OK, we don’t spend too much time at Crystal Ball Run discussing the strengths and weakness of the Mid-American Conference.
But guys like Rob Cornelius love the league and love to talk about it even more. Good for him. The league isn’t quite as good as it was when players like Ben Roethlisberger played at Miami. However it’s better football than most give it credit for, and he gets to watch one of the best coaches (Frank Solich) on a regular basis since Rob is the color analyst for the Ohio Bobcats.
So the time is right to do “5 Burning Questions” with someone from the MAC.
1. Since Frank Solich arrived in Athens in 2005, the Bobcats have become one of the most consistent teams in the Mid-American Conference. However, Ohio has not been able to get over the hump and win a championship. What’s holding them back in their quest?
Ohio’s Golden Age of football has been concurrent with that of a similar phase at Central Michigan. The short-term success bred by Brian Kelly there put two monster teams in front of the Bobcats at MAC Championship time in 2006 and 2009. While CMU had the Dan Lefevours and Antonio Browns, Ohio’s star power was dimmer on the offensive side and simply couldn’t keep pace.
2010 should have been Ohio’s year, but the MAC Title evaporated when the Bobcats lost a perpetually game-under-.500 squad at Kent on Thanksgiving Week. That’s the loss that Ohio players & coaches have taken the hardest in the last five years I think.
The best news? Ohio lost to injury three guys last year for most of the campaign, who were media guide cover boys (if anyone still printed guides). Getting redshirts and the like for pre-season All-MAC types like LB Noah Keller, FS Gerald Moore and WR/PR Lavon Brazill is a bonus Frank Solich didn’t know to expect for 2011. This team is now loaded.
2. Ohio made the long road trip to New Mexico State to open the season and put together a strong showing. What impressed you most about the 44-24 victory?
Ohio never looked out of control of the game. After one early pick on new starting QB Tyler Tettleton, Ohio methodically punched in three scores and added a safety to go to the half up by 16. NMSU Head Coach Dwayne Walker said it never felt that close. Questions were mostly answered about an all-new front four on the defensive line. Tettleton managed the game and made few mistakes. Ohio showed it could rely on the run, which is really a first for a Solich team since the 2005-06 clubs he inherited from Brian Knorr. 246 yards on the ground made a point.
3. The Bobcats play their home opener this Saturday against Gardner-Webb, but I would guess the fans are looking forward more to taking on rival Marshall a week later. What is it going to take for Solich’s team to open the season 3-0 before heading to Rutgers?
Assuming Ohio gets by the FCS opponent, the Marshall team I saw last week for three quarters in Morgantown reminded me of a rich man’s version of NMSU. Some very nice pieces, and some athletes who can hurt you. Decent offensive line chemistry. But a real lack of depth. Marshall often dropped seven or eight into coverage and dared Gene Smith to run. Tettleton and situational QB Phil Bates both will have no hesitation to tuck and go if they show so little pressure or containment. Marshall would be a great team to play an NBA Jam-style football game, but their depth overall will hinder them against Ohio. It’s a huge game for Marshall. Folks consider the Ohio game one of only 2-3 winnable wars for the Herd in the first two months.
4. Ohio is not a national program, but who are some of the players that they should take notice of and why?
Ohio sends guys to the League now. Seriously. Landon Cohen and Taylor Price are the most notable and recent. Keller will get looks, especially if he can get back to 100% on a dinged hamstring this year. Corner Travis Carrie can swing to safety and is a fantastic punt returner who got six that way at NMSU. Might be the best athlete on this team. Ohio has too many receivers for big individual numbers, but with this team aiming to push pace and run 85 snaps a game, some body should get to 800 or 1000 yards catching. Special teams are among the nation’s best. Senior kicker Matt Weller will get field goal permission out to 57 yards or so. Punter Paul Hershey has the best leg here since Dave Zastudil and often will look for read option and will run the football for reasonable first down distances. Daredevil.
5. If OU is going to win the MAC this year, who are the teams that the Bobcats will need to get through?
On paper, a healthy Ohio bunch should be favored in every game to come but maybe Rutgers. Ohio draws two of the lesser squads from the MAC West (CMU & Ball State), which helps focus this team on MAC East opponents Temple and Miami. The RedHawks have a new coach and have to come to Athens. Ditto for Temple, who has yet to beat a MAC team with a winning record. Everything sets up perfectly for a record 10 wins or more. Ohio just needs to execute to reach a third consecutive bowl.
This program and university thought that Jim Grobe getting this thing to .500 for a few years was revolutionary. Now, anything less than eight wins in a typical season seems like an abomination to players to young to recall Grobe wearing anything but Wake gold & black. This is a real step forward.
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