Ohio just can't punch the ball in the end zone when in the red zone.
In Ohio's 20-17 win over Ball State, the Bobcats scored only one touchdown despite having three drives in the red zone and five drives inside the Cardinals' 25-yard line.
This has been a trend for the Bobcats this season.
The Bobcats have scored on 20 of the 29 drives in the red zone, tied for 111th in the nation. An even more distressing fact is that Ohio only has 10 touchdowns out of those 29 chances.
Ohio is just as likely to score a touchdown as it is to kick a field goal, as the Bobcats have scored 10 touchdowns and 10 field goals.
Of the touchdowns, most have come through the air. The Bobcats threw seven touchdown passes in their first nine games. In comparison, they have only rushed for three.
The issues with the running game at the goal line come from the lack of a fullback or a second back, Frank Solich said. This means either the quarterback or a bigger running back must be able to plough through the line, he said.
But that's not what you get with Theo Scott or the Ohio running backs.
Theo's pluses are his speed and outside running ability and getting out on bootlegs
not necessarily an inside kind of guy Solich said. We don't have the bigger back.
The coaching staff experimented with transitioning a lineman into the fullback position in short yardage situations, but a few weeks ago, the player they were looking at injured his ankle, Solich said. He didn't name the player, but right guard Eric Herman did injure his right ankle.
So for now, Ohio is back at the drawing board.
We're putting together the package now and there's a lot of discussion going on
Solich said.
Time off
The Bobcats finally get a break.
After playing nine straight weeks, the Bobcats do not play this Saturday. With injuries mounting, the few extra days will help players recover before next Tuesday's game at Buffalo, Solich said.
This happens to be our 'break
' Solich said. It comes a little later than what you'd normally like it
although it's probably pretty good timing for us right now.
One Bobcat who needs the extra time is wide receiver Taylor Price.
Price sat out the game-winning drive at Ball State with an injury. He caught four passes for 36 yards in the game.
Solich did not specify the injury, but he said Price experienced swelling and would be X-rayed later yesterday.
The Ohio coaching staff planned out the extra couple days for preparation and recovery. The players did not practice yesterday and have a light practice today before starting a regular week tomorrow.
We've got the practices organized so that it will play out well for us in terms of preparation
Solich said.
The Bobcats also get the chance to watch next week's opponent Tuesday night, when Buffalo plays Bowling Green on ESPN2.
Weller wins award ... again
Kicker Matt Weller received the Mid-American Conference East Division Special Teams Player of the Week award for his performance in Saturday's win.
Weller made four of five field goals, including a career-long 52-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
This is the second time Weller has won the award this season, the first coming after his week one performance against Connecticut. He kicked his previous career-long of 50 yards in the loss.
It's good to have a kicker in the program that we know is going to be here for a considerable number of years and know that he's got the kind of leg it takes and he's got the kind of demeanor it takes
Solich said. That's kind of reassuring.
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