I'd agree that it is a sound analysis. Here's a few things I found in there:
At the same time, however, we don't yet know whether Vick is actually a good quarterback. Take that 80-yard bomb away, and Vick's other 49 pass attempts in 2013 (44 passes, five sacks) netted a dreadful 160 yards.
I think he will be a fine QB, but it is certainly true that he doesn't have much of a track record outside his one game against Norfolk State. What SB Nation doesn't know is that while most backup QB's take most of their snaps in garbage time, Vick actually played very little in garbage time, and most of his snaps came when he was inserted into difficult situations against some of the best teams Ohio played, to give him experience under fire, and to give a spark to the offense.
Meanwhile, it's not guaranteed that the next crop of Ohio wideouts will be able to match what Donte Foster, Matt Waters, etc., did last fall. Ohio's top three receivers averaged a strong 10.1 yards per target in 2013, and Cochran is the only of the top six targets to return.
Nope, no guarantees, but...Ohio has a great WR coach, and has a lot of talent. It seems likely to me that from that mix some players will emerge, and Ohio will be fine. SB stats reveal that the team leader in completions as a percentage of targets was Mangen at 80%, who returns, and that Cochran was third at 70% and Daz fourth at 68%. I was surprised to see Sebastian and Landon Smith both at about 52%, and hopefully they will improve that this year.
...sketchy blocking from a line that was getting shuffled every game. And I do mean every game: Ohio started a different combination of offensive linemen for each of the first eight games of the season.....
Ten Bobcat linemen finished 2013 with starting experience; three were freshmen and three were sophomores. That is a recipe for disaster, and sure enough, the run blocking was far from strong. But it does mean that six seasoned players return for 2014, and none of them are seniors. The line should improve, and then it should improve again in 2015.
These were from separate places, but since they both related to the offensive line, and they together nicely covered the issues at the position, I put them together. I expect the line to be better in 2014, and better still in 2015.
When you look at Ohio's line stats, you rather quickly form a mental image of a team that got pushed around (124th in Adj. Line Yards) but was able to get to the passer in passing situations (39th in Adj. Sack Rate). ....
Ohio's problems appeared to be as much because of overpursuit and inexperience as anything else. If this is the case, the woes could be cured to some degree this fall.
SB didn't have as much to say about the defense as the offense, but this is right, I think. I also think there were schematic issues, which I presume will be addressed in the off-season. Traditionally the defense has been read-and-react, but this year the line was asked to be more aggressive, and penetrate, and get sacks. They did those things, and got far more sacks, but they also in the process opened running lanes, and Ohio gave up more running yards, and more big plays. I like the aggressive defense, so I hope the answer isn't to go back to all read-and-react.
Devin Bass defensed 17 passes while making only 33.5 tackles; as I always say in examples like this, that means he's either one hell of a cornerback or one hell of a poor tackler.
The only comment I will add to this is that Bass is an outstanding tackler.
...there's no guarantee that Ohio will replace eight offensive starters without a year of a dropoff. ...
Ohio could be outstanding in 2015, but 2014 is uncertain. I'm setting the bar at a schedule-aided six wins.
Exactly what I have said - 2014 will be an adventure. I hope for 7-8 wins, and another bowl, but there is no guarantee of that. I also think 2015 and 2016 will be very good years.
Last Edited: 3/11/2014 1:11:03 PM by L.C.