Sports
Ohio Faces Tough Offense in First Weeknight Game
By: Mike Rizzo
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Quinton Maxwell looks like he will be the starter tonight in Toledo, but that does not mean that Greg Windham won’t see time as well. Ohio coach Frank Solich thought Maxwell played well last Saturday but statistically, it did not look like it.
“I don’t see that there’ll be a difference in the starting quarterback this week.” Solich said. “Quinton did start last week and he played well, there were things that he could’ve done better. We want to see him continuing to improve and do better. Greg, we want to continue to see him also improve in a matter that’s going to allow him to play at his highest level because when he’s playing at his highest level he’s really good.”
Ohio (5-3) will take on Toledo (6-1) Thursday at The Glass Bowl Stadium in Toledo and will need efficient quarterback play if the Bobcats want a chance to win.
However, the quarterback situation is not the only thing coach Solich has to worry about. Toledo has an offense that is statistically one of the best in the Mid-American Conference and their quarterback Logan Woodside has over 2,200 yards passing and 28 touchdowns already this year.
Ohio’s front seven will make sure to put pressure on Woodside and will try to make him feel uncomfortable in the pocket. Ohio is sound up front but the problem is a team can’t blitz every play, especially with a secondary like Ohio’s that is inexperienced.
Toledo running back Kareem Hunt will also present a problem for Ohio’s front seven. Hunt has ran for five touchdowns this season and has ran for 740 yards. Terry Swanson has added 382 rushing yards of his own.
“We just have to make sure that we are playing really sound defense and fast defense,” Solich said. “They can beat you through the air as well as on the ground. They are averaging two hundred yards on the ground, so it is kind of a pick your poison deal. I think he leads the nation in passing efficiency as well.”
Along with Ohio having a secondary with some question marks, Toledo also has a wide receiver in Cody Thompson who has over 800 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Last week against Central Michigan Thompson had 122 yards and four touchdowns and was averaging 17 yards per catch.
Javon Hagan will most likely be giving help to the Ohio corners and shadowing Thompson who might take advantage of Ohio’s young secondary. Even though Hagan is young, he is a guy that is not afraid of stepping up to a challenge like covering a guy as good as Thompson.
“That is difficult to do that because they don’t line him (Thompson) up at one spot,” Solich said. “and you are going to have to use a variety of coverages to stop their passing game. In saying that, you have to be ready to help your corners, if they are hurting you with the deep ball. If teams aren’t hurting you with the deep ball, but are nickel and diming you to death, then your plans have to change a little bit.”
The last time Ohio won in Toledo was in 1967. The Bobcats will look to end this street with a successful run game and solid quarterback play, something that has not been seen in a couple weeks now. Kickoff is at 7:30.