The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Not a fan of USA Today generally, but at least here's one national publication that recognized UC's performance far exceeding expectations this past season.

And seeing Cincinnati among the top graded teams is always good for the national profile and recruiting:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/...li=BBnb7Kz

(01-10-2019 08:24 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  Not a fan of USA Today generally, but at least here's one national publication that recognized UC's performance far exceeding expectations this past season.

And seeing Cincinnati among the top graded teams is always good for the national profile and recruiting:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/...li=BBnb7Kz

Interesting way of doing the rankings, mostly agree.

I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

(01-10-2019 10:44 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

(01-10-2019 10:45 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

(01-10-2019 10:45 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

You sure about that?

It'd be nice to have a story behind the team. Otherwise, I'd definitely say A or A+ for the Bearcats this year

This season was spectacular. Even the areas where we were a below average team (the passing game) we had a Freshman QB who is only going to get better and passing weapons that included only one senior among them. The defense was so great. Really it's only weakness was a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game. Offenses pretty much were all or nothing passing against us. Play to play, receivers just weren't open. The potential is there for a really great season next year.

4-8 to 11-2 is an A+. Definitely.

(01-10-2019 11:12 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This season was spectacular. Even the areas where we were a below average team (the passing game) we had a Freshman QB who is only going to get better and passing weapons that included only one senior among them. The defense was so great. Really it's only weakness was a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game. Offenses pretty much were all or nothing passing against us. Play to play, receivers just weren't open. The potential is there for a really great season next year.

It seemed to me, in most cases the "big plays" were given up early in the game (1st quarter - 1st half) especially the first possession our opponents had. I don't know what adjustments the coaches made, but as the game went on, our defense tightened up considerably. By the end of the season, I was expecting that type play by our defensive guys.

(01-10-2019 12:34 PM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 11:12 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This season was spectacular. Even the areas where we were a below average team (the passing game) we had a Freshman QB who is only going to get better and passing weapons that included only one senior among them. The defense was so great. Really it's only weakness was a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game. Offenses pretty much were all or nothing passing against us. Play to play, receivers just weren't open. The potential is there for a really great season next year.

It seemed to me, in most cases the "big plays" were given up early in the game (1st quarter - 1st half) especially the first possession our opponents had. I don't know what adjustments the coaches made, but as the game went on, our defense tightened up considerably. By the end of the season, I was expecting that type play by our defensive guys.

Temple game being the big exception to this.

(01-10-2019 10:56 AM)TubaCat Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 10:44 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

(01-10-2019 10:45 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

(01-10-2019 10:45 AM)CincyBro Wrote:  I think anytime UC is grouped with Clemson is a very good thing.

You sure about that?

LOL, just saw that, must have stuck, but yea i'm sure.

(01-10-2019 12:38 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 12:34 PM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 11:12 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This season was spectacular. Even the areas where we were a below average team (the passing game) we had a Freshman QB who is only going to get better and passing weapons that included only one senior among them. The defense was so great. Really it's only weakness was a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game. Offenses pretty much were all or nothing passing against us. Play to play, receivers just weren't open. The potential is there for a really great season next year.

It seemed to me, in most cases the "big plays" were given up early in the game (1st quarter - 1st half) especially the first possession our opponents had. I don't know what adjustments the coaches made, but as the game went on, our defense tightened up considerably. By the end of the season, I was expecting that type play by our defensive guys.

Temple game being the big exception to this.

Unfortunately. I, and I'm sure the coaches and players, would love to have that one back. (I'm sure OU would like to have our game back too, right?) 12-1 would have been amazing but 11-2 was awesome too.

(01-10-2019 12:54 PM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 12:38 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 12:34 PM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 11:12 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This season was spectacular. Even the areas where we were a below average team (the passing game) we had a Freshman QB who is only going to get better and passing weapons that included only one senior among them. The defense was so great. Really it's only weakness was a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game. Offenses pretty much were all or nothing passing against us. Play to play, receivers just weren't open. The potential is there for a really great season next year.

It seemed to me, in most cases the "big plays" were given up early in the game (1st quarter - 1st half) especially the first possession our opponents had. I don't know what adjustments the coaches made, but as the game went on, our defense tightened up considerably. By the end of the season, I was expecting that type play by our defensive guys.

Temple game being the big exception to this.

Unfortunately. I, and I'm sure the coaches and players, would love to have that one back. (I'm sure OU would like to have our game back too, right?) 12-1 would have been amazing but 11-2 was awesome too.

Good point--if we take a close loss "back" I'm sure OU would want to do the same from that day in Nippert.

With that said, one of the joys this season was erasing the memory of Tommy T's defenses just getting shredded on the ground and in the air. We remember all too well watching those Bearcat defenses put opponents in 3rd and long... and repeatedly give up a 1st down. As demoralizing as it was for us as fans, one can only imagine the feelings of our guys on the sidelines.

Let's hope that's ancient history that won't be revisited anytime, ever.

I wasn't complaining. Bill Connelly has some great pass defense breakdowns in his S&P+ spreadsheets. He has Bearcats 27th nationally in pass defense, however the breakdown was they were 2nd in marginal efficiency, 1st in adjusted completion rate and 103 in passing explosiveness. Numbers matched what I saw game after the game. Teams really struggled to have sustained success passing against us but there were big plays to be had. If corners get better about turning their heads on time on down field passes we could see an incredibly elite pass defense.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e...R/pubhtml#

(01-10-2019 12:38 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 12:34 PM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 11:12 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This season was spectacular. Even the areas where we were a below average team (the passing game) we had a Freshman QB who is only going to get better and passing weapons that included only one senior among them. The defense was so great. Really it's only weakness was a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game. Offenses pretty much were all or nothing passing against us. Play to play, receivers just weren't open. The potential is there for a really great season next year.

It seemed to me, in most cases the "big plays" were given up early in the game (1st quarter - 1st half) especially the first possession our opponents had. I don't know what adjustments the coaches made, but as the game went on, our defense tightened up considerably. By the end of the season, I was expecting that type play by our defensive guys.

Temple game being the big exception to this.

Yes there are always exceptions and UCF would be included. I did use the word "most" because I knew I could not talk in absolutes with this year's team. I'm hoping for absolutes next year!

Am I wrong hoping for a perfect season next year? Go Cats!