As shocking as it is for me to say this, the Ball State University football team will miss Larry Bostic at running back.
Yes, the same person who didn't take over as the Cardinals' top rusher until the second-to-last game against the University of Toledo, six weeks after MiQuale Lewis injured his shoulder late in the fourth quarter against the University at Buffalo on Oct. 7. And it wasn't like Lewis set the bar high; he rushed for 280 yards in six games before the injury.
But Bostic's downhill running which was nowhere to be found in the first eight games provided a huge spark in the final four games. While it was no doubt a great way to end his career, one has to wonder what might have happened to this team if the running game was like this all year.
The other Achilles' heel with Ball State this year was the defense. While it did a good job shutting down Kent State University's mobile quarterback, Julian Edelman, it didn't fare any better in 2006 nationally than in 2005. In 2006, the Cardinals were 103rd against the run, 117th against the pass and 115th overall out of 119 Division I-A teams. In 2005 (out of 117 teams), it was 105th, 95th and 111th. However, the total yardage is down. It was 459 yards in 2005 and 433 in 2006.
Unfortunately, you can pretty much tie the two together. As the old clich+â-¬ goes, in order to win championships, you need a running game and a defense.
The biggest advantage to having a decent running game is that it takes time off the clock and lets you control the line of scrimmage. In the same breath and most importantly it keeps your defense off the field, something Ball State desperately needed this season.
The injuries that occurred to the defense this season played a much bigger role than anyone could've imagined. Defensive back Trey Buice missed the first four games, linebacker Bryant Haines missed four games and linebacker Brad Seiss missed five games and played sparingly in two others because of injury or illness. That's 13 starts missed on the defensive side of the ball. That's awfully hard to overcome, especially since the team is paper-thin depth-wise.
But offensively, a lot of firepower returns next year. Nate Davis, Dante Love and Darius Hill will all be back. Though Love disappeared in stretches this year, he had at least three plays that would qualify as Play of the Year nominees: the 31-yard touchdown run against Eastern Michigan University where he zigzagged his way around hapless Eagle defenders; his 54-yard touchdown reception against the University of Michigan, blowing by Wolverine cornerback Johnny Sears on a perfect toss from Davis; and his 41-yard catch against Kent State, laying out for an over-the-shoulder catch.
Lewis and B.J. Hill will need to balance the running attack. Terry Moss will be sorely missed in the passing game, though. Moss was the big play threat, averaging 25.4 yards per catch this season (27 catches for 685 yards). Louis Johnson will probably be called on to replace Moss' firepower. It's hard to speculate on incoming freshmen, Dan Ifft might see immediate playing time as well. The senior wide receiver from Dover, Ohio, who has committed to Ball State, finished his senior season with 114 receptions for 1,822 yards and 19 touchdowns.
There's no question the passing game will be there for the Cardinals next year. However, success for 2007 will come back to the running game. Can Lewis or Hill keep up the level of play Bostic showed at the end of the season? It will be necessary if the team has grand thoughts about winning a Mid-American Conference championship.
Write to Phil at prfriend@bsu.edu.
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