Bill Connelly always has the best, most in depth college football previews. His UC preview is up today. Here's the link: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...in/8232142

Unbelievably in dept and accurate

I agree; probably the most exciting preseason report I've ever read on Bearcat football. With the Reds' lackluster start and the Bengals--well, we all know what to expect from the Bengals; this could be a special season for UC football. It couldn't come at a better time: bigger stadium to fill and high anxiety about a P5 invite.

Here's hoping the injury bug stays away, Gunner wows the nation and Coach Tuberville shines. Enough about how bad the AAC is; let's just win, get ranked and see where that road leads. Go Bearcats!

(05-01-2015 03:03 PM)indycat Wrote:  I agree; probably the most exciting preseason report I've ever read on Bearcat football. With the Reds' lackluster start and the Bengals--well, we all know what to expect from the Bengals; this could be a special season for UC football. It couldn't come at a better time: bigger stadium to fill and high anxiety about a P5 invite.

Here's hoping the injury bug stays away, Gunner wows the nation and Coach Tuberville shines. Enough about how bad the AAC is; let's just win, get ranked and see where that road leads. Go Bearcats!

Disagree about the Bengals, I like where they are at (again check the injury bug) but totally stoked about this Bearcat FB team!

Love the idea of blitzing more with an improved man defense.

We're definitely in the tougher division, but the schedule is favorable and this is Tubbs' 3rd year - time to see the fruits of his coaching and recruiting.

Anything less than 11-1, an AAC championship, an Access Bowl invite and a Top 25 ranking and Tubbs will be on the hot seat come next season. He's already on the list of most over-paid coaches. It's time for him to earn those millions.

(05-04-2015 09:10 AM)mac6115cd Wrote:  We're definitely in the tougher division, but the schedule is favorable and this is Tubbs' 3rd year - time to see the fruits of his coaching and recruiting.

Anything less than 11-1, an AAC championship, an Access Bowl invite and a Top 25 ranking and Tubbs will be on the hot seat come next season. He's already on the list of most over-paid coaches. It's time for him to earn those millions.

Man you don't want much. What game can you except losing? Miami FL, @BYU, @Memphis, UCF, @ECU?


10-2 with AAC Champ or Co. Champ will be very good. Yes I understand that would likely mean a Toilet Bowl.

Provided Kiel is healthy all year this should be a 10 win regular season team that plays for the conference title. Of course, when is the last time UC had a QB healthy all year? Not sure there is a program in the country that had had more QB injuries over the last decade.

I wish I was as optimistic. I see both lines being a point of weakness, and that worries me.

Keeping Kiel healthy is a BIG if. I agree with the author's statement:

" but counting on freshman linemen to keep your offense moving is scary."

Having stud receivers/backs/QB mean nothing if the O-line struggles.

Also, all the talk of blitzing sounds nice, but that is another way of saying "we have no pass rush". Teams will counter the blitzing and good secondary by trying to run it down our throats. So, hopefully whoever replaces Luc and Temple are up to the task of stopping the run, because I still see the D-line as a weakness.

(05-04-2015 01:40 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wish I was as optimistic. I see both lines being a point of weakness, and that worries me.

Keeping Kiel healthy is a BIG if. I agree with the author's statement:

" but counting on freshman linemen to keep your offense moving is scary."

Having stud receivers/backs/QB mean nothing if the O-line struggles.

Also, all the talk of blitzing sounds nice, but that is another way of saying "we have no pass rush". Teams will counter the blitzing and good secondary by trying to run it down our throats. So, hopefully whoever replaces Luc and Temple are up to the task of stopping the run, because I still see the D-line as a weakness.

We are not going to rely on freshmen offensive linemen. Our starting 5 will consist of returning upper class men and a couple JUCOs. The weakness to our offensive line is that second and third units are a little green. Coach Hiiller has historically like to rotate 8-9 guys throughout a game (most coaches stick with the #1s the whole game). We might not have that luxury this year.

The front four is a concern of mine as well. I think our line backing corps should be ok (Clemente Cassius and Eric Wilson will fill Luc and Temple's shoes). We are in a pass happy league and if opposing Qbs have all day to throw we are going to get picked apart.

(05-04-2015 01:40 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I wish I was as optimistic. I see both lines being a point of weakness, and that worries me.

Keeping Kiel healthy is a BIG if. I agree with the author's statement:

" but counting on freshman linemen to keep your offense moving is scary."

Having stud receivers/backs/QB mean nothing if the O-line struggles.

