TOLEDO @ ARKANSAS - KEYS TO THE GAME
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| It's Arkansas weekend for the Toledo Rockets. (Photo Courtesy: Idaho Statesman) |
Arkansas opens as a 21 point favorite in the contest, but that doesn't mean Toledo can't make it a competitive game. Here are a few keys to at least making the game worth watching after halftime:
1) CREATE TURNOVERS
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| Chaz Whitaker creates turnovers in the Toledo secondary and will need to provide a spark on Saturday. |
For Matt Campbell and his defense, the focus will be on getting pressure and forcing turnovers. Someone to watch for is Toledo senior, Chaz Whitaker, who actually, "had two interceptions" in the "season opener." What season opener? Oh yeah, it technically didn't count. However, Whitaker's two interceptions in just one half of football before the cancellation, proved that he can be a leader in the Rockets secondary. The turnovers need to happen on Saturday.
As former Central Michigan head coach, Dan Enos, prepares for his second game as Arkansas' offensive coordinator, look for him to trust Allen early through the air. The hardest thing for opposing defenses against an Arkansas (or Dan Enos led) offense is the way they don't ask too much from their quarterbacks. The Hogs will run to set up the pass, which makes it difficult for the front-seven and ultimately opens up the passing game. Last week against UTEP, Allen threw for four touchdowns and led the way to a 48-13 victory in Fayetteville.
2) SCORE EARLY TO CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT
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| Toledo will need to use Alonzo Russell early and often against Arkansas. |
I get it, this is easier said than done, but if Toledo can get a big play early, it could swing momentum. Despite the game being in Little Rock rather than Fayetteville, the centralized location in Arkansas will draw Razorback fans from all over, which creates for a hostile environment. Something as simple as a defensive miscommunication from Arkansas, a big kick return, or even a quick field goal to begin the game could get momentum going and keep the crowd somewhat out of the game.
In reality, if Arkansas scores first, especially a touchdown, this game is likely over. Arkansas a big (and I mean big) team in terms of size and will physically wear you down once momentum is obtained. The key to even the second half of the game will come in the first ten minutes of the game. What do I mean by that? I'll explain. Hypothetically (we hope), Arkansas scores fourteen points early. At that point, the crowd is rocking, Toledo is already mentally worn down, and the game is already decided (you aren't coming back from a fourteen point deficit in SEC country as a mid-major). In contrast, let's say Toledo somehow (no disrespect to the Toledo defense) holds Arkansas scoreless for their first few possessions and get some points on the board, that's when they're in the game. To summarize, the first ten minutes of the game will tell us a lot about how the afternoon is going to go. For the Rockets -- score early, play disciplined, and stay ahead of the environment and the rocking crowd in Central Arkansas.
3) COMPETE IN THE TRENCHES
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| Toledo senior, Trent Voss will play a major role in the pass rush on Saturday. |
As previously stated, Arkansas is a massive and physically imposing team that will pound opponents into the ground. In case that isn't intimidating enough, the Razorbacks' offensive line averages 328 pounds, which is the most in the Power Five Conferences as well as the National Football League. In fact, Arkansas features Dan Skipper, a 6'10", 331-pound right tackle who will provide nightmares for Toledo defensive ends Trent Voss, Keenan Gibbs, Tre James, and company. It'll be a tough task for the Rockets to out-physical the Hogs. However, the advantage is actually in Toledo's favor when it comes to speed and agility. The Rockets feature a quick front-seven, who could provide interesting challenges in the pass rush when it comes to applying pressure on quarterback, Brandon Allen.
On the offensive side of the ball for the Rockets, with five inexperienced offensive linemen, the Rockets will have their hands full with the opposing front seven. Like a broken record, Arkansas has dominating size on the defensive line, including 6'1", 340-pound senior defensive tackle, DeMarcus Hodge and 6'2", 290-pound junior Taiwan Johnson next to him at down-tackle. Toledo left tackle, Storm Norton has been pressed into duty as not only the blind-side protector of quarterback Philip Ely but also the captain and leader of the offensive line. Aside from Norton, Florida State transfer and fifth-year senior, Ruben Carter, will look to provide a presence on the Rockets' offensive line. Since Toledo's actual season opener was cancelled after one half last Thursday, the Rockets really didn't get a chance to see what their offensive line looked like, which is scary going into Arkansas.
