Bobcats push for seven points over three
ATHENS — Most times when Ohio coach Frank Solich has to call on his fieldgoal unit, the expression on his face is one of disgust.
The look has nothing to do with kicker Louie Zervos, who was money in 2016 by converting 29 of 35 field-goal tries, including six beyond 40 yards.
The reason for the scowl is that Solich views failing to score touchdowns inside the red zone as just that — failure.
Ohio lost five games by seven points or fewer, including the Mid-American Conference championship game to Western Michigan 29-23 and to Troy 28-23 in the Dollar General Bowl.
“Nine games were decided by one score, and we lost four of them and won five,” Solich said. “If we had we won our fair share of those we would have had a great season. We did get to the championship game and did get to a bowl game and that’s all good, but that’s not where we want to stop.”
Solich, who is entering his 13th season at Ohio, has promised the Bobcats will gamble more on both sides of the ball.
Last season, Ohio had a plus-1 turnover ratio (26 takeaways to 25 giveaways), converted a modest 80 of 212 third downs (37.7 percent) and maintained possession an average of only 30 minutes, 59 seconds per game.
Fans should expect the team to go for broke more often on fourth down.
“We have to get a lot better on the offensive side of the ball if we are going to get things done,” Solich said. “We’ve got to take better care of the football, and that entails quarterback play — making good decisions.
“We’ve got to put more points on the board, and we’re looking at more ways to contribute to that. I believe we have to take a few more chances and go for it on fourth down rather than just settle for three points.”
In the MAC title game loss, Zervos kicked a 37-yard field goal with 7:14 left to play when a touchdown would have given Ohio the lead. The Bobcats also had three turnovers.
In the bowl game loss, Zervos kicked three field goals and the offense had five turnovers, including four interceptions.
A lot of the responsibility to score seven points instead of three will fall on redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinton Maxwell. He threw for 1,267 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games last season.
“The biggest changes are our expectations and our mentality,” Maxwell said. “Last year we got down there way too often without coming away with touchdowns. We have to execute our stuff. We have to take that extra down and get the ball into the end zone. We’re going to be more aggressive taking our shots.”
Solich also wants the defense to cut down on giving up time-consuming drives.
“We’re going to make a lot of plays this year,” said senior linebacker Chad Moore, a Grove City graduate. “We’re emphasizing making plays when plays need to be done. We’re talking about winning the turnover ratio this year.”