Falcons preparing for stretch run (10-30-12)

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After nine straight Saturdays with a game, Bowling Green has some extra time to
prepare for its November stretch run.The Falcons, 6-3 overall, have won five
straight games and are in second place in the Mid-American Conference at 4-1
after beating Eastern Michigan last Saturday, 24-3.Bowling Green is idle until a
game on Nov. 7 at Ohio. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. and the game will be televised on
ESPN2. Ohio suffered a 23-20 loss to Miami last Saturday knocking the Bobcats
(7-1, 3-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten and out of the Top 25 national
rankings.”We’ve played very well in October and we’re on a little bit of a
winning streak; sometimes when that’s happening you want to keep playing,” BG
head coach Dave Clawson said. "But like everybody else in the conference
… our guys are a little banged up so we’re hoping to get them some rest, get
them off their feet, and allow them to heal. That will give us a little more
energy and juice as we head into November.”The Falcons watched film and lifted
on Sunday, but had Monday and today off from practice. Fundamentals on the base
offense and defense will be the focus of Wednesday’s practice. Then the work
begins on the Ohio gameplan, Clawson said."With having the 11 days we will
be able to get an extra practice in against Ohio," Clawson said.After the
Ohio game, the Falcons have another long layoff before hosting Kent State on
Nov. 17 in a pivotal MAC game.DEFENSE: BG’s defense has been the catalyst for
the current five-game winning streak.In the last five games, BG has allowed some
mind-boggling numbers – 33 points, including three touchdowns; 56 first downs;
207.8 yards per game in total offense (140.6 yards rushing and 67.2 yards
passing); a 24.3 percent success rate on third-down conversions (18-of-74);
while getting 16 quarterback sacks and seven interceptions.Improved tackling has
been one of the keys to the success."We are getting much better play up
front, so there are fewer plays getting to the third level of our defense. Where
we really struggled the past two years was so many missed tackles in the back
end at safety and corner. When you miss a tackle back there, it’s a big play and
a lot of times a touchdown," Clawson said. "Our secondary is doing a
much better job tackling.”Clawson said Jerry ‘BooBoo’ Gates and Ryland Ward at
safety and Darrell Hunter, DeVon McKoy, and Cameron Truss at cornerback have
been much better tacklers this season."When runs do break out, instead of
going for 60 yards, they might be going for 16,” Clawson said. ”It’s something
we certainly emphasized in spring and in (fall) camp. But a lot of it is those
guys have now played more football, and they have become better players … They
get their bodies in better position when they are tackling now."We are
certainly going to have some challenges ahead,” he added. ”Ohio is a team we
haven’t tackled well the previous two years … They are going to present a
great challenge to us.”SCHILZ: Despite a 9-of-20 passing effort for 78 yards
against Eastern Michigan, quarterback Matt Schilz has moved up to fourth on two
different Falcons’ career passing lists.Schilz has 1,076 attempts going past
Rich Dackin’s total of 1,056 (1986-89) and 6,999 yards passing going ahead of
Omar Jacobs’ total of 6,938 (2003-05).SACKS: With his 2 1/2 sacks in the Eastern
victory, Chris Jones is now second on the all-time and single-season lists at
BG. Kevin O’Brien leads both categories with 31 career sacks and 19 sacks in the
1992 season. Jones has 11 1/2 sacks this season and 27 for his career.PROBABLE:
Anthon Samuel, BG’s leading rusher with 725 yards and leading scorer with nine
touchdowns, missed the Eastern game with a neck injury.Clawson said Samuel is
currently listed as probable for the Ohio game and hopes he can practice on
Wednesday.SCOUTING: With Thursday’s Eastern at Ohio game being televised on
ESPNU starting at 6 p.m., Falcon fans have the opportunity to make their own
scouting report on the Bobcats.

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