Game Thoughts Cincinnati

[ZRF]

I don't think you're entirely wrong that the defense has been a bit underwhelming but we're still ranked in the top 30 in the country in total defense. I think there are some individuals that have struggled at times but as a whole, we've done pretty well. We've had what, two bad defensive games, one was @ OU with one of the best offenses in the country, and the other was in a win against OSU.

I do not agree with your sentiment that Cincy is an absolute joke of an offense. They actually are rated one spot above KU's offense this year. Emory Jones is just not a great passer. He is an effective runner though, and they've ran the ball pretty effectively this year averaging 202 ypg. We held them to 115 on Saturday.

Our defense is very young in a lot of areas and we are subbing in young guys for young guys. I think the defense is only going to continue to get better this year and I think we're starting to figure a lot of things out at both the LB and DL position.

I'm going to make one major revision to what I said. Their defense is probably better than what I've given them credit for. Another (slight) revision is that we probably handled Jones' run capabilities better than most.

Their offensive numbers are skewed a bit by hammering Eastern Kentucky, a team that has no pulse, to the tune of 667 yards. Maybe they can play better than they did on Saturday but for playing at home and for playing against a team (us) that didn't necessarily play great football, they looked atrocious. Once we took away Jones' running capabilities with the spy (especially in the 2nd half), it was game over.

One other thing...you can probably give Tampa some more credit in taking Xzavier completely out of the game. But Jones is who is, I guy who can sometimes hit a big passing play (usually to Xzavier) but a guy who is always going to throw 2 INTs a game.

The big difference is I thought their Oline did a terrible job of opening holes. One thing I noticed is it seemed like our DL where playing very tight splits, basically clogging the middle, and daring/making Cinci beat us outside. I've been watching out LBs pretty intently the last several games and despite them being "off" on many of their gap shoots, their design runs typically just ran into a pile and got little to no gain. The Oline had very little push at the point of attack, at least against us. And we all saw what Jones did throwing the ball. He was terrible, basiclally an asset for us most of the game.

 

[HFCS]

It's weird but this is what actually matters by far (unless someone other than Texas/OU gets in this year's title game).

Arizona to me is the program people are sleeping on. Some very slow and steady progress over past year or two with crazy high upside as a program. They were already a little slept on with Utah's success but now with Colorado's hype I feel like they could still surprise everyone the next few years.

 

[clonebb]

We lost to two beatable teams and beat three weak opponents. Tougher competition will prove us as fakers or winners.

 

[flycy]

On offense I thought we called a better game...until the 4th quarter. This particular game wasn't as important as Cinci was inept (mostly) on offense. I'm bringing this up as we've done it before in games where it is much more significant. We simply can't hand the ball off on first and second down, putting Rocco and the OLine in a predictable passing down. Our line is NOT good enough to handle pressure and we are putting Rocco in a position to fail. We need a much better mixture in the 4th quarter, especially in close games. I don't have the stats but I'd venture to say our 3rd and long conversion percentage is abysmal, and that's relative to general averages.

You do realize the whole point when you are up big late is to eat the clock, so the other team has no chance at a miracle. Kind of explains why play calling was different.

 

[madguy30]

You do realize the whole point when you are up big late is to eat the clock, so the other team has no chance at a miracle. Kind of explains why play calling was different.

ZRF is not one to look at things outside of the vacuum that they view sports through.

 

[Cyforce]

Big 8 representing well.

 

[Statefan10]

You do realize the whole point when you are up big late is to eat the clock, so the other team has no chance at a miracle. Kind of explains why play calling was different.

I also don't understand his gripe with our 4th quarter play calling.. We had three drives:

7 plays, 69 yards, TD - time of possession was 4:05
3 plays, 7 yards, punt - time of possession was 2:16
5 plays, 25 yards, end of game - time of possession was 3:10

We scored on 3/4 drives we had in the second half excluding the last drive where we were running it out.

 

[Aclone]

Basically we are playing with the weakest front 6 (ooops....edited from 7) we have had since Campbell's first or second year. It may actually be the worst.

