Steady progress – Youngstown Vindicator

Published: Thu, March 30, 2017 @ 12:05 a.m.

Pelini pleased with growth on both sides

By Charles Grove

cgrove@vindy.com

youngstown

There are three practices left before Youngstown States football team showcases itself at their Spring Game on April 7. Wednesday, head coach Bo Pelini said he was pleased with how both sides of the ball have progressed.

The offense and defense have had their moments during drills. A shovel pass from quarterback Hunter Wells to running back Tevin McCaster fooled linebacker Lee Wright while defensive end Fazson Chapman feasted on an offensive line that still hasnt quite found their positions.

Neverthess, each side is pretty deep in their playbooks now.

Most of our stuff is in, offensive coordinator Shane Montgomery said. Theres always some things we want to look at these last three or four days but the biggest thing is consistency.

If consistency is priority one, filling out the depth chart is priority two.

We also need to find our depth. Were not really deep at a few positions, Montgomery said. We still need to find out who our top three or four running backs are. We need to find that next receiver to step in and then the offensive line.

One of those consistent positions on the field has been tight end. Kevin Rader, last seasons hero at Eastern Washington, said the playbook has been opening up for tight ends.

A couple of years ago, tight ends didnt get many catches around here and its really changed, Rader said. I feel like weve really opened the playbook for the tight ends and weve put a little more on top of the plays that we have in there that will disguise things better. Weve also added some deeper passes and I think thats helped.

If the tight ends get the ball, more the receivers will be more open too.

Defensively, Chapman took advantage of inexperience on the offensive line and made life difficult much of the afternoon by taking up residency in the backfield. Chapman said its the defenses job to bring that fun and intensity to practice.

Very intense today, Chapman said. The offense won the last two days so we gave it to them today, and now weve got to respond to them and show the coaches were leaders out there.

Coach Bo has very high expectations of the defense with all the installs out there. Everyone just has to do their job.

While quarterback turned wide receiver Ricky Davis is still competing for a job catching instead of throwing, Wells has shown a new-found ability to tuck the ball away. He torched the defense on a few occasions on Wednesdays practice with his legs.

Theres been some instances where they bring a blitz and I see a crease and just take off for an easy play, Wells said. Our defense isnt used to me taking off so they dont have anyone spying me.

Montgomery said Wells legs wont be a large part of the offense, but its been good for wells to become more comfortable with running.

He knows hes just got to play within the system, Montgomery said. Not that were going to ask him to run the ball a lot but if something is there he can pull the ball down and be effective. The biggest thing is getting confidence and knowing he can do it.

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Steady progress - Youngstown Vindicator