I think this is as close to Frank Solich's ideal offense as we could ever get in Athens. Big 10 quality offensive line, two running backs who can run between the tackles, a quarterback who can run the speed option like nobody's business, couple of good possession receivers and one guy who can be a gamebreaker in Papi White. Only weaknesses that could haunt in a MAC title game are Rourke's decision-making in the passing game about three or four times a game where he forces things and the lack of a real No. 1 receiver to count on in third and long situations.
Keep running the ball they way they did last night and that last point will be moot.
+1
I'm still in a state of disbelief of what I witnessed last night at Peden.
It was a sloppy 1H by both teams and the game was really up for grabs.
But that 2H was a freakin' clinic by Ohio on how to run the damn ball down someone's throat. Holy Toledo! (Pun intended)
Ohio CRUSHED Toledo's will with the run game. That offensive line was in beast mode all night ... and while I questioned the flip-flopping of Ouellette and Brown ... it obviously worked. I think Ouellette was being "punished" for his fumble and Brown took the opportunity and ran with it ... right down the Rockets throat.
Toledo looked defeated and could do nothing to stop it. Not sure if that's a sign of this team's grit and heart ... or maybe the by product of the MAC's awful midweek schedule where they were playing their 4th game in 19 days ... while Ohio was only playing their 3rd.
Either way ... Ohio sent a message loud and clear.
And they did it on a night where Rourke was not at his best. I agree his decision making and ball security was an issue in the 1H with the ill-advised INT and the fumble. He got away with another on a questionable pitch that Toledo nearly scooped and scored on.
Either way ... he righted the ship in the 2H ... did a great job on the speed options ... and threw some nice darts, including the one to Cope for the TD.
But what might have surprised me the most was the defense. I still can't figure out how they can get lit up like a christmas tree by UMass and Miami .... but shut down the top offense in the MAC. Tons of pressure on Woodside and the DBs .... while they were giving up some cushion ... they only really got beat bad on that long TD throw where Fox just didn't turn around (a familiar flaw with Ohio DBs)
I wonder how much gamesmenship and strategy was on display from both sides knowing that odds are they will face each other again in Detroit in a few weeks barring something bizarre happening? Did Ohio show their hand with a punishing rushing attack? Did Toledo hold back once things got out of hand early 2H?
Either way, I think this will be an entertaining MAC title game if they meet again.
But obviously the only way that happens is if Ohio doesn't have a serious letdown on the road next week in an empty Infocision Stadium against a far inferior Akron team.
It was pointed out in an earlier post that this Ohio team has a chance to win 10 regular season games. That's NEVER happened during the Solich era and only twice in school history.
LET ME REPEAT THAT.
NEVER during Solich era.
TWICE in school history .... 1960 (10-0) and 1968 (10-1)
That's pretty remarkable.
Let's hope they keep this intensity up with two challenging road games ahead where, on paper, they are the much better team ... but we've seen what happens when you let your guard down. This program has had issues with that in years past.
But after last night ... you can't help but get the feeling that this might finally be the year they get that MACC monkey off their back.
Still a lot of work to do .... and NOTHING is a gimmie in the final three steps.
But man ... how sweet would an 11-2 season be heading into a bowl game!