Ball State vs. Toledo
When: 3 p.m. Oct. 3
Where: Scheumann Stadium
Watch: ESPN3
Through four games, Ball State is 38 percent (25-of-65) on third down. This number puts the offense near the bottom in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Ineffectiveness on third down has forced the Cardinals to settle for field goals in situations where a touchdown could have been the backbreaker. Failure to capitalize in these situations hurt Ball State in the loss to No. 17 Northwestern Sept. 26.
“Depending on what down and distance this is, the defense gains control of that possession of that play and you’ve gotta operate,” offensive coordinator Joey Lynch said. “We just have to do a better job IDing things and executing, and that’s something we’re working on every day in practice, especially with [Neal].”
Lynch said the main culprit is missed opportunities, which have plagued the Cardinals in crucial situations all year. The red zone has been the primary area of concern. Ball State is 8-of-19 on converting touchdowns inside the 20-yard line, resulting in a 42 percent clip.
“The biggest thing is execution,” Lynch said. “Anytime you get in the red zone, everything’s tighter. Execution is at a premium, because there’s no vertical threat to your passing game, so everyone can squat on routes. So your timing has to be on point.”
With Neal and running back Darian Green, the Cardinals' offense has succeeded in moving the ball down the field on the early downs. Against Texas A&M and Northwestern, Green broke off several long runs to put Ball State in enemy territory, but it had to settle for three.
Coming into the game against Toledo, a team fielding one of the best defenses in the Mid-American Conference, freshman running back James Gilbert expects a different outcome for the offense in these types of situations.
“It starts with the first and second down," Gilbert said. "If we’re consistent on that, then third down won’t be a problem. Look for us to be more efficient this week on [Oct. 3] against the Rockets.”
With Ball State’s struggles in the red zone, it will be an interesting matchup with Toledo’s stout defense down there. So far, the Rockets have held their opponents to one touchdown on eleven trips inside the 20-yard line. Even more impressive is that teams end up without a red zone score on fewer than 30 percent of the time (3-for-11).
For the Cardinals to notch a key conference victory over Toledo (3-0) , they need to be able to convert more third downs and end up with seven points at the end of a possession instead of three.
“They’re a really good defensive unit,” Lynch said. “They do a really great job at stopping the run. ... They’re big, they’re athletic.
"It’s going to be a tough challenge. It’s one that were looking forward to.”
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