BG Football. Early Camp Thoughts
So, camp is on for the BGSU Football program. We are less than a month from the opening kickoff...I am excited to be back in the stadium, for sure. Having BG sports out of my life (in personal attendance) has been a big void over the past year and a half. (I recently attended a Mud Hens game, my first live sporting event since the BG MBB win over Akron in March 2020).
A full preview will be coming, but the headline is this: nowhere to go but up. Last year was the worst season for BG football since 1935. Literally, there was nothing redeeming about it at all. It would appear that BG will be better this year, but I don't know how many wins that will win. We are picked to be the worst team in the country and you can understand why.
I'm still onboard with this process. But this is no fun, to be sure.
A couple things I would say as practice starts.
QB Room
McDonald is on a pitch count for fall practice, with only 50 "competitive" reps. Loeffler said reps with the 2s are being rotated.
How will the defense adjust to a new coach and system?
First, we can certainly hope that a more productive offense takes some pressure off the defense. Which has been undeniably awful. In 2019, BG was last in the MAC, giving up 38 PPG. In 2020, BG was last and a touchdown WORSE per game, and second to last in the country. From that, most of the accomplished players on the defense who were expected to return didn't. Honestly, on paper, maintaining 2020's level of production would be a win.
As for fall practice, there are a couple of changes that could influence what happens and any chance BG has to get out of the national basement in 2021. The first is that Brian VanGorder is gone and has been replaced by Eric Lewis. He has been a DC before, but he is also not a big splashy hire. The hope is that a fresh approach will help to improve the defense, but I suspect we are looking at more than a short-term project.
The other thing is that BG is moving to a 3-man front. On one hand, this is good, because BG has struggled with Dline personnel for years. Hopefully, it has more to it than that. Everything in sports is becoming hybrid--from positionless basketball to needing LBs who are also Dbacks. I assume we are trying to flex into that.
Which makes sense. The ultimate question doesn't change. Can you control the line of scrimmage? Because if you can't, you won't win in the MAC.
2 comments :
Great analysis. I have been playing/watching football for over 25 years and last year's team was the worst I've ever seen. It was painful to watch, and thank God the Ohio State game was cancelled or they would have scored 100 by the 3rd quarter. Improvements and upgrades have been made and there is nowhere to go but up so I am optimistic. I just hope Tennessee and the schedule doesn't shatter our confidence right out of the gate. I truly hate those games.
The worst Falcon team since 1935. I think that's right. Hopefully that was the worst of it. I guess we'll see soon enough.
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