What possibly could the coaches have been thinking? If Vick was healthy he should have started period. I get there are times when a starter get hurt and the back-up comes in and wins the job (i.e. Wally Pip) but this certainly was not the case for the bobcats. Since taking over the starting role Sprague had a 45% completion rating (11th in the MAC) and threw 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Yes we won with him against two terrible football teams in Idaho and Eastern Illinois and barely beat Akron (with their back-up QB) but there is no way in hell this kid won the job over Vick in his absence. We were finished from the start with this kid in the game the offense had no rhythm and our T.O.P. was 4:35 because we couldn't move the ball. As soon as Vick comes in the game its a complete turnaround and the offense got some swagger about themselves and started to put together drives. I cant help but think how this game would've turned out if Vick starts this game. I believe we would've had a chance our offense could have sustained drives and gave our defense who played extremely well the first quarter and a half some time to rest. Albin AGAIN drops the ball with this decision and I pray we just let Vick play and not go back to that horrible rotating QBs stuff we did at the beginning of the year.

ON our first drive of the game and, I think, one in about the mid third qtr, we had third and longs on which WMU did delayed blitzes which destroyed our passing attempts--no conversion.

On WMU's 2nd (I think) td drive, they had a third and about 15 from about our 20. Qb had all day to throw and finally rolled let to complete a 17 yard pass near the sideline. We did not blitz.

The delayed blitz is a good call. We oughta do it occasionally.


What was this? On, I think, the drive in which Seb Smith made that terrific one-handed grab, we had a 3rd and 17. We went for it with a running play (Sprage going left on a sort of read option.) That dreadful call, of course, came no where near getting the needed yardage. Orthodox running play on 3rd down--really?

Deadhorse disagree vehemently. Such as too lightweight running game at the goal line, etc, etc, etc have about nothing to do with player availability.

Games are decided on a handful of plays. Those plays are the result of superior or inferior talent or coaching. Our coaching is so orthodox, conservative that it would be bland unexciting in 1971.

Watch and analyze that way and you'll think differently, I believe.

I think Vick was a lot more touted out of HS than what you're saying. I found this article that says he had three D1 basketball offers in his sophomore year. And his football page on Rivals shows offers from both Colorado St (not sure if as QB) and Ohio.

http://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/recruiting/2011-foo...

http://sports.yahoo.com/huskerlandpreps/football/recruiti...

Vick is a good player. The offense has actually played better over the past few games. Not good enough, but better. Give these guys a chance to play out the rest of the season...I think they'll show us something.

I have to agree on the offenses performance yesterday. The interception set up the first TD at the 3 yard line. The last TD was in the final seconds of the game after the outcome was determined.
Our only TD was on a bomb to Cochran.
Otherwise no sustainable drives. And all of a sudden we have special teams problems with our FG unit.

Just a note, Isphording is the QB coach.

I do agree that the offense looked a lot better after he came in. It was a day-and-night difference.

It's my impression that they audible about 30-40% of the time, but I could be wrong.

Ohio had something like eight starters on offense graduate, including all-time greats at quarterback and running back. Everyone should have known we were in for a tough year offensively.

UpSan's vision is better than 20/20.

Even if they didn't graduate, the Ohio offense isn't putting up those kinds of numbers. I'm talking the program offense as a whole, not just the TT years.

But you see, when they just half-ass fake (not fully) it's really doing a number on the opposing LBs.

Which is why I had us with 4 wins in the season prediction thread. And, why I am wondering why everyone is so up in arms about this year. But, what do I know?....
(Please don't repeat why. I've read the reasons.)

The offense isn't just about the QB. Let's look at the 2011 roster. In 2011 the offense consisted of:
LT - AJ Strum, 5th year Sr, was his 3rd year as a starter
LG - Vince Carlotta, 4th year Jr, returning starter
C - Skyler Allen, 3rd year Jr., returning starter
RG - Eric Herman, 4th year Jr, 3rd year as a starter
RT - Joe Flading, 5th year Sr, 3rd year as a starter
TE - Jordan Thompson, 4th year Jr, 3rd year as a starter
TE2 - Zach Clark, 5th year Sr.
RB - Donte Hardin, 5th year Sr, returning starter
WR-F - Riley Dunlop, 5th year Sr, returning starter
WR-Z - Lavon Brazill, 5th year Sr, 3rd year as starter
WR-X - Donte Foster, Redshirt Freshman

As I said in another thread, it's much easier to make changes when you have veterans. They have the fundamentals down, and so the core execution isn't a problem. In 2011 there were nine returning starters, five of them 3-year starters. Eight of the players were in their 4th or fifth year in the program. If you surrounded Sprague with this bunch, he's look pretty good, too. (It also didn't hurt that there were very few injuries that year.)

Note that this year there were 8 returning defensive starters. As a result, this was a good year to install an all-new defense. Even then, they made the changes in Spring, not in the middle of the season.