Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Opportunity awaits as Herd football travels to ODU
10/12/2018 8:33:00 AM | Football, Word on the Herd
Monarchs defense is allowing 525 yards per game
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
NORFOLK, Va. – If the Marshall offense is to get back on track, this Saturday's game at Old Dominion presents an opportunity.
The Monarchs, 1-5 overall and 0-3 in Conference USA, have allowed opponents to average 525.0 yards per game and 38.7 points per game. Each of ODU's first six opponents have scored at least 28 points, and the Monarchs' defense has allowed 113 plays of double-digit yardage this season.
Those are staggering numbers, to be sure, and longtime ODU coach Bobby Wilder called it "frustrating" as he seeks improvement for a team he knows is better than its record.
"Over the next six games, defensively, the focus is on improving our run fits," Wilder said. "We need to play much better in coverage in terms of recognizing routes. That's something we're going to work really hard on."
Marshall (3-2, 1-1 C-USA) averaged 4.34 yards per play in last Friday's loss to Middle Tennessee. Only 12 times in Doc Holliday's 108 games as the Herd's head coach has the offense averaged fewer yards per play. Perhaps, in hindsight, the season-ending injury to right guard Alex Mollette and the absence of starting running back Keion Davis loomed larger than anticipated. Maybe junior quarterback Alex Thomson needed more time to adjust in his first FBS start.
"Playing the quarterback position, that's the hardest position in the sport, and (Thomson) hasn't done it in over a year," said Tim Cramsey, Marshall's first-year offensive coordinator. "We knew there was going to be a little bit of rust, if that's the word you want to use, and I thought he got better as the game went on.
"But, to play that position, you can stand in your red (no-contact) jersey in spring ball and fall camp all you want, but until the lights are on … and the bullets are flying, that's the only time you can really get back in the pocket and feel comfortable playing ball again."
Cramsey said the offense found rhythm late against Middle Tennessee. Thomson was 7 for 17 passing for 69 yards through three quarters, but completed 10 of 17 passes for 104 yards in the fourth quarter. Thomson seemed to thrive in an up-tempo offense.
"That's something we want to get into; something we think can help us," Cramsey said. "Get lined up fast, snap the ball fast, get the ball in our athletes' hands. He started feeling comfortable and that's a tough defense to come from behind on."
The Thundering Herd had its best ground game of the season last week, a 209-yard performance thanks to a career-high 165 yards from sophomore Tyler King. Marshall had won 23 of its last 24 games when rushing for 200-plus yards as a team.
"(King) did a nice job," Holliday said. "We finally got that going. We ran the ball well. We have to continue to be able to do that."
OPPOSING PLAYER TO WATCH
In the 14-year history of ESPN FPI (Football Power Index), no team had a lower probability of a win than Old Dominion had against Virginia Tech on Sept. 22. ESPN FPI put the chances at 1.8 percent. There was no way to account for redshirt junior Blake LaRussa, who came off the bench to throw for 495 yards and four touchdowns in the Monarchs' 49-35 win over the No. 13 Hokies.
LaRussa, who is 5 feet, 11 inches and 185 pounds, ignited the ODU offense. He has thrown for 1,135 yards and eight touchdowns in the last three games, which includes the win against Virginia Tech and starts at East Carolina and Florida Atlantic. ODU lost to ECU and FAU, but averaged 34.0 points per game in the two defeats.
"I know they're a 1-5 team, but if you look at them they don't look like a 1-5 team on tape," Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. "It starts with their quarterback … he beat Virginia Tech, threw for almost 500 yards. He's thrown for 1,200 yards in the last three games.
"He's been there. He's played. When they stuck him in there against Virginia Tech, he kind of lit them up."
ODU is a different offense this season. In 2017, the Monarchs' offense had 37 plays from scrimmage of 20-plus yard. This season, in half as many games, ODU has 36 such plays. Thirty one of those 20-yard plays have come through the air in six games, compared to 20 in 12 games last season.
STAT TO KNOW
A fast start usually means good things for Marshall under Holliday. The Herd is 35-1 in its last 36 games when it scores first, including 13 consecutive wins.
This season, in Marshall's five games, the team that has scored first has won every time.
STAT TO KNOW II
The Marshall defense has been stout against the run this season. Overall, the Herd is one of 13 FBS team that has yet to allow a run of 30 yards or longer. The defense, under first-year coordinator Adam Fuller, is one of seven teams that has allowed zero or one run of 20 yards or longer.
Last season, MU held ODU to 63 plays and 197 yards, an average of 3.1 yards per play. Two weeks ago, against East Carolina, ODU ran the ball 35 times for 21 yards, an overage of 0.6 yards per play.
COMPLIMENTS TO THE COACH
Marshall and ODU are meeting for the fifth time. The Herd holds a 3-1 edge. Wilder expressed his admiration for Holliday.
"Doc Holliday, I feel like, is one of the outstanding coaches in our league," Wilder said. "They are consistently a very good program, and have been since we joined Conference USA."
FOLLOW ALONG
As always, at home or on the road, the Marshall athletic department will provide in-game updates through social media websites Twitter and Facebook. Please follow me on Twitter – @chuckmcgill or www.twitter.com/chuckmcgill – and Marshall's official football account – @HerdFB or www.twitter.com/HerdFB. Questions are welcome on Twitter or by emailing mcgillc@marshall.edu
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a six-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
