What's in store for Cincinnati run game?
February, 20, 2013

By Andrea Adelson | ESPN.com


Last spring, one of the big stories to watch in Cincinnati focused on the running back position.

With Co-Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead gone, who would step up to replace his productivity? We had an idea that senior George Winn would take the reigns, especially after his performance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. But the truth is, it would have been hard to predict that Winn would be better than Pead in 2012.


Ralph David Abernathy IVRob Leifheit/USA TODAY SportsRalph David Abernathy IV could figure into Cincinnati's plans at running back next season.

He was, which makes his omission from the Big East first-team particularly galling. Look at the numbers:

Pead, 2011: 237 carries, 1,259 yards, 12 touchdowns, 5.3 yards per carry, six 100-yard games.
Winn, 2012: 243 carries, 1,334 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5.5 yards per carry, six 100-yard games.


Winn had better numbers than the Co-Big East Player of the Year in 2011, yet was overlooked by league coaches. Head-scratcher indeed. But the point of this post is not to go over an all-conference team that was released months ago. The point is that a similar scenario is set to unfold this spring.

One of the big stories to watch is what happens at the running back position. What happened with Winn last season illustrated that Cincinnati is perfectly capable of producing a 1,000-yard back to replace another 1,000-yard back. And a big reason why is its offensive line.

Cincinnati had one of the best offensive lines in the league last season, producing two first-team Big East selections in tackle Eric Lefeld and guard Austen Bujnoch, and FWAA Freshman All-American Parker Ehinger. All five starters return for 2013, which should help the Bearcats maintain their impressive ground game, no matter who gets the carries.

Among the contenders vying for the starting job, there are three guys to watch this spring: Ralph David Abernathy IV, Deionte Buckley and Tion Green. Jameel Poteat is no longer in the mix, after deciding to transfer. Abernathy is more of a change-of-pace back who can be used in a variety of ways. He probably won't be getting 20 carries a game. Buckley and Green are certainly intriguing players to watch, given their potential.

Cincinnati also expects two junior college transfers -- Rodriguez Moore and Hosey Williams -- to be added into the mix when they arrive in time for fall practice.

Having said all this, there are two factors that make 2013 different from 2012. First, there is no senior in this group. Though Winn had never been a starter, he had more experience than anybody currently in the mix for playing time. That experience proved to be invaluable.

Second is the coaching change. Will Cincinnati continue to focus on the run, the way it has the past two seasons, or will coach Tommy Tuberville opt to open up the pass game more? Does he prefer a workhorse back or to use a rotation featuring two to three players? How will he utilize Abernathy, the most dynamic playmaker the Bearcats have on the roster?

There are certainly questions that have to be answered, but if last season is any indication, Cincinnati is perfectly capable of reloading. Not rebuilding.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigeast/post/_/i...i-run-game

George Winn was the biggest (and most pleasant) surprise on UC's football team in a long time....can we catch lightning in a bottle a second year in a row? I worry...I know we have some good backs though so....we'll see

The biggest positive, as was mentioned, is our returning OL. I think there is enough talent at the RB position to have an effective ground game given the strength of our OL. I wish the JC RBs would've been able to enroll early. I worry a bit about the transition from JC to BCS level football with only a few months to pick up the system, assignments, conditioning, etc. The competition this spring between Buckley and Green should be great.

I was pretty positive Winn would have a huge year coming in and was thrilled he did not disappoint. He had looked great in limited time filling in for Pead the prior year and I trusted the system. I think with the offensive line in tact, we could see an even better running game next season.

(02-21-2013 08:59 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  The biggest positive, as was mentioned, is our returning OL. I think there is enough talent at the RB position to have an effective ground game given the strength of our OL. I wish the JC RBs would've been able to enroll early. I worry a bit about the transition from JC to BCS level football with only a few months to pick up the system, assignments, conditioning, etc. The competition this spring between Buckley and Green should be great.

My main concern is the possible switch in blocking schemes after several years of zone and being told to add weight. Might cause some problems in the run game.

(02-21-2013 01:47 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 08:59 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  The biggest positive, as was mentioned, is our returning OL. I think there is enough talent at the RB position to have an effective ground game given the strength of our OL. I wish the JC RBs would've been able to enroll early. I worry a bit about the transition from JC to BCS level football with only a few months to pick up the system, assignments, conditioning, etc. The competition this spring between Buckley and Green should be great.

My main concern is the possible switch in blocking schemes after several years of zone and being told to add weight. Might cause some problems in the run game.

You can stil zone block in a pro formation. Alabama's bread and butter play calls for inside zone blocking. Not sure what direction the new staff will go, but FWIW, OL Coach Hiller comes from a zone blocking background.

(02-21-2013 01:57 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 01:47 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 08:59 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  The biggest positive, as was mentioned, is our returning OL. I think there is enough talent at the RB position to have an effective ground game given the strength of our OL. I wish the JC RBs would've been able to enroll early. I worry a bit about the transition from JC to BCS level football with only a few months to pick up the system, assignments, conditioning, etc. The competition this spring between Buckley and Green should be great.

My main concern is the possible switch in blocking schemes after several years of zone and being told to add weight. Might cause some problems in the run game.

You can stil zone block in a pro formation. Alabama's bread and butter play calls for inside zone blocking. Not sure what direction the new staff will go, but FWIW, OL Coach Hiller comes from a zone blocking background.

I expect the run game to look much like Florida State's. They ran zone but not nearly to the extent that Butch Jones did here (like every play) but we'll probably see some zone blocking under the new staff methinks.

Hiller obviously uses zone. not sure about Gran. That will be where the rubber meets the road.

My question on offense is about the WR core. It seems like we have too many for the type of offense Gran wants to run.

I wonder if any will transfer out after spring practice.

(02-21-2013 03:01 PM)cpawfan Wrote:  My question on offense is about the WR core. It seems like we have too many for the type of offense Gran wants to run.

I wonder if any will transfer out after spring practice.

Florida State's offense (obviously Gran wasn't the OC) was pretty multiple. They ran 3-4 WR sets a decent amount of the time. But then they also ran 2 WR sets with a TE and FB a fair amount as well. Depends on what stamp Gran wants to put on the offense.

We have Moore and Chisum returning on the outside. McClung in the slot and likely Abernathy as well. JC WR Johnny Holton is expected to contribute this year I'm sure. Also have young guys like Nate Cole and Jeremy Graves. And we can't forget about Braxton Lane either. Seems like a pretty deep group.

(02-21-2013 03:25 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  

(02-21-2013 03:01 PM)cpawfan Wrote:  My question on offense is about the WR core. It seems like we have too many for the type of offense Gran wants to run.

I wonder if any will transfer out after spring practice.

Florida State's offense (obviously Gran wasn't the OC) was pretty multiple. They ran 3-4 WR sets a decent amount of the time. But then they also ran 2 WR sets with a TE and FB a fair amount as well. Depends on what stamp Gran wants to put on the offense.

We have Moore and Chisum returning on the outside. McClung in the slot and likely Abernathy as well. JC WR Johnny Holton is expected to contribute this year I'm sure. Also have young guys like Nate Cole and Jeremy Graves. And we can't forget about Braxton Lane either. Seems like a pretty deep group.

A few other names and questions after looking at the roster.

Is Shakim Alonzo moving to TE?
Will Dyjuan Lewis ever contribute?
Is Shaq Washington going to be relegated to special teams?
Why is Leviticus Payne listed as a WR?
Will Javon Harrison be a WR?