Over the last four games Ohio is averaging 2.6 yards per rush. Last place in the MAC is CMU at 3.1 yards/rush, so this is not good at all. Was it because of the defenses? Well, Akron does lead the MAC in rushing defense, but the other three teams are in the bottom half of the conference in rushing defense. Buffalo is #7, giving up 4.3 yards/rush (they gave Ohio 1.6/rush). WMU is #9, giving up 5.2 yards/rush (they gave Ohio 3.3/rush). Miami is #11 in rushing defense, and are giving up an average of 4.5/rush (Ohio got 4.1). Akron gives up 3.0/rush, and Ohio got 1.5.

So... against these four foes, Ohio only netted about half the yards/carry that these teams have given up to everyone else. If this continues, Ohio can't win many games. Ohio's offense in not a pure passing attack, and none of the quarterbacks have cannon arms. They are all accurate, and able to hit open receivers effectively as a part of a play action passing game. The problem is that, if they is no rushing threat, the play action passing game is dead.

With the rushing attack nonexistent against Akron, WMU, and Buffalo, that forces Ohio to pass more than they would like, and allows defenses to focus primarily on the pass, and the results of that can be bad, as happened in 2 of the 3 games. The first four games Vick threw the ball an average of 26 times a game with very high efficiency. The last 2 games he has averaged 43 passes a game, with low efficiency.

I felt like the defense played respectably against Buffalo, considering the injuries. Other than the points off turnovers the defense gave up 24 points, and 7 of those were a garbage-time TD against Ohio's subs at the end of the game. I suspect that 17-24 is about what most of use expected Ohio's defense to give up, considering the injuries. The rushing attack, however, did not get the job done.

We saw this happening last year, but last year the offensive line was riddled with injuries, and was playing a number of true Freshmen, so it was understandable. This year the offensive line has 3 Redshirt Seniors, a redshirt Sophomore, and a Redshirt Junior. There have been a number of injuries on the offensive line, but the players that are out are backups, Lowery and Anderson.

By all accounts the team is cohesive this year, and working together, and has a renewed sense of pride. I just don't understand why the running backs aren't getting more room to run. The minimal rushing gains have not been the fault of the running backs. I suppose part of it is that Vick hasn't been a threat to run the ball, but against Buffalo he did run it a few times. The rushing attack also faltered in late 2012 and 2013 when TT wasn't a threat to run.

The 2015 version of the Bobcats has been playing well, with this one glaring exception. The old rule is "Run the ball, stop the run, win the game". Ohio has been unable to run the ball, and they need to find an answer to that. At this point I doubt there are many that think Ohio will beat BG, but I do know this - if Ohio can't run the ball they have no chance, but if they do run the ball better, even if they don't beat BG, they maybe they will win some more games down the stretch.

We ran mostly between the tackles yesterday. We used several quick flare passes to Cope and Smith to get the ball outside with some success. There were a few runs outside the tackles that were not sweeps that has some limited success. Missing Papi's speed I am sure.
I wonder if our offensive coaches know we will have issues against certain opponents defenses?
Can the coaching staff know from watching film that we will be challenged to run the ball?
UB was big at DL and they were quick. I expect the same versus Kent. Our OL hasn't dominated
the LOS since the Miami game. As mentioned elsewhere a veteran OL does not take into account our talent level. This OL group has struggled against better MAC teams for the last 3 years,

Other possible contributing factors: Vick is not a physical runner and poses little threat. Sprague seems to be the better runner. We did not throw many downfield passes yesterday perhaps due to a lingering Vick arm/shoulder injury. The pass to Marhefka may be the exception.

Another theory that could fit the facts: As we make so many average MAC qb's look good and allow them to lead to lots of points, our rigid coaching is such that if you've seen us once then you can certainly stop us the next time you see us as we ain't got nothing new.

This take is certainly plausible. It will, of course, register with the apologists as nothing but heresy.

It would be very interesting to have a contest during chat, and have the people on chat guess what the next play will be. I think few would be nearly as accurate as they think they would be.

When it comes to football there aren't all that many things that are new under the sun. As has been pointed out here, the Single Wing, from 100 years ago or so, is still a very effective offense. In the end it's all about execution.


He did just throw it 50 times against Buffalo. Sprague threw it 50 times against CMU last year. Neither worked out vary well. Vick and Sprague can both be effective QBs, but using either to throw it 50 times is not the most effective use of them, in my opinion.

Ohio has 4 games left. I'd like to see them figure out what needs to be changed to make the running game more effective. I don't care whether it's the I-formation, the single wing, or a change in the blocking assignments. I don't care if they run zone reads, trap plays, jet sweeps, power sweeps, or options. I do know that they need to get the opposing defenses out of their comfort zone.

I do agree with your idea of more deep passes. Vick is very effective at those. If they are in man for man, throw at them deep. If they are in Cover-2, throw some 20 yard outs (between the cb and safety zones). Mixed in with those, they will have to find a way to run it, though.

I've commented before I just do not understand this staff being so enamored with the diminutive Daz. Can see it as a change of pace back, not as the primary back. AJ moves the pile, takes punishment and seemed to get stronger as the game moved along last year. Don't understand why he has been relegated to the Witness Protection Program this year.

Another way of looking it at it would be the YPA factor when Vick does in fact throw. The higher the number the better. This list is from ESPN.com and is how QBs in the MAC rank nationally.

