After a string of high-scoring games in the second half of last season, many fans who watched Saturday’s Green and White game at Peden Stadium were looking for some signs of promise that they would see a more competitive defense out on the field next fall.
Those fans were able to walk away satisfied after the Bobcats defense allowed just one field goal and notched four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
“We came in as a unit, knowing what the guy next to us was capable of and knowing what we need to improve,” sophomore defensive lineman Tarell Basham said. “We have a lot of things we look forward to improving next year, like mentality, stamina and other little tweaks to make sure we’re giving it all we got every time we step on the field.”
The defense made its statement on the third play from scrimmage when a pass by redshirt junior Derrius Vick was tipped at the line and picked off by redshirt freshman Chad Moore, who returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.
That was the start of a day during which the two quarterbacks vying for the starting job each struggled to make plays in live action. Vick finished the game 17 of 27 with 144 yards and two interceptions. He also ran for a game-high 32 yards. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore J.D. Sprague went just 4 of 11 for 33 yards and two interceptions. He rushed for 20 yards.
Although some may have hoped that the playing of the spring game would bring about a concrete answer from the coaching staff as to who the starting quarterback would be, quarterbacks coach Scott Isphording said that he was not ready to make the decision.
“(Vick and Sprague) are going to go into summer and fall camp tied at number one on the depth chart,” Isphording said. “We had a great spring, and we put a lot on those guys’ plates. Obviously, we didn’t finish on a note we wanted from a ball security standpoint, which was very disappointing. But, it happens, and we learn from it.”
In addition to Moore, redshirt junior Ian Wells and redshirt freshmen Bradd Ellis and Grant Cunningham each registered an interception in the game.
While the passing game was stifled, the defense also made a huge stride in stopping the run, shutting down many designed rushing plays at or around the line of scrimmage, another example of the unit showing clear improvement coming out of spring practice.
“In any case, I like where we’re at defensively,” coach Frank Solich said. “I think we can be a very strong, talented defensive unit. You saw the corners make some big plays today, and it should be the strong point of our football team next year. I’m not discouraged with where we’re at offensively. I think if you go around the country, you’re not going to find too many head coaches being very happy coming out of spring ball; that’s just the way spring ball is.”
@_tonywolfe_
aw987712@ohiou.edu
This article appeared in print under the headline "Defense comes out strong in Green & White."
