No reason for linebacker not to hit

by Bill Bender
THE POST

It is never a good idea to mess with the quiet ones.

Although Ohio outside linebacker Matt Weikert maintains a calm demeanor off the field, his activities on the field tend to cause a lot of commotion.

Weikert has recovered successfully from a season-ending knee injury in 1999 to help ignite the Bobcats pass rush this season.

Weikert first earned a starting job in 1999. After compiling two sacks and a career-high eight-tackle performance against Northern Iowa in the second game last season, he missed the last four games with the injury.

Weikert said the injury has not been a concern this season.

"As far as the injury goes I just try not to think about it," Weikert said. "When I'm out there on the field it doesn't matter."

Weikert has given opposing offenses plenty to think about. The Covington, Ohio, native leads the Bobcats with four sacks. Besides disposing of quarterbacks, Weikert has posted nine tackles for a loss and one interception.

Despite racking up the personal statistics, Weikert said he is out to make a positive contribution to the team first.

"I just strive to my best out there," he said. "As long as we get a win nothing else matters."

Weikert mans the outside linebacker position with Greg Baskin. The duo made Central Michigan quarterback Derrick Vickers feel the heat from both sides of the field in Ohio's 52-3 drubbing of the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday.

A penchant for pouncing on the pigskin almost led to a touchdown for Weikert against Tennessee Tech earlier this season. After a blocked punt, Weikert fell on the football on the 1-yard line.

Ohio coach Jim Grobe said Weikert's efforts have been a pleasant surprise.

"Matt's really showing up to play every week," Grobe said. "He's making our bonus charts (individual performance reports), recovering fumbles and picking off passes. We're getting a lot of production out of him."

Weikert's contributions have helped the Bobcats jump in the Mid-American Conference standings. Ohio is ranked fourth in total defense, and the Bobcats surrender only 16.5 points per game. The elevated defensive play has given Ohio a chance to make a run for the MAC East Division title.

Weikert, a communications major, uses his skill to communicate with his defensive teammates. Weikert lives with two inside linebackers, teammates Matt Spitler and Brad Wharton.

Weikert said it is helpful living with teammates.

"One way it helps is if someone sleeps in we can wake him up," he said. "Other than that, we don't talk a lot about football. That's our free time to lounge around."

Although Weikert might not talk a lot about football in his free time, teammates are talking about the outside linebacker's personal life. His parents, John