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Topic: RE: Let the countdowns begin

Topic: RE: Let the countdowns begin

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Pataskala
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/18/2015 11:54:22 PM

I think there haven't been a lot of posts up to now because, unlike last year at least, we have most of the key elements of our team in place. The only real question marks are at WR and the interior DL. We have a pretty solid basis for the rest of it. I don't expect a gangbuster year, but less than seven wins would be a disappointment. It's hard to be negative or positive at this point because we haven't seen them on the field. Practices and scrimmages are helpful, but I don't get to see them so my views depend on game performance.

And although BUTM didn't work well a couple years ago, AJUTM was one of our best weapons last year. If he can avoid the sophomore jinx, we could have a very good year. We have a pretty solid OLine so I expect him to be the difference offensively during the first two or three games until the WRs settle in.

Defensively we need more pressure up the middle to help the ends on the pass rush. We gave up too many big plays because of too little pressure on the QB. A big thing with the team is takeaways. In 2011 we had 27 takeaways and went 10-4; in 2012, 25 takeaways and went 9-4; in 2013, 22 takeaways and 7-6; last year, 19 takeaways and 6-6. Four straight years of declining takeaways and four straight years of declining records.

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

Monroe Slavin
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 12:37:08 PM

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

I think the feeling going into this season is one of cautious or quiet optimism... no boastful predictions of an undefeated season (I don't think there's any evidence to support that possibility). If there was more of that, those types of predictions garner the most and the most emotional responses.

I think most folks think our returning talent means we are headed for a pretty good season. I think we all know there's not a game we couldn't win nor one we couldn't lose.

Maybe I'm just describing myself. I think we'll have a good year. I hope we have a great year. I don't have enough evidence to support that hope. I'm also not a doomsayer... I don't think anyone really believes we're just going to collapse. That type of post, again, would garner the most and the most emotionally charged responses. So, what we have is the expectation that we will have a typical Frank Solich season. Win more than we lose. Win one we shouldn't, lose one we shouldn't, be in it late, grab a bowl.

It's like sex on Friday night...and only on Friday night. You're glad it's happening, but more would be nice. You're not bragging to your friends about it.

Great post. That ending simile is appropriate and hilarious.

OCF--The difference is that I keep on describing specifics re results, strategy, play-calling, etc but all your side puts up is generalities about how we're better than the 40 years in the 'dessert' and Solich and staff are so great (still an overall losing record I'm pretty sure at OHIO after so many years) and our team is deep in experience (okay--but if guys are so good how come no one's much shone over the last 2.5). I deal in reality; you deal in vague dreams.

Where's the band?!
WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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The Optimist
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 1:26:41 PM

I post quite a bit more than most but I have scaled back posting because dealing with the negativity on here feels like a chore.

I don't understand how some can endlessly bash this coaching staff when the last decade has been many times more successful than the multiple decade span that preceded it. I'm not 100% supportive of all their choices... I've critiqued their play calling plenty. I also can appreciate their dedication to grow the program, not for just one season, but for many years. Long term program growth. That's what Solich has given us.

I think most OHIO fans in touch with reality are excited about this season. With our experience on the offensive line and our stable of runnin backs, along with returning almost all of our starters on defense, I think we are setting ourselves up for a good season.

I've seen crazier things happen.

Mark Lembright '85
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 1:57:33 PM

L.C. wrote:

DCF, that's where I am, too. I expect a good, but not great team. They will probably be a 2 TD underdog to Minnesota and a 2 TD favorite over Miami, but the other games should all be competitive. It's impossible to guess how the season will shake out because so many games could go either way. I think this will be a battling team, so I'm cautiously optimistic, and thinking in terms of 7-9 wins.

When you look at teams, each year the team has a different profile. Some have strong defenses and weak offenses. Some have strong lines and weak backs, or the reverse. Some have good receivers, some have a good running game. Some have a strong defensive line, but weak DBs, or whatever.

When I compare this team to past Bobcat teams, oddly, on paper the team that this one profiles the closest to is the team that played Penn State. That team had a strong, veteran offensive line with three seniors (Prior-Carlotta-Allen-Herman-McGrath), and so does the 2015 team. They had a talented but young group of receivers (Foster/So, Dovell/Jr, L. Smith/So), and so does the 2015 team (S.Smith/Jr, Reid/Jr, Cope/So). They had some pretty good running backs (Blankenship, Boykin), and so does this one. The biggest differences on offense are Vick instead of Tettleton, and Mangen instead of Thompson.

On defense the skill levels were comparable at LB (Woseley-Lewis-Moore as opposed to Johnson-Brown-Poling) and at DB (Shaw-Leftwich-Moore-Hughes as opposed to Leyton-Wells-Jones-Macer), but the 2012 had a much better group up front (Huynh-Jones-Scott-Smith backed up by Branz-Crutcher-Hastings-Barber). The 2015 front of Sayles-Tautuaiki-Purdum-Basham backed up by Smart-Aloese-Porter-Laseak may turn out to be good, but it is much more untested.

