A win on Saturday would match Ohio's win total in 2014 with six.
At Ohio’s media day in early August, offensive coordinator Tim Albin joked that sophomore running back A.J. Ouellette wouldn’t have 30 carries per games this season.
He wasn't joking, though. Against Miami last week, Ouellette only had two.
But that doesn’t mean Ohio isn’t running the ball this season. It's just changed how it does so.
Playing the majority of snaps featuring one running back, Albin and the Bobcats have distributed the workload across a backfield that can feature as many as five running backs throughout a game.
That means when Ohio hosts Western Michigan on Saturday at noon, it won’t be a matter of how much the team will run, but to whom the carries go.
“If it was one guy you would be seeing 100-yard games,” coach Frank Solich said. “But we are substituting so much. I think the offensive coaches are really doing a good job of utilizing our personnel and building an offense around our players instead of forcing an offense on guys.”
Ouellette, along with senior Daz Patterson and redshirt freshman Papi White, have received most of the rushing attmepts, but Ohio added redshirt freshman Maleek Irons and redshirt sophomore Dorian Brown to the mix during the 34-3 win over Miami.
“(It’s) not frustrating at all,” White said about the distribution of carries. “It’s a running back bond thing. I feel like we cheer each other on out there. We just want each other to do better.”
Rotating the backs has worked to this point.
Halfway through the season, Ohio is 5-1, one game shy from bowl eligibility. A win against Western Michigan (2-3) would also tie the Bobcats win total from last year.
“You can’t look at their stats at all, actually,” Solich said of Western Michigan. “I don’t think they are relevant because of the quality of teams they have played on their schedule … We have watched them on film, and it is pretty evident they have a good football team.”
Two of the Broncos’ losses were against Michigan State and Ohio State, who were ranked No. 5 and No. 1, respectively, when the teams played.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="f5056ad6-711b-11e5-a97a-67d2130a6d7f"}}
Western Michigan has been a team that focuses its offensive gameplan on two receivers: Daniel Braverman and Corey Davis.
Combined they average 211 receiving yards per game, with Braverman hauling in 131 yards. It’s a combination that could produce problems for Ohio, especially if redshirt senior cornerback Devin Bass is hurt. He didn’t play last week.
“They are both very explosive players who are capable of making explosive plays at any time during the game,” Solich said. “I think that they are both used very well. You look at them across the board, and they have big lineman who move well, a running back who is 220 or so pounds that runs with power."
@Charliehatch_
gh181212@ohio.edu
