(10-10-2017 10:21 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  https://espn1530.iheart.com/featured/lance-mcalister/content/2017-10-07-uc-football-the-fickell-pass/


UC football: Pass, patience and the R word.

posted by Lance McAlister - 2 hours ago

UC football: The Fickell Pass

The last three weeks of UC football have been difficult to watch: A 42-32 loss to Navy that included allowing 569 yards rushing, a 38-21 home loss to Marshall and Saturday's weather shortened 51-23 home loss to Central Florida have offered a sobering reality of the situation.

The Bearcats are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the American. It's UC's first 2-4 start since 2004. UC is a Chuck Martin/Miami meltdown away from being 1-5. The Bearcats have led just 53:57 minutes this season, while trailing or being tied for 344:57. The 51 points allowed to UCF are the most allowed in a loss at Nippert since 1998, in 52-34 loss to Tulane. UCF's 51 points came in just three quarters, before weather forced the cancellation of the game.

UC opened as a 24.5 point underdog at South Florida this Saturday.

Last month, OSU coach Urban Meyer told CBS Sports it drives him "insane" when coaches blame players they inherited from a previous staff for struggles of the program.

"Players read that," Meyer added. "Those are your players. I hear TV guys [say], 'Wait until they get their own players in there.' They're our players. What do you mean 'their players?' The minute you sign a contract, they're your players."

I'm not here to blame the players. Fickell certainly hasn't blamed his players. But let's deal with reality.The blame for this situation begins at the feet of Tommy Tuberville, right next to his golf bag. He left behind a roster lacking speed and playmaking ability and in need of an overall upgrade in talent.

Tuberville was fired because he was a poor/disinterested/disengaged recruiter. His last two recruiting classes were ranked No. 65 nationally in 2015 and No. 79 in 2016 by 24/7 Sports.

Compounding this issue is that Fickell inherits a young team. Coaches inheriting losing situations want older teams. Why? Because that means the players they did not recruit and/or that don't fit their system, will soon be moving out of the program and creating available scholarships.

According to UC game notes, 77 of the 112 players (69.0 percent) on the UC roster this season are true freshman, redshirt freshman and sophomores. So, 48 of those players (42.8) are Tuberville recruits and will be around 2-3 more seasons. 35 of his recruits are junior and seniors. I count 29 true freshman (25.8 percent) that make up Fickell's first recruiting class.

Fickell's first class was rated No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference. According to Bearcat Journal, UC's 2018 class is currently ranked No. 1 class in the American and No. 43 overall. Just last week, Fickell added UC's top RB target, Ryan Montgomery of Franklin High School.

It will be at least more two recruiting classes and two more seasons before we start to see Fickell's vision of UC football. That's not an excuse. It is reality.

That doesn't absolve Fickell of all blame and responsibility. The Bearcats have looked undisciplined and unprepared at times this season. They have been outscored 62-14 in the first quarter of games. The personal fouls and repeated breakdowns in the secondary have been alarming. Saturday night UC committed nine penalties, including eight in the first half: three false starts, an illegal snap, an ineligible receiver downfield and three personal fouls.

For now, fans are left to deal with a situation left behind by Tuberville. Fickell is left to try and hold what's left of this season together, while getting his freshman more and more snaps.

The bottom line: This city has rebuild fatigue. I've heard boos early and often the last two games at Nippert. Just over 27,000 were on hand Saturday night. Six games remain in the season, including three home games. Going 4-2 to be bowl eligible seems like a pipe dream.

Are UC fans patient enough to deal with this? Are fans willing to grant Fickell a pass?

We are about to find out.

(10-10-2017 02:37 PM)nachoman91 Wrote:  First off, what does "The R Word" mean? What is he referring to here?

(10-10-2017 03:01 PM)gerhard911 Wrote:  Rebuild ?

(10-10-2017 02:37 PM)nachoman91 Wrote:  First off, what does "The R Word" mean? What is he referring to here?

Secondly, I get it that Fickell has taken over a young and less talented team, but so far I'm not at all impressed with his ability to even get them to do the small things well. UC looks undisciplined is almost every area and the amount of bad/dumb/unforced penalties and mistakes is atrocious. Fickell has a long way to go to prove he can head coach at this level.

(10-10-2017 03:10 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:  

(10-10-2017 02:37 PM)nachoman91 Wrote:  First off, what does "The R Word" mean? What is he referring to here?

Secondly, I get it that Fickell has taken over a young and less talented team, but so far I'm not at all impressed with his ability to even get them to do the small things well. UC looks undisciplined is almost every area and the amount of bad/dumb/unforced penalties and mistakes is atrocious. Fickell has a long way to go to prove he can head coach at this level.

I don't mean to completely excuse this, but to put things in perspective, just ask yourself how often does a team that is getting its butt kicked by one that is bigger, stronger, faster ever really look good? A lot of times, when players are physically overmatched, the mental game goes out the window, too.

(10-10-2017 03:10 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:  

(10-10-2017 02:37 PM)nachoman91 Wrote:  First off, what does "The R Word" mean? What is he referring to here?

Secondly, I get it that Fickell has taken over a young and less talented team, but so far I'm not at all impressed with his ability to even get them to do the small things well. UC looks undisciplined is almost every area and the amount of bad/dumb/unforced penalties and mistakes is atrocious. Fickell has a long way to go to prove he can head coach at this level.

I don't mean to completely excuse this, but to put things in perspective, just ask yourself how often does a team that is getting its butt kicked by one that is bigger, stronger, faster ever really look good? A lot of times, when players are physically overmatched, the mental game goes out the window, too.

(10-10-2017 03:43 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  

(10-10-2017 03:10 PM)Former Lurker Wrote:  

(10-10-2017 02:37 PM)nachoman91 Wrote:  First off, what does "The R Word" mean? What is he referring to here?

Secondly, I get it that Fickell has taken over a young and less talented team, but so far I'm not at all impressed with his ability to even get them to do the small things well. UC looks undisciplined is almost every area and the amount of bad/dumb/unforced penalties and mistakes is atrocious. Fickell has a long way to go to prove he can head coach at this level.

I don't mean to completely excuse this, but to put things in perspective, just ask yourself how often does a team that is getting its butt kicked by one that is bigger, stronger, faster ever really look good? A lot of times, when players are physically overmatched, the mental game goes out the window, too.

eh, there are plenty of teams that punch above their weight because they are well coached but not very talented. We're in the bottom third in penalties and turnover margin. Lot's of boneheaded plays. But more than that we look simply unprepared on defense at times. Like we don't know what play is coming and aren't close to the ball wherever it goes (as opposed to just being outmatched by bigger, faster, stronger players). Has the feel of the 2015 season in that regard. But I'll agree we were outmatched by Michigan, UCF and possibly Navy. But I didn't see a physical mismatch against Austin Peay, Miami or Marshall (who was 3-9 last year and squeaked by Miami and then Charlotte this past weekend).