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(11-16-2020 12:54 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-15-2020 10:13 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(11-15-2020 09:35 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Trap game

Lol. Wut? It’s the biggest game of the season. Pretty sure CLF and the Cats know that.

Someone doesn’t get jokes round here

That's because jokes don't work in text form on the Internet.

Some of us blokes have gotten good at recognizing a Billy-ism. Probably a sign of spending too much time on Banter LOL.

The way we played them last year will put A LOT of pressure on the two LBs on the field to make tackles and get in the right spots and our DL to get pressure on the QB to disrupt timing. We need another huge game from Jarell and whoever takes Ponder's spot to try to make that loss as small as possible if we're going to win this one.

Vann would seem a capable replacement for Ponder. I don't know who else off hand. Also, the fact we play mostly man, bump and run coverage should maximize our disruption opportunities. UCF will get some big plays but we need to limit scores. That is the hallmark of our defense.

Why is everyone worried? Isn't this SMU, Memphis version 3? Good O, Bad D we beat with Good O, Good D.

You always have to worry about an offense as elite as UCF. They go so fast. I look away for a second to take a sip of beer, and they have run 3 plays. That is tough on any defense.

Do they run a no huddle/uptempo offense? I know we’ve struggled against that a bit.

(11-16-2020 05:28 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  You always have to worry about an offense as elite as UCF. They go so fast. I look away for a second to take a sip of beer, and they have run 3 plays. That is tough on any defense.

I am worried as well...but, they do resemble SMU & Memphis. Not sure we will hold them under 20 like the others, but if our offense puts up 30+ I think we take it. Tulsa resembles us the most in conference with defensive play...they held UCF to 26 points.

Watch the Tulsa film. They held UCF to 26 points. Our defense is a step up from Tulsa's.

From the Orlando Sentinel...

Quote:“Each game is different in itself and Temple is a really good team," said Gabriel, who leads the nation with 396 passing yards per game. “I’m just glad we could come out of here with a ‘W’ and we’re moving on to next week.”

It didn’t take the Knights long to turn the page toward this week’s showdown with Cincinnati, which comes to the Bounce House on Saturday.

“Just treat it like another game,” said Williams, who recorded his fifth 100-yard receiving game with 102 yards during the win against the Owls. “Of course, we can’t make some of the mistakes that we did today if we want to beat them. If we do what we do, I take my guys over anybody in the country.

"It’s going to be a big task but we’re looking forward to living up to it.”

Cincinnati (7-0) is fresh off a 55-17 win over East Carolina on Friday with Luke Fickell’s team holding the top spot in the American Athletic Conference standings. The Bearcats have dominated this season, winning by an average of 29 points per game.

“You get excited for them all but against a team like Cincinnati, which is undefeated and ranked No. 7, this is another chance for us to put our name out there even more so and show just how good we are,” UCF linebacker Eriq Gilyard said.

Gilyard finished with a team-high 12 tackles, including a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss with a sack and a forced fumble and recovery. His strip of Temple quarterback Re-al Mitchell led to UCF’s first touchdown Saturday night.

Linebacker Tatum Bethune, who recorded the first interception of his career Saturday, said there’s plenty of work ahead before UCF faces Cincinnati this week.

“To be honest, we are going to watch the film and figure out what we can do,” Bethune said.

Temple Is A Really Good Team

Another one...

Quote:UCF tackle Ed Collins is well aware of the challenge that lies ahead for the Knights’ offensive line this week. He knows all about No. 7 Cincinnati and its vaunted defense.

“[They’re] definitely one of the biggest," Collins said of the Bearcats' three-man defensive front, which averages out to 6-foot-3 and 276 pounds. “Their front seven is really tough [as well]. They move a lot and they have big strong guys.”

Collins, a redshirt sophomore, is among a core group of players that comprises the Knights' front line along with center Matt Lee, guards Cole Schneider and Lokahi Pauole and fellow tackles Sam Jackson and Marcus Tatum.

The six players have taken the majority of snaps and represent the foundation of a UCF offense that leads the country with 619 yards and 44 points per game this season. They’ve helped quarterback Dillon Gabriel lead the nation in passing yards per game (396.3) while throwing for 2,774 yards and 23 touchdowns.

“They’re a strong group,” Gabriel said. “Super intelligent guys who physically can do everything we ask of them. They’re also my best friends.”

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Collins has made the most of his first season as a regular starter.

The redshirt sophomore appeared in 11 games for the Knights last season, starting three games after several players sustained midseason injuries. The snaps were invaluable, giving the Alabama native more self-assurance entering the 2020 season.

“[I’m] 100 times more confident and I’m in a lot better shape than I was last year," said Collins, who’s taken 475 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. "I know the playbook like the back of my hand and I’m just ready to keep on.”

