If one had to pick two letters – one for each team – to describe a key problem area for the Kent State Golden Flashes and Miami RedHawks, what would they be?
How about the letter “O” for Kent State and letter “T” for Miami?
The “O” would . . .
How about the letter “O” for Kent State and letter “T” for Miami?
The “O” would . . .
. . . allude to KSU’s offense, which is last among MAC teams in scoring (10.0 ppg) – nine points behind No. 11 Eastern Michigan. Nationally, the Flashes are 125th of 130 FBS teams in total offense and passing offense (98.8 ypg). It is better on the rushing front, where Kent State is 58th, averaging 153.3 ypg.
Of course, some of the latter credit came before KSU lost its first string quarterback, a key part of the run game. Last week against a very strong Northern Illinois defense, the Flashes 102 yards rushing, 29 passing and 131 total yards. Four turnovers didn’t help in the 24-2 loss, but NIU nearly matched it with three turnovers on a rainy, windy day in DeKalb.
Speaking of the “T” word, that has proved to be pivotal for Miami, who could/would/should be 5-1, with a perfect 2-0 MAC mark, were it not for turnovers.
The quantity of turnovers would but bad enough, but the timing has often been nothing short of devastating. Last Saturday’s loss to Bowling Green just the latest example. The RedHawks trailed 30-29 in the final two minutes. Backup Billy Bahl, who entered for injured Gus Ragland earlier in the half, drove MU down to the BG one-yard line, where it was first-and-goal.
Miami went to a super-short yardage formation for a power run. One of the blockers, however, was slightly out of alignment. When he raised his arms on the snap, the ball grazed an arm and fell to the ground, A Falcon scooped it up and ran 93 yards for a touchdown that gave the visitors their final 37-29 margin.
Of course, some of the latter credit came before KSU lost its first string quarterback, a key part of the run game. Last week against a very strong Northern Illinois defense, the Flashes 102 yards rushing, 29 passing and 131 total yards. Four turnovers didn’t help in the 24-2 loss, but NIU nearly matched it with three turnovers on a rainy, windy day in DeKalb.
Speaking of the “T” word, that has proved to be pivotal for Miami, who could/would/should be 5-1, with a perfect 2-0 MAC mark, were it not for turnovers.
The quantity of turnovers would but bad enough, but the timing has often been nothing short of devastating. Last Saturday’s loss to Bowling Green just the latest example. The RedHawks trailed 30-29 in the final two minutes. Backup Billy Bahl, who entered for injured Gus Ragland earlier in the half, drove MU down to the BG one-yard line, where it was first-and-goal.
Miami went to a super-short yardage formation for a power run. One of the blockers, however, was slightly out of alignment. When he raised his arms on the snap, the ball grazed an arm and fell to the ground, A Falcon scooped it up and ran 93 yards for a touchdown that gave the visitors their final 37-29 margin.
Three weeks earlier, Miami appeared to have a victory over area rival Cincinnati in hand when a late turnover and series of errors allowed the Bearcats to pull out a victory.
“I’ve seen things the last three weeks that I have never seen in 25 years of coaching,” Martin said in Saturday’s postgame presser.
Neither KSU nor MU will use their opening weekend quarterback this week. Flashes senior Nick Holley was injured at Marshall and done. Miami was awaiting more medical results on Ragland, but Martin named Bahl to start Saturday. He was nicked up on the late fumble play, but should be fine for this weekend Martin said Monday.
Bahl was a starter early in 2016, but Ragland came back from a spring ACL injury early, and suddenly the RedHawks went on a six-game win streak to close the regular season.
Martin noted it would have been a really good feel-good story for Bahl to lead Miami to a win coming off the bench against BG. “He was ready for that moment,” martin said. All the pieces were in place, but the fateful snap never even reached Bahl.
If Bahl and the RedHawks are going to get back on the winning track this week, they will have to go through a respected Kent State defense.
“”They’re as good or better than any defense in the league. ... It will be difficult to produce points (against them),” Martin said of the Flashes. “We haven’t moved the ball on them in (my) three years (here) with any consistency, and nobody else has.”
“I’ve seen things the last three weeks that I have never seen in 25 years of coaching,” Martin said in Saturday’s postgame presser.
Neither KSU nor MU will use their opening weekend quarterback this week. Flashes senior Nick Holley was injured at Marshall and done. Miami was awaiting more medical results on Ragland, but Martin named Bahl to start Saturday. He was nicked up on the late fumble play, but should be fine for this weekend Martin said Monday.
Bahl was a starter early in 2016, but Ragland came back from a spring ACL injury early, and suddenly the RedHawks went on a six-game win streak to close the regular season.
Martin noted it would have been a really good feel-good story for Bahl to lead Miami to a win coming off the bench against BG. “He was ready for that moment,” martin said. All the pieces were in place, but the fateful snap never even reached Bahl.
If Bahl and the RedHawks are going to get back on the winning track this week, they will have to go through a respected Kent State defense.
“”They’re as good or better than any defense in the league. ... It will be difficult to produce points (against them),” Martin said of the Flashes. “We haven’t moved the ball on them in (my) three years (here) with any consistency, and nobody else has.”
