While defense has been commonly recognized as the Ohio football team's strength, coach Frank Solich is concerned with the lack of turnovers it has created in its first five games.
Despite ranking in the top half of most major Mid-American Conference defensive categories, the Bobcats currently rank second to last in the MAC with a -.80 turnover ratio.
We need to win the turnover battle
Solich said. And that's what we're going to be working on this week in practice.
Against Bowling Green Saturday, Ohio was able to force only one turnover while coughing up the ball two times in return on two interceptions thrown by quarterback Austen Everson.
We didn't go out there and execute said linebacker Matt Muncy, who finished with nine tackles Saturday. They made plays and we didn't.
Even when Ohio's defense causes a turnover, the offense is not doing much with it. Of the eight turnovers caused so far this season, only two have resulted in points on the following offensive possession.
Since 2000, the Bobcats are 19-14 when coming out of a contest with more takeaways than their opponent. When it loses the turnover battle, Ohio is 2-27.Garrett subdued in loss
After coming into Saturday's contest ranked as the nation's best punt returner, wide receiver Chris Garrett fell to sixth in the country following a game in which he rarely had the opportunity to pad his leading numbers.
Garrett was able to return only one of Bowling Green's six punts in the contest, gaining a net 4 yards for the day.
Although he realizes many teams will try to avoid letting Garrett return punts, Solich said that inconsistent punting led to the wide receiver's poor day.
It's obvious that some of those kicks weren't necessarily designed to be bad kicks off the side of the foot going out of bounds Solich said. We got a few of those in a row
then the next one went over Chris's head.
Even though it was frustrating at times, Garrett said he's not too worried about being avoided.
When it was happening
it was frustrating but I just told myself to get over it
he said, because
obviously
they're not going to give me the ball.
Garrett is averaging 19.4 yards per punt return and 22.8 yards per kick return.Quarterback queries
Backup quarterback Brad Bower saw his least amount of action so far this season, taking only one snap in Saturday's loss.
A transfer from Illinois, Bower saw action in at least one series in the first four games of the season. The junior signal-caller has struggled, completing 12-of-26 passes with three interceptions and no touchdowns.
Solich said that he still plans to give Bower snaps because it will benefit both of his quarterbacks.
I would like to believe that we can find ways to get Brad some more playing time
Solich said. I think it'd be good for Brad and obviously good for Austen too because he took a number of hits in that game.
17
