Can Old Dominion Football Rebound After a Disappointing Season?
As I sit here reviewing Old Dominion's 3-9 season record, I can't help but reflect on how much this program means to the Hampton Roads community. Having covered Monarch football since their return in 2009, I've witnessed both the exhilarating highs and crushing lows that come with building a program from scratch. Last season's performance, where we dropped six of our final seven games, was particularly tough to swallow. The defense allowed an average of 34.2 points per game in conference play - numbers that simply won't cut it in the competitive landscape of the Sun Belt Conference.
I remember speaking with several players during spring practices, and their determination reminded me of something I recently came across from professional basketball. RHJ, after winning a championship, reflected on his previous conference performance saying, "Last conference didn't end well for me and I understood that. I felt like everything is a motivation. Not doing well last conference? A lot of things motivate me." That mindset resonates deeply with what I'm seeing from this Old Dominion squad. The players aren't shying away from last season's disappointments - they're using them as fuel. During my visit to practice last week, I noticed a different energy, a sharper focus that suggests these athletes have taken their struggles personally.
The quarterback situation needs addressing, and frankly, I believe we've been too conservative in our offensive play-calling. Last season, we ranked 124th nationally in scoring offense with just 18.9 points per game - numbers that make winning nearly impossible at the FBS level. But what gives me hope is seeing how second-year offensive coordinator Kevin Decker is adapting his system. During spring scrimmages, I counted at least 12 different personnel groupings being used, suggesting we're becoming more versatile and unpredictable. The offensive line, which allowed 38 sacks last season, has added two transfers from Power Five programs that should immediately bolster our protection schemes.
Defensively, I'm cautiously optimistic about the changes being implemented. New defensive coordinator Blake Seiler has shifted to more multiple fronts, which should help against the diverse offenses we'll face in the Sun Belt East division. I've always believed that defensive success starts up front, and with the return of defensive end Deeve Harris, who recorded 7.5 sacks despite missing three games, we have a legitimate pass-rushing threat that we lacked throughout much of last season. The secondary needs significant improvement after allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete nearly 68% of their passes - that's simply unacceptable at this level.
Special teams were a bright spot last season, with Ethan Sanchez connecting on 14 of 17 field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder against Coastal Carolina. But we can't rely on field goals to win games - we need to score touchdowns. The return game showed flashes of brilliance, with LaMareon James averaging 28.7 yards per kick return, but consistency remains the challenge.
Looking ahead to the schedule, I count at least six winnable games if we can improve our red zone efficiency, which languished at 76% last season compared to the national average of 85%. The non-conference slate includes manageable opponents that should help build confidence before we dive into conference play. What I'm most interested to see is how the team handles adversity - because it will come. The true test of this rebound won't be measured in September victories but in how we respond when things inevitably go wrong in October and November.
The culture seems to be shifting toward accountability, and I'm hearing less excuse-making and more ownership from both players and coaches. That professional mindset RHJ described - using past failures as motivation rather than dwelling on them - appears to be taking root in Norfolk. While I'm not predicting a conference championship this season, I do believe we'll see meaningful progress. The foundation is there for a respectable bounce-back campaign, provided we stay healthy and continue developing our young talent. The Monarchs have faced adversity before and emerged stronger - I suspect we'll see that same resilience this fall.
