Rockets Crash and Burn

The game opened with Toledo on offense, and it took only 1:41 off the game clock and 4 plays for Nick Moore, on an apparent end-around, to find Stephen Williams streaking down the right side for a 31 yard touchdown strike. It would be the last time the Rockets visited the endzone on a night that left many fans scratching their heads and screaming for that of Coach Tom Amstutz as the Rockets fell to 1-3, losing 35-16 to perennial FBS bottom feeder FIU. It was the first non-conference road win in the school’s history.

Toledo managed 3 Alex Steigerwald field goals before halftime, holding a 16-14 lead at the end of the 2nd quarter. Halftime would bring the end of the scoring for the Midnight Blue and Gold. Meanwhile, FIU was discovering that they could play with the Rockets on this night. A minute and a half into the 2nd quarter, the Golden Panthers scored only their 3rd touchdown of the season on a 37 yard pass from T. Y. Hilton. It was the first of five tds on the night for the visitors, who were helped along by atrocious special teams play and turnovers by the Rockets.

That first touchdown was also the longest drive of the night for FIU, covering 74 yards in 6 plays. The other 4 “drives” were of 24, 27, 5, and 44 yards. Obviously, 4 turnovers, including 3 lost fumbles and an interception, coupled with porous kickoff coverage, kept the Rockets on their heels in horrible field position. Toledo’s defense surrendered only 239 yards of total offense on 59 plays, a 4.1 yd/play average. Meanwhile, the Rockets ran 77 plays for 302 yards, a 3.9 yd/play average.

Aaron Opelt was gracious to the victors in defeat, complimenting the Golden Panthers on their talent, ability, and play. He was put in the horrible position of trying to identify, if he could, the ONE thing that turned the game against the Rockets. It would have been easier to list the things that went right. Moore’s pass, Steigerwald’s field goals extending his streak to a MAC record 23 straight, including a career-best 47 yarder. Strong running by redshirt freshman Morgan Williams in the first half, replacing an injured DaJuane Collins. Williams had 88 yards on 20 carries in the first half, but only 5 more carries after intermission as the slim halftime lead quickly melted into an insurmountable deficit.

The list of miscues was long and varied. Dropped passes. Under-and over-thrown passes. Fumbles. Interception. Horrible kick coverage. Blown blocking assignments. Some of these have been flaws in the Rockets for several seasons, especially kick coverage. Recall that Toledo scored 16 points in the first half, and FIUs long drive was their first scoring drive, covering 74 yards. Late in the game, with the outcome decided, FIU had a drive start at their own 4 yard line, their worst field position of the night. Three other times on the night, the Golden Panthers started a drive inside their own 30. Nine other drives started at or beyond their own 40, leaving the Rocket defense scrambling to cover a short field all night. Aaron Opelt was intercepted once and was the victim of 5 official “quarterback hurries”. That number is very generous, as Opelt spent much of the night running to avoid pressure.

There was so much wrong with this performance last night that Opelt was left to comment that “we have to go back to the drawing board”. And starting today, that’s just what they must do.


Editorial Comments/Observations:

Kick coverage is an embarrassment and a true Achilles heel to the Rockets. One is left wondering if it might not be a better idea to kick the ball out of bounds and just concede the first 40 yards. Attempts to fix the problem over the last couple of years, including putting defensive starters on the squad, seem to have been fruitless. Something else must be done, and done soon.

One of the things players and coaches always talk about after a loss is battling to the end, never giving up. Last night they gave up. Players were observed hanging their heads as if conceding that they were beaten. In the 3rd quarter. They were certainly befuddled.

In the clutch last week against FSU, the offense did everything right: blocking, throwing the tough ball, making the tough catch, scoring. This week, it did little right. Opelt was off on nearly 50% of his passes, several to wide open receivers. Receivers dropped very catchable balls. One was never even seen by the receiver, as he was looking for the coverage behind him (5 yards back) as the ball fell at his feet. It could not have been thrown better, and the play was obviously designed to go to him. So what gives? That was a mental breakdown that completely destroyed any last-gasp hopes for a comeback.

Pass coverage has improved, but there is still no “lock down” on anyone. It seems the pass defense is geared to the corners filling the space and relying on the safeties to make the play, often never seeing the ball coming. There is still that horrible “cushion” at the line of scrimmage. Keeps the corner from being burned by a streaking wide receiver, but 7 to 10 yards off the ball allows for easy completions for solid gains. On 3rd and 7 last night, for instance, a quick slant over the middle under such coverage resulted in a 20 yard gain.

After the incredible performance in a losing cause last week, the Rockets appeared to have found their confidence. They spoke of respecting FIU, not taking them for granted. The on-field results indicate otherwise. That confidence appears to have been over-inflated, and they were in shock at the play of their opposition. The mental aspect of this team is still a question mark.