7. Matt Johnson, BG - 9.6
36. Cooper Rush, CMU - 8.1
37. Zach Terrell, WMU - 8.0
54. Derrius Vick, Ohio - 7.5
59. Drew Hare, NIU - 7.4
67. Drew Kummer, Miami - 7.3
75. Thomas Woodson, Akron - 7.2
80. Phillip Ely, Toledo - 7.0
95. Blake Frohnapfel, UMass - 6.6
96. Brogan Roback, EMU - 6.6
98. Joe Licata, Buffalo, 6.5
111. Riley Neal, Ball State - 5.9
119. Colin Reardon, Kent State - 5.2

So really Johnson is the lone outlier in this bunch. However, if you look at even further, you have to break it down by number of attempts.

3. Matt Johnson, BG - 345
7. Blake Frohnapfel, UMass - 309
8. Cooper Rush, CMU - 298
18. Riley Neal, Ball State - 260
25. Phillip Ely, Toledo - 246
28. Drew Hare, NIU - 244
29. Joe Licata, Buffalo - 243
34. Brogan Roback, EMU - 231
42. Zach Terrell, WMU - 223
45. Derrius Vick, Ohio - 219
96. Colin Reardon, Kent State - 144
100. Thomas Woodson - Akron - 138
111. Billy Ball, Miami - 123
114. Drew Kummer, Miami - 117

So what does this mean? Vick's numbers might be inflated a little since he hasn't thrown as much as guys like Frohnapfel, Neal and Ely. But it also could say some other things like:

-Vick's passes, while not very many do go for a pretty good chunk of yardage. That 7.5 while not great isn't terrible either. If the running game were getting 4, 5 or 6 yards a pop then Ohio gets more first downs, keeping control of the clock, scoring, etc.

-If Ohio isn't throwing as deep as we think, then its possible the receivers are getting elusive once the ball is in their hands. I'd be interested to see what the receivers' YAC numbers are.

A 7.5 YPA number tells me that Ohio is running shorter routes. My guess is the guys with the higher numbers are running deep crossing routes, post patterns and flys. If the Ohio offense loosens up a bit and chucks it downfield every once in a while, maybe a receiver makes a play and breaks a tackle. Who knows. Time to mix it up.

One problem is that we show no motion in any of our formations. We move a back from one side of the QB to another, or we move the back into the slot. But after that we're standing there for five or ten seconds, which gives the opposing D enough time to see the formation and figure out what we're likely to do. Three or four years ago we had a lot of movement. Not now.

We also don't do anything different. The last time we tried something different was the T'erd game (I think) where Windham walked up to the line and the RB took a direct snap. As I recall we got a TD on that play. I hope the coaching staff uses this time before BG to put some new things in the mix.

It would seem to make sense to feature AJ more and wear the defense down some using Daz (get him in space) for a change of pace and also mixing in Brown and Irons.

History has shown time and again when we have an injured QB that is not as much of a threat to run we don't do well. I thought Vick played well against Norfolk State three years ago and he threw a really nice corner route for a TD. I thought he should have started against UMASS and given TT more time to heal.

I am all for trying to put the best player on the field and at the same time try and make sure they are not put in a bad position because of an injury.
I am all for Windham playing more and if not, throw Duckworth in there and see what he can do. He has already taken his redshirt season.

Between the poor play and poor video, I was flipping channels and really did not watch every play closely. Apathy is starting to set in for me and I am sure many others. I respect the coaches and respect the players, but for God's sake mix it up. I have multiple concussions from banging my head into the wall and my computer desk factoring Albin and Mike London at UVA.

Apathy Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BssiMTIDRfg

Having read all the answers, this is the one I agree with the most. When the QB can't or won't run, the rushing drops off. Maybe the coaches need to rethink the ways they rush with a QB that isn't able to move well, or maybe Vick's ankle will improve a lot over the next ten days and it will become moot. One idea that comes to mind is adding perhaps some draw plays or shovel passes. When the defense knows the QB can't move, they rush him hard, and that "might" open up shovel passes as the bypass the running back. Perhaps they could do some normal pitch "power sweeps", aka "student body left". Those don't require a mobile QB.

The next thing is the offensive line. Even though the offensive line is 1/4 of the total team, and half the players on offense, and even though they are always very large, for some reason people always overlook them, and want to focus on the QB and RB. Nevertheless, when the rushing attack isn't working, the offensive line is the first place I would tend to to look. Are the running backs missing holes, or are there simply no holes at all? I'd say the latter.

Yes, the offensive line is experienced, but they also were probably over-rated. As for why they aren't performing better, for that I have no answers.

I do believe, and believe strongly, that if they can solve this issue, and they can get the ground game moving again, the offense will function fine again.

Vick's inability to run the ball probably is the biggest key. It's one less thing for the defense to have to plan against. I think offensive line play (with injury a factor) also has contributed, along with White's injury the last two games. White is averaging 6.1 yards per carry and the others all averaging between 4.1-4.5 yards per carry, which isn't bad. But I'd guess Vick's rushing yards are negative since his injury. We can hope the extra rest will result in a healthier team against Bowling Green.

Funny, ask Tom Brady and the Pats what they think of the running game. I've long thought that a Pro Style QB (with a modest running game) was the way to go. I am just not a fan of our pistol. I think you can spread it out just as effectively with a pro style. Of course, the problem is we haven't recruited a thrower who has made it to the field in like forever. Give me a JC QB who can throw the ball, please.

To one specific point, OUr option "option" is a non-issue. Vick is no threat to run right now and for similar reasons it takes way too long to develop. The pitch man is usually 8 - 10 yards behind LOS if he gets the ball (why?) and the sideline becomes the contain man. I'm not sure why we even show it. Besides a lack of success, it's just another chance for a D to take a shot at our QB.

It's a completely different formula for college and pros. I calculated his NFL passer rating to be 91.1, which is still very good.