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Whereas last year’s Rockets relied on a standout quarterback and running back, Toledo’s strength in 2014 is its overall depth.
Still, this team is playing a home game against an SEC program for the first time ever. Toledo’s spread offense puts up points year after year, and the Rockets are likely to move the ball some on Missouri. The Tigers need to find a way to limit Toledo’s scoring, perhaps through a few takeaways.
Toledo’s defense should be an improved group in 2014. Many small-conference analysts are picking the Rockets to win the MAC this season. A Missouri road win would be a good confidence boost, keep the Tigers on track for an unbeaten non-conference schedule and indicate that the team made progress since the season opener.
Here are some Toledo players to watch out for on Saturday.
1. QB Phillip Ely: I’ve already gone through the matchup against Ely and the passing game in detail. I’m curious to see if defensive coordinator Dave Steckel can design a few things to throw off Ely’s pre-snap reads.
2. RB Kareem Hunt: David Fluellen was the only back to rush for more than 100 yards against Missouri last season until the SEC Championship. Hunt, his replacement, averaged 6.3 yards per carry last year and nearly rushed for 1,000 yards. The Tigers did well against the run last week for the most part, but must make sure Hunt doesn’t get free for any huge touchdown runs.
3. C Greg Mancz: One of the best players in the MAC, Mancz likely will get drafted in 2015. He’s started 39 consecutive games for the Rockets. While the matchup with Ely is key, the chess match is as much between the savvy Mancz and the Missouri front seven as it is between Ely and the secondary.
4. LB Junior Sylvestre: The 6-foot, 222-pound linebacker from Hollywood, Fla., led the team with 118 total tackles in 2013 as a first-team All-MAC selection. The Sporting News named him the preseason MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He made a team-high nine stops against New Hampshire.
5. DT Treyvon Hester: The 6-foot-4, 300-pound interior lineman made 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2013. The former three-star recruit is young, but Hester is a big body with talent not unlike some of the SEC defensive linemen. Center Evan Boehm and the rest of the Missouri line need to account for him on both run and pass plays.
Others To Watch: WR Alonzo Russell, G Jeff Myers, OT Josh Hendershot, K Jeremiah Detmer.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
