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Marcus Freeman Tackles New Role at UC
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../99839034/
When Marcus Freeman evaluates his personnel, the University of Cincinnati football defensive coordinator knows one thing for certain.
“We don’t have any starters right now. We’re going to put the best 11 out there," Freeman said Thursday, after UC conducted another outdoor spring practice at the Sheakley Athletics Center.
Freeman, a former Ohio State and Huber Heights Wayne standout linebacker, is part of the new UC coaching staff under first-year head coach Luke Fickell. Freeman played under Fickell at OSU between 2004-08, when Fickell was the Buckeyes’ co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach.
The 31-year-old Freeman most recently coached for four years at Purdue, where he was linebackers coach and also spent a year as co-defensive coordinator.
Freeman inherits a UC defense that has had its problems in recent years. The Bearcats improved in several defensive categories last year, but the team won-lost record slipped from 7-6 in 2015 to 4-8 last season. That resulted in Tommy Tuberville resigning as head coach and his entire on-field staff not being retained.
UC loses its top three tacklers in linebacker Eric Wilson, safety Zach Edwards (Middletown High School) and linebacker Antonio Kinard. Safety Michael Tyson (led team with five interceptions) and defensive tackle Alex Pace also were key defenders who must be replaced.
“The culture is going to be built on effort and attitude,” Freeman said. “The rest of the stuff, we’ll get fixed. We’ll figure out what’s our best scheme. It’s not so much about schemes, it’s as much about knowing your assignment, executing your assignment and playing harder than the guy in front of you.”
Senior safety Carter Jacobs, who has played 37 games in his UC career, said the Bearcats are trying to create more havoc on defense.
“We’re running to the ball, we’re flying to the ball, we’re working a lot on our pursuit drills,” Jacobs said. “A lot of the smaller things than the past staff (did). It’s literally all about angles and leverage.”
That includes some different tackling techniques.
“We’ve been working a lot of rugby tackling recently, which has definitely gotten our tackling a lot better,” Jacobs said.
Rugby tackling?
“With the rugby tackling, we’re tracking everything inside out,” Jacobs said. “Everyone is keeping their leverage, so you’re going to go same foot, same shoulder on every tackle. It’s really to eliminate cutbacks, is the whole point of it. That’s kind of hurt us in the past, cutback lanes. I think it’s going to take away a lot of cutback lanes in the future.”
Comparisons between the 2016 and 2015 UC defensive numbers include:
•26.9 points per game allowed in 2016 (No. 55 nationally), compared to 31.2 in 2015 (91st).
•422.8 yards per game in total defense (72nd), compared to 408.6 in 2015 (78th).
•189.6 rushing yards allowed per game (75th), compared to 191.6 in 2015 (90th).
•233.0 passing yards allowed per game (74th), compared to 217.0 in 2015 (58th).
•5.34 yards allowed per play (40th), compared to 5.79 in 2015 (78th).
•1.58 sacks per game (101st), compared to 1.0 in 2015 (124th).
•17 total interceptions (tied for 11th), compared to 9 in 2015 (tied for 91st).
POSITION WATCH: A glance at the 2017 defense:
Defensive line: Returning starters include junior DE/LB Kevin Mouhon, junior DT Cortez Broughton and senior DE Mark Wilson. Junior DE/DT Marquise Copeland did not start last year but led Bearcats defensive linemen in tackles, with 59.
Junior DEs Kimoni Fitz and Landon Brazile and sophomore DEs Caleb Ashworth and Bryan Wright all started multiple games last year.
Linebacker: Senior Jaylyin Minor figures to start at middle linebacker, with sophomore Perry Young at one outside post. Junior LB/safety Tyrell Gilbert (Princeton High School) may be slotted in the hybrid/nickel outside slot, occupied last year by Tyson.
Gilbert started eight games last year at safety. Young had one start, while Minor will be a first-year starter. A big loss is middle linebacker Bryce Jenkinson, who started as a true freshman in 2015. Jenkinson had season-ending knee surgery after two games last year, and for medical reasons he is no longer with the team.
Secondary: Senior Grant Coleman and junior Alex Thomas are returning starters at cornerback. Seniors Linden Stephens and Davin Pierce finished 2016 as the backup corners, and Stephens also started four games.
At safety, Jacobs finished 2016 as a starter and junior Malik Clements had one start. Gilbert, as noted, also will occasionally float back
as nickel man.
NEW FACES: The defensive staff includes Freeman (defensive coordinator/linebackers), former Boston College assistant Al Washington (defensive line), former Tennessee assistant Willie Martinez (cornerbacks) and former Virginia assistant Jon Tenuta (safeties).
Tenuta’s stops include Oklahoma, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Martinez also has coached at Georgia, Oklahoma and Auburn. Washington also has been at North Carolina State.
ELDER VISIT: UC will practice Saturday at Elder High School from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public is invited, free of charge.
SPRING FLING: The annual UC spring game is Friday, April 14 (7 p.m.) at Nippert Stadium. Admission is free, with parking available for $5 per car in the Corry and Calhoun Garages.
(This post was last modified: 03-31-2017 12:13 PM by CliftonAve.)
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Marcus Freeman Tackles New Role at UC
