The defensive lineman is gentlemanly off the field and vicious in the trenches.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — No. 96 walks off the field after padded practice No. 13, sweating and looking mean. Even his name — Mychal Savage — denotes barbaric behavior.
But, once he speaks, the defensive lineman's manners make as much of an impression on a visitor as the 6-foot-2, 290-pound performer's vicious play in the trenches against opposing blockers.
"Yes, sir," are the first few words out of his mouth.
Lacking in neither discipline nor solid football foundation, Savage is back as the core of a half-dozen down linemen expected to return Youngstown State's defense to the status it achieved in 2005.
"Last year was a very good year, but this year our defense is headed in a very good direction and can do a lot better," said Savage, a Hartsdale, N.Y., product who received All-Gateway preseason honors this summer.
In 2005, YSU was ranked first in the country in scoring defense, allowing 16.8 points per game, although play by the secondary was a key reason.
Biggest improvement
However, the biggest area of improvement was YSU's defense against the run, which dropped from 200 yards a game in 2004 to under 100 per game in five of the Penguins' 11 contests.
"We have a defense with the potential to be one of best in the country, if not the best," Savage said.
"He's a veteran who had a good year last year," said coach Jon Heacock. "He got some attention with the preseason thing, but we need to develop six or eight guys up there, at least."
Due to injuries, Savage, as defensive tackle, is currently surrounded by nose tackles Brian Mellott and Bobby Lykes-Knight and defensive ends Blake Halverson and Chris Gammon. Torrance Nicholson Jr. is Savage's backup.
Vocal during practice
During Tuesday's practice session at Stambaugh Stadium, Savage was very vocal, especially when his first unit stood on the sidelines.
"Let's go Red," Savage yelled in the direction of the other 11-man defense on the field.
"Get it started," he barked at the defensive team which was settling in at the line of scrimmage in anticipation of one of several goal line situations during the late afternoon session.
"Those are just little comments I make because I feel like the energy is down," Savage said. "We've got to get the energy back up somehow, someway. The best thing I know how to do is yell."
Actually, Savage was being humble about his abilities.
In 2005, after coming from Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy prep school, Savage started seven of the first eight games and made 27 tackles. He was credited with 327 defensive plays by the coaching staff and had a season-high 44 against Northeastern.
The vocal leader
Savage isn't a captain, just a vocal leader and someone to generate enthusiasm.
"I want to do everything I can to help this team get where we're headed," he said. "Besides, I'm going to implode if I don't let it out."
Tuesday's practice, however, wasn't the defense's best showing.
"It seemed like we were a little down on the goal line," he said of the day's agenda of situational drills, mostly when points were at stake. "You can't be down on the goal line."
"He was a pretty mature guy when he came in [from Hargrave]," Heacock said. "That was key for him. He was able to fit in and understand what we were doing and had been through the discipline of the military prep school. I think all of that helped him adjust to what we were trying to do."
Good grades at Hargrave
Because he got good grades at Hargrave, he was able to leave after a semester. That's when he enrolled at Youngstown in January 2005.
Savage is a key part of the front line, but he's got to have help.
"We'd love to roll six, eight guys in there," Heacock said. "He's going to be part of that, but you don't want those guys to play too much because it's a physical game and it's a long season. Mychal is a pretty sharp guy, so, if you stuck him in one of those three places in the heat of battle, he could handle it."
What else does Savage bring to YSU?
"A little bit of energy, a little bit of fun," Savage said.
bassetti@vindy.com
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The defensive lineman is gentlemanly off the field and vicious in the trenches.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN — No. 96 walks off the field after padded practice No. 13, sweating and looking mean. Even his name — Mychal Savage — denotes barbaric behavior.
But, once he speaks, the defensive lineman's manners make as much of an impression on a visitor as the 6-foot-2, 290-pound performer's vicious play in the trenches against opposing blockers.
"Yes, sir," are the first few words out of his mouth.
Lacking in neither discipline nor solid football foundation, Savage is back as the core of a half-dozen down linemen expected to return Youngstown State's defense to the status it achieved in 2005.
"Last year was a very good year, but this year our defense is headed in a very good direction and can do a lot better," said Savage, a Hartsdale, N.Y., product who received All-Gateway preseason honors this summer.
In 2005, YSU was ranked first in the country in scoring defense, allowing 16.8 points per game, although play by the secondary was a key reason.
Biggest improvement
However, the biggest area of improvement was YSU's defense against the run, which dropped from 200 yards a game in 2004 to under 100 per game in five of the Penguins' 11 contests.
"We have a defense with the potential to be one of best in the country, if not the best," Savage said.
"He's a veteran who had a good year last year," said coach Jon Heacock. "He got some attention with the preseason thing, but we need to develop six or eight guys up there, at least."
Due to injuries, Savage, as defensive tackle, is currently surrounded by nose tackles Brian Mellott and Bobby Lykes-Knight and defensive ends Blake Halverson and Chris Gammon. Torrance Nicholson Jr. is Savage's backup.
Vocal during practice
During Tuesday's practice session at Stambaugh Stadium, Savage was very vocal, especially when his first unit stood on the sidelines.
"Let's go Red," Savage yelled in the direction of the other 11-man defense on the field.
"Get it started," he barked at the defensive team which was settling in at the line of scrimmage in anticipation of one of several goal line situations during the late afternoon session.
"Those are just little comments I make because I feel like the energy is down," Savage said. "We've got to get the energy back up somehow, someway. The best thing I know how to do is yell."
Actually, Savage was being humble about his abilities.
In 2005, after coming from Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy prep school, Savage started seven of the first eight games and made 27 tackles. He was credited with 327 defensive plays by the coaching staff and had a season-high 44 against Northeastern.
The vocal leader
Savage isn't a captain, just a vocal leader and someone to generate enthusiasm.
"I want to do everything I can to help this team get where we're headed," he said. "Besides, I'm going to implode if I don't let it out."
Tuesday's practice, however, wasn't the defense's best showing.
"It seemed like we were a little down on the goal line," he said of the day's agenda of situational drills, mostly when points were at stake. "You can't be down on the goal line."
"He was a pretty mature guy when he came in [from Hargrave]," Heacock said. "That was key for him. He was able to fit in and understand what we were doing and had been through the discipline of the military prep school. I think all of that helped him adjust to what we were trying to do."
Good grades at Hargrave
Because he got good grades at Hargrave, he was able to leave after a semester. That's when he enrolled at Youngstown in January 2005.
Savage is a key part of the front line, but he's got to have help.
"We'd love to roll six, eight guys in there," Heacock said. "He's going to be part of that, but you don't want those guys to play too much because it's a physical game and it's a long season. Mychal is a pretty sharp guy, so, if you stuck him in one of those three places in the heat of battle, he could handle it."
What else does Savage bring to YSU?
"A little bit of energy, a little bit of fun," Savage said.
bassetti@vindy.com
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
No. 96 walks off the field after padded practice No. 13, sweating and looking mean. Even his name — Mychal Savage...
