Vick cant change the hits Tyler took, fix the injuries on the O-Line, and if anything the play calling gets even more conservative if thats even possible.

They put Vick in last week for a series when the game was still in doubt and nothing happened.  I don't think it helped T2's confidence, and in fact brought out the rift between him and Solich.  Remember, T2 will be back next season, so replacing him while there's still a chance to win doesn't help his confidence, and really doesn't do much for the team.  A lot of what's been wrong with T2 is that Donte is the only receiver getting open so the opposition has been double and triple teaming him.  What I saw today was that finally T2's reaching a comfort level with receivers other than Donte.  He threw to Cochran several times and seemed to rely on Futrell a bit more.  Maybe the practice between now and the bowl game will help. 

FWIW, I think after TT was hurt earlier this season  he should have sat out two games and not the one.  I don't think his arm strength is what it was and that he never really healed.  He hasn't looked as sharp as we expect and maybe we have put too much pressure on him with our expectations of performance.

Bingo!!  I think Ohio's offensive woes stem from what BobcatSports and 74 Cat said.  Couple that with all of the defensive injuries and things just snowballed out of control.  Had Tettleton been as healthy as last year, maybe the playcalling wouldn't have been as conservative this year as it was.

And as another poster mentioned elsewhere, the absolute lack of senior leadership didn't help matters.  Hopefully it will be different next year.

TO YOU, DO INJURIES TO TT OR OTHERS EXPLAIN THE LACK OF QUICK THROWS, SLANTS, THROWS TO THE TIGHT END IN THE PASSING GAME?  THE REFUSAL TO RUN TRUE HURRY UP?  TO FAKE THE PASS AND RUN, OR VICE VERSA?

I'LL GRANT THAT INJURIES PLAYED SOME ROLE.  BUT TO NOT LAY MOST OF THIS AT THE PLAY-CALLING IS TO IGNORE THAT WHICH WE CALL 'REALITY.'

TRY THIS PERSPECTIVE.  IF YOU'D'VE WATCHED OHIO'S GAMES THIS YEAR AND, THEN, HAD TO PREPARE TO DEFEND THE CONCEPT OF THIS OFFENSE, WOULD YOU BE WORRIED OR CONFIDENT?


 

In 2011 TT averaged 4.24 yards per carry on 118 attempts in 9 MAC games including the championship vs NI.  If my memory is correct, TT had numerous running plays that took what the defense gave him.

In 2012 prior to today's Kent game, in conference games,  TT has averaged, 1.93 yards per carry on 75 attempts.

That is an extremely HUGE difference.  One play today I recall him faking a sweep to Beau and keeping it for a run up the gut.  But I don't recall in this game and very few others where he faked up the middle and he tried skeedaddling around the edge.  Perhaps the defensive ends in the conference who look like they all just go for Beau could recover and drop TT for a loss but unless you try it a couple of times a game we'll never know.

If a game plan is based on a dual threat than the second threat needs to be found as it has not been on the field the entire season.  Is this by design?

When things are going great TT is the guy to have running an offense.  When things are going poorly, he does not appear to be Moses leading the team to the promised land. 

To his defense, I'd take him over Kent's undefeated MAC QB Spencer Keith.  But having an attacking and disruptive defense and a power running attack makes Keith the winner with his minimal skills.  Even Keith ran it twice on designed plays.

The Ohio defense played  well today outside of the backfield letting receivers get wide open 3 times.  But even with today's effort, I'd be hard pressed to name even one Bobcat who would crack into the Kent defensive lineup .  They are superior at Linebacker and DB and with 8 sacks, and bunches of hurries vs Keith drying his hair or shaving waiting for a receiver to come free I don't think any on the line could cut it either.  This is a HUGE advantage for Kent having a defense that dominates.  Knocking fumbles and making the opponent QB look impotent is something Ohio fans have simply NEVER seen.  

It also helps Kent that they have superior smarts when it comes to play calling.  That 4th quarter TD pass was a slick play with nobody flanked and it looked like on third and a few that Kent would run and all of a sudden three receivers are deep in the end zone and bang, a wide open receiver for the score.  

If he throws the ball away he gets sacked a maxium of 3 times today.  He doesn't move in the pocket like he did before the Miami game.  He is a totally different QB.  Not too hard to see.

I asked a couple of my friends, who are long time football coaches, why it appeared that TT got worse as the season went on.  They both said that a QB can appear to be a lot worse if the O line is different than they are used to.  If thay have a "count in their head" based on the usual line and that gets shortened then it looks as though it is all the QB's fault.  It is likely a result of not adjusting to the usual conditions.  So yes it is his fault for not adjusting but according to these guys, who played and coached a lot of football that adjustment is a lot easier to say than it is to do.  

It is easy for us to say "just throw it away" but it must not be quite that easy to pull off.  Yes, if he had just thrown it away rather than get sacked it could have made a difference but me thinks we need to be a bit more cognizant of the impact of injuries to the team...

Doesn't make me like it though.

Could we please quit bringing up Vick as a viable option at quarterback this year or next year? Tyler Tettleton has done a lot for Ohio football and has been a warrior all season. Against Kan't I noticed him constantly messing with his hand and his fingers. The offensive line has put him under duress all year. Should he get rid of the ball quicker? Yes. Should he keep his focus? Yes. But he is still one of the best quarterbacks in the MAC and in the country and with health next year, I look for a breakout again. Don't sleep on T2.