No matter how dominant the win, Ball State University football coach Brady Hoke has found something to gripe about after each game his team has played this season.
The issues he brings up are seldom dire. At one point in the season, he's been displeased with the Cardinals' running game as well as the kickoff coverage and return teams. All three are among the best in the Mid-American Conference.
After Ball State's 41-20 win Saturday against Kent State, Hoke had made his best complaint of the season. It's the only issue that should concern fans.
Ball State's run defense must get better.
If it doesn't, it will be the fatal flaw that keeps the Cardinals from running the dream regular season and finishing 12-0.
The 176 rushing yards Ball State allowed to Kent State was embarrassing. The Golden Flashes have the best rushing offense in the MAC, but they played without their best running back - Eugene Jarvis.
Most of the damage came from quarterback Julian Edelman. Without two sacks and a couple more tackles for loss, Edelman would've rushed for 103 yards. Edelman is the leading rusher among quarterbacks in the MAC, but his arm isn't good enough to put fear into an elite-level high school team. He certainly isn't close to the caliber of Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour.
"I think in the traditional runs, without Edelman going back to pass and then scrambling, we didn't fit a couple things as well as we can," Hoke said. "I thought some of our guys up front needed to play a little better."
The porous performance against Kent State's running game didn't hurt Ball State, but the competition will only get better.
"It starts this Saturday," Hoke said, referring to Toledo's two running backs, DaJuane Collins and Morgan Williams. The two combine for 648 rushing yards and rank second and sixth in the MAC, respectively, in rushing yards per game.
Six of the top 10 rushers in the MAC remain on Ball State's schedule, including LeFevour and Western Michigan tailback Brandon West. Imagine the troubles Ball State will have against better runners of this caliber.
The blame for the Caridnals' poor run defense falls on their linebackers.
Ball State's linebackers preach team speed like it's saving grace. The group is undoubtedly faster than last year, but it's also one of the most undersized linebacker units in the MAC.
The biggest player that roams the middle of the field - fifth-year senior Kenny Meeks - is only 230 pounds. Only three of the Cardinals 11 linebackers weigh more than 220 pounds. That's undersized - even for a MAC team - and it shows on the field.
The tackling numbers haven't been there this season. Only two of Ball State's top eight tacklers are linebackers. The other six, including team leader Sean Baker, play in the Cardinals' secondary. That's not supposed to happen.
If Ball State has one of the fastest linebacker groups in its league, it's also one of the least physical units. Not one linebacker has the ability to nail a ball carrier's butt to the field turf on a consistent basis. And yes, I understand questioning a Division I football player's fortitude might not be to the best interest of my health, but it's true.
It is to Ball State's players' best interest that the run defense solidifies. If Hoke is negative after a 21-point win, imagine his displeasure if the Cardinals' inability to stop the run results in their first stumble of the season.
Write to Ryan at rtwood@bsu.edu
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