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Topic: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Topic: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

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Ted Thompson
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Member Since: 11/11/2004
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Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/11/2014 11:31:34 AM

The big 2014 Ohio football preview: Bobcats freshening up

Follow Ohio Football recruiting on the BobcatAttack.com football recruiting database.

C Money
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/11/2014 11:59:53 AM

Connelly pretty much nails it: too much BUTM in 2013, need to figure out what kind of QB starter Vick will be in 2014. Defense should improve with experience, although with the recent revelations that our projected starters at OLB are gone, that might not happen.

6-7 wins sounds about right as of right now. That being said, by the time fall camp rolls around and I'm starved for some green kool aid, I'll probably predict 10 wins and a MAC title.

Casper71
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/11/2014 12:23:47 PM

Great analysis...my take:

Must Wins: Idaho, EIU, Akron, Miami
Should be wins but who knows: CMU and WMU
Season maker/breaker (if we win the two should be) games: Kent and Buffs

Would be upset wins: UK, Marshall, NIU, BG

That is anywhere from 4-8 wins with 6-7 the most probable.

Probably will be a small step backwards as many have suggested.

L.C.
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/11/2014 1:03:15 PM

I'd agree that it is a sound analysis. Here's a few things I found in there:

SB Nation wrote:

At the same time, however, we don't yet know whether Vick is actually a good quarterback. Take that 80-yard bomb away, and Vick's other 49 pass attempts in 2013 (44 passes, five sacks) netted a dreadful 160 yards.

I think he will be a fine QB, but it is certainly true that he doesn't have much of a track record outside his one game against Norfolk State. What SB Nation doesn't know is that while most backup QB's take most of their snaps in garbage time, Vick actually played very little in garbage time, and most of his snaps came when he was inserted into difficult situations against some of the best teams Ohio played, to give him experience under fire, and to give a spark to the offense.

SB Nation wrote:

Meanwhile, it's not guaranteed that the next crop of Ohio wideouts will be able to match what Donte Foster, Matt Waters, etc., did last fall. Ohio's top three receivers averaged a strong 10.1 yards per target in 2013, and Cochran is the only of the top six targets to return.

SB Nation wrote:

...sketchy blocking from a line that was getting shuffled every game. And I do mean every game: Ohio started a different combination of offensive linemen for each of the first eight games of the season.....

Ten Bobcat linemen finished 2013 with starting experience; three were freshmen and three were sophomores. That is a recipe for disaster, and sure enough, the run blocking was far from strong. But it does mean that six seasoned players return for 2014, and none of them are seniors. The line should improve, and then it should improve again in 2015.

These were from separate places, but since they both related to the offensive line, and they together nicely covered the issues at the position, I put them together. I expect the line to be better in 2014, and better still in 2015.

SB Nation wrote:

When you look at Ohio's line stats, you rather quickly form a mental image of a team that got pushed around (124th in Adj. Line Yards) but was able to get to the passer in passing situations (39th in Adj. Sack Rate). ....

Ohio's problems appeared to be as much because of overpursuit and inexperience as anything else. If this is the case, the woes could be cured to some degree this fall.

SB didn't have as much to say about the defense as the offense, but this is right, I think. I also think there were schematic issues, which I presume will be addressed in the off-season. Traditionally the defense has been read-and-react, but this year the line was asked to be more aggressive, and penetrate, and get sacks. They did those things, and got far more sacks, but they also in the process opened running lanes, and Ohio gave up more running yards, and more big plays. I like the aggressive defense, so I hope the answer isn't to go back to all read-and-react.

SB Nation wrote:

Devin Bass defensed 17 passes while making only 33.5 tackles; as I always say in examples like this, that means he's either one hell of a cornerback or one hell of a poor tackler.

The only comment I will add to this is that Bass is an outstanding tackler.

SB Nation wrote:

...there's no guarantee that Ohio will replace eight offensive starters without a year of a dropoff. ...
Ohio could be outstanding in 2015, but 2014 is uncertain. I'm setting the bar at a schedule-aided six wins.

Exactly what I have said - 2014 will be an adventure. I hope for 7-8 wins, and another bowl, but there is no guarantee of that. I also think 2015 and 2016 will be very good years.

Last Edited: 3/11/2014 1:11:03 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Rowdy Rufus
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/12/2014 10:09:44 AM

Casper71 wrote:

My original thought on Idaho would that it is an easy win for the Bobcats. However I recently heard they brought in something like 15 or more Juco players vs trying to bring in a large Freshman class. That scares me a little.

