Early Scouting Report. Game 1: Ohio Bobcats

[JMlion71]

Well, guess we're killing time until the kickoff on Sept. 1. Thought I would set up a scouting report on our first opponent, the Ohio Bobcats. First, I'm going to list some media resources so that we can spy on them, and maybe even go over there and talk some trash.

AD site for football.

Twitter feed.

Bobcat attack message board. I've already got a thread up over there.

 

[JMlion71]

Here was what they did last year (the other teams record is given in parentheses).
@ New Mexico State (4-9) W 44-24
Gardner-Webb W 30-3
Marshall (7-6) W 44-7
@Rutgers (5-7) L 38-26
Kent State (5-7) W 17-10
@Buffalo (3-9) L 38-37
Ball State (6-6) L 23-20
@ Akron (1-11) W 37-20
Temple (9-4) W 35-31
@ Central Michigan (3-9) W 43-28
@ Bowling Green (5-7) W 29-28
Miami(OH) (4-8) W 21-14
Northern Illinois* (11-3) L 23-20
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL
Utah State* (7-6) W24-23

Won the MAC east, only to fall to Northern Illinois in the championship game.

 

[JMlion71]

A post from the thread I started over there:

STARTERS LOST
OFFENSE
RB Dante Harden, 3rd-team All-MAC
WR Lavon Brazill, 2nd-team All-MAC, leading receiver in school history, NFL draft pick
WR Riley Dunlop, 2nd-leading receiver last year
LT A.J. Strum, 3rd-team All-MAC
RT Joe Flading, 1st-team All-MAC
Also WR/QB Phill Bates wasn't really a starter but he got an NFL contract

DEFENSE
DE Curtis Meyers, often injured in his career
MLB Noah Keller, 2nd-team All-MAC
OLB Eric Benjamin* played on and off and not at full strength last year due to injury
CB Omar Leftwich* didn't graduate but not with team

SPECIAL TEAMS
P Paul Hershey, super athletic punter

STARTERS RETURNING
OFFENSE
QB Tyler Tettleton, 3rd-team All-MAC
WR Donte Foster, 3rd-leading receiver
TE Jordan Thompson, great blocker and good receiver
LG John Lechner, started every game except injured for bowl game
C Skyler Allen, started every game except injured last 2 games
RG Eric Herman, 2nd-team All-MAC

DEFENSE
DE Tremayne Scott, 2nd-team All-MAC
NT Neil Huynh, was having All-MAC season until an injury midway through, came back late
DT Carl Jones, missed a couple of games with injury last year
OLB Alphonso Lewis, 3rd-leading tackler
OLB Jelani Wosely, 5th in tackles
CB Travis Carrie, 2nd-team All-MAC
FS Gerald Moore, 2nd on team in tackles
SS Xavier Huges* hurt early last year
SS Josh Kristoff, started after Hughes' injury
NB Nathan Carpenter* played a lot in nickel packages

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Matt Weller, 2nd-team All-MAC

QB Tyler Tettleton and the offensive line will be the strength of the offense this year. He's a dual-threat QB (3,302 yards passing, 658 rushing last year). Lost two very good tackles, but offensive line was probably the deepest position last year. Florida State transfer takes over at one tackle spot. Running back was somewhat by committee with three guys, with two returning. Wide receiver is probably the biggest question mark on offense, but a couple of recruits could help fill that void.

Not much lost on defense and there was lots of depth gained last year due to all kinds of injuries, especially on the defensive line. Also brought in a few JCs on the DL so although the DL was a bit of a weakness, espeically as far as pressuring the QB, it could be very good this year. The biggest lost defensively is Keller, who was the QB of the defense, but he wasn't 100 percent most of last year either. The secondary was set to return basically everyone but Leftwich had an injury/academic issue and no longer is with the team.

I'll have more to say on this as time goes by, so stay tuned.

 

[linebackeru]

Kind of team that would have worried me with old staff, but the kind of team we should dismantle with an aggressive staff that can adjust on the fly.

 

[JMlion71]

bump

 

[linebackeru]

With all the reports coming from camp on how well the offense is gelling and how well the defense is picking up the new system, I am very encouraged for the season. Seems like BOB may be a magician, a lot of positive talk about McGloin looking very good.

 

[JMlion71]

With all the reports coming from camp on how well the offense is gelling and how well the defense is picking up the new system, I am very encouraged for the season. Seems like BOB may be a magician, a lot of positive talk about McGloin looking very good.

Let's hope the talk matches reality - we find out tomorrow.