I had to laugh at this! “Weak”?!!

Okay, so Joey (edited) Petersen isn’t Will McDonald—but who is?

Oh yeah…Ike Ezeogu is working on that And, in the long run, may prove to be better overall. At the moment, he’s just inexperienced. And he’s not the only one who’ll be coming on.

Speaking of which, that’s about 75% of the “problem” with the linebacking corps—pure and simple, inexperience. Almost every single one of these guys wasn’t a Cyclone two years ago. And they’re ramping up nicely.

And oh yeah, the other 25%? Gerry Vaughn, the one player with actual experience, hasn’t been fully healthy. He couldn’t hit or wrap up right against TCU. News flash? He’s getting healthier—and the bye week will help.

Oh yeah…and the other two positions up front are probably both deeper and more talented than any group not only since CMC has been here—and probably going all the way back to when Earle Bruce tossed a bunch of studs out onto the field.

“Weak”? Lol.

And with all that youth, that front six is going to be NASTY the next couple of years!

 

[nrg4isu]

I had to laugh at this! “Weak”?!!

Okay, so Zach Petersen isn’t Will McDonald—but who is?

Oh yeah…Ike Ezeogu is working on that And, in the long run, may prove to be better overall. At the moment, he’s just inexperienced. And he’s not the only one who’ll be coming on.

Speaking of which, that’s about 75% of the “problem” with the linebacking corps—pure and simple, inexperience. Almost every single one of these guys wasn’t a Cyclone two years ago. And they’re ramping up nicely.

And oh yeah, the other 25%? Gerry Vaughn, the one player with actual experience, hasn’t been fully healthy. He couldn’t hit or wrap up right against TCU. News flash? He’s getting healthier—and the bye week will help.

Oh yeah…and the other two positions up front are probably both deeper and more talented than any group not only since CMC has been here—and probably going all the way back to when Earle Bruce tossed a bunch of studs out onto the field.

“Weak”? Lol.

And with all that youth, that front six is going to be NASTY the next couple of years!

I agree with most of that but...

1) It's Joey Peterson (Zach's brother)
2) From what I've seen, I worry a bit about LB speed. Part of that could just be inexperienced guys not fully committing to what they're doing. Will McLaughlin could be that guy going forward though.

 

[CyHans]

This might sound like I'm down on this team but I am not. It's been great having two games in a row basically decided by the end of the 3rd qtr. However constructive criticism is good. I'm worried by our defensive backfield. Their receiver had about 10 yards on our guy, fortunately the QB overthrew him by about 10 yards. We really struggle with fast receivers. When we get a turnover or good return we have to get a TD. A FG always helps but it's kind of a let down. Rushing yards still isn't great. Only 123 but we did outgain them.
In the end it's all about the W and I'm feeling much better about this team than I was after three games. A bowl game is looking like very attainable. Good job out of the guys in turning things around!

 

[bosco]

Did Cincy's OL do a bad job or did our DL cause that?

 

[ZRF]

You do realize the whole point when you are up big late is to eat the clock, so the other team has no chance at a miracle. Kind of explains why play calling was different.

Again, reading is fundamental. I'm all about "eating" clock when it makes sense, and in this particular game Cinci was so defunct that it did make sense. But what's the point of running ******, up the middle plays on first and second down, if you are going to show you 'care enough' about trying to get first downs by throwing in a far riskier situation? That was the crux of my point and it's not the first time/game in which we've done it.

The most effective way of "eating clock" is moving the ball and getting first downs. That doesn't explicitly mean running the ball when you haven't been particularly effective that game or throughout the entire season. Mix it up, don't be predictable, and don't take unnecessary risks. Having a freshman QB throwing passes with teams throwing the kitchen sink at him is just that, an unnecessary and stupid risk. Moreover it's not a particularly bright strategy.

 

[ZRF]

I had to laugh at this! “Weak”?!!

Okay, so Zach Petersen isn’t Will McDonald—but who is?

