanistan when he and five other soldiers were killed after insurgents attacked their unit with an explosive device.

Five years earlier, Hamilton was a standout wide receiver on Kent Roosevelt’s undefeated football team. His quarterback that season was a tall, strong-armed senior named David Rogers.

“We were really close in high school,” said Rogers, now a senior tight end at YSU. “Adam was a great guy. Everybody liked him.

“He was a stand-up guy.”

Rogers wore No. 13 in high school. It was also Hamilton’s hockey number. With 13 unavailable his freshman year — kicker Stephen Blose had that number — Rogers first switched to 19, then 80 when he changed positions.

After Blose graduated this year, sophomore running back Adaris Bellamy asked for No. 13. Rogers shrugged and said, “That’s cool. I’ll only be here one more year.”

But after Hamilton’s death, Rogers asked YSU coach Eric Wolford if he could wear No. 13 in honor of his friend.

“I got it for him,” Rogers said.

The silent tribute was fitting for Rogers, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 255 pounds and prefers to be seen, not heard.

“I’m not a real big vocal guy,” he said.

Rogers broke into the starting lineup two years ago, playing in 11 games and starting five. His 391 snaps were the most of any tight end on the team. But Rogers bruised his kidney on a vicious hit in the finale against North Dakota State and spent several days in a Fargo hospital. He returned last fall, playing in 11 games, but admitted in the spring that it took a year before he felt 100 percent.

Now healthy and entering his final year, Rogers wants to make sure the Penguins don’t have a repeat of last year’s 3-8 season.

“We all want to go to the championship,” he said. “That’s our main goal right now.

“Having been so close last year [in so many games], we really don’t want to go back to where we were. We want to come out on top this year.”

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Football Updates

« on: August 12, 2011, 10:23:09 AM »

Saturday’s scrimmage is scheduled to start at 9:40 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. It is free and open to the public.

Thanks to the Vindy and Trib for these:

• Sophomore offensive lineman Zach Larson (Mooney) suffered a serious ankle injury in Wednesday’s practice and will likely redshirt. “It’s obviously unfortunate because he was really doing well in camp,” said YSU coach Eric Wolford.
• Also, sophomore guard Andrew Sinko will miss two to three weeks after getting “rolled up from behind,” Wolford said.
• True freshman Zach Conlan (Ursuline) was moved from the defensive line to offensive line to add depth. “That was probably the one area where we still feel like we don’t have the depth that we ideally want,” Wolford said of the line.
• True freshman WR Brandon Thomas was moved to defensive back. There are nine other receivers on the roster, including four true freshmen.
• Junior RB Jamaine Cook missed part of Thursday’s practice after spraining his ankle. He is expected to be OK and sat out as a precaution.
• Wolford said he’ll post a depth chart on Monday. He’s waiting for Saturday morning’s scrimmage before narrowing the roster to the top 60. “I kind of have an idea who the 60 are but we’ll post something official on Monday,” said Wolford.

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Scalzo: Vocal leaders

« on: August 11, 2011, 06:21:21 AM »

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

One of the differences between football coaches and basketball coaches is that football coaches always know what they’re going to say and basketball coaches never want to say anything.

It’s true of YSU coach Eric Wolford. If he has something he wants to say, any question can serve as an entry point.

Case in point: After Wednesday’s practice — YSU’s first in full pads — he was asked about senior linebacker John Sasson. (That was pretty much the question, too. “Coach, can you talk about John Sasson?”)

“John’s obviously had a good summer and he’s a guy who returns with a lot of experience,” said Wolford.

End Sasson comments. Begin larger point.

“We’re trying to identify leaders,” Wolford said. “We want some guys who can step up when the heat’s on or adversity sets in and start grabbing somebody by the shirt and say, ‘Let’s go, let’s get this thing done.’

“I’m tired of doing that as a coach, you know what I mean? I really am.”

Now, it might be a coincidence that Wolford’s rant came immediately after getting asked about Sasson.

Then again, it might not.

Sasson was the team’s leading tackler last season — and one of its most-respected players — but he doesn’t seem like much of a screamer.

Can he play that role?

“I can do that when the time is right,” he said. “Sometimes you grab a guy by the facemask and say ‘Let’s go’ a little bit. There’s a bunch of ways to go about it.”

Sasson’s biggest challenge might come from teaching, not preaching. Of the 29 new defensive players, 10 play linebacker. The talent is there, the comprehension is not.

“I tried to be a leader in the past, but moreso this year because I am a senior,” he said. “I’m working with all three [linebacker] groups [Mike, Sam and Will], making sure everybody gets lined up right.”

