After all the hype the Eddie George Show brought to BGSU football, the team finally got down to real work with the only open practice of the season Monday. Here are your Falcon Four observations.
There is leadership in Bowling Green
Whether it’s in the offensive line, veteran quarterback Drew Pyne or new head coach Eddie George, BGSU built a culture focused on leadership. Time will tell if the talk about leading by example and showing accountability comes to pass, but George and his team have worked to unite as a group on a short timeframe, with George only being hired March 9 after Scot Loeffler’s abrupt departure for the NFL.
The offensive line will be a strong suit
The BGSU offensive line brings plenty of experience and calls itself a brotherhood. “Just make sure we’re on the same page,” said senior center Alex Padgett.” We already click as a unit.” Padgett started every game for the past two seasons, indicative of the unit’s depth and with his experience comes a clear understanding of the goals for the season. “Win the MAC, beat that school up North, and then win our bowl game and take it from there if we can,” he said.
The running back position could be a hidden gem
With the departure of bell cow back Terion Stewart and George’s expressed desire to run the football, the running back position is either a concern or an opportunity. PaSean Wimberley, Nakai Amachree, and Chris Edmonds could be the starter against Lafayette come Aug. 28 or it could be a running back by committee. But with an experienced offensive line and George’s dedication to the run, there could be some pleasant surprises.
Despite a new roster, plenty of optimism
A new coach, a new coaching staff and losing 30 players to graduation (including a handful to the NFL), could lead to anxiety, but George and his players are all saying the right things, emphasizing optimism, work ethic and team unity. That will be tested early with high profile games against Cincinnati and Louisville sandwiched around explosive Liberty before a front-loaded Mid-American Conference schedule that begins with Ohio and Toledo.
