Expecting a very rough year, anywhere from 8-4 to 4-8
Massive player loses Ridder, Ford, Sauce, Sanders, Bryant, etc. Is Prater the next Ridder?
Will not cry if today Denbrock to LSU is announced. Gino came here with OC in mind. I fear Tressel is retained. His inability to create run defense was obvious long before AL game.
Tough OOC Schedule @AR, Kennesaw State (a very good FCS team), Miami @PBS and IU. Which 2 AAC teams will we not play? My guess is 2 of ECU, USF, TEMPLE, UCF.
Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.
As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats. We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.
I think 9 wins and chance to compete for the conference championship is the realistic goal next year.
The defense that held Notre Dame to 1/2 its 2nd lowest # of points all year is mostly gone.
The defense that held Alabama to its 3rd lowest point total all year (despite no help from the offense) is mostly gone.
The defense that did far better against Alabama than the vaunted Georgia defense is mostly gone.
We return the whole offensive line, and the skill position backups are generally just as talented as the starters. So the offense might end up being stronger next year, depending on how Praeter does.
But defense was the key to these last two amazing years. We'll see how Fick rebuilds it.
Our recruiting has gotten significantly better since we recruited the men who played last night. I expect us to reload. Obviously with no senior QB we won’t be as good, but we should win the conference.
We have the best coaching staff in the American. We also recruit better than anyone in the American. I don't think we'll be that good by our standards, but I think we'll be good enough to get back to the CCG and play for a NY6, likely against houston. UCF is still probably a year out with their QB and d situation, Memphis is on a bit of a decline, and SMU is bringing in a new coach. Going to be a down year in general for the league I think
(01-01-2022 07:12 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.
As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats.We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.
I hope they are active with several position groups. The shopping list:
We need an upgrade at OT.
An experienced QB to compete for the job.
I like our backups at RB but there is no guy like Ford in the wings.
An impact TE if both of ours declare.
A WR with size who can step into Pierce’s role.
All of the holes on D.
Staff has its work cut out for it in Spring camp. Lots of new pieces to fit.
Yeah I hate to see those guys go, but there will be new Sanders, Sauces and Pierces to come along.
Fickell's been recruiting strong and backups do develop and get better. We'll be fine.
(01-01-2022 08:50 AM)Dannyboy Wrote: [ -> ]Our recruiting has gotten significantly better since we recruited the men who played last night. I expect us to reload. Obviously with no senior QB we won’t be as good, but we should win the conference.
Bolded, with no disrespect to Ridder and his amazing body of work here, I feel if UC continues to upgrade the O line, and either Prater or another QB emerges under a new O.C., I could actually see the offense improving next year.
(01-01-2022 09:22 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2022 07:12 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.
As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats.We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.
I hope they are active with several position groups. The shopping list:
We need an upgrade at OT.
An experienced QB to compete for the job.
I like our backups at RB but there is no guy like Ford in the wings.
An impact TE if both of ours declare.
A WR with size who can step into Pierce’s role.
All of the holes on D.
Staff has its work cut out for it in Spring camp. Lots of new pieces to fit.
Agree with all the positions groups listed. Des never looked as good as he looked last year when he had James Hudson protecting his blind side. Need a difference maker at OT.
I have a feeling we’ll see at least one of the TE’s come back.
(01-01-2022 09:22 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2022 07:12 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.
As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats.We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.
I hope they are active with several position groups. The shopping list:
We need an upgrade at OT.
An experienced QB to compete for the job.
I like our backups at RB but there is no guy like Ford in the wings.
An impact TE if both of ours declare.
A WR with size who can step into Pierce’s role.
All of the holes on D.
Staff has its work cut out for it in Spring camp. Lots of new pieces to fit.
One word: KICKER.
(01-01-2022 10:05 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2022 09:22 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2022 07:12 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.
As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats.We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.
I hope they are active with several position groups. The shopping list:
We need an upgrade at OT.
An experienced QB to compete for the job.
I like our backups at RB but there is no guy like Ford in the wings.
An impact TE if both of ours declare.
A WR with size who can step into Pierce’s role.
All of the holes on D.
Staff has its work cut out for it in Spring camp. Lots of new pieces to fit.
One word: KICKER.
We already signed a new one. Ryan Coe from Delaware
I can't think about next year...yet. Still processing the poor showing from last night. Agree on a kicker. For crap's sake hold a special tryout LOL.
There will be a drop off, but next man up. I trust Coach to reload this team considering his recent recruiting classes. Are we going to go 13-0? No probably not. More likely 9-3. Challenge for the AAC title and NY6 spot.
(01-01-2022 10:11 AM)RedRocker Wrote: [ -> ]There will be a drop off, but next man up. I trust Coach to reload this team considering his recent recruiting classes. Are we going to go 13-0? No probably not. More likely 9-3. Challenge for the AAC title and NY6 spot.
I am perfectly happy with 9-3 in transition year as long the program is in good spot to compete in year 1 of the Big XII.
UC isn’t Alabama or Georgia but that is ok. I think the key is get good enough where UC can get to that second tier of teams that compete for playoff spots, top 10 rankings, and conference championships more often than not.
The last four years have been incredible, obviously there is going to be step back but that step back is hopefully just going from great to good.
(01-01-2022 09:49 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2022 09:22 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2022 07:12 AM)CliftonAve Wrote: [ -> ]Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.
As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats.We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.
I hope they are active with several position groups. The shopping list:
We need an upgrade at OT.
An experienced QB to compete for the job.
I like our backups at RB but there is no guy like Ford in the wings.
An impact TE if both of ours declare.
A WR with size who can step into Pierce’s role.
All of the holes on D.
Staff has its work cut out for it in Spring camp. Lots of new pieces to fit.
Agree with all the positions groups listed. Des never looked as good as he looked last year when he had James Hudson protecting his blind side. Need a difference maker at OT.
I have a feeling we’ll see at least one of the TE’s come back.
If we move O'Quinn back inside then we have plenty of PT to offer a high level tackle.
Transfer - O'Quinn - renfro - Metz - tunstall would be a solid line
O’Quinn got posterized on roller skates yesterday.
Tunstall is often in over his head at LT. Yesterday was no exception.
(01-01-2022 10:33 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote: [ -> ]O’Quinn got posterized on roller skates yesterday.
Tunstall is often in over his head at LT. Yesterday was no exception.
The good thing is we'll be back to playing AAC defenders next year, so it won't show up. Gotta hope Ethan Green can develop how I think he will.
Do we learn this week who is coming back?
OK, it's of little consolation today, but...
These guys got to see where they're at and what they need to be from Alabama. If they're any kind of competitor at all they will all improve from the experience of yesterday.
That's where the term "getting schooled" came from. They can then pass what they learned along to younger guys coming up.