The next time the University of Toledo runs through the tunnel at the Glass Bowl, 21 days will have passed since the previous home game, enough time to enjoy a European vacation, climb Denali, or break a bad habit.
The Rockets know plenty about that.
Saturday’s trip to Ball State presents an opportunity to shed several issues that have plagued UT during the first three games. In doing so, the Rockets can announce their entry into the Mid-American Conference West sweepstakes.
The road stadium environment presents obstructions, but getting away from northwest Ohio could be just what Toledo needs, allowing it to regroup and return for the stretch run with conviction.
“You have that advantage when you’re on the road,” UT coach Jason Candle said. “They sometimes don’t see the distractions that are around them, and they can band together and have a good night and a great meal, and get up the next day and go win a football game.”
Football teams are sequestered in hotels on road trips, with outside shenanigans closed off.
Players are either in their rooms, in meetings, or sharing team meals. The camaraderie aspect of life away from home is real, as is a consistent focus on the game plan.
Home games, with family and friends visiting and campus life buzzing, can be the exact opposite. The out-of-town atmosphere, contrary to popular opinion, acts as a refuge for players.
“When we’re on the road, you can catch a lot of us in teammates’ rooms, whether we’re playing cards, video games, or even doing homework or going over plays,” defensive lineman Jamal Hines said. “There’s a comfort level we have on the road.”
Whether that translates to on-field success remains to be seen. The first order of business for Toledo is correcting an offense that looked unprepared and insufficient throughout last week’s loss to Colorado State. Resistance from the offensive line was virtually nonexistent, as Colorado State pillaged the UT backfield with sacks and tackles for loss.
Running back Bryant Koback had a then-career-high 228 yards on 19 carries against the Rams in 2019. He was held to just 32 yards on 13 carries last week, and Colorado State isn’t demonstrably better than it was two years ago. If anything, statistics say they’re worse.
The quality of an offense begins with its aptness on the line. Toledo’s is anything but suitable, ranking in sub-100 nationally in rushing and sacks.
Football is a simple game at its core — move the ball down the field to score points. If the line can’t block defenders, the objective becomes a strenuous exercise.
“I have all the faith and the trust in coach Candle and [offensive line] coach [Mike] Hallett to get that right,” quarterback Carter Bradley said. “I’m not worried one bit about what happened on Saturday. This is not going to carry over. Saturday happened. It’s a learning lesson.”
Bradley’s efficiency has dipped because of UT’s one-dimensional offense, trickling down to wide receivers’ production. But the starkest difference is how little green space Koback has had to traverse. Since he first took the field for Toledo in 2018, Koback has been a workhorse among his MAC peers.
In 2018, he led UT in rushing touchdowns and yards, ranking second and fifth in the MAC. He had the fourth-most rushing yards in 2019 and 2020. Twice he’s been a second-team All-MAC selection. Koback is on the Doak Walker Award watch list this season, and he is No. 8 on Toledo’s all-time rushing list.
“Every game is going to be different,” he said. “It’s always going to be a different look. That’s why everyone tries to work on their craft. We just have to continue to work.
“You just have to evaluate the film, look at yourself in the mirror, and be honest with yourself. Attack your weaknesses. That’s all you can do. Put your head down and continue to work.”
The effort is being made. Toledo’s coaches have worked diligently this week on multiple fronts — attempting to move past last week’s defeat and scheme the offense out of a rut. With the top-ranked defense in the conference, a few tweaks on offense could quickly turn the Rockets into the team to beat in the MAC.
“You have to find a way to run it effectively,” Candle said. “You have to stay ahead of the sticks. Through three games, we’re averaging third-and-nine. That’s ridiculous. It’s unheard of. We put ourselves in these positions by self-inflicted mistakes.”
Will a bus trip to Ball State and a short flight to Massachusetts act as a cure-all to what ails Toledo?
Stay tuned.
“We’ll have to be at our best to play at a tough place,” Candle said. “Toledo historically has not played very well [in Muncie]. This is going to be a big challenge for us.”
First Published September 22, 2021, 3:13 p.m.
