Regardless of whether Brad Bower or Theo Scott starts under center for the Bobcats tomorrow afternoon, there's one thing the Bobcats are sure of: the tremendous pressure that either signal-caller will face from Eastern Michigan's front four.
They're extremely strong
offensive coordinator Tim Albin said. Their four down guys will be the best four we've faced probably at this point of the year. We've just got to be smart with our protection schemes the best we can.
Eastern Michigan (2-4, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) leads the MAC in tackles for a loss with 44 (139 yards), with 12.5 coming from defensive tackle Jason Jones. Ranked third in the nation with a 2.08 tackles for loss per game average, Jones sits atop MAC defensive stats and has 2.5 sacks, five quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a blocked punt so far this season as well.
He's a penetrator so we'll have to find some way to handle him said Ohio offensive lineman David White, who is likely to start for the second straight week at center for the injured Tommy Stuck. Listed at 6-foot-1, 289 pounds, White added that he'd have to be very conscientious of his placement against the Eagles' bigger tackles, Jones and Josh Hunt, who are 6-foot-1, 270 pounds and 6-foot-4, 296 pounds respectively.
It's going to be extra important for me to get my hands inside
because they're taller
and they've got longer arms. So that's going to be something I'll have to concentrate on a lot
White said.
Although the Eagles' defense allows 27 points and 393.7 yards per game, coach Frank Solich emphasized that the Bobcats (2-4, 0-2 MAC) must hold the Eagles' pass rush at bay continually if they hope to snap their current four-game losing streak.
We're not protecting the passer very well
Solich said. The number of sacks given up (16 for a loss of 106 yards) is not the whole picture
because there were an awful lot of hurries when our quarterbacks had to throw and some collisions immediately after the throw.
That's one thing we're going to have to really adjust and do much better at this week, Solich added. They're to get some penetration and make things work. That doesn't match up well with how we've been playing and what's showing for us.
At the midpoint of the season
Ohio and Eastern Michigan are two of the worst offensive teams in the MAC. The Bobcats' inconsistent offense sits at 11th in the conference
averaging 315.3 yards per game
while the Eagles are last with a paltry 265.2 yards per game.
The Bobcats backed themselves into a corner far too often on third down as well
