While a driving rain might have scared away some fans from the Glass Bowl in Toledo's 37-34 overtime win over Eastern Michigan on Oct. 26, it brought a sense of excitement and a heavy burden of expectation to the Rockets' offensive line.
“It was certainly a fun time,” Toledo junior center Luke Doerger said. “We saw the forecast of a storm coming through or a torrential downpour or whatever you want to call it. We said, 'All right, we are going to have to run the ball. Let's do it.’ So we went in with the mindset of we are going to have to put this on our backs. Everything else is going to be a question just because of the elements. But if we can win and move the line of scrimmage, then we will certainly have a chance.”
That's exactly what the front five did for Toledo. The Rockets ran the ball on 57 of its 75 offensive plays and churned out 366 rushing yards in the game, including 259 yards from star running back Bryant Koback.
“It definitely excited all of us,” redshirt freshman left guard Nick Rosi said. “The older guys were preaching to us that it is going to be a run-heavy game. We are going to be pounding the ball, and everybody is going to be relying on us to get that ball moving. I thought we did a really good job of that, and I'm proud of what we've done.”
The dominant performance against Eastern Michigan was a welcome sign after the line struggled in losses to Bowling Green and Ball State.
“It's a proud group and a proud coach [Mike Hallett],” Toledo coach Jason Candle said. “They realized they weren't at their best the past couple weeks. They owned it, and they've come to work. They've never pointed fingers and said, 'Well, the quarterback needs to get the ball out of his hands.’ They've just kept going and going and going.”
The chemistry among the offensive line has grown as the season has progressed, and there is a nice mix of young players like Rosi and sophomore Mitch Berg, as well as veterans in seniors Cameron Bell and Brandon Heidecker.
“We've always put emphasis on needing to be close,” Doerger said. “There are five of us on the field at all times. We don't have much of a choice but to work well together and to get along with each other. This season, even going back to January, we put a big emphasis on that and I certainly think that is showing up on the field.”
Doerger has played an important role in filling in for injured star center Bryce Harris. Doerger was expected to play left guard this season, but has made the adjustment to center.
“I had to take that in stride,” Doerger said. “Once I assessed the situation and understood that I was going to have to fill in for Bryce, it was certainly an opportunity I looked at and said to myself, ‘I don't really have a choice here.’ This is going to be all or nothing — excellence or I let my brothers down. I certainly hope its been more towards the excellence side.”
Rosi has been impressed with the way Doerger has handled the pressure of starting at the very important position.
“He's done a great job,” Rosi said. “He's such a smart guy. He's an engineering major. He's the perfect guy for it honestly with his strength and he knows how to snap the ball really well and he is just doing a great job for us.”
The shift to center for Doerger has opened up the spot for Rosi at left guard in his first year as a starter.
“It's been a lot of fun,” Rosi said. “All of the older guys have made this transition easy. It's almost like the game is slowing down for me, and that's all thanks to the coaches and all of the older guys. Everything is starting to click and it's really just a blessing to be out there with those guys.”
Through the age difference and difference in levels of experience on the field, the offensive line has come together in a positive way.
“We protect,” Doerger said. “That's our mantra and that's in our job description. That's something we have taken true to our heart and moved forward with together. Whether you are a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior as we have all across the line, it's been our common goal that has leveled out those differences.”
Candle, for one, has enjoyed being around this group and loves the selfless attitude that his offensive linemen show everyday.
“Offensive linemen are some of the best people in the world,” Candle said. “They don't say anything. They just work really hard and they keep doing what they are supposed to do. They really trust the process of what being a great player and a great man is. You just love being around those type of kids, for sure.”
First Published November 4, 2019, 7:39 p.m.