Oh yeah…Ike Ezeogu is working on that And, in the long run, may prove to be better overall. At the moment, he’s just inexperienced. And he’s not the only one who’ll be coming on.

Speaking of which, that’s about 75% of the “problem” with the linebacking corps—pure and simple, inexperience. Almost every single one of these guys wasn’t a Cyclone two years ago. And they’re ramping up nicely.

And oh yeah, the other 25%? Gerry Vaughn, the one player with actual experience, hasn’t been fully healthy. He couldn’t hit or wrap up right against TCU. News flash? He’s getting healthier—and the bye week will help.

Oh yeah…and the other two positions up front are probably both deeper and more talented than any group not only since CMC has been here—and probably going all the way back to when Earle Bruce tossed a bunch of studs out onto the field.

“Weak”? Lol.

And with all that youth, that front six is going to be NASTY the next couple of years!

You should have simply said "here come 8 lines of excuses". Inexperience, lack of talent...it doesn't matter. F

Fact is our front 6 is, without question, weak.

 

[cyfan92]

I hope Risning doesn't play the rest of the season and can get his medical hardship for next year. Utah with him is a playoff team.

Also, Utah plays BYU and Baylor in the non-con next year... How is that gonna work?? NO way they play 11 conference games, right?

 

[Aclone]

You should have simply said "here come 8 lines of excuses". Inexperience, lack of talent...it doesn't matter. F

Fact is our front 6 is, without question, weak.

Actually, if I were just going to cut to the chase, I would have just offered the obvious. That you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

I chose not to, because the rest of us knew that already.

 

[theshadow]

Also, Utah plays BYU and Baylor in the non-con next year... How is that gonna work?? NO way they play 11 conference games, right?

That's part of what the conference office has to work out re: scheduling -- whether those become conference games (and the teams have to scramble to find non-con replacements) or stay as non-con and those teams are just gonna have to nut up for a year or two.

There is a bit of a precedent in the ACC, with Wake/UNC playing non-con games in 2019 and 2021.

If they become conference games, then that trickles down to everyone else as far as the rotations are concerned.

 

[ZRF]

Actually, if I were just going to cut to the chase, I would have just offered the obvious. That you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.

I chose not to, because the rest of us knew that already.

I didn't know Nostradamus specialized in excuses and labeling those that called him out for just that, giving excuses to problem other teams have (and for the same reasons), clueless.

You literally listed 8 ******* lines of ******** excuses on why those units are struggling. You cited youth but part of the reason that youth is starting is that there is a MASSIVE talent gap at the LB position and that was also there last year. That was partially covered up by having more talent at the line position which we don't have this year.

In time maybe these players will prove to good players. I never even offered a supposition on whether or not that will (or won't) play out. I just don't see how anyone who watches this team can say our front 6 is excelling right now. They struggle to win battles. They struggle to make plays. Right now that's being partially minimized by having the strongest and most talented secondary this school has ever had. For now that means bad teams, like a Cincinnati, can't fully exploit us. But good teams (like an OU) can and have demolished us. And those problems started at the front of our defense.

But hey, if making up a litany of excuses rather than calling it what it really is makes you feel better then have at it, "A" clone.

 

[enisthemenace]

Wasn’t sure where to put this, but the top 6 guys must have been phenomenal. Tampa covered Cincy’s best receiver. That receiver had just one target, and Tampa broke it up (actually could have picked it. Would have been an amazing play, but he could have). Tampa’s INT was a target to a different receiver:

 

[isucy86]

We lost to two beatable teams and beat three weak opponents. Tougher competition will prove us as fakers or winners.

Sometimes it matters when you play a team. Would not be surprised if OSU & TCU finish the year strong.

IMO when looking back on the season, the OSU/TCU games will be considered solid victories.

 

[Cyforce]

Wasn’t sure where to put this, but the top 6 guys must have been phenomenal. Tampa covered Cincy’s best receiver. That receiver had just one target, and Tampa broke it up (actually could have picked it. Would have been an amazing play, but he could have). Tampa’s INT was a target to a different receiver:

Ratings for defensive players aren't going to accurately compute their contribution.