I think that the start of 2012 team was Solich's best team at Ohio, though that team was wiped out amazingly quickly by injuries, and the team that finished the year was an entirely different cast of characters. I'm most certainly not saying that 2015 will be as good as start of 2012. I'm saying that they are the same type of team, and good in pretty much the same areas, with a few exceptions, like DL and TE.

What you can't tell in advance, though, is what kind of heart a team will have. The 2012 team was unfazed by Penn State, and didn't panic when they fell behind, and they battled back. Will the 2015 group be the battling team that I hope they are? We'll know soon enough. Will the 2015 defensive line mature into a disruptive bunch? We'll know that, too. Will this team gel, and mature as the season goes on, and finish strong, as the 2014 team did? Ask me in 6 months. All I know is that I like the profile - a strong line with good running backs, and a good defense. That's my favorite kind of team.

The one thing the 2012 team had (at least through a significant part of that year) was strong QB play. When Tettleton was on, he was on and nothing fazed him. He had that "it" factor, a swagger, an abundance of confidence, the ability to make a clutch play in a key situation. I don't know if there's any QB on the 2015 team that has that ability. Does Vick or Sprague have "it"? Hard to say. I will say though, you put a healthy Tettleton of 2012 on this team-look out!

Last Edited: 7/19/2015 2:36:07 PM by Mark Lembright '85

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 2:50:52 PM

Mark Lembright '85 wrote:

To make the 2015 team match the start-of-2012 team, I think you need TT, Thompson, Jones, and Huynh. We just got another TE, so maybe that's one the 4 done, and it remains to be seen if a Senior Vick has the needed swagger, and it remains to be seen whether Aloese and Porter are ready for prime time. In fairness, while the OL will be good this fall, I think you might also need Herman to match 2012.

They aren't far from being a really good team, but that only makes them a good team. Still, I'm looking forward to fall, and seeing how the pieces fit together.

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

Doc Bobcat
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 3:25:40 PM

Good teams improve over the course of the year...and hopefully we can do that....Vick does have the swag.....At TE Heitzman will be a blocking machine...Porter and Aloese will be pleasant surprises...and depth will save the OL.

Last Edited: 7/19/2015 3:26:24 PM by Doc Bobcat

The Optimist
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 3:46:29 PM

I agree. DT and QB play... Those two areas cannot be stressed enough with this squad.

It's unfortunate our MAC schedule is tougher than years past. Gives someone like Akron an edge in the MAC East with their schedule being so much easier with crossover opponents. Minny and Marshall OOC are both possibly in the top 5 of OOC opponents we've seen in the Solich era. It'll be nice having a running game capable of burning clock.

Last Edited: 7/19/2015 3:49:12 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 7:05:37 PM

Getting back to the countdowns, I see that they have both BG and NIU as Top 40 teams. I think both are too high.

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

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/19/2015 7:48:49 PM

47 Days to first game: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKOQcRoWcAACxn-.jpg
46 Days to first game: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKTq06lUsAAQHGQ.jpg

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

OhioCatFan
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 12:25:21 AM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

OCF--The difference is that I keep on describing specifics re results, strategy, play-calling, etc but all your side puts up is generalities about how we're better than the 40 years in the 'dessert' and Solich and staff are so great (still an overall losing record I'm pretty sure at OHIO after so many years) and our team is deep in experience (okay--but if guys are so good how come no one's much shone over the last 2.5). I deal in reality; you deal in vague dreams.

Hey, Mr. Reality, Solich is 72�56 at OHIO. How is that an "overall losing record"? At Ohio and Nebraska combined he's 130�75. And, your specifics when it comes to play calling, strategy, etc., aren't worth much more than the occasional comment I make on those things. I realize when I delve into those areas that I'm expressing a non-professional, fan-level opinion that may not actually be worth much. You, on the other hand, are delusional enough to think you could take over for Frank and win more games with the same team. I'd call that a very high BS quotation. Go OHIO!

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

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Paul Graham
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 11:55:34 AM

For 2.5 years they have struggled to compete with anyone decent, and have been repeatedly embarrassed by the top of the MAC

****THAT*** is the issue.

Its not about Solich's record over the past decade.

Its not about losing to NIU in the MACC...I couldn't care less. That was a great game and our guys gave it their all.

Its not about winning the MACC at all for me.

Its about holding your own against good teams.

Who cares about beating Miami when you lose by > 20 to every top MAC team you play?

For the umpteenth time, that is the issue at hand.

