CSNbbs

The Ohio football had its first full scrimmage of the spring practice season on Friday at Peden Stadium. The Bobcat defense did not allow a touchdown during the session, which lasted approximately 70 plays.

Ohio's defense picked up four sacks, including two by Jordan Meyers (Harrison, Ohio), one by Taj Henley (Richmond, Va.) and one by Todd Koenig (Nanty-Glo, Pa.). Junior linebacker Errik Ejike (Tyler, Texas) accounted for the only turnover of the day with an interception. The ball popped loose on what appeared to be a 43-yard completion from sophomore quarterback Josh Febus (Dublin, Ohio) senior wideout Chido Nwokocha (Elk Grove, Calif.), and Ejike came over to take the ball out of the air for the pick. The Bobcat defense allowed just six first downs in the scrimmage.

Sophomore linebacker Lee Renfro (Burnside, Ky.) made one of the top defensive plays of the afternoon when he came from behind to break up what would have been a 25-yard completion from Scott to tight end Andrew Mooney (Lubbock, Texas).

"I thought the speed of our linebackers showed," Solich said. "As a whole, the defense has more team speed than what we had last year. If we get to the right spots, we have a chance to better than we were last year on defense."

http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-foo...07aab.html

History has shown that when Solich says his team has improved his game he means it.........

Turn back to 2006:

"We're excited about the season. We think that we're going to have a better football team. It's obvious to me that that will be the case. We'll just have more speed, have more strength and we'll be more athletic. How that plays out in wins and losses remains to be seen.


http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-foo...06aaa.html

Airport KC Wrote:The Ohio football had its first full scrimmage of the spring practice season on Friday at Peden Stadium. The Bobcat defense did not allow a touchdown during the session, which lasted approximately 70 plays.

Ohio's defense picked up four sacks, including two by Jordan Meyers (Harrison, Ohio), one by Taj Henley (Richmond, Va.) and one by Todd Koenig (Nanty-Glo, Pa.). Junior linebacker Errik Ejike (Tyler, Texas) accounted for the only turnover of the day with an interception. The ball popped loose on what appeared to be a 43-yard completion from sophomore quarterback Josh Febus (Dublin, Ohio) senior wideout Chido Nwokocha (Elk Grove, Calif.), and Ejike came over to take the ball out of the air for the pick. The Bobcat defense allowed just six first downs in the scrimmage.

Sophomore linebacker Lee Renfro (Burnside, Ky.) made one of the top defensive plays of the afternoon when he came from behind to break up what would have been a 25-yard completion from Scott to tight end Andrew Mooney (Lubbock, Texas).

"I thought the speed of our linebackers showed," Solich said. "As a whole, the defense has more team speed than what we had last year. If we get to the right spots, we have a chance to better than we were last year on defense."

http://ohiobobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-foo...07aab.html

So what you are saying is you offense will be offensive again this year.

Development of the QB position for Ohio is going to be key.

Based on snaps at the scrimage the QB depth chart looks like

1. Brad Bower-DNP
2. Josh Febus-(6 for 11, 82 yards)
3. Theo Scott-(3 for 6, 45 yards, 12 yard run)

4. Miles Schlichter (1 for 3, 1 yard)
5. Brandon Jones (2 for 2, 14 yards)

The quarterback competition this year is exciting. I cannot remember a time when Ohio had 5 QBs competing for the job.......under Knorr we only had 3 QB's under scholarship. This year we have at least 6 counting a freshman QB.

All of these QBs are freshman and sophmore (some redshirted) aside from Brad Bower.

I wouldn't be worried about that defense, instead Ohio fans, coaches, and players need to be worried about the passing game. Otherwise, teams are going to do to Ohio what they did to NIU, which is stacking the line to stop the run and force your passing game.

Ohio will run the football with MCcrae. The question is can they keep the defense honest by hitting the tightends like last year and finding Garrett at wr. The play of the tight ends last year helped comvert those third downs.

Turnovers is the key. The QB who manages the game will get the job. Nice to know that Solich likes his new starting linebackers. That is the biggest area that will have to be replaced this offseason.