Toledo Rockets: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Toledo Rockets: Key To The 2022 Offense
Convert more third down chances.
For all of the good things the offense did, and for all the scoring, and the explosion and the balance, the thing struggled to do enough on third downs.
That starts with QB Dequan Finn being more accurate – he needs to get to around 65% for the offense to be even stronger – but being able to maintain more control in every way possible is a must considering how much it mattered.
The Rockets converted just 36% of their chances last year. They were under 30% five times and went 1-4 in those, In 2020 they connected on 48% of their tries and were at 41% or over in every game but one.
Toledo Rockets: Key To The 2022 Defense
Enough with the penalties.
This goes for both sides of the ball, but the defensive side was hit particularly hard by flags.
As a team Toledo was dead last in college football getting hit 130 times for 1,172 yards and a whopping 90 yards per game. Out of all of that, 32 of the defensive penalties ended up leading to a first down – only ten team gave up more first downs that way.
Toledo Rockets: Key Player To The 2022 Season
RB Micah Kelly, Soph.
And throw in Jacquez Stuart in that mix, too.
Bryant Koback took the pressure off everyone else on the offense. He ran for 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns last year to close out his career with over 4,000 rushing yards with 45 touchdowns to go along with 654 receiving yards and seven scores.
Toledo always gets production out of its running backs, but Kelly and Stuart have to raise up their games several notches to give the offense a steady force like Koback was.
Toledo Rockets: Key Transfer
LB Deshawn Holt, Soph.
Toledo didn’t do a whole much with the transfer portal, and it’s already set at linebacker, but it’s getting a good one for the next few years with the 6-5, 240-pound Holt.
The Maryland transfer has next-level speed for the position and the exact right frame to be pass rusher who fits right into what the Rockets do. Last year he came up 15 tackles with two sacks but missed half the year hurt.
Toledo Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Northern Illinois, October 8
Toledo needs to push past Western Michigan on the road in the regular season finale, and it might have to get by Central Michigan at home. But to get out of the West and have an honest shot at the MAC title it needs to get past the defending MAC champs.
Northern Illinois was able to pull off the 22-20 win early in October of last year and that set the tone for the rest of the MAC season. Toledo lost a week later to Central Michigan, and that was it.
Toledo Rockets: 2021 Fun Stats
– Toledo 1st Quarter Scoring 72 – 2nd Quarter Scoring 165
– Penalties: Toledo 130 for 1,172 yards – Opponents 82 for 727 yards
– Average Yards Per Carry: Toledo 5.4 – Opponents 3.8