Last Edited: 7/20/2015 11:57:09 AM by Paul Graham

GoCats105
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 12:15:34 PM

Paul Graham wrote:

Yes.

With regards to the lack of posts, how can I get excited for a trip to IDAHO? I hope we beat them by 40, but we won't. I'm pumped for college football in general because there's only so much baseball, golf and tennis one can watch without wanting to jab a pencil through their own retina.

FWIW, Pete Fiutak and CFN.com have BG winning the MAC East by going 6-6. Ohio and Akron also going 6-6, but the Bobcats losing to both Akron and BG. Ugh...

OhioStunter
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 12:56:42 PM

As fans, we've been fortunate for the past few years to be able to tune into a nationally televised Ohio Football game at the beginning of football season:

In 2010, it was on ABC vs. Ohio St.

In 2012, it was on ABC vs. Penn St.

In 2013, it was on ESPN vs. Louisville

Last year, it was on ESPNU vs. Kentucky

This year, we have no national broadcast of our games until Nov. 4. Having a national game (ESPN3 doesn't count) on TV early in the season I think really adds to the excitement heading into the season.

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 1:14:48 PM

Paul Graham wrote:

For 2.5 years they have struggled to compete with anyone decent, and have been repeatedly embarrassed by the top of the MAC

****THAT*** is the issue....

Each of us has a slightly different opinion, obviously, which is normal. For me, I feel like I understand what happened, so the last 2 1/2 years don't bother me. For me Ohio had a good run from 2009-mid 2012, and good runs always end at some point. In the middle, however, they had a bad recruiting class in 2010, which no one was too concerned about at the time. It wouldn't have mattered that much, but when Ohio then hit a flukey string of season ending and career ending injuries in 2012, they needed there to be some solid backups, so those two compounded each other, and led to a rebuilding period.

Since you and Monroe like to draw an arbitrary beginning date of the Miami game in 2012, I'll draw an arbitrary ending date. I feel like that "2.5 years" that you and Monroe talk about ended last year after the WMU game. In my opinion, the team played very solidly the last three games of the year, with the exception of the first quarter against Miami. In that three game period they trounced a decent Buffalo team, held their own against the best team in the MAC (as opposed to "being embarrassed" or "losing by 20"), and they had a great comeback to defeat their biggest rival.

For me, Ohio is done rebuilding, and is at the beginning of another good run that should last at least until 2018. They don't need anything miraculous. They just need to pick up where they left off in 2014, and then keep improving from there.

Oh, and 45 Days: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKX3ZbNUsAAoJpY.jpg

Last Edited: 7/20/2015 1:18:40 PM by L.C.

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

OhioStunter
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 1:38:46 PM

I also think that over the last three seasons in the MAC, we're 12-12. Pretty average. So if the excitement around Ohio Football is average, there's a legitimate reason why.

GoCats105
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 1:55:00 PM

L.C. wrote:

Paul Graham wrote:

For 2.5 years they have struggled to compete with anyone decent, and have been repeatedly embarrassed by the top of the MAC

****THAT*** is the issue....

LC,

In your opinion though, don't you think the program is at a point where it shouldn't have these 2-3 year dips in progression? I know you point to the 2010 recruiting class, but I can't imagine one lost recruiting class really setting back the program very far. I guess getting down to "average" is better than going back to the cellar, so that's something to be positive about.

In my opinion, the program is at a point (or at least should be at a point) where winning the MAC East should be the norm. If Ohio wins the MAC title after that, that's a bonus. But getting to Detroit every year shouldn't be a problem, especially with the fluctuation of the programs in the division. Sure, you'll have a Kent, Buffalo, or Miami rise up and try to knock you off every once in a while. But honestly, other than BG, Ohio's issues getting to Detroit shouldn't be that difficult given the stability of the program.

I guess that opens a whole other can of worms then to see exactly how far the program has climbed. Did it really take 10 years just to get to the point where Ohio is at least "average" year-in, year-out? Something to ponder...

Last Edited: 7/20/2015 1:59:21 PM by GoCats105

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 2:49:23 PM

Are there any schools in the MAC, Sun Belt or CUSA which have NOT experienced the occasional two year dip that LC suggests? Some on here seem to think that a very long tenure by a head coach should make us immune from the normal cycles experienced by programs in the MAC, Sun Belt or CUSA. On the other hand, I think those cycles, with occasional lulls, is more to be expected than a continual upward climb for ten years, even with the same head coach.

GoCats105
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 2:59:10 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

Southern Miss had 18 consecutive winning seasons at one point, including bowl games every year but one between 1997-2011. Most of that happened with Jeff Bower, and the latter with Larry Fedora. As soon as Fedora left they bottomed out big time. That's a LONG time.

Northern Illinois since 2001 has won nine MAC West titles (five straight and counting) and has won 3 MAC titles in that span and not to mention played in a BCS game.

