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2009 Ohio Bobcats Football Preview

Ohio's Offense:

Head coach Frank Solich can rely on two experienced quarterbacks to lead his offense in Boo Jackson who completed 60 percent of his passes (185 for 306) for 2355 yards and 19 touchdowns and Theo Scott who was the original starter in 2008 before breaking his collar bone against Ohio State in week #2. The running game is led by Donte Harden and Chris Garrett. Garrett set a school record last year with 321 all purpose yards last year in their win over Miami and Harden showed promise as a freshman before his season was cut short by injury. The receiving unit should be solid behind senior Taylor Price who had 51 catches for 694 yards and five scores. The line is led by Michael Philbin as five returning players have some starting experience.

Ohio Defense:

Ohio should have one of the better D-lines as three starters return to a unit that ranked 4th in the MAC against the run. Kris Luchsinger and Ernie Hodge are proven players along the trenches. The linebackers are led by second team all-MAC Noah Keller who had 104 total tackles in ’08. The secondary appears to be solid behind SS Steven Jackson who had 71 tackles and two interceptions a season ago, but the loss of Michael Mitchell (2nd Round pick to the Raiders) hurts the Bobcats. Overall seven starters return on this side of the ball.

Intangibles for the 2009 Bobcats:

Punter Matt Schulte returns after averaging a meager 37.6 yards per kick in 2008. Place kicking duties are being passed to redshirt freshman Matt Weller. The ‘Cats won their final two games of the season and look to build on that momentum in 2009 opening at home versus Connecticut. OU must do a better job holding on to the ball this fall. Ohio committed 31 turnovers last year which was four more than any other school in the conference and ranked 110th nationally.

The Outlook for the 2009 Ohio Bobcats:

The Bobcats haven’t won an outright MAC title since 1968, but this year’s team has a real shot at getting to the MAC Championship Game to possibly end that 41-year drought. Defensively OU should be very good and offensively they have enough fire power to make it interesting. Ohio gets a break by not drawing either Central or Western Michigan in their cross-over games, pulling Ball State and NIU instead. After a very slow start in 2008 and losing gut-wrenching games to Wyoming (20-21), Central Michigan (28-31) and Northwestern (8-16) to begin the season, OU benefits by playing UConn, North Texas and Cal Poly in early September. It’s not a stretch for this team to win nine games this fall.

The Big Game for the Ohio Bobcats in 2009:

October 3 at BGSU; the Bobcats begin MAC play visiting the Falcons. A win over BG and the following week at Akron could result into something special this fall. Since 1982, OU is just 5-20-1 against Bowling Green and lost at home to the Falcons 28-3 in 2008.

Team Article by Evan Meyer of Sports Vault - Especially for VanDelaySports.com
Predictions, Stats, Key Game & Outlook by Nick Gerogosian of VanDelaySports.com

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