Ohio is ranked first in the East in Blue Ribbons first predicted conference rankings.

LaVon Brazil, Joe Flading, Noah Keller and Matt Weller all appear on the projected All-MAC team with Keller winning the Defensive POY.

Unfortunately, they also have Kenny Ashley winning Newcomer of the Year award... 

Here is the blurb from the ESPN Insider Blue Ribbon Preview:

To put it kindly, Ohio doesn't have a storied football tradition. The Bobcats don't have any bowl victories on their résumé. They haven't won the Mid-American Conference championship in 42 years.

But sixth-year coach Frank Solich and his staff have built the program to the point where it's ready to become a big winner on a steady basis. Actually, the Bobcats believe they've been on this precipice for a few years. They planned on a big season in 2008, but an unofficial count of 18 season-ending injuries and an official count of 33 turnovers relegated Ohio to a 4-8 season.

Last year the Bobcats still suffered a fistful of important injuries, but the defense tied Texas for the national lead in turnovers forced (37) and the special-teams returners combined for five touchdowns as Solich's crew pushed its way to the MAC championship game for the second time in four years.

This time around, Ohio boasts an intriguing mix of senior standouts and superior depth. If the Bobcats transform their mediocre running game into something average and don't suffer an absurd number of injuries or turnovers, then they'll be in the thick of the MAC East race until the end. 

Now the Defense:

DEFENSIVE LINE

If you're looking for a weakness in Ohio's defense, don't waste time checking here. The Bobcats retain four senior starters and feel pretty darn good about their backups as well. Don't underestimate the importance of the latter half of that sentence.

"We basically stuck with four down linemen toward the end of last year," said defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow. "That wore us down a little bit."

Senior defensive end Dak Notestine (6-3, 250) serves as the best proof of that. The former walk-on delivered four sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in Ohio's first seven games, but he settled for 2.5 sacks and just 0.5 TFL during the Bobcats' last seven games.

"The first half of last year, he played at an All-MAC caliber," Burrow said. "It was just the number of reps he had to play. He can really run, and he's turning into the total package at defensive end. He does a good job on a tight end and also over a tackle."

Senior Stafford Gatling (6-4, 239), who posted two sacks and 5.5 TFL last season, handles the opposite end of the line. Like Notestine, he began his career as a linebacker and moved down to take advantage of his quickness.

"He's even faster than Dak," Burrow said. "He's got great length in his arms and he's strong."

Junior Curtis Meyers (6-2, 257) serves as the top backup, but he should be viewed as something more. He was ticketed to start last fall before suffering a season-ending knee injury during two-a-days. Meyers posted two sacks in 2008 and scored a touchdown against Ohio State when he fell on a bad shotgun snap in the end zone. "He has a great motor," Burrow said. "There's a meanness to him that we like."

Redshirt sophomore Tremayne Scott (6-4, 249) produced two sacks last year, including one in the MAC championship game against Central Michigan. He'll be in the rotation as well, while sophomore Melvin Payne (6-2, 232) is a converted middle linebacker who Ohio plans to put on the field in pass-rush situations.

Ohio welcomes back third-team All-MAC tackle Ernie Hodge (6-2, 292) and Marcellis Williamson (6-1, 340) as the anchors to its defense. Both are seniors. Hodge delivered 48 tackles and 5.5 TFL last year while Williamson notched 46 tackles, 6.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks. They're athletic specimens who, despite their heft, fulfill the Bobcats' speed-first philosophy.

"I had thoughts of Ernie as a linebacker about 60 pounds ago," Burrow said. "He's been our most consistent lineman for three years. Marcellis' motor is good enough that you'll see him making plays from sideline-to-sideline, which is particularly impressive for a 330-pounder."

Junior Jeff King (6-1, 269) and sophomore Neal Huynh (6-3, 279) aren't too far behind Hodge and Williamson and will receive ample snaps in line coach Pete Germano's rotation.
LINEBACKERS

One of the best things about Solich's previous life at Nebraska (a life shared by many of his assistants) is the fact Ohio has the contacts to sneak into the state and grab some terrific players.

That's how it worked with senior middle linebacker Noah Keller (6-1, 227), who led Nebraska's Kearney High School to a state title before making an immediate and lasting impact with the Bobcats. Keller enters his final year with a pair of second-team All-MAC seasons on his resume, including a 2009 campaign where he finished sixth in the nation in tackles (11.1 per game). He set a MAC championship-game record with 16 stops against Central Michigan and followed that performance with 17 tackles against Marshall in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

"He's a heck of an athlete with speed," Burrow said. "He's very smart. He's the glue that holds the defense together. Noah's a true inside 'backer, but he plays in space, too."