Of course the Marshall success...

Jeff McKinney
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 3:05:25 PM

Southern Miss and Northern are two schools that have pulled this off for ten years. Marshall's run in the MAC was not 10 years, right?

I still think the norm for schools at our level is to have up and down cycles, no matter the tenure of the head coach. Of course, I have to admit that Coach Solich should have a MACC under his belt after ten years.

OhioCatFan
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 3:22:24 PM

To put this in perspective, the Cubs should have won a National League Pennant in the last eight decades since 1945. To find out when they last won a World Series you have to go back to before either of my parents were born -- in 1908. I confidently predict that OHIO will win a MACC in my children's lifetimes. ;-)

So calm down, Monroe. OHIO's day will come.

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 3:47:28 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

No, I don't think any program ever really gets to that point. Some years are always better than others, but depending on the team, the highs and lows can be different. For example, an Alabama might compete for #1 a few years in a row, then "slump" to the bottom of the top 20 for a year or two.

Getting back to Ohio, some slump was to be expected after those good years. It took both the 2010 class, and the incredible number of injures in 2012 to cause the slump to be as deep as it was, and even then, they stayed bowl eligible.

Really, though, the cycles aren't that hard to see coming. Back in about 2007-8 I could see the cycle building towards a high in 2011-12, and predicted an undefeated season in 2011 followed by a potential win over Penn State early 2012. 2011 didn't quite happen, but it was still a very good year. Now I see the next cycle started, and running to a high in 2017 or so.

It isn't rocket science. Look at the current Sophomore class, which is made up of recruits from 2013 who redshirted, and recruits from 2014 who played as true Freshmen. They aren't necessarily starters, but they form a solid core that will be supplemented by players in the classes behind them. With this solid group, there will be no more rebuilding until after they are gone. In 2018-19 there may or may not be another rebuilding year. I'm inclined to say not since the Freshmen behind them look strong, too. Anyway, here are the Sophomores, and they, alone, would not be a bad team, other than the absence of a QB.

OL - Lowery, Adams, Pruehs, Wood, McCray, Murdock
TE - Morgan
QB -
RB - OUellette, Brown
WR - Brunis, Cope, Walker, Helton, Jarid Brown, Cedric Brown

DE - Smart, Robbins
DT - Aloese, Porter
LB - Poling, Grillot, Chad Moore, Daugherty,
CB - Brunson
S - Nelson, Quallen

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

GoCats105
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 4:02:15 PM

L.C. wrote:

GoCats105 wrote:

Fair enough. Like I mentioned in the original post, it's not necessarily a bad thing to be average for a year or two, especially given the history of the Ohio program. Hell, it's a lot better than going 0-12, 1-11 or 2-10.

I'm more inclined to think they should be able to recruit relatively steadily year in, year out so there is no drop off. The next guy in line should be able to step up and fill the shoes of the guy who left. But then again, when injuries happen and transfers move in and out of the program, you get issues where one class isn't as strong as another.

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 4:51:04 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

...I'm more inclined to think they should be able to recruit relatively steadily year in, year out so there is no drop off. The next guy in line should be able to step up and fill the shoes of the guy who left. But then again, when injuries happen and transfers move in and out of the program, you get issues where one class isn't as strong as another.

That's certainly how you'd like it to work, "reloading, not rebuilding", but it doesn't always work out, for a variety of reasons.

Another point I've made is that, even as the team was in rebuilding, the program continues to move forward, with things like the IPF and the Academic Center that build a foundation for the future.

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

Casper71
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 4:59:30 PM

Guys, sometimes I think we all overthink this. It is a relatively simple game and concept...IF you have good players and a good coach, everything else falls into place.

All I can say is that during the last two or so years we either haven't had good players or the coaching has been less than stellar. Since i think the staff is good, I believe it comes down to what I always talk about...GETTING GOOD PLAYERS and COACHING 'em up. That is a winning recipe. You can talk about luck and injuries and schedules and play calling and schemes and all that other crap but if you have good players that are well coached you will win. And, the better the players are the more you win. We just need MORE and BETTER players!

L.C.
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RE: Let the countdowns begin

Posted: 7/20/2015 7:06:12 PM

Casper, you and I don't really disagree, we just say things differently. Saying what I said more in your terms, Ohio beat Penn State not because of luck, but because they had good players, and good coaching. Once 19 players were lost for the season, the coaching was still there, but they needed an entirely different group of good players. Because of poor recruiting in 2010, and better but not good enough recruiting in 2011, they didn't have enough good players.

I still think they have good coaching, and I think the recruiting was significantly better in 2013-2015. Could recruiting improve still more? I think it can, and I think it will. Once the new Academic Center opens, I think you'll see another big jump.

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

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