Bruce Monnin
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Football Season
OK. I've had enough. We had once again gone through the annual disappointment that is the NCAA basketball tournament.
Time to move on from the secondary get through the winter blahs sport of basketball. On to the real sport.
Any new news on the football front? Do we have better wide receivers coming in (I was hoping Eli Wolf would grad transfer here from Tennessee, but he went to Georgia instead)?
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03-26-2019 09:30 AM |
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bearcatfan
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03-26-2019 09:41 AM |
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CliftonAve
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RE: Football Season
They are still working on the WR front and there is time. Remember, they didn't sign grad transfer Cam Jeffries last year until June. Jeffries eventually became a starter last year.
Apparently Ridder has grown like a weed (he's now 6'4) and appears to have a lot more zip on his ball. I am curious to see how the staff is going to utilize the RB and TE rooms considering the depth of talent with each position group. On the defensive side of the ball, we need to replace a veteran DL group and have a new position coach. This is going to be the group to watch next season as the linebackers and secondary are very experienced.
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03-26-2019 09:47 AM |
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Marcus
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RE: Football Season
Yeah WR probably scares me more than anything right now on paper. I like the talent we have stepping in on the DL, but no doubt there will be some growing pains with both a new coach there and the inexperience. Really expecting guys like Pitts, Tucky and Wright to become real enforcers on our defense this year. All three IMO have the potential to be special players.
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03-26-2019 09:50 AM |
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CliftonAve
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RE: Football Season
Here's an interesting side topic for football, but here's an article from CBS outling the national issue of declining football attendance. 7/10 conferences saw a decline in attendance, with only the AAC, MWC and MAC having a slight bump (which may actually be more indicative of an attractive OOC schedule more than anything else).
The article goes on to talk about some success Virginia Tech had in luring some people back into the stands at Lane Stadium. The architect of their plan was Brad Wurthman, a former staffer at UC (he also obtained his master's degree here).
https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...-22-years/
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03-26-2019 10:02 AM |
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TubaCat
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 09:30 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote: Any new news on the football front? Do we have better wide receivers coming in (I was hoping Eli Wolf would grad transfer here from Tennessee, but he went to Georgia instead)?
Blue Smith is rumored to be transferring here from OSU, likely with 4 years of immediate eligibility since he redshirted. 6'6", ran a 4.4... he would be an instant starter as an outside WR. A guy like that is priority #1 for our team right now IMO.
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03-26-2019 11:00 AM |
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Racinejake
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RE: Football Season
While I wish we had a true #1 at WR, I'm less concerned about that position in terms of it limiting our success this year. We have a bunch of guys that can catch the ball. Medaris and Jackson proved to be very dependable last year. I was impressed with Jackson as a true frosh and predict he will take an even bigger step forward this year. Rollins and Geddis are both seniors this year and have shown flashes at times throughout their careers. My bet would be Geddis plays a bigger role this year. Personally, I want to see Malick Mbodj get more reps. He has an NFL body but I want to see if he can really become an every down player and turn into a real deep threat. Then you have Trent Cloud who came on at the end and had a few catches against VT.
But beyond the WRs, we have to remember we have a boatload of TEs - Deguara, Labelle, Taylor and Whyle. In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
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03-26-2019 11:07 AM |
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Bruce Monnin
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RE: Football Season
I don't mind throwing mostly to the running backs and tight ends. However, without a deep threat who can get open, defenses will keep creeping closer to the line of scrimmage, make those short passes (and the running game) more and more difficult to execute.
I always maintain you don't need to actually have a deep passing game so much as a credible threat of one.
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03-26-2019 01:14 PM |
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Marcus
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 11:00 AM)TubaCat Wrote: (03-26-2019 09:30 AM)Bruce Monnin Wrote: Any new news on the football front? Do we have better wide receivers coming in (I was hoping Eli Wolf would grad transfer here from Tennessee, but he went to Georgia instead)?
Blue Smith is rumored to be transferring here from OSU, likely with 4 years of immediate eligibility since he redshirted. 6'6", ran a 4.4... he would be an instant starter as an outside WR. A guy like that is priority #1 for our team right now IMO.
Yeah he couldn't possibly hope for a better situation. I mean he literally is likely the #1 WR the day he steps on campus with a very good returning roster on that side of the ball.
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03-26-2019 01:17 PM |
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Marcus
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
McClelland looks like he has a chance to be a really good receiver out of the backfield. He just looks so natural catching the ball and he's also a nightmare in space for opposing defenses.
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03-26-2019 01:19 PM |
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Marcus
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: Then you have Trent Cloud who came on at the end and had a few catches against VT.
This is the guy I pinpointed at WR heading into this spring/season as the one to watch as far as a guy who can make a real move. He's not a burner and may not do any one thing incredibly well but his is "good" at everything he does. Just solid across the board. He seems to have good hands, run good routes, find the open spaces. I think he could become a really nice piece in this offense.
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03-26-2019 01:22 PM |
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bearcatmark
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 01:19 PM)Marcus Wrote: (03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
McClelland looks like he has a chance to be a really good receiver out of the backfield. He just looks so natural catching the ball and he's also a nightmare in space for opposing defenses.
Really hoping we use him as a jet sweep back / wide receiver this year on a decent percent of snaps. Our power runners combined with the threat of McClelland outside could give teams fits.
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03-26-2019 01:22 PM |
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Bearcats#1
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RE: Football Season
Dear Coach Fick,
THANK YOU.
