College Football News Preview 2020: Old Dominion Monarchs Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Old Dominion Monarchs Offense
Block someone. The passing game might have been a disaster, and there wasn’t any ground game to count on, but that’s all mostly due to the line failing to be more than a polite suggestion at keeping anyone out of the backfield.
The Monarchs stunningly ran for 202 yards against Virginia Tech – they only ran for for over 100 against two other FCS teams. The line allowed 116 tackles for loss, and the quarterbacks were sacked a whopping 52 times.
There’s experience returning, and the coaching staff has enough options to come up with a better configuration, but giving the skill guys a little time to work is everything to the season.
Biggest Key To The Old Dominion Monarchs Defense
Turn loose all the playmakers on the defensive line and get them to the quarterback. Getting into the backfield wasn’t a problem, but closing was an issue. The Monarchs have a ton of quickness and upside up front – they were fantastic at coming up with tackles for loss – but the D generated a mere 17 sacks with seven coming in a two-game span.
Key Old Dominion Monarchs Player To A Successful Season
QB Hayden Wolff, Soph.
Or ANY of the ODU quarterback options. Five Monarchs threw a pass last season, and they combined to hit just 55% of their throws and averaging 5.6 yards per pass with just five touchdowns and 12 picks.
There’s going to be a terrific battle for the job right up until the opener, but the 6-5, 214-pound pro-style passer has all the tools to take over the offense and be head coach Ricky Rahne’s guy – but it’s an open casting call.
Key Game To The Old Dominion Monarchs Season
FIU, Sept. 19
Just how fast can it all start to come together for the Monarchs? They kick things off against Wake Forest, should match last season’s win total of one with Hampton to follow, and then the Conference USA season starts.
They pushed FIU in last year’s 24-17 loss, but the were two of the last four games in the series. Win that, and with the next three games against teams that didn’t go bowling, there’s hope for a great start.
– Old Dominion Monarchs Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Old Dominion Fun Stats
– Sacks: Opponents 52 for 283 yards – Old Dominion 17 for 124 yards
– Red Zone TDs: Opponents 32-of-41 (63%) – Old Dominion 14-of-38 (37%)
– 2nd Quarter Scoring: Opponents 101 – Old Dominion 39