Article published November 04, 2009
UT optimistic, but defense must improve
To a football coach, the glass is always half full.
It's why Tim Beckman, after losing a game to previously-winless Miami, talks about winning the three games left on the University of Toledo's schedule and seeking a bowl opportunity.
"With the Colorado win and a win over Northern Illinois, if we end up sweeping Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green then I think we'd have every right to push hard for that and to get these seniors to a bowl game," Beckman said.
We're not sure what's in his glass, but it's definitely half full.
UT's defense, though, is half empty, and before Beckman can talk earnestly about "still going 7-5 and posting one of the biggest turnarounds in college football," he had best turn his own defense around.
Miami came into last Saturday's game averaging 316 yards and 10.6 points per game. The RedHawks notched 436 yards and 31 points against UT.We'd be nitpicking if this was an isolated incident. Far from it.
During the three straight losing seasons that spelled the end for former coach Tom Amstutz, UT's opponents averaged 386.2 yards and 32.8 points over a 36-game stretch. The current Rockets are allowing 424.9 yards and 37.4 points after nine games.
Defense was the calling card that helped Beckman land the UT job, but there has been no quick fix and that could continue to haunt the Rockets heading into next Wednesday's nationally televised game at Central Michigan, the undefeated leader of the MAC's West Division.
The Rockets had no answer for a Miami quarterback named Zac Dysert whose name recognition is right around nil. Now, they're preparing to meet CMU's Dan LeFevour, one of the best and best-known QBs in conference history.
Maybe it was the Miami game that tipped the scales or maybe it was the extra free time from an 11-day stretch between games that better afforded him the opportunity, but Beckman is spending a lot of time this week in the defensive war room at the Larimer Complex.
"I'll be honest, I didn't anticipate the time constraints involved in being a head coach," he said. "It has prevented me from being involved as much as I would like with the defense. For this game, though, we have three or four extra days to prepare, so it's a good opportunity for me to get more into it with the defense, to just go into a room and do nothing but game plan."
Toledo has the No. 1-ranked offense in the MAC and the No. 12-ranked defense. Opponents have scored 30-or-more points in eight of nine games. It all adds up to a 4-5 overall record and a 2-3 league mark.
The culprit is pretty obvious, even in a day and age when high-powered, spread offenses are all but expected to have a hearty upper hand. Compared to the previous three seasons, UT's defense has regressed.
So Beckman will take a seat in a dark room, watch films until his eyes bug out, and fill up a dry-erase board with X's and O's, all the things he thrived on doing for so many seasons as a defensive coordinator.
"I have the utmost faith in my staff and in our athletes," he said. "I really believe we're getting better, but we are a long way from where we need to be."
For every stalwart like Barry Church, Archie Donald, Beau Brudzinski and Lester Richmond dotting the UT defensive roster, there seems to be a freshman starter perhaps not quite up to on-the-job training. Beckman said watching UT's defense struggle has "been killing me." And killing the Rockets too. It has to change for the glass to remain half full.
Contact Blade sports columnist
Dave Hackenberg at:
dhack@theblade.com
or 419-724-6398
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