Recordpub.com - Ball security is No. 1 priority for KSU

By David Carducci

Record-Courier staff writer

If Kent State wants to catch Ohio University at the top of the Mid-American Conference standings with a win in Athens on Saturday, it will have to take care of the football.

That won’t be easy.

Ohio leads the entire nation with 23 forced turnovers this season.

“Right now we’ve caused the second most turnovers of anyone in the conference behind them, but they are phenomenal,” said KSU head coach Doug Martin, whose Golden Flashes (3-4 overall) are 2-1 in MAC play, one game behind East co-leader Ohio (5-2, 3-0).

“When you look at the turnovers they are getting on film, part of it is the speed at which they are playing. (Opponents) have fumbled 16 times, and Ohio has gotten 12 of them. That’s really remarkable. That’s a result of their guys flying to the football.”

Kent State’s answer to Ohio’s speed is simple. No many how many defenders are around the tackle, just hang on to the football.

“We’ve been working a lot on ball security this week,” said Kent State wide receiver Tyshon Goode. “We have guys always trying to strip the ball from us ... and when we pass, as receivers we’ve been working on knocking the ball down if it is under thrown, and we can’t make a play on it.”

In addition to their 12 fumble recoveries, the Bobcats’ defense has come up with a MAC best 11 interceptions. Most of those picks have not been what you would expect from a team that loves to play man-coverage.

“The interceptions are interesting,” said Martin. “Although they are a man-coverage team and you’d think the cornerbacks would have the interceptions, it is the safeties who have the interceptions.”

Redshirt freshman free safety Gerald Moore leads Ohio with three interceptions in his first season. Senior strong safety Patrick Tafua is the only other Bobcat with more than one pick.

“There have been a lot of tipped balls where the cornerback is tipping it in the air and the safeties are reaping the interception, or the linebacker is tipping it up,” said Martin. “A lot of guys are getting their hands on the ball.”

That is another benefit of team speed. The combination of speed and Ohio’s preferred coverage will put pressure on KSU true freshman Spencer Keith to be sharp both with his reads and his throws. First he has to identify man-coverage, then he needs to be accurate with his throws.

Most of the Golden Flashes’ opponents this season have played zone, which gives quarterbacks a wider window to drop their passes into.

“When you play against man-coverage, those windows are small,” said Martin. “You still have to be willing to throw the ball in there, and the receiver has to be willing to make the catch and know there is going to be contact right after the catch.”

Keith was intercepted twice in last week’s win at Eastern Michigan, both coming late in the third quarter. He also watched his receivers drop six passes in a 10-for-24 passing day. The missed opportunities didn’t seem to shake the freshman’s confidence. He just kept slinging the football.

Keith’s calm demeanor should be an asset again on Saturday. Against the Bobcats’ defense, Keith could do everything right and still have a sub-.500 completion percentage and throw a one or two interceptions.

“It’s like coaching Opie Taylor,” said Martin. “He just keeps playing. He is really mature. He doesn’t get rattled.”

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David Carducci can be contacted at dcarducci@recordpub.com