The biggest challenge Collins and the offensive line faced early this year wasn’t on the football field.

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down the football program from March through June, sending players to their respective homes and stunting the growth the team typically fosters during the spring and summer months.

“It was extremely difficult because a huge part of being an offensive line is having that one voice and one sound, so having those four months off and not being around each other was pretty hard," Collins explained. "To come back in June and try to build off of stuff while you haven’t played since February or March — I’m glad we’re back into it now.”

The lack of time together showed early in the season, with the offensive line struggling to avoid penalties. The unit flagged 20 times through the first three games for false starts, including a season high 10 times against East Carolina.

“The bye week after the Tulsa loss, we came together as a unit pretty good," Collins said when asked when the group turned the page on early problems. "We responded since then and we became a closer unit.”

Since the loss to the Golden Hurricane, the offensive line has only been flagged three times for false starts during the past four games.

It will be more difficult to perform at a high level this week against a Cincinnati defense that is allowing 12 points and 300 yards per game this season. The Bearcats have given up nine touchdowns through their first seven games: six rushing scores and two passing.

“We’ve got to handle their physicality, handle their movement up front,” UCF coach Josh Heupel said. “I think communication is critical in this football game — making sure those five guys, tight ends included, are all in sync and on the same page.

“For us, we’ve got to play extremely hard snap to whistle to have a chance to move the football.”

Another concern is Cincinnati’s ability to limit teams to an average of 3.0 yards per game on the ground, with the Bearcats allowing one 100-yard rusher this season (East Carolina’s Keaton Mitchell).

But while some see problems, others see opportunities.

“I think it will be a good challenge for us, but I also think it’s a great opportunity to go out there and showcase our talents," Gabriel said. "We’re going in with the same mindset we do every week: play really hard and find a way to win.”

Added Collins, “As long as our offensive line is ready, we’ll be good.”

UCF offensive line is ready for the challenge

Not a night game with a packed stadium so that is good.
34-24 good guys.

(11-16-2020 09:15 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Not a night game with a packed stadium so that is good.
34-24 good guys.

Saturday November 21
#9 Indiana at #3 tOSU 12:00 Fox
Houston at SMU 12:00 ESPN+
#7 Cincinnati at UCF 3:30 ESPN
Navy at USF 8:00 ESPNU

Bearcats 41 Bounce House Babies 22

UC 35 UCF 27

We are in control through most of the game. A late TD makes it a 1 possession game but we hold on for a big road win.

(11-16-2020 05:28 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  You always have to worry about an offense as elite as UCF. They go so fast. I look away for a second to take a sip of beer, and they have run 3 plays. That is tough on any defense.

This game worries me way way way more than SMU or Memphis. UCF has a very special offense. UC is going to need to be at its best to win this game.

(11-15-2020 09:35 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Trap game

The team that can score more is going to win this one.

(11-17-2020 09:23 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 05:28 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  You always have to worry about an offense as elite as UCF. They go so fast. I look away for a second to take a sip of beer, and they have run 3 plays. That is tough on any defense.

This game worries me way way way more than SMU or Memphis. UCF has a very special offense. UC is going to need to be at its best to win this game.

Agreed. UCF may be similar in being "offense first" but in my mind it has superior speed and talent on that offense to an SMU or Memphis.

Our point of reference must in part be last year's game. UC struggled but won with a superior defense. I think UC's defense is better this year; the offense is demonstrably better leading to crushing opponents. UCF may have a better offense this year but is maybe the same or worse on defense. I'd just hate to see UC come out and give up a couple of quick scores early and have to play from behind.

Sadly, a loss would be costly. The naysayers will simply chalk it up to an overrated mid-major losing to an unranked mid-major. UCF would likely beat 1/3 of the P5 teams that will play this Saturday but the G5 stigma will remain. That's why this game shapes up as the most critical remaining--not only with regard to the CCG and NY6 bids, but in terms of national perception of the 2020 Bearcats.

(11-17-2020 09:23 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  

(11-16-2020 05:28 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  You always have to worry about an offense as elite as UCF. They go so fast. I look away for a second to take a sip of beer, and they have run 3 plays. That is tough on any defense.

This game worries me way way way more than SMU or Memphis. UCF has a very special offense. UC is going to need to be at its best to win this game.

I agree, however I was worried about those games too. I think being an away game compounds the worry. I will keep worrying and hope the 'Cats prove me wrong like they did with Memphis and SMU.

(11-16-2020 09:15 PM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  Not a night game with a packed stadium so that is good.
34-24 good guys.

I don’t know, that night game with a packed stadium turned out pretty well for us last year....

I'm not so worried about a team that thinks Temple is really good.

We play well, we will win.