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Topic: The key for 2015

Topic: The key for 2015

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L.C.
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Member Since: 8/31/2005
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The key for 2015

Posted: 4/23/2015 2:15:52 PM

This fall the team will be much more experienced than they were last year, and we should see a big improvement. I see no reason they shouldn't be competing for Monroe's MACC. They do have a tough schedule, playing BG on the road, and 3 of the best teams from the West. They obviously can't afford to lose more than 2 of those 4 games, and they need to win all the rest. Will 6-2 be good enough to win the East? Perhaps not, if they lose to BG, since BG will have the tiebreaker, so they may need to go 7-1.

I don't expect the Bobcats to be blown out in any game, and I expect all 4 games to be close. To me the key question is, can they win the close ones? In 2006 AE seemed to will the team into the endzone at times, and won the close ones. T3, in 2009 won the key games. TT won them in 2011. Can Vick win them? How did they do in close games last year? Here are the games from last year decided by less than 2 TDs:

Kent - 17-14 win (3 points) - Vick, Bobcats score with 0:00 left
Akron - 23-20 win (3 points) - Sprague, Bobcats score with 1:55 left
Miami - 24-21 win (3 points) - Vick, Bobcats score with 0:00 left
NIU - 21-14 loss (7 points) - Vick, Bobcats can't score with 6:00 left
Idaho - 36-24 win (12 points) - Vick built early lead, Sprague pulls away 2:09 left

Based on this, I'd say that these did pretty well last year in close ones. This fall, they need to keep in all the tough games, and then continue to win the majority of close ones.

Last Edited: 4/23/2015 2:17:16 PM by L.C.

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

GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/23/2015 2:49:56 PM

I just wanna see some guys go out there and play like their hair is on fire. Blow some people up. Play with a controlled rage and kick some arse.

L.C.
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Location: United States
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/23/2015 6:31:14 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

I just wanna see some guys go out there and play like their hair is on fire. Blow some people up. Play with a controlled rage and kick some arse.

I talked before about teams that beat them by 25, now let's look at the reverse, teams Ohio has beaten by 25 (not counting FCS):
2014 - none
2013 - 4 (Akron, EMU, Miami, U.Mass)
2012 - 3 (New Mex St, EMU, La-Monroe)
2011 - 1 (Marshall)
2010 - 1 (Akron)
2009 - 0
2008 - 0
2007 - 0
2006 - 1 (Buffalo)
2005 - 0

As you can see, early in the Solich years the team never was able to demoralize foes, and totally blow them out. These games are important because they let the starters get some rest, and the backups get some playtime. The Bobcats started to get a fair number of these games in 2012 and 2013, but then they got none again last year.

I agree with you, 105. Besides winning the close games, I want to see them blow some others out. I think that to win the MACC, they need to do both. We'll have a better idea of this team's potential after the Idaho game. I'd love to see them show what they can do, and take Idaho out of the game early.

Last Edited: 4/23/2015 6:32:47 PM by L.C.

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

Mike Johnson
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/23/2015 6:49:37 PM

L.C. wrote:

GoCats105 wrote:

I just wanna see some guys go out there and play like their hair is on fire. Blow some people up. Play with a controlled rage and kick some arse.

Hmmm...during those same seasons, I wonder how many games Ohio won by 14-24 points. Those aren't 25-pt blowouts but wins of 2 TDs or more usually are decisive.

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colobobcat66
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Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/24/2015 9:14:04 AM

L.C. wrote:

I think the fact that we can usually beat the teams that are pretty bad is a sign of the stability of the Solich regime. This will be a very challenging year with the addition of the big dogs from the west. I don't think we have the firepower on offense to beat those guys or BG so I'm hoping for a breakout season for the defense-one that can actually stop teams on third down, among other things. If we can't do that, IMHO, we can't win the MAC this year.

Last Edited: 4/24/2015 9:15:40 AM by colobobcat66

L.C.
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/24/2015 9:55:20 AM

I would agree that the defense this year needs to be dominant to make Ohio competitive in the MAC, but I think they will be. I think this will be the best Defense Ohio has had under Solich. That is exactly why I think that BG and those West teams will not be able to pull away, and the games will be close.

I also think the offense will be better than expected. I don't expect it to have the firepower of 2011, but more the grind-it-out power of 2006. With a much improved offensive line up front, and a healthy AJ, plus other backs like Irons, Brown, and Daz, I think we'll see a return of a power running game, which will open up the play action passing game. Vick has always been very accurate on deep throws, and has burned teams before when they come up to stop the run. He was less effective passing when he was forced to throw into coverage.

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

C Money
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/24/2015 10:17:41 AM

Offensively, I really want to see Irons become the feature back. Nothing against AJ, but I think Irons has more upside potential. I'd love to see AJ more in a bulldozer role when we need 2 yards or less. Nothing against Daz or Papi either...they have a specialized set of skills that should be utilized in a specialized way.

Defensively, I just want the D line to hold its own. Our LBs should be solid to awesome, and there should be a step up in athleticism in the secondary. But man, if the D Line gets pushed around, it could be a loooooooooong year.

shabamon
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Member Since: 11/17/2006
Location: Cincinnati
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/24/2015 10:26:59 AM

I would be interested to see White/Daz/Walker on the field at the same times that we throw AJ/Irons on the field as the feature back. Maybe some two-back sets or have the smaller guys lined in the slot for end-arounds, end-around fakes, or wheel routes - similar to how we used Phil Bates when he was on the field with Boo or TT.

Pataskala
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/24/2015 1:04:23 PM

L.C. wrote:

BG could have a tough time winning six this season. They won the division with 5-3 last year, and will likely have many of the same D problems as last year. Plus their last four games are vs teams that were at least 4-4 last season and should be formidable this season (Ohio, @WMU, Toledo and @BSU). And they have Buffalo (road) and UMass (home), both of which could be tough.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The key for 2015

Posted: 4/24/2015 11:37:48 PM

It has been rumored that they are practicing some two-back sets, so it may not be a matter of one featured RB. We may have two. What form these two back sets might be, I have no idea, but I wouldn't mind seeing some I formations. Remembering back to the Hess Era that formation can be very effective when run correctly.

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