“You take away the Clemson and Louisville games (this year), and nobody has moved the ball. No one runs on them. No one throws on them.”
Miami, meanwhile, finished last season and started 2017 with one of the MAC’s top defenses. Injuries may have contributed, but the RedHawks “D” hasn’t been all that impressive for the last two weeks
Martin felt there were physical mismatches – particularly with injuries – at Notre Dame. That, however, was followed by offensive shootout against BG.
“We were rolling on offense. They were rolling on offense,” Martin said. “Both defenses, you could see, were back on their heels.”
Here’s more on the two teams:
Miami, meanwhile, finished last season and started 2017 with one of the MAC’s top defenses. Injuries may have contributed, but the RedHawks “D” hasn’t been all that impressive for the last two weeks
Martin felt there were physical mismatches – particularly with injuries – at Notre Dame. That, however, was followed by offensive shootout against BG.
“We were rolling on offense. They were rolling on offense,” Martin said. “Both defenses, you could see, were back on their heels.”
Here’s more on the two teams:
Billy Bahl throws a TD pass against Iowa. (MVSmith/MRO files) MIAMI REDHAWKS (2-4, 1-1 MAC)
> MU figured to contend with Ohio for the MAC East crown again this year. The RedHawks caught a break when Ohio also lost against Central Michigan last Saturday. Both teams are now 1-1 in MAC play and trail Akron (2-0 MAC).
> The RedHawks last win was three weeks ago at Central Michigan.
> In losing the services of Ragland – at least short term – MU loses the No. 3 (MAC) player in total offense.
> Junior James Gardner seems to be returning to form after an earlier injury. He had two TD catches against Notre Dame and one last week versus Bowling Green.
On the year, he has a team-high 26 receptions for 535 yards and five scores.
Tight end Ryan Smith (17 catches, 232 yards, 2 TDs) and wideout Jared Murphy (17 ctches, 228 yards, 2 TDs) are next in line.
> Miami has 12 passing TDs and six rushing scores.
> Junior QB Billy Bahl completed 8 of 17 for 119 yards last week. He complete 55.2 percent of his passes in 2016, tossing eight TDs and four interceptions. He was sacked 19 times in the five games he played – all early in the season.
> Kicker Sam Sloman has been good on 16 of 17 PATs and 9 of 10 field goal attempts with a long of 46.
> MU figured to contend with Ohio for the MAC East crown again this year. The RedHawks caught a break when Ohio also lost against Central Michigan last Saturday. Both teams are now 1-1 in MAC play and trail Akron (2-0 MAC).
> The RedHawks last win was three weeks ago at Central Michigan.
> In losing the services of Ragland – at least short term – MU loses the No. 3 (MAC) player in total offense.
> Junior James Gardner seems to be returning to form after an earlier injury. He had two TD catches against Notre Dame and one last week versus Bowling Green.
On the year, he has a team-high 26 receptions for 535 yards and five scores.
Tight end Ryan Smith (17 catches, 232 yards, 2 TDs) and wideout Jared Murphy (17 ctches, 228 yards, 2 TDs) are next in line.
> Miami has 12 passing TDs and six rushing scores.
> Junior QB Billy Bahl completed 8 of 17 for 119 yards last week. He complete 55.2 percent of his passes in 2016, tossing eight TDs and four interceptions. He was sacked 19 times in the five games he played – all early in the season.
> Kicker Sam Sloman has been good on 16 of 17 PATs and 9 of 10 field goal attempts with a long of 46.
KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES (1-5, 0-2 MAC)
> Senior QB Nick Holley hasn’t played in three-plus games, but he is still the top rusher for KSU with 207 yards on 35 attempts before he went down for the season. He also owns one of KSU’s three rushing TDs on the season. Kesean Gamble has the other two.
> Freshman quarterback Dustin Crum carried 15 times for 77 yards, including a long of 34, last week against NIU.
> Four receivers combined for six catches and 29 yards Saturday. The longest pass was for eight yards.
> Junior LB Jim Jones had a big day against NIU, recording 14 tackles, including eight solos and half a sack.
> Senior CB Jerrell Foster and junior safety Juantez McRae each picked off a Huskie pass.
> Kicker Shane Hynes has not missed an extra point and is 5 of 76 on field goals, with a long of 48.
> Junior QB George Bollas’s best outing of 2017 was against Buffalo Sept. 30. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 242 yards, including a long of 54.
> Senior QB Nick Holley hasn’t played in three-plus games, but he is still the top rusher for KSU with 207 yards on 35 attempts before he went down for the season. He also owns one of KSU’s three rushing TDs on the season. Kesean Gamble has the other two.
> Freshman quarterback Dustin Crum carried 15 times for 77 yards, including a long of 34, last week against NIU.
> Four receivers combined for six catches and 29 yards Saturday. The longest pass was for eight yards.
> Junior LB Jim Jones had a big day against NIU, recording 14 tackles, including eight solos and half a sack.
> Senior CB Jerrell Foster and junior safety Juantez McRae each picked off a Huskie pass.
> Kicker Shane Hynes has not missed an extra point and is 5 of 76 on field goals, with a long of 48.
> Junior QB George Bollas’s best outing of 2017 was against Buffalo Sept. 30. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 242 yards, including a long of 54.
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