(Today we continue to preview the Ohio State Non-Conference opponents of 2011 by heading two hours and 30 minutes north to Toledo, to focus on a team with a lot of experience, top notch coaching, and enough weapons to be dangerous against the Buckeyes during week two of the season.)
When it comes to talent in some of the smaller conferences across the country this upcoming season, it doesn’t get much better than the Toledo Rockets. Despite wrapping up the season with a tough loss in the Little Caesars Bowl vs. Florida International, this team heads into the season as one the favorite in the MAC conference. Putting together the best season since 2005, last year’s Toledo squad showcased some very impressive moments. They also suffered head shaking defeats (Wyoming, Florida International). The fact of the matter,though, is that this team is more than a week two opponent. They deserve more than a chuckle because they beat that team up north in 2008 without scoring an offensive touchdown.
This team has knocked off one BCS non-conference match up per year the last five seasons (Kansas, Iowa State, Michigan, Colorado and Purdue) and will receive respect from their opponents in 2011. Many believe the true tests come after week two for the Buckeyes. In reality, Ohio State will have to play solid football in order to beat the Rockets early in the year.
Basic Info:
Record – 8-5 (7-1), Loss to Florida International in Little Ceasars Bowl
Home Field – The Glass Bowl (26,248 Capacity) is best known for it’s genuine rocket it obtained from the Military Missile program outside of stadium. This rocket is pointing directly at the 50 yard line of Doyt Perry Stadium, the home of arch-rival Bowling Green.
Head Coach – Tim Beckman (13-12), third year – Most football fans in the great state of Ohio and across the nation have heard the name Tim Beckman. Probably one of the most secure head coaches in the country, Beckman started as a defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at rival Bowling Green in 1998. For the Falcons, he served as the defensive mind behind Urban Meyer’s 2001 8-3 team and Gregg Brandon’s spectacular 2003 team that nearly snapped the 17 game winning streak of the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes. After his time with the campus next door, Beckman became a secondary coach for Ohio State, and would hold that post until the 07-08 season when he became the defensive coordinator of the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Since landing with the Rockets, Beckman has shown what kind of success you can have when you teach fundamental football to solid recruits, while maintaining and creating a strict and productive atmosphere. Plus, he knows just the right food to keep his team motivated to win. It won be surprising to hear his name as a candidate for high profile jobs next off-season.
Key Losses: 
Offense-
C Kevin Kowalski (Career 48 starts) – A four year starter up front for the Rockets, Kowalski is one of just two graduating seniors on the offensive side of the ball. His presence up the middle was a big part in the offense, specifically in the passing game. Considered an upper heavy guy, Kowalski went undrafted in 2011, but was quickly signed by the Dallas Cowboys after the work stoppage was lifted in July. He remains on the depth chart as the second right guard, a position he played at Toledo early in his career. Now he hopes that will help the transition to a new position at the next level.
G Nate Cole (Started All 13 Games in 2010) – The 6’1″ 300 pound lineman started his career at Toledo as a three star defensive tackle, but worked his way into the starting lineup for the Rockets as the right guard in 2009, after starting seven games on the offensive line in 2008. Cole wasn’t necessarily a pro football prospect, but a big part in solid production on offense the last few years. Kowalski and Cole will be replaced by a couple sophomores and Rocket fans are hoping they show as much consistency as these two have over the past few seasons.
Defense-
LB Archie Donald (412 TCKL 4 SACKS 5 INTs) – The All-MAC conference linebacker is a huge loss for Coach Beckman’s defense. The defensive MVP of the team in 2010, Donald led the team in tackles the last three seasons and gave the Rocket defense a very good leader on the field, and off of it. Undrafted out of college, Donald was recently signed by the Cleveland Browns earlier in the month thanks to coach Beckman’s childhood relationships with linebackers coach Bill Davis and general manager Tom Heckert. Donald has a long road ahead of him, but continues to battle alongside five other undrafted linebackers for two spots on the roster. Donald kicked things off this preseason with 2 tackles against the Packers to begin his NFL career
Despite only losing four seniors, Toledo will have a lot of competition leading up to week one at many positions. Considering the solid depth all around and the great competition on the field for open jobs, it seems like fans won’t know who will start at some positions until the start of the season. A lot of that has to do with the talented recruits Beckman has brought in the last two classes, but more of it has to do with the ability of this coaching staff to teach young players from the get-go how to produce on the field, whether through positional packages or on Special Teams.
Players To Watch:
WR/KR Eric Page – Arguably the most talented skill player in the MAC, Eric Page has the explosion, smarts, and big play ability to drive opposing special teams and defensive coordinators bonkers. An All-American kick returner, Page was the only kick returner in the nation last season to take it to the house on three separate occasions. By the way, did I mention that Page had 99 receptions for a total of 1,105 yards? There is a reason that this kid is on the pre-season Biletnikoff Award Watch List. A lot of the success this team hopes for rests on the shoulders of Page. If he can stay healthy, expect a very productive season. His 2,035 all-purpose yards were good for ninth best in the country in 2010.