-BC#1
PS: Don't leave us!
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03-26-2019 01:23 PM |
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Romell Shorter
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 11:00 AM)TubaCat Wrote: Blue Smith ... ran a 4.4... he would be an instant starter as an outside WR. A guy like that is priority #1 for our team right now IMO.
Smith is no way near that fast. My guess is >= 4.75. Plus, he's not a good route runner.
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03-26-2019 01:24 PM |
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Racinejake
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 01:22 PM)bearcatmark Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:19 PM)Marcus Wrote: (03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
McClelland looks like he has a chance to be a really good receiver out of the backfield. He just looks so natural catching the ball and he's also a nightmare in space for opposing defenses.
Really hoping we use him as a jet sweep back / wide receiver this year on a decent percent of snaps. Our power runners combined with the threat of McClelland outside could give teams fits.
Felt like we got a little too locked in on the inside runs last year. Even with McClelland in the game we tended to run him straight up the gut. I'd definitely like to see more diversity in order to keep the defense honest. That pass to McClelland out of the backfield against VT was a thing of beauty. We should run that every game.
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03-26-2019 02:03 PM |
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Bearcats#1
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 02:03 PM)Racinejake Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:22 PM)bearcatmark Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:19 PM)Marcus Wrote: (03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
McClelland looks like he has a chance to be a really good receiver out of the backfield. He just looks so natural catching the ball and he's also a nightmare in space for opposing defenses.
Really hoping we use him as a jet sweep back / wide receiver this year on a decent percent of snaps. Our power runners combined with the threat of McClelland outside could give teams fits.
Felt like we got a little too locked in on the inside runs last year. Even with McClelland in the game we tended to run him straight up the gut. I'd definitely like to see more diversity in order to keep the defense honest. That pass to McClelland out of the backfield against VT was a thing of beauty. We should run that every game.
you just made me flash to Tubberville and RDIV running up the gut play after play...thanks.
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03-26-2019 02:09 PM |
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BearcatMan
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 02:03 PM)Racinejake Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:22 PM)bearcatmark Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:19 PM)Marcus Wrote: (03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
McClelland looks like he has a chance to be a really good receiver out of the backfield. He just looks so natural catching the ball and he's also a nightmare in space for opposing defenses.
Really hoping we use him as a jet sweep back / wide receiver this year on a decent percent of snaps. Our power runners combined with the threat of McClelland outside could give teams fits.
Felt like we got a little too locked in on the inside runs last year. Even with McClelland in the game we tended to run him straight up the gut. I'd definitely like to see more diversity in order to keep the defense honest. That pass to McClelland out of the backfield against VT was a thing of beauty. We should run that every game.
The reason why it was a thing of beauty was BECAUSE we didn't run it every game. Truth be told, it's all about tendencies...Warren is a between the tackles runner, and he excels at it. If we bring McClelland in and all he does it run outside, then coaches will pick up on it and adjust to it. I'm ok with them sprinkling in outside runs or inside misdirection with CM to break tendencies while we have Warren running for 5.5ypc in the A gaps. Once MW3 is gone, we'll still have Thomas in the fold too...the big issue with the Tubs years was that we didn't really have prime suspect for RDA4 to spell with, and that's why it looked so bad.
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03-26-2019 02:37 PM |
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vabearcat
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RE: Football Season
(03-26-2019 02:37 PM)BearcatMan Wrote: (03-26-2019 02:03 PM)Racinejake Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:22 PM)bearcatmark Wrote: (03-26-2019 01:19 PM)Marcus Wrote: (03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote: In addition, we throw a lot to the RBs - Warren and McClelland are both dangerous from a receiving standpoint. Actually we need to find a way to get McClelland a bunch more touches this year.
McClelland looks like he has a chance to be a really good receiver out of the backfield. He just looks so natural catching the ball and he's also a nightmare in space for opposing defenses.
Really hoping we use him as a jet sweep back / wide receiver this year on a decent percent of snaps. Our power runners combined with the threat of McClelland outside could give teams fits.
Felt like we got a little too locked in on the inside runs last year. Even with McClelland in the game we tended to run him straight up the gut. I'd definitely like to see more diversity in order to keep the defense honest. That pass to McClelland out of the backfield against VT was a thing of beauty. We should run that every game.
The reason why it was a thing of beauty was BECAUSE we didn't run it every game. Truth be told, it's all about tendencies...Warren is a between the tackles runner, and he excels at it. If we bring McClelland in and all he does it run outside, then coaches will pick up on it and adjust to it. I'm ok with them sprinkling in outside runs or inside misdirection with CM to break tendencies while we have Warren running for 5.5ypc in the A gaps. Once MW3 is gone, we'll still have Thomas in the fold too...the big issue with the Tubs years was that we didn't really have prime suspect for RDA4 to spell with, and that's why it looked so bad.
We glad George Winn and Mike Boone and yet we still ran RDA4 up the gut.
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03-26-2019 05:57 PM |
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CliftonAve
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RE: Football Season
^Tion Green. George’s last year was 2012 under CBJ. As I recall Tion was pretty banged up a lot as was Boone.
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03-26-2019 07:11 PM |
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Bearcats#1
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RE: Football Season
Yup...last time we saw Wynn was when he was trucking Vandy in the Liberty Bowl. He got out of dodge right before the clown show arrived.
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03-26-2019 09:03 PM |
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