Ball State had perhaps the most dangerous offense in the Mid-American Conference a year ago.

The Cardinals were scary-good in the passing game, scored 30 or more points in eight of their 12 games, and ran the ball better than they have in the five years since Brady Hoke became head coach.

But there was a nagging problem in those accomplishments that haunted Ball State throughout the 2007 season. It was not good in short-yardage

situations.

That will become a main focus of the Cardinals as they go through their 15 spring practice sessions.

Ball State fell short in the MAC championship race last year, and one of the keys to becoming a stronger factor in the title chase could be how much improvement it makes in third-and-one situations and running with authority in the final four minutes of games while trying to protect a lead.

"We have to get better at that as a group," Hoke said. "It's something that this spring we know we have to focus on so we get ourselves to be more successful in those situations."

The Cardinals failed several times last year in third-and-one situations. They couldn't get a first down in that circumstance while leading 13-7 with two minutes left in their first game, and Miami rallied to win 14-13.

"Those were situations throughout the year where we weren't consistent enough," Hoke said.

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