All-in-all, Toledo will need to show maturity, especially when it comes to protecting quarterback Philip Ely on the offensive side of the trenches. However, on defense, the Rockets will need to pressure quarterback Brandon Allen before he tears the secondary apart. Toledo's speed and agility will need to be used if they'd like to win the battle in the trenches, but it will be one difficult task.
4) PHILIP ELY NEEDS TO THRIVE IN SEC COUNTRY
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| Toledo quarterback, Philip Ely should be used to hostile environments. |
Current Toledo quarterback, Philip Ely, has the background that you'd like your starter to have entering SEC country. Despite hardly having game experience, Ely is an Alabama transfer, who left the Crimson Tide for the Rockets after being a third-string backup in Tuscaloosa. Now, Ely should feel right at home. This is the reason he originally committed to Nick Saban and the Tide, to play in big-time games like the one this weekend.
For Ely, there's zero time to adjust. In the game against Arkansas, one mistake could end momentum and ultimately end the Rockets' chances to keep the game close throughout. Obviously, you have 60 minutes in a football game, but against a SEC opponent, you need your quarterback on his 'A game' from the get-go. Typically (at least in the three games we've seen Ely start), he uses the first few possessions of each game to get settled in to a groove. This weekend, with as tough as the Hogs' run defense is, Ely will need to find his main targets, Alonzo Russell and Corey Jones, frequently. The key for Ely is to be a game manager and minimize mistakes. The one advantage Toledo could have is in the passing game due to the Arkansas secondary being slightly undersized. By using senior wide receiver, Alonzo Russell, the Rockets could have success on a few deep balls throughout the afternoon due to his 6'4", 205-pound frame.
5) RIDE THE HOT HAND AT RUNNINGBACK
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| Toledo offensive coordinator, Jason Candle loves to run the football, but is without Kareem Hunt on Saturday. |
It's no secret that Toledo will be without Kareem Hunt on Saturday against a top-twenty opponent. The loss is a big one, without a doubt. Even with Hunt, people were already writing the Rockets off in the matchup. Now, head coach Matt Campbell will need to lean heavily on juniors Damion Jones-Moore and Marc Remy as well as true-sophomore Terry Swanson, who has been battling a lower leg injury over the past week. In games where Hunt is healthy and active, he'll obviously take over the show, but Jones-Moore, Remy, and Swanson always get their carries on a game-to-game basis as well. This week, one (or all) will need to step up. Typically, Matt Campbell will give each tailback two or three series' before seeing who has the hot hand for the second half. In my eyes, it can't be all three runningbacks getting equal action, one of them will need to at least show positive signs to make plays.
Without an established runningback, it'll be extremely tough for the Rockets, even though they run the ball so well. In fact, Toledo ranked No. 14 in the country a season ago in rushing yards per game, but now they do so without their junior leader. The season opener against Stony Brook was suppose to solve questions as to who the main runningback would be this weekend in Little Rock. However, due to Mother Nature and the cancellation, thirty minutes of football simply wasn't enough to tell who will see the most action this weekend. Ultimately, Damion Jones-Moore showed glimpses of break-away speed last week at times, so look for him to get a majority of the early carries, especially if Swanson isn't fully healthy at kickoff.
EASY ENOUGH, RIGHT?
There. Plain and simple, if Toledo does those five things, they win. Well, nevermind. This is SEC football, there's nothing mid-major about this weekend. Even if the Rockets do three or four of these keys to the game well, there's still a major chance of a blood bath in Arkansas. The sad part? I have full confidence in the Rockets this season, they'll be great. It's just that the Razorbacks are truly that good.
INTERACT
Questions/Comments/Concerns? Follow/Interact with Zach on Twitter: @ToledoZach
I'll also be live-tweeting the game from Little Rock! Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET
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