How many seniors and juniors on the two-deep?
Who are their statistical leaders?
They have no one in the top 20 in any statistical category.
What is their turnover ratio?
They are -1 this year.
He's OK. It is Thomas Woodson. Experienced starter. Phil Steele/s #4 MAC QB. However, only a 58% completion, 4/4 ratio and 10.3 per completion. He's not great but much like our players, I am sure he is looking forward to conference play. His QBR is 113, while Morgan's is 94, for comparison.
What is their scoring and yards per play?
They are struggling on offense, scoring just over 20 points per game, which is 109th in the nation and that includes an FBS game where they scored 52. They average 4.79 yards per play, which is 113th. BG averages 4.78.
Can they run the ball?
They are OK. Their leading Rb is Warren Ball, an OSU transfer, and he averages 4.5 yards per carry, which is OK but nothing to write home about. MTSU's backs were struggling coming into the BG game as well, so I'm sure Ball has his eyes on that.
Do they pass the ball?
As mentioned, their passing has been OK to less than OK. They have a big play WR (Kwadarrius Smith) who is a transfer from Missouri.
How was their run/pass balance?
They have run the ball on 46% of their plays, which is a little run heavy in today's game.
Do they convert on 3rd Down?
They are good on 3rd down at 48%. Bowling Green's defense is last in the country on 3rd down.
Do they score in the red zone?
4.8 points per trip is about average.
Do they protect the quarterback?
It is average. They have given up sacks on 6.7% of their pass plays.
Defense:
Topline: Scoring and yards per play.
They allow 29 per game, which is not great and includes a game where they allowed 3 points in FCS play. They allow 6.6 yards per play, which is rough at 119th in the nation. BG's defense allows 6.9 yards per play (123rd).
Do they defend the run effectively?
No. They allow 4.9 yards per rush, which is 108th in the nation. BG allows 5.3.
Can they be passed on?
They are better in this area, but not great. They are 106th in pass efficiency defense. They allow 66% completions, 12 yards per catch and a 5/3 ratio. (BG is 121st)
Do they get off the field on 3rd down?
As noted above, their yards per play is much worse than their points per game. When that happens, teams usually make up the difference on 3rd down or in the redzone. They are #31 in the country on 3rd down.
Do they defend in the red zone?
It isn't here, with 5.1 points per trip.
Did they pressure the QB?
No. They get sacks on 4.4% of their pass attempts.
Special Teams:
Punting?
They are poor. #121 in the nation in net punting. The initial punt isn't bad, but they have allowed ten returns for 157 yards.
Punt Return?
They've only returned 2 this year.
Placekicking?
He's only 2 of 3 for the year with a long of 34 and the miss was inside 40. He's good though, 3rd team all-MAC last year.
Kickoff?
They are good. Average start on the 22.
Kickoff Return?
Not good...they start on their 23.
Miscellaneous: Overall atmospherics and intangibles.
Look, if you peruse this preview you are going to get the correct idea that this game is far from a clash of titans. You have two very flawed football teams looking to demonstrate in conference play that things are not as bad as they look. Neither team has an FBS win and one of them has an FCS loss.
Akron is a 2-point favorite on our field. Coach has put a lot on the return to "parity" in the MAC and ticked off the games BG almost won last year. Well, BG did beat Akron in Akron and to go to 0-5 with home losses to SD and Akron is just going to make the situation worse for him among the fan base.
Lots of things need to get fixed. BG needs improved offense and needs to play significantly better on defense. I think Akron is correctly a slight favorite and will be delightfully surprised if BG picks the win up.
They are struggling on offense, scoring just over 20 points per game, which is 109th in the nation and that includes an FBS game where they scored 52. They average 4.79 yards per play, which is 113th. BG averages 4.78.
Can they run the ball?
Do they pass the ball?
As mentioned, their passing has been OK to less than OK. They have a big play WR (Kwadarrius Smith) who is a transfer from Missouri.
How was their run/pass balance?
They have run the ball on 46% of their plays, which is a little run heavy in today's game.
Do they convert on 3rd Down?
They are good on 3rd down at 48%. Bowling Green's defense is last in the country on 3rd down.
Do they score in the red zone?
4.8 points per trip is about average.
It is average. They have given up sacks on 6.7% of their pass plays.
No. They allow 4.9 yards per rush, which is 108th in the nation. BG allows 5.3.
Can they be passed on?
They are better in this area, but not great. They are 106th in pass efficiency defense. They allow 66% completions, 12 yards per catch and a 5/3 ratio. (BG is 121st)
As noted above, their yards per play is much worse than their points per game. When that happens, teams usually make up the difference on 3rd down or in the redzone. They are #31 in the country on 3rd down.
Do they defend in the red zone?
It isn't here, with 5.1 points per trip.
Special Teams:
Punting?
They are poor. #121 in the nation in net punting. The initial punt isn't bad, but they have allowed ten returns for 157 yards.
They've only returned 2 this year.
Placekicking?
He's only 2 of 3 for the year with a long of 34 and the miss was inside 40. He's good though, 3rd team all-MAC last year.
Kickoff?
They are good. Average start on the 22.
Kickoff Return?
Not good...they start on their 23.
Look, if you peruse this preview you are going to get the correct idea that this game is far from a clash of titans. You have two very flawed football teams looking to demonstrate in conference play that things are not as bad as they look. Neither team has an FBS win and one of them has an FCS loss.
Akron is a 2-point favorite on our field. Coach has put a lot on the return to "parity" in the MAC and ticked off the games BG almost won last year. Well, BG did beat Akron in Akron and to go to 0-5 with home losses to SD and Akron is just going to make the situation worse for him among the fan base.
Lots of things need to get fixed. BG needs improved offense and needs to play significantly better on defense. I think Akron is correctly a slight favorite and will be delightfully surprised if BG picks the win up.
I did a writeup before the season on the schedule. I said if BG wins the first three conference games, they win the East. After the awful start to the season, I would be thrilled to get a clean start with a 1-0 conference record and I bet the coaching staff is preaching the same thing.
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