Tuberville: Bearcats' defense is 'pretty good'
Nov. 29, 2013 3:27 PM

Written by
Tom Groeschen

Tommy Tuberville is fielding a pretty fair defense in his first season as University of Cincinnati football coach, but he wants more. The Bearcats rank No. 9 nationally in total defense and tied for No. 9 in scoring defense.

Tuberville knows something about defense, having made his bones as a defensive assistant for three Miami Hurricanes national title teams (1987, 1989, 1991).

Thus, when Tuberville sees statistics that also include UC ranking No. 5 nationally in rushing defense and No. 29 in passing defense, he tends to not overreact. For Tuberville the key number is scoring defense, where UC allows 18.5 points per game.

“I really don’t look at the yardage,” Tuberville said. “I look at the points scored. We’re around 18 a game but I would like to be around 15 a game. If you keep it around 15, I’d say you’re successful on defense.”

Tuberville credits defensive coordinator Art Kaufman and defensive assistants Robert Prunty, Fred Tate and Steve Clinkscale for identifying the right personnel and putting them in the proper positions.

“We’ve played pretty good defense, considering some of the situations we’ve been in this year with injuries,” Tuberville said.

UC (9-2, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) has a six-game winning streak. Quarterback Brendon Kay leads a relatively productive offense, with UC tied for 35th nationally at 34.2 points per game. The UC defense has helped, as in getting the Bearcats the ball. UC forced 10 punts in last week’s 24-17 win at Houston. Also, a Houston offense that was averaging 35.6 points was held to 10 offensive points.

Stat leaders include linebacker Greg Blair (78 tackles), linebacker Nick Temple (11 tackles for loss), defensive end Silverberry Mouhon (8 ½ sacks, seven QB hurries), cornerback Deven Drane (three interceptions) and safety Arryn Chenault (six pass break-ups).

Senior defensive tackle Jordan Stepp leads the defensive linemen with 34 tackles and has six sacks. Freshman safety Zach Edwards has been a real find, leading the secondary with 59 tackles.

The Bearcats have worked around injuries, including early-season starting cornerback Trenier Orr (knee) missing most of the year. Another starting corner, Drane, lately has battled a hamstring ailment.

UC faces a major challenge in its regular season finale Thursday at Nippert Stadium, when Louisville and preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Teddy Bridgewater visit. The game plan likely will include as many hits on quarterback Bridgewater as possible.

“I think we’ll be well-prepared,” Blair said. “It’s going to be a great game. If everyone does their jobs and makes the right reads and we have our discipline, we can do well against him.”

BCS watch

The Bearcats could wind up in a BCS Bowl, probably the Sugar Bowl, if things fall their way.

UC would earn the AAC’s BCS bid by beating Louisville and having Central Florida lose both of its remaining games. If Central Florida loses one of its remaining two games (against South Florida and SMU), the Bearcats probably would win a tiebreaker with Central Florida for the AAC title.

That is the word from BCS expert Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com.

“If they tie for the league title, there is a very high probability that Cincinnati would wind up ahead of Central Florida in the final BCS standings,” Palm said. “It would pretty much be a done deal.”

Central Florida (9-1, 6-0 AAC) plays host to South Florida (2-8, 2-4 AAC) on Friday night. Central Florida will be favored to win that game and also its season finale at SMU, which is 5-6 overall and 4-3 AAC.

UC entered Friday ranked No. 28 in the BCS standings, while Central Florida was No. 19. Louisville was No. 20.

The Sugar Bowl is Jan. 2 in New Orleans. Palm projects an Auburn-Central Florida matchup in the Sugar Bowl, and sees UC playing Mississippi State in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4 in Birmingham.

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