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Monroe Slavin
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????

Posted: 9/4/2010 10:05:51 PM

I missed the first quarter (thanks MAC Access), saw the 2nd quarter on really poor, herky-jerky video (thanks MAC Access), saw the 2nd half pretty well (thanks whoever it was who put on the note about seeing it on channelsurfing.net) and didn't have any audio (my stupd computer) but until the last 10 minutes the closest that this one was reminding me of (and I've seen a lot of OUr games lately) was the first game of the Knorr era (vs. 'kron at 'kron).

Both in Grobe's last year and last year (2009), we had dynamic years. Then, the first game of the next year (vs. 'kron then, today vs. Woofy) we weren't dynamic at all and seemed to go away from what had made us successful. In the first Knorr, our defense went from attacking to reacting and our offense went shy (infamous decision to take the field goal instead of going for it on 4th and short at their 30 when we'd run the option unstoppably that day). Today, for nearly all of the first 3 quarters we went away from our downfield passing game as our primary thrust and, instead, went to a running/option running attack.

I love the run game more than the next guy. And, we need the power running game. But until the last 10 minutes or so when we went with some downfield passing and more or less straightahead runs, we looked bad.

Seemed to me that if in the first half if our qb didn't find a guy on his first glance downfield, then he (mostly Bates) just tucked it and ran.

Defense wasn't particulary dynamic today.

Maybe Woffy's better than I think. But this smacked of being a disappointing loss. Did we beat 'em at the end because they have less depth and got tired?

Boykin looked good. So mebbe we found something strong there. I think #88 (Thompson) is a player. And, Woffy wasn't going to score enough on our defense to win. But it just shoulda been easier if we think we're any good. Players believing our hype? Maybe others have better insight. Just not impressive to me. We better be a lot better next week. We need to spank FATMAN pretty solidly.

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

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L.C.
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/4/2010 10:15:42 PM

It looked to me like pretty conservative playcalling. There were lots more runs than usual, and few downfield passes.The defense didn't look comfortable playing the option, but held up OK. I was impressed with the running game. Davidson was running much harder than in the past, and Boykin and Brown both looked good.

Even though it wasn't pretty, I wasn't particularly disappointed. If you are Toledo, what do you prepare for? Last year's offense? An athletic Bates at QB? A power running game? Option? As for the defense, I doubt Toledo will run a lot of wing-bone sets and triple option, so I'm fine with what I saw.

Oh, Monroe, I think you found your fullback. Now they just need to line up Nathan Caldwell in the backfield instead of putting him in motion from the tight end spot.

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

colobobcat66
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/4/2010 10:21:42 PM

They say you make the most improvement in the week before the first and second games-I hope so. Otherwise it's going to be along season. vanilla offense or not.

Athens Block
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/4/2010 11:37:12 PM

It may have seemed that Phil was tucking and running a lot, but I noticed on several plays how much presence both of our QBs had in the pocket. Theo would have scrambled about twice as soon as Bates did. I think a lot of it had to do with our receivers just not being open. But, they were smart scrambles, not just running as soon as the first read is checked off.

The play calling definitely looked pretty vanilla, but I'm ok with that. The game wasn't ever really in doubt, so there's no reason to show Toledo anything. The only thing Toledo is going to get from this is that both quarterbacks can run (already knew that) and we actually have some semblance of a backfield this year...

Davidson/Boykin/Brown all looked pretty darn good considering what we've had at RB for the past couple of years.... I wouldn't be surprised if Dante has a little trouble climbing back up the depth chart when he comes back.

Again... this wasn't our Offense... Lavon was out, and that's huge. They were getting the younger receivers a TON of playing time...

I think our D will be absolutely fine... the Option is difficult to prepare for... I'm still not sure why it's falling out of favor so quickly... but against a "normal" system I think they'll do just fine...

Bring on the Rockets...

Valley Cat
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/4/2010 11:45:08 PM

Anyone remember the Grobe era? Remember what a pain in the backside we were to play on certain nights? Beating Maryland, taking K-State to the wire, beating Minnesota in the dome. That offense is a mess to deal with and gives you essentially no look at all.
I essentially saw what I figured I would see. The option gave the defense fits at times and the offense came out with working on a run game on its mind. Guess what I have no idea at all what this team will be like this season. No LaVon, Bates hurt and you just played a scrappy triple option team. OSU struggled with Navy last season in the opener they ended up having an ok season.
Expectacions are high no question I actually quit drinking for a brief time in the third quarter to concentrate more fully on what was going on. We will no a lot more about this team next week at this time as for now the jury is out.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 12:12:00 AM

How much did we play guys who are not starters? Which guys and which positions? Maybe that had something to do with us not widening the lead until deep into the fourth quarter.

I agree that it was clear pretty early that Woffy wasn't going to score much on us. I was quite disappointed in our inability to put up points of the Terriers for the first 3 1/2 quarters.

Didn't we run a fair amount of option run game until late third quarter? I'm not sure that fits with our pistol potent passing game very much. The power straightahead running game was good.

OhioCatFan
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:18:00 AM

Monroe, one interesting observation that answers one of your questions. After Wofford scored their TD, Frank was so disgusted that he put in the entire second-team DL and some other second-team defensive players. At that point WU was no longer able to convert the short-yardage situations that they had against the first-team players. I think this sent a message to the first teamers who played better later in the game. I think Frank sent a message that was received loud and clear by the intended audience. Good coaching in my book.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

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John C. Wanamaker
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 12:24:20 PM

Ohio has used two groups of D-Linemen for about hmmmmm awhile now. There was nothing more going on there than the prescribed rotation.

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Steve
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:06:25 PM

I missed the whole game, thanks to MAC Access,

Thanks for the recaps.

