Article published November 11, 2009
UT hopes rest revives injured QBs
UT coach Tim Beckman says the Rockets will use a combination defense to keep the Chippewas off balance.
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THE BLADE
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BY ZACH SILKA
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
In the midst of a two-game losing streak and with its top two quarterbacks battling injuries, the University of Toledo got a bit of a reprieve by way of an off week last week.
The Rockets used the time away to rest and recover, but that layoff ends tonight with a nationally televised game at highly regarded Central Michigan (7-2, 5-0 Mid-American Conference).
UT (4-5, 2-3) hasn't played since a 31-24 loss at Miami on Oct. 31, and coach Tim Beckman said his team's bye week couldn't have come at a better time.
The time off was especially beneficial for quarterbacks Aaron Opelt and Austin Dantin, who have been hampered by injuries since the middle of October.
"We've used these last 11 days to get ourselves better, to heal up and to do a little bit of scrimmaging with our younger kids," Beckman said Monday during the MAC coaches weekly teleconference. "This off week has definitely paid off at the quarterback position to get Austin healed and Aaron healed. No question the 11 days have helped them, but are they at that 100 percent mark? No, neither one of them is. It's still a daily thing and a process to see how healthy they can be Wednesday. We don't have a starting quarterback named yet."
| Toledo at Central Michigan |
• Time: 8
• Records: UT is 4-5, 2-3 MAC; CMU is 7-2, 5-0
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: 1370
• Series: Tied 17-17-3
• Favorite: CMU by 17
• Notes: The playing statuses of UT quarterbacks Aaron Opelt (shoulder) and Austin Dantin (ankle) will be a game-time decision.
If neither can play, the Rockets will again turn to junior Alex Pettee. … CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour (migraines) and top receiver Antonio Brown (turf toe) were sidelined during the team's 31-10 loss at Boston College on Oct. 31, but both will play against UT. … With a win, CMU moves one step closer to clinching a berth in the MAC championship game for the third time in the last four years. … UT is 21-23 on national TV, 9-9 on ESPN2 and 0-2 on Wednesday nights. … The Rockets are 4-0 this season when they are the first to score, and they are 0-5 when their opponent scores first. … UT hasn't beaten the Chippewas since 2004 and hasn't won in Mount Pleasant since 2003. … UT freshman receiver and Springfi eld grad Eric Page leads all freshmen nationally with 65 catches and 909 receiving yards. |
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Opelt returned to action against the RedHawks after missing two games with a right shoulder bruise. He was 7-of-14 passing for 79 yards and a touchdown, along with throwing an early interception that was returned for a touchdown, before exiting in the fourth quarter with soreness in his shoulder."It might have set me back a little bit," Opelt said. "[But] I still think I have a very good chance to be ready for this week with a couple extra days."
Dantin missed one game with a high right ankle sprain before also returning against Miami. He played in just two series, though, after it became apparent he was not fit for duty.
If Opelt and Dantin aren't cleared to play tonight, the Rockets will again turn to junior Alex Pettee, who entered in the final offensive series against Miami and completed 6 of 8 passes for a team-high 87 yards.
"The three quarterbacks all have their different strengths," Central Michigan coach Butch Jones said. "All of the them bring their own little dimensions to the game. It makes it extremely difficult [to prepare for].
Central Michigan, conversely, has had no quarterback worries this season. Senior quarterback Dan LeFevour, whom Bowling Green coach Dave Clawson labeled the "Tim Tebow of the MAC" earlier in the season, has torched his competition all year long and through his career.
LeFevour - the conference's career leader in total offense, pass attempts and pass completions - leads the MAC this season with a 145.5 efficiency rating while completing a league-best 68.5 percent of his passes.
If that's not enough, LeFevour is ninth in the conference with 60.9 yards per game on the ground.
So will the Rockets try to knock LeFevour out of rhythm will a plethora of blitz packages, or will they use a few extra defensive backs to slow down the Chippewas passing attack?
"When you're facing a quarterback like him, you can't just settle for one or the other," Beckman said. "It has to be a combination of a bunch of different looks that he and the offensive coaches have to figure out. It can't be full-out pressure and it can't be drop-eight because he can beat you with his feet, too."
Any way you slice it, UT will have its hands full with the Chippewas.
"They're a well-rounded football team, and I think that's why they're winning so many football games right now," Beckman said. "Offensively, they have so many weapons. They're the team in the Mid-American Conference right now that's hitting on all cylinders and playing very well."
Contact Zach Silka
at: zsilka@theblade.com.
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