Senior Obinna Ekweremuba has the same role — a bit of a surprise since the Nigerian native has spent most of his career just trying to learn the game. He grew up playing soccer and didn’t know anything about football when YSU’s director of football operations, Dan Kopp, spotted what looked like an NFL defensive end walking through Kilcawley Center.

“That’s one of Dan Kopp’s best recruits,” Wolford said. “If he gets the chance to play in the NFL, he might put him [Kopp] in his book.”

Ekweremuba didn’t play a game until last fall, when he started the last six at defensive end and showed flashes of his potential. He’s steadily progressed since then.

“I’m comfortable with the defense,” he said. “I look at it as a challenge to help the younger guys, especially the defensive ends.”

Fitch High graduate Steve Zaborsky is one of those defensive ends. A two-way standout in high school, Zaborsky is now a third-stringer just trying to move his way up the depth chart.

“I’m just working to get more reps,” Zaborsky said. “Once I get in there, I’m trying to go hard.

“The guys are a lot bigger and faster than in high school and you’ve just got to be on it every play.”

When he’s on the sideline, Zaborsky takes what Wolford calls “mental reps,” where he pays attention to the call, the scheme, the formation, the offensive approach — everything.

“You definitely have to take mental reps because when you get in, you’ve got to know what you’re doing,” Zaborsky said. “Every single play, you’re either learning if someone did something right or someone did something wrong.

“Coach usually goes one way or the other. He’s never really neutral.”

[Brandian Ross wasn’t your typical “Pick-6” cornerback during his college career at Youngstown State University.]

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Packers rookie CB Brandian Ross makes play of the night

« on: August 10, 2011, 09:51:07 PM »

Green Bay Packers rookie CB Brandian Ross makes play of the night, intercepts Aaron Rodgers Brandian Ross wasn’t your typical “Pick-6” cornerback during his college career at Youngstown State University. Actually, Ross never even scored a touchdown. But as an undrafted rookie trying to make the Green Bay Packers‘ roster, Ross is quickly discovering that being a playmaker doesn’t hurt your chances. The 6-foot Ross was responsible for the most exciting play of Saturday’s weather-shortened Packers Family Night practice, intercepting quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the first offensive play of the night and returning it for about a 20-yard touchdown. With both of Green Bay’s starting cornerbacks, Charles Woodson (coach’s decision) and Tramon Williams (hip), sitting out during Saturday, it opened the door for the 21-year-old Ross to show why he was the Penguins' first defensive player to sign an NFL contract as an undrafted player since 2003. “In college, I was more of the ‘Pick it and run out of bounds guy,’” said Ross, who had seven interceptions during a four-year college career. “I wasn’t the type to score in college, but was definitely nice to do.” Ross continued to hold his own against the first-string offense, breaking up a long-pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson on the offense’s next possession. Rodgers still got a measure of revenge later in practice with a long completion to wide receiver Randall Cobb at Ross’ expense, but it was a strong start overall. If Ross needed any further proof of where a strong training camp can get you, he need look no further than second-year cornerback Sam Shields, who made the team last year with his game-breaking ability. “Making plays on this defense is going to get me on the field,” said Ross, who moved from safety to cornerback during his senior year because of injuries. “Every practice and every game, I try to envision myself doing something good whether it’s on defense or special teams. I always try to play it in my head over-and-over again, so I wasn’t shocked or anything. It was nice to do it.”

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Donald Jones getting love from Sports Illustrated's Peter King

« on: August 10, 2011, 04:42:56 PM »

According to the Detroit News, Barnes was supposed op be released to sign a Tony Moll, but he has not been released as of this morning.

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2011/8/9/2353544/detroit-lions-tony-moll-dominique-barnes

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YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Pads for Day-3

« on: August 10, 2011, 10:13:11 AM »

when is the Okie drill (hoot n holler), or did I miss it?

Good question. I would think it is this weekend. It is always on the first day of the full-contact period ...which is usually 5-7 days ...when they go to full pads. Last year they did "Oklahoma" as opposed to Hoot N Holler. Last year it was August 10th and the year prior it was August 2nd. I will find out & go up for pics if I have not missed it.

5580

YSU Penguin Athletics / Re: Pads for Day-3

« on: August 09, 2011, 06:51:19 AM »

I am no coach, but I think we have to take two things from today:

1. We need to coach up more fundamentals.

2. This the first day in pads, and the first day outside (100 degrees and percent), the guys just need time to become acclimated.