Ted Thompson
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:07:27 PM

I thought the 2nd unit handled the option much better than the first unit. Both units were in on a lot of tackles

First unit
Notestine - 5
Williamson - 3
Hudge - 3
Gatling - 3

Second unit
Scott - 4
Huynh - 3
Meyers - 2
Jones - 3

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OhioCatFan
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:10:38 PM

OK JCW, you're right and everyone in my section was wrong including a gentleman who has attended, he says, nearly every practice this year. i know in past years I've seen a lot of rotation on the defensive line, but I'm not sure that I've seen on any kind of a regular basis such a wholesale rotation including other defense players as well -- specifically two corners, if I recall correctly. But, in the end, let me clarify that you are correct and that I don't have the slightest idea what I'm talking about.

Last Edited: 9/5/2010 1:12:07 PM by OhioCatFan

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:10:54 PM

I don't think there was much to take away from this game other than our quarterbacks leave some arm strength to be desired, but that's not something you can fix. They will struggle to get this offense vertical, which is disappointing given the stable of receivers Ohio posseses. The only other thing I noted is how Posey looked like a man among boys out there. Iwouldn't mind seeing run a reverse for the offense given his ballskills.

Vanilla playcalling,missing our clear-cut best offensive and return game weapon, facing an outlier offense Ohio probably sparsely prepared for, opening game... You just take the win and wait to assess this team until the Toledo game.

Last Edited: 9/5/2010 1:16:05 PM by Brian Smith (No, not that one)

L.C.
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:19:41 PM

Brian Smith wrote:

... You just take the win and wait to assess this team until the Toledo game.

Exactly. I think they worked on what they wanted to work on, and accomplished much of what they wanted to. They will have a lot to work on this week, based on what they learned. Hopefully Bates is not badly injured, and if he's OK, then the game accomplished it's purpose.

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

Pataskala
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 1:49:52 PM

Remember too that the Cats were without their most potent weapon: Brazill. If he comes back healthy next week, they'll have a much different look -- especially if Toledo's pass D is a shambles like it was Friday night.

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

Monroe Slavin
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 2:31:41 PM

Wait a minute. I want LaVon back as much as the next guy. But I thought we had a whole deep stable of receivers on hand--such that LaVon's absence shouldn't have been a huge deal.

One of the recaps I read said our qb's had one completion apiece in the first half and Bates had 6 carries. I presume that Bates' carries were all in the first half. Again, kinda Knorr-like in the change from our vertical passing game to, I dunno, trying to become an option run team. Adjusting what we had last year, sure. A seeming total different approach--not sure about that.

I missed the first qtr and video was bad for the 2nd qtr, but our pass blocking did not impress.

perimeterpost
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 2:41:31 PM

I thought both of out QBs looked very uneasy in the pocket and it seemed like they struggled to hit wide open receivers. Both scrambled effectively, and now I understand the hype around Bates, but the passing game did not inspire a lot of confidence.

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Athens Block
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 3:06:15 PM

I'm also going to call it right now. Julian Posey will return a kick for a TD this year...The opening return should have gone for 6 but his own guy got in his way... his other return was also pretty darn good as well... I think he's going to be a breakout player this year...

sargentfan
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 5:06:25 PM

Monroe Slavin, CPA wrote:

One of the recaps I read said our qb's had one completion apiece in the first half and Bates had 6 carries. I presume that Bates' carries were all in the first half. Again, kinda Knorr-like in the change from our vertical passing game to, I dunno, trying to become an option run team. Adjusting what we had last year, sure. A seeming total different approach--not sure about that. .

I think what you saw in this game was rust and a concerted effort by the coaches to work on the running game and to not show Toledo too much. Hence the vanilla play-calling, I expect to see a more well rounded game next week.

DublinCat
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 6:24:38 PM

sargentfan wrote:

Monroe Slavin, CPA wrote:

Exactly, history tells us Boo can pass now let’s hope he can cut down on the turnovers. It’s almost two years since both QB’s have had much real game experience. A little rust can be expected. This team needed to prove they can run. They out gained last years top rushing FCS which returned the majority of their offense. Take a look at the numbers the same duo put up on Wisconsin last year. Davidson and Boykin looked good. Still need better plan for 4^th and 1 than the dive over the top.

OU87

Monroe Slavin
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 8:09:32 PM

Is there any place to find a participation report (T Carrie?) by number of plays by each player. Maybe I'd feel better if I saw that a lot of back-ups got a lot of snaps.

Brian Smith (No, not that one)
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/5/2010 10:13:42 PM

Monroe Slavin, CPA wrote:

Is there any place to find a participation report (T Carrie?) by number of plays by each player. Maybe I'd feel better if I saw that a lot of back-ups got a lot of snaps.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/ohio0904.html#GAME.PRE

colobobcat66
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/6/2010 12:26:25 PM

Brian Smith wrote:

Monroe Slavin, CPA wrote:

Is there any place to find a participation report (T Carrie?) by number of plays by each player. Maybe I'd feel better if I saw that a lot of back-ups got a lot of snaps.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2010-2011/ohio0904.html#GAME.PRE

I looked at those yesterday and didn't notice numbers of plays anywhere. I did count about 55 players for Wofford and 65 for us, but without knowing how many plays each player played, it's not easy to draw conclusions about depth and who was on the field during different series. My experience that even if you're there it's pretty tough to keep up with the player changes sometimes. A video of the game would probably help a lot.

colobobcat66
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RE: ????

Posted: 9/6/2010 12:33:20 PM

Pataskala wrote:

The problem with making these kinds of assumptions about Toledo's pass D is that it assumes we have the same quality offensive lineman that Arizona has. My take has always been than the success of a offense or defense depends in large part on the quality on the lines. That our line is as good as Arizonas is yet to be proven.

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