report from the first scrimmage

[Wick250]

Just returned from watching the first 90 minutes of the scrimmage.  I will just describe what I saw without editorial comment, so that you might draw your own conclusions.  The offense had trouble moving the ball, scoring only once in 90 minutes.  55-guard Lamar Mady was not dressed.  Starting O-line was Radakovich and Main at tackle, Herdman and Elkins at guard with Pratt at center.  Later, Franklin was placed at tackle with Radakovich sliding over to left guard and Herdman out.  Freshman Zach Conlan was the center on the second unit. 

Multiple receivers were used with two freshman, 2-Christian Bryan and 82-Kintrell Disher getting a lot of reps.  However, Disher sustained a shoulder injury.  He was being iced with pads off when I left.

On defense, it is impossible to predict a starting d-line as seven or eight men were shuttled in and out.  At linebacker, first unit consisted of 4-Travis Williams and 7-Ali Cheaib on the outside with Sasson in the middle.  Taylor Hill is off the roster.

2-Davonta Davis and D'Alesio were at the corners, but D'Alesio was, strangely, playing with a black shirt and making no contact.  1-Garner and Josh Lee started at safeties.  Juco 21-Aaron Taylor was on the second unit at safety and juco 5-Jeremy Edwards was in shorts and did not play.

[YSUGO]

Wolford seems to stocked the defense very well...major talent on it..whats the deal with Hill? i watched the video and Wolford was very happy with the D...said they are looking at different combinations on O line.

[IAA Fan]

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.

[Pizza]

Wolford seems to stocked the defense very well...major talent on it..whats the deal with Hill? i watched the video and Wolford was very happy with the D...said they are looking at different combinations on O line.

A lot has been said after last years record. But after watching this scrimmage, I do find this team to be bigger and deeper. Coach Wolf has recruited SIZE at all posiitions. Recruiting was not the previous regime's strong point. We have gotten better, because we have better players now. Still a ways to go IMHO, but we are getting big bodies and athletes. Hopefully these athletes perform at the level in which they are capable. That will make a lot of people happy.

Lots' of guys getting "dinged" though. That could be an issue, as injuries always are.

Hate to lose Taylor Hill. A scholarship issue from what I can surmise. It's tough to play for free. He was the leading tackler 2 years ago after all. The kid could play. Sorry to see the kid from Ursuline leave too. He was a just a "sprained" ankle away from getting some serious reps. Belamy hurt something in his leg on a nice TD run. Can't ever have too many good backs.

Hope all the kids who left the best.