RB Adonis Thomas – The 2nd team All-MAC selection was second in the conference with 1,098 rushing yards while averaging a conference high 6.3 yards per carry. Rated as one of the top 25 running backs in the nation by many scouts, Thomas has very good vision between the tackles and has game-breaking speed out of the backfield. He was also the second on the team in receptions (33) which tallied a total of 331 yards in the passing attack. The senior really picked things up in the final game of the season, rushing a career high 193 yards and scoring two touchdowns in defeat against Florida International. The main question heading into the season is – can he keep it up at the rate of last season? In the spring game, Thomas ran the ball 16 times for a total of 97 yards. He also caught five passes out of the backfield for a total of 49 yards.
MLB Danny Molls – The leading tackler in the MAC last season, Molls returns to the middle and will be asked to step it up a notch, even though he is already considered one of the best defensive players in the conference. With the graduation of Archie Donald and the dismissal of senior Isaiah Ballard, the linebacker position will depend heavily on Molls’ production. Last season he tallied 143 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 3 interceptions, but was snubbed as a first-team all-conference player.
DT Elijah Jones – The Sophomore still flashes a bunch of inconsistency, but could work his way into more playing time this season after a very impressive spring game. Jones sacked the quarterback twice and recorded four tackles in the game. It will take a consistency and commitment to move up the depth charts, but Jones is a player that coach Beckman thinks has a lot of talent. It will be interesting to follow his role on the team this upcoming season.
Position Battles:
Quarterback – Coach Beckman has made it clear that he wont name a starter until the day before the start of the season and that’s simply because he has two solid youngsters battling it out for the lead gig. Both listed at number one on the pre-season depth chart, junior Austin Dantin and sophomore Terrance Owens will have a good old battle to see who will start the season. Dantin, who started the first nine games for the Rockets last season, finished the year rehabbing an injured shoulder. Then a freshman, Owens came into the limelight and led the team to three victories in the final four games. Both have a lot of talent, but bring a different aspect to the game. Dantin is a dual threat with a weaker arm, while Owens has a lot of throwing power and accuracy, but still struggles with decision making. How Beckman sets up the offense in regards to receiver Eric Page could have a lot of influence in his decision before week 1 against New Hampshire. It wouldn’t be surprising to see both play a significant amount in 2011.
Linebacker – The only graduation losses for the Rockets on defense come at the linebacker position, where outside backer Archie Donald and his primary backup Drey’lon Pree create empty voids that younger players will battle for. After the dismissal of hybrid lb/db Isaiah Ballard in May for assualting his girlfriend, the Rockets have been looking up and down their roster for the correct talent to fill their voids at the outside linebacker position. Replacing Balllard’s 83 tackles wont be easy, but the Rockets have a lot of depth led by converted senior safety Charles Rancifer. He played in all 13 games last season and will look to take over on the outside in place of Ballard. The WILL preseason number one on the depth chart is Robert Bell, but red-shirt freshman Ray Bush has made his way up the depth chart. The former All-Ohio standout has gotten a ton of reps in the pre-season and could be a contributing factor. Senior Terrell Anderson will be called upon for depth at both outside positions and could see significant playing time.
Wide Receiver – Beyond Eric Page, the receiver position is pretty dicey heading into the 2011 season. Columbus native Kenny Stafford was second on the team in grabs (18) and yards (337) at the position last season, but has dropped all the way to fourth on the depth chart in the pre-season. Former Illini receiver Cordale Scott is the favorite to take over as the secondary receiver. The former four-star recruit was teammates with sophomore quarterback Terrance Owens in high school. At 6’4″ Scott has the size and speed to be an NFL receiver. He also provides the offense a target in the slot that can create openings in play-action, and in the middle of the field if need be. The highly touted talent will have an opportunity to show if he has what it takes to perform at the next level. Also jockeying for position are a bunch of talented youngsters, led by Bernard Reedy Jr., the fastest player on the team. Reedy started four games last season and played in 11. The sophomore is only 5’8″, but can create big plays in the open field.
If this team doesn’t make it to the MAC championship team out of the West, then you could chalk up the year as a failure. The Rockets only lose starters on the offensive line and at linebacker and can fill the holes quite nicely on the field. Over the years, Toledo has not been afraid to challenge themselves in non-conference, and with games against Ohio State, Syracuse, and Boise State to start the season, this team will be battle tested enough to set up a solid road to the conference championship. With home games against Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Miami, Toledo could roll into Ford Field in early December undefeated in conference play.
The Hallucination – In a dream world, The Rockets would run the table in conference play and have pulled out two wins against either Boise State, Ohio State, or Syracuse. A MAC championship puts them into the PIZZA PIZZA bowl and might even elevate them into a final season top 25 list.
The Horror Story – A battle with injury and consistency at the skill positions leads Toledo to lose some games they shouldn’t. If they lose Eric Page or Adonis Thomas, this team doesn’t yet have the talent to make up for their production. Defensively, they hold up even with injury and finish with four losses in the conference and a sub .500 record overall.
The Reality – A solid showing against BCS opponents, including a win over Syracuse in week four to propel them into the MAC season. From that point, with good health and a solid defensive front, the Rockets offense works their way to the top of the MAC West with one loss in conference play. With Northern Illinois at home, it could be that the Rockets make an undefeated run in MAC play if coach Beckman can keep his players all on the same page.
Looking for tickets to see the Buckeyes and Rockets play? Check out TiqIQ for available seats!
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