Rowdy Rufus
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/12/2014 10:15:38 AM

L.C. wrote:

I'

[quote=SB Nation]Meanwhile, it's not guaranteed that the next crop of Ohio wideouts will be able to match what Donte Foster, Matt Waters, etc., did last fall. Ohio's top three receivers averaged a strong 10.1 yards per target in 2013, and Cochran is the only of the top six targets to return.

Nope, no guarantees, but...Ohio has a great WR coach, and has a lot of talent. It seems likely to me that from that mix some players will emerge, and Ohio will be fine. SB stats reveal that the team leader in completions as a percentage of targets was Mangen at 80%, who returns, and that Cochran was third at 70% and Daz fourth at 68%. I was surprised to see Sebastian and Landon Smith both at about 52%, and hopefully they will improve that this year.

Keep in mind that that 10.1 yards per catch avg for 3 receivers was heavily bolstered by Cochrans 19 yd avg.

Regarding the % completions. Frankly I don't know how that stat is obtained. I'm pretty confident it's not based on dropped balls. So in my opinion it probably includes dropped balls plus over throws, out of bounds catches etc....
I really would not put much weight in that. Those numbers should have been much lower had TT thrown the ball away more vs running out of bounds or getting tackled for loss.

Last Edited: 3/12/2014 10:16:12 AM by Rowdy Rufus

Bcat2
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/12/2014 10:15:47 AM

Rowdy Rufus wrote:

Casper71 wrote:

Following the Kansas State model.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

colobobcat66
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/12/2014 10:27:46 AM

Bcat2 wrote:

Rowdy Rufus wrote:

Casper71 wrote:

Following the Kansas State model.

I'm guessing this is a record for JC players. KSU had them, but never thus many. I think New Mexico State tried that last couple years as well, but like I said -never like this, one time I looked and they had 17 JC recruits verballed.

Rowdy Rufus
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/12/2014 12:46:12 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:

Bcat2 wrote:

Rowdy Rufus wrote:

Casper71 wrote:

Following the Kansas State model.

I am not 100% sure about my numbers. I had heard this somewhere but don't recall where.

Ohio69
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/14/2014 9:01:02 AM

I'd love to see a big push by Athletics and Alumni Association to fill Kent's stadium with Bobcats that first game.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

cbarber357
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Location: Pickerington, OH
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/14/2014 11:49:09 AM

If the MAC gets 5-7 bowl teams again I could see us being one of them

L.C.
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/14/2014 12:17:30 PM

I do think that a lot of people are going to misjudge the 2014 Bobcats. On paper, they got nothin.... but.... I suspect that after last year they actually have two things. First, they do have talent. While it is young, there is talent there, and actually they have a bit of experience, too. Second, after last year, I suspect they will have a huge chip on their shoulder. These kind of articles, picking them at .500, will only add to that. I expect the preseason magazines to pick them 3rd through 5th in the East this year, perhaps lower. That will just add more fuel.

Even though they are young, and even though they have a lot of positions where they have to replace long-time starters, especially on offense, I think they will make up for it with attitude. If I'm right, you'll see it in the Spring game, which will set the table for a better than expected season. How good? I'm sticking with 8-5 for now, but I hope I'm low.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 4:44:12 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Bcat2
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/14/2014 3:40:49 PM

The key will be for some players to decide to become "playmakers." At every position there are athletes with the tools. Someone has repeatedly said it starts at the D line, Monroe I think. Fortunately, Ohio has the "face" of Bleacher Reports projected All MAC defense in Mr. Basham. If that draws him lots of double teams Crutcher, Russell and Laseak/Sayles need to be good enough to take advantage, I hope. Then it would be sweet to find a special special team playmaker.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 6:32:30 PM by Bcat2

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

L.C.
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RE: Football Study Hall Ohio Preview

Posted: 3/14/2014 4:42:57 PM

Bcat2 wrote:

The key will be for some players to decide to become "playmakers."...

I expect them all to try to be playmakers, but what I'm looking for is for the entire team to focus on being a team: playing together, knowing each other, and playing as a unit, and then refusing to lose. They need to go back to believing, in themselves, and in their teammates, and they need to be relentless.

On defense they need to solve the problems of the big running gaps they left last year. On offense the guys up front need to block like a unit, and then they can open some holes for the running backs, and protect the QB. I hope there is a great rapport between the offensive line and Vick, and between Vick and the receivers.

Last Edited: 3/14/2014 6:41:46 PM by L.C.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

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