Thoughts during YSU’s bye week
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Just like that, nonconference play has ended for the Youngstown State football team.
The Penguins, as expected, posted a 2-1 record during the opening three weeks of the season, with wins over Duquesne and Dayton before last week's 31-0 loss at Kentucky.
With it being the bye week, let's look at the season as a whole, rather than last week's buy-game loss to an AP Top 10 FBS program. Simply put, there's not much most FCS programs can glean from such matchups.
THE PASSING GAME IS
A WORK IN PROGRESS
Doug Phillips spoke a number of times before the season about the need for YSU's offense to be able to stretch the field with its pass game, and in turn, become more dynamic.
Early on, the results have varied.
YSU threw well against Dayton -- and in fact, had a record-setting day against the Flyers in Week 2 -- but left some to be desired against Duquesne and a lot to be desired at UK.
Demeatric Crenshaw went 14-of-29 against Duquesne, but a week later completed 11 of 17 passes for 230 yards and five touchdowns against Dayton. The touchdowns tied a program record for single-game passing scores.
But after that step forward, the air game regressed at UK last week. Crenshaw went 7-for-20 for 120 yards and was picked off on a goal line fade, his first interception of the season.
Of course, some of that is to be expected when YSU takes on a Kentucky team presently ranked eighth in the AP poll and which features more talent and depth than YSU will see the rest of the year.
The Penguins won't need Crenshaw to be a record-setter every week, but the sophomore will need to find some consistency as Missouri Valley Football Conference play begins next weekend at North Dakota State.
So, too, is the secondary
And speaking of finding consistency, the Youngstown State secondary has had some mixed returns, too. On one hand, YSU is forcing turnovers -- lots of them. Through three games, YSU has seven interceptions.
On the other hand, the Penguins have given up more than 261 pass yards per game -- 274 against Duquesne in the season opener and 377 at UK. Dayton, a run-first team that attempted only 17 passes, had 134 yards.
It's easier to feel a little bit better about where things stand with this unit, however, because Duquesne's Joe Mischler went just 22-for-41 for those 274 yards, and YSU was able to rebound the next week, albeit against the aforementioned Dayton team. Then, too, the Penguins won't see a quarterback of Will Levis' caliber the rest of the way, and they managed a couple interceptions of Kentucky's QB.
The next two games will be telling. North Dakota State hasn't thrown a ton -- just 42 attempts through three games -- but has been efficient by completing 69 percent of its passes for an average of 8.6 yards per attempt. That's a mark Phillips has said the Penguins themselves need to reach.
Then the Penguins welcome North Dakota to Stambaugh on Oct. 8, and the Fighting Hawks pass a bit more with Tommy Schuster. UND has thrown for 213 yards per game and five touchdowns, and has attempted 96 passes this year.
Run game, run defense both are strong
Where the Penguins have shined on both sides of the ball is on the ground.
That was expected out of the offense. After all, Jaleel McLaughlin is an All-American tailback for a reason, and it's what YSU has prided itself on during Phillips' tenure.
What's been a pleasant surprise for YSU, however, is the improvement of the run defense. Youngstown State's opponents are rushing for just 69.7 yards per game so far, and only 2.2 yards per attempt.
That was critical for a YSU defense that struggled in every facet a season ago.
Dylan Wudke has been key with 5.5 tackles for loss, while safety Quincy Lenton has 3.5. Wudke also has a pair of sacks this year.
That's part of a teamwide trend, as YSU has 28 tackles for loss this season, putting teams behind the sticks early and often.
YSU says the fixes to the run defense haven't been anything complicated -- just a matter of personnel filling their run fits correctly and people doing their jobs.
But, as it is with the secondary, NDSU will be a litmus test. The Bison have run for 235.3 yards per game, and won't be shy about putting that mark to the test against the Penguins, either.
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com