Ohio’s redshirt senior quarterback’s game management abilities could be the key to Ohio’s conference season
Less than 20 minutes into Saturday’s game, Ohio appeared to be in a good position to run away against Akron.
It was 14-3, but the offense was compact and efficient, capitalizing on mistakes made by Akron’s defense as redshirt senior Derrius Vick was able to throw the ball accurately and keep it moving toward the end zone.
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The rest of the second quarter, however, was not quite as fruitful.
Vick, already hobbled by an ankle injury during the Minnesota game a week ago, began taking hits that aggravated nagging injuries. To compound things for the quarterback, he also experienced an awkward fall on his left wrist near the end of the half.
"It was not an easy ballgame — I give (Akron) credit," Ohio Coach Frank Solich said. "I think they prepared well for us. Their up-front people on the defensive side of the ball are pretty special in terms of their defensive group there."
Ohio tried to alleviate pressure on Vick by having redshirt junior Greg Windham begin the second half under center, but three incomplete passes and a red zone interception later, Vick was back in the game.
With Vick’s mobility taking a major hit, the offense as a whole suffered — failing to put any points up in the second half and leaving it up to the defense to put the game away.
"I thought we started off great," Vick said. "The first two (or) three possessions, we moved the ball, did whatever we wanted, and then once the mid-second quarter hit, it was a stalemate."
Though Ohio’s ability to hold up its end of the field on defense was impressive, it won’t have the privilege of facing the 108th ranked offense in the NCAA in terms of yards per game every week. It will need the benefit of a confident offense going forward into the meat of its conference schedule, and the offense seems more confident when Vick is under center.
Vick is completing 67 percent of his passes this season while averaging more than 9 yards per attempt. He’s been as reliable at finding an open receiver and taking care of the football with only two interceptions this season and gives exactly the type of extra dimension with his legs that Solich and offensive coordinator Tim Albin want to embrace in their offense.
Vick's health was the final caveat and biggest culprit in derailing Vick’s season in 2014, and has been the only thing standing in his way as the Bobcats have rocketed out to a 4-1 start this year.
"It takes a little bit more focus by each guy," Vick said. "It was a bad weather day, but both teams are playing in it, so there are no excuses for anybody."
He was forced to leave the Marshall game early with an elbow injury, spending the next week in with an elbow brace. He limped around on an bad ankle throughout a good portion of the Bobcats’ game against Minnesota. Then, on Saturday, he was forced to confide to Solich prior to the second half that he could not run the football individually.
Since backup quarterback JD Sprague’s health remains in question each week, and Windham was inefficient Saturday, Vick being able to play at full strength has never been more crucial for the Bobcats.
Ohio is now turning its attention to back-to-back home games against Miami (OH) and Western Michigan. The Bobcats are hoping they won’t be limping to the next two games.
"All in all, we found a way to win a ballgame where I don’t think we played particularly well," Solich said.
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