Ostman focuses on leadership, defensive changes for upcoming season
CANTON, Ohio — Seven months ago, the Central Michigan football team’s season came to an end when it lost 55-10 to Tulsa in the Miami Beach Bowl.
After starting the season 4-2, CMU stumbled across the finish line to a 6-7 finish, losing five of their last seven games. After the painful loss, senior defensive end Joe Ostman immediately shifted his focus to the 2017 season.
“The second I stepped off the field in Miami, I couldn't wait to get the next season going,” Ostman said. “We were a better team than how we played. As a team we weren't in the position we wanted to be in, and I think we have used that for motivation every day this summer.”
Last year was Ostman's comeback season, after only playing three games in the 2015-16 season due to injury. The St. Ignace native started all 13 games for the Chippewas in 2016, totaling 69 tackles (41 solo, 28 assisted) with 13.5 of those being for 75 lost yards for opposing teams. He recorded nine sacks on the year, which was good for second in the Mid-American Conference and 34th overall in the nation.
Leading by example on and off the field
Ostman said he hopes to set an example on the field to remain a key player for the Chippewas. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder made the All-MAC Second Team Defense and was named the Co-Defensive Player of the Year for CMU with senior teammate Amari Coleman.
“I just want to bring consistency and (do) whatever I have to do to help this team win more games,” he said. “Whether it's sacking the quarterback, making tackles, TFL’s (tackles for loss) or being a leader out there."
Head coach John Bonamego called Ostman a "model citizen," and said that his dedication goes beyond the football field.
“Joey is Mr. Do-right," Bonamego said. "There is nothing he doesn't give 1,000 percent to. He works exceptionally hard and that transitions to every facet of his life. He’s an outstanding student because he works hard in the classroom and it’s important to him."
Ostman holds a 3.65 grade point average heading into his senior year. In May, he will earn a Bachelor's degree in marketing.
Changes to the defense
As an overall defense, Ostman talked about how the team needs to swarm to the ball as a group and play with a higher intensity that he believes they played with at times last year.
Statistically, the Chippewas numbers were down overall last season compared to the previous two seasons before that.
Starting with the points, CMU allowed 394 total points (30.3 points per game) in 2016, when in 2015 CMU only allowed 286 points (22 ppg) for the entire season. In both total rushing and passing yards, CMU allowed over 350 more yards in 2016 than in 2015.
Ostman said a lot of those issues can be fixed starting himself and his fellow defensive lineman.
“Most of those yard totals were up because of the big plays we would allow much too often,” Ostman said. “As a defense, it starts with myself and my teammates up front to get to the quarterback quicker and allow our corners to cover for less time. In the running game, if we swarm to the ball as a defense more often, the breakout rushing plays will be slowed. I want to set an example with my play and hopefully energize the players around me to do the same.”
Looking ahead
The Chippewas return 40 upperclassmen this fall, 23 of whom are seniors. Having so many leaders and playmakers back can only help the entire team as the year goes along, Ostman said.
Just before MAC Media Day began on Wednesday, the conference released the preseason poll predictions. The Chippewas were picked to finish fifth in the MAC West Division.
Postman said despite the preseason poll, he and his teammates have higher expectations for this year.
“Really, the sky is the limit for this team,” Ostman said. “We are going to be as good as we make ourselves. We have the talent and playmakers on both sides of the ball, it’s just going to come down to the leadership of the team and how we stay together. It doesn't matter where people predict us, we just need to remember what we are playing for, and thats to win this conference.”
When asked about how he plans to proves that his team can win the MAC, it was a simple response.
“We will let our play do the talking, because last year we didn’t,” Ostman said. “Now, it’s a new year, and that’s all we can ask for. We have the chance to do something special with this team.”
