College Football News Preview 2020: Toledo Rockets Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Toledo Rockets Offense
Didn’t you used to be the Toledo passing game? The 2013 Rockets threw for 2,481 yards and 19 touchdowns in 12 games. After that, the offense ramped it up, rocking with close to 4,200 yards and 46 scores in 2016, and being statistically great …
Until last year.
The Rockets were never right, with starter Mitchell Guadagni hurt early on, and Eli Peters and Carter Bradley struggling through the campaign. In all, the passing game finished with 2,515 yards and 15 scores with seven picks, but there were plenty of downfield plays.
It’s Toledo. It should get out of bed and throw for 3,000 yards.
Biggest Key To The Toledo Rockets Defense
The run defense needs to be a whole lot better. The Rockets haven’t been good against the run since 2015, and is 5-15 since then when allowing 200 rushing yards or more.
There were way too many tackles made down the field, there weren’t nearly enough tackles for loss or big plays overall, and it was ugly in game after game allowing three touchdown runs or more in seven games and allowed 22 in the last six games.
The 2,621 yards and 31 scores made for one of the program’s worst defensive years ever. It’s not asking for the world to cut both those numbers almost in half.
Key Toledo Rockets Player To A Successful Season
QB Eli Peters, Sr.
Or Carter Bradley, or anyone who can do a whole lot more with the passing game that struggled so much.
The 6-2, 195-pound Peters had a few nice games with a 300-yard day against Northern Illinois and pushed the ball down the field well against Buffalo – and the team lost both games.
The receivers are good, and the running game is fantastic, so if the starting quarterback can stay healthy and be up to the normal Toledo standards, the offense should be back.
Key Game To The Toledo Rockets Season
at Western Michigan, Oct. 10
There are a whole slew of question marks about what the schedule will be, but assuming the MAC slate stays intact, the Rockets have to win in Kalamazoo or the West could be lost before the race even gets started.
There’s no Buffalo, Kent State, or Miami University currently on the schedule – that might change – and the Ball State and Central Michigan games are at home. There’s a trip to NIU, but beat WMU for a fourth year in a row, and this really might be a stronger season.
– Toledo Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Toledo Fun Stats
– Fumbles: Toledo 23 (lost 12) – Opponents 8 (lost 4)
– Field Goals: Opponents 12-of-20 – Toledo 11-of-16
– 4th Down Conversions: Toledo 18-of-31 (58%) – Opponents 10-of-23 (43%)