Keller won't have his usual running mates in 2010 as first-team All-MAC weak-side linebacker Lee Renfro and usual strong-side starter Errik Ejike have graduated. Junior Eric Benjamin (5-11, 211), who posted 30 tackles while subbing in every game last year, takes over on the weak side. The former safety has the speed and consistency Burrow treasures.

When the Bobcats start in the 4-3, sophomore Alphonso Lewis (6-1, 206) gets first call at the Sam. Lewis (20 tackles in 2009) is yet another burner who's building up the strength to play linebacker. When the Bobcats start in the nickel, senior corner Shannon Ballard (5-11, 193) makes the start. Ballard returned a fumble 75 yards for a score against Marshall in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Ohio's top subs at linebacker are either guys who began their career at safety or guys who also can move up to play defensive end in a pass-rushing pinch. Senior Chad Clemens (5-11, 214) and sophomore Jelani Woseley (6-2, 208) are the outside backups, while junior Jay Edwards (6-0, 228) and sophomore Brandon Weaver (6-2, 215) are Keller's understudies in the middle. Weaver lettered as a true freshman, but he took a redshirt last fall after suffering an injury in Week 2 against North Texas.
DEFENSIVE BACKS

Let's have Burrow, Ohio's veteran defensive coordinator, be as blunt as possible for a moment: "We did lose two great corners. How good we'll be depends on how our corners come on. We're going to need them all."

On paper, the Bobcats have the potential to be just fine … but many of their corners haven't been able to get on the field because of injury. One exception is senior Julian Posey (5-11, 187), the older brother of Ohio State receiver DeVier Posey. One of the Bobcats' best athletes flashed his big-play ability last year when he returned an interception 41 yards for a score against Northern Illinois and posted a 59-yard interception return against Kent State.

Junior Kenny Jackson (5-9, 168) and sophomore Travis Carrie (6-0, 203) are the leading candidates to start at the other corner, but both missed spring ball because of injuries. Carrie sat out last fall as well while Jackson returned an interception 69 yards for a score against North Texas in his limited time.

Junior college transfer Omar Leftwich (6-1, 190) took advantage of others' injuries to leap onto the two-deep during spring ball. And, of course, Ohio can put senior nickel back Shannon Ballard at corner if necessary. "He's one of our better 'press' guys," Burrow said. And don't count out redshirt freshman Xavier Hughes (6-1, 159), a converted safety who picked off a bunch of passes during the spring.

Fortunately for Ohio, the safety spots appear to be more settled. Sophomore free safety Gerald Moore (6-1, 191) earned third-team All-MAC honors after picking off six passes -- including two in the MAC East showdown with Temple -- and making 68 tackles. "He's got the size and speed to get where he needs to be," Burrow said.

Senior Steven Jackson (6-2, 198) entered last fall with high hopes after reaping third-team All-MAC honors in 2008. He posted 24 tackles and one interception in four games last year before taking a redshirt year because of a groin problem. He was protected from spring ball, which gave senior Donovan Fletcher (6-0, 201) a chance to take the strong safety job from Jackson. Fletcher, who started two games and posted 42 tackles in 2009, is the brother of St. Louis Rams cornerback Bradley Fletcher.

Senior Hilton Dawson III (6-0, 207) and redshirt freshman Jeremy Green (6-0, 180) are in the mix for playing time as well. The coaches had high hopes for Dawson last year before a knee injury truncated his season after one game. 

Final Analysis:

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

Ohio has never won a bowl and hasn't claimed the MAC title since 1968. With several big-play artists in the passing game and return game -- plus five terrific seniors in the defensive front seven -- this could well be the year the Bobcats knock those negative streaks out of sight.

After giving Ohio State a huge fight two years ago, Ohio won't be able to sneak up on the Buckeyes when they visit on Sept. 18. There'll also be no strangers on the field when the Bobcats visit Little Caesars Pizza Bowl opponent Marshall on Sept. 25. Those games will give Ohio fans a true barometer on the team's potential.
 

While the running game may be a challenge there are plenty of available RB’s on the roster.  It would have been nice to have had a McCrae caliber RB to compliment the passing game and promising defense I agree with the above assessment that an average running game will suffice with all the other surrounding talent.  Boo and Bates can both run as well.  When McCrae led us to the title game we had no passing game.  With the coaches proclaiming our best OL since their tenure this should be a fun team to watch.  I am boldly predicting 12-2 and a possible appearance in the Top 25. 

 

Biggest East Obstacle: 

Temple can run – can’t pass.  Great Returning Defense (held us to only 35 last year) 

 

Biggest MAC Obstacle: NIU – Both teams are improved over last year.  Bobcats have more depth at QB and more weapons at WR – possible running game with Boo, Bates, Davidson, Boykin, (roster RB) Harden (last six)

 

Travis Carrie and the Leftwich brothers could be huge additions to last years D.  I like the schedule…we need an opportunity for our first MAC title in 42 years and first Bowl win ever before we go playing a full slate of titans.