Also, all the talk of blitzing sounds nice, but that is another way of saying "we have no pass rush". Teams will counter the blitzing and good secondary by trying to run it down our throats. So, hopefully whoever replaces Luc and Temple are up to the task of stopping the run, because I still see the D-line as a weakness.

Great Post.

We seem to do this every year... We project optimistically and say "This is the year!" ahead of the season and then we're making excuses ("There wasn't that much talent on the team!") after the season is over.

I say, set your goals low and you're not likely to be disappointed. A bowl will be nice.

(05-04-2015 03:45 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  We seem to do this every year... We project optimistically and say "This is the year!" ahead of the season and then we're making excuses ("There wasn't that much talent on the team!") after the season is over.

I say, set your goals low and you're not likely to be disappointed. A bowl will be nice.

A bowl would be nice??? You can make a bowl at 6-6. Unless UC loses its first 3 QBs, 6-6 (or even 7-5) would be a fireable offense. How low should we set our sites? UC has won 9+ all but 1 year since BK took over. I don't think it's incredibly optimistic to say this team should get one more win than last regular season (hell replacing OSU on the road /Miami Fl on the road with BYU on the road / Miami fl at home makes this likely). Anything less than 10 wins will be a disappointment.

(05-04-2015 03:56 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(05-04-2015 03:45 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  We seem to do this every year... We project optimistically and say "This is the year!" ahead of the season and then we're making excuses ("There wasn't that much talent on the team!") after the season is over.

I say, set your goals low and you're not likely to be disappointed. A bowl will be nice.

A bowl would be nice??? You can make a bowl at 6-6. Unless UC loses its first 3 QBs, 6-6 (or even 7-5) would be a fireable offense. How low should we set our sites? UC has won 9+ all but 1 year since BK took over. I don't think it's incredibly optimistic to say this team should get one more win than last regular season (hell replacing OSU on the road /Miami Fl on the road with BYU on the road / Miami fl at home makes this likely). Anything less than 10 wins will be a disappointment.

Agree with you 100% !

(05-04-2015 03:56 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(05-04-2015 03:45 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  We seem to do this every year... We project optimistically and say "This is the year!" ahead of the season and then we're making excuses ("There wasn't that much talent on the team!") after the season is over.

I say, set your goals low and you're not likely to be disappointed. A bowl will be nice.

A bowl would be nice??? You can make a bowl at 6-6. Unless UC loses its first 3 QBs, 6-6 (or even 7-5) would be a fireable offense. How low should we set our sites? UC has won 9+ all but 1 year since BK took over. I don't think it's incredibly optimistic to say this team should get one more win than last regular season (hell replacing OSU on the road /Miami Fl on the road with BYU on the road / Miami fl at home makes this likely). Anything less than 10 wins will be a disappointment.

Yup... A bowl would be nice.

Of course I want to see UC go 12-0. If they do, then I will be overjoyed.

10-11 wins would likewise be nice, but in our current situation, probably doesn't mean much. Certainly 10 wins means that someone else is in the "Access Bowl." But again, I'd be happy with a 10-11 win season. I don't know how realistic it is, but...

8-10 is probably in the "Realistic Range."

7-8 is on the lower edge.

6-6 probably doesn't get you bowling from the American. Temple was left out at 6-6 last year.

So... Yeah. A bowl (meaning 6-10 wins) would be nice.

Our DTs are a major issue. If you can't control the line of scrimmage, you can't control the game.

A friend of mine (and former UC FB player) was told directly to not expect much defense this year (again).

(05-04-2015 03:45 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  We seem to do this every year... We project optimistically and say "This is the year!" ahead of the season and then we're making excuses ("There wasn't that much talent on the team!") after the season is over.

I say, set your goals low and you're not likely to be disappointed. A bowl will be nice.

LOL uh...wut?

(05-04-2015 08:20 PM)namrag Wrote:  A friend of mine (and former UC FB player) was told directly to not expect much defense this year (again).

Going by the spring game, the defense looks like a mess. The secondary will be better, but linebacker and gulp interior defensive line take a step backwards. Maybe some diamonds in the rough or a late transfer will help on the defensive line. Does anyone know why hey keep the kid from Cleveland on the offensive line (Bowen). He is supposed to be a tremendous athlete and he does not come close to 300mpounds.

I think it is very important to beat Miami (FL). If we win 10 games again and lose to a 6-6 ACC/SEC team again this city will simply yawn if they even notice. Beat Miami, and some heads will turn. This will need to go along with making a little noise as well (10+ wins, top 25, nice bowl, etc.)