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(04-28-2021 01:24 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.

The defensive numbers I cited adjust for competition level. UC was elite defensively last year (and the offenses they went against were better than you think). I expect our QB play to be exceptional this season if the offensive line is solid. Ridder made an enormous leap and I think he'll make another this year. I just don't know how much room the defense has to improve to offset any drop in offense.

Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.
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Didn't Fick say something recently about wanting to get after the QB more this year? With Sanders/Vann off the edge-- and then guys like Wodtly/BRiggs--- I think UC is going to be looking to bring it with their front 3 (4) this year. I know Tress said something about not taking the Bearcats out from what they do best (3-3-5), but I can definitely see some 4-2-5 looks, and overall more pressure coming from the DLine. 29 sacks last year, and I'd love to see them improve on that total.

(04-28-2021 01:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:24 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.

The defensive numbers I cited adjust for competition level. UC was elite defensively last year (and the offenses they went against were better than you think). I expect our QB play to be exceptional this season if the offensive line is solid. Ridder made an enormous leap and I think he'll make another this year. I just don't know how much room the defense has to improve to offset any drop in offense.

Well, SMU may have been one we played well against but Memphis and Houston were not as strong as in years past. We didn't hold UCF down and barley won 36-33. I guess the difference in our opinions is I don't anticipate a drop off on offense due to the play at the tackle positions. So long as a certain player isn't holding down one of those spots LOL. We got better in the interior of our line from the center position outward to the guards. That's where your QB gets quick pressure and the running game suffers.

(04-28-2021 01:59 PM)ladeda Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:24 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.

Didn't Fick say something recently about wanting to get after the QB more this year? With Sanders/Vann off the edge-- and then guys like Wodtly/BRiggs--- I think UC is going to be looking to bring it with their front 3 (4) this year. I know Tress said something about not taking the Bearcats out from what they do best (3-3-5), but I can definitely see some 4-2-5 looks, and overall more pressure coming from the DLine. 29 sacks last year, and I'd love to see them improve on that total.

That is correct. I believe he spoke to that after one of the Spring practices or the Spring game.

(04-28-2021 02:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:24 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.

The defensive numbers I cited adjust for competition level. UC was elite defensively last year (and the offenses they went against were better than you think). I expect our QB play to be exceptional this season if the offensive line is solid. Ridder made an enormous leap and I think he'll make another this year. I just don't know how much room the defense has to improve to offset any drop in offense.

Well, SMU may have been one we played well against but Memphis and Houston were not as strong as in years past. We didn't hold UCF down and barley won 36-33. I guess the difference in our opinions is I don't anticipate a drop off on offense due to the play at the tackle positions. So long as a certain player isn't holding down one of those spots LOL. We got better in the interior of our line from the center position outward to the guards. That's where your QB gets quick pressure and the running game suffers.

UCF was a weird one, but we definitely held them down on defense...we spotted them 14 points of a muffed punt and a fumble early, but our defense played exceptionally well in that game overall. We held Gabriel to his lowest P/A by over 2 yards and that offense was nearly 220 yards below their season average against us in the first game our team had to play with fans in the stands. Excluding a 41 yard completion on the first drive which very well could've gone our way with an OPI, Gabriel threw for 202 yards on the other 48 attempts, which is a damn good day against ANY NCAA QB. I'll take that all week and twice on Sundays. If you wanted to use a game where our defense didn't perform too terribly well, I'd probably say Georgia, although missing our two best players didn't help in that one.

Also, just to note...one of those guards that you mentioned (Dylan O'Quinn) as a great improvement was bumped to tackle, and is being replaced by a walking holding call (Jeremy Cooper), so I can't guarantee the interior of the line will be as great as they were previously on top of the tackles being a problem. Truthfully, Des is far better against an edge rush than a gut rush, so I hope Cooper can fill in well.

(04-28-2021 03:43 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 02:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:24 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.

The defensive numbers I cited adjust for competition level. UC was elite defensively last year (and the offenses they went against were better than you think). I expect our QB play to be exceptional this season if the offensive line is solid. Ridder made an enormous leap and I think he'll make another this year. I just don't know how much room the defense has to improve to offset any drop in offense.

Well, SMU may have been one we played well against but Memphis and Houston were not as strong as in years past. We didn't hold UCF down and barley won 36-33. I guess the difference in our opinions is I don't anticipate a drop off on offense due to the play at the tackle positions. So long as a certain player isn't holding down one of those spots LOL. We got better in the interior of our line from the center position outward to the guards. That's where your QB gets quick pressure and the running game suffers.

UCF was a weird one, but we definitely held them down on defense...we spotted them 14 points of a muffed punt and a fumble early, but our defense played exceptionally well in that game overall. We held Gabriel to his lowest P/A by over 2 yards and that offense was nearly 220 yards below their season average against us in the first game our team had to play with fans in the stands. Excluding a 41 yard completion on the first drive which very well could've gone our way with an OPI, Gabriel threw for 202 yards on the other 48 attempts, which is a damn good day against ANY NCAA QB. I'll take that all week and twice on Sundays. If you wanted to use a game where our defense didn't perform too terribly well, I'd probably say Georgia, although missing our two best players didn't help in that one.

Also, just to note...one of those guards that you mentioned (Dylan O'Quinn) as a great improvement was bumped to tackle, and is being replaced by a walking holding call (Jeremy Cooper), so I can't guarantee the interior of the line will be as great as they were previously on top of the tackles being a problem. Truthfully, Des is far better against an edge rush than a gut rush, so I hope Cooper can fill in well.

Yea, they were pretty exceptional on defense against UCF despite the score. It was kind of the opposite of the prior year where UCF marched up and down the field the entire first half but the UC defense was opportunistic (maybe a little lucky), before putting together a third quarter which showed everything the defense can do.

(04-28-2021 02:01 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:37 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(04-28-2021 01:24 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Actually, I think the difference between elite and otherwise is the play of our QB. That said, at the risk of splitting hairs the defense still had some moments that was not dominant. We also played many teams with suspect offenses. IMO, the defense this year can be better - not by leaps and bounds - but I meant that any drop off on offense could be offset by a deeper talented defense. Especially across the DLine - getting after the QB should be much improved this year.

The defensive numbers I cited adjust for competition level. UC was elite defensively last year (and the offenses they went against were better than you think). I expect our QB play to be exceptional this season if the offensive line is solid. Ridder made an enormous leap and I think he'll make another this year. I just don't know how much room the defense has to improve to offset any drop in offense.

Well, SMU may have been one we played well against but Memphis and Houston were not as strong as in years past. We didn't hold UCF down and barley won 36-33. I guess the difference in our opinions is I don't anticipate a drop off on offense due to the play at the tackle positions. So long as a certain player isn't holding down one of those spots LOL. We got better in the interior of our line from the center position outward to the guards. That's where your QB gets quick pressure and the running game suffers.

Didn't say what I anticipated. Just said it's the biggest area of concern. It's the biggest unknown. The truth is we don't know what we're going to get there. We had great starters last year, but our depth at the position that was ready to play was nonexistent. Are they ready now? We'll see.

(04-28-2021 03:43 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  Also, just to note...one of those guards that you mentioned (Dylan O'Quinn) as a great improvement was bumped to tackle, and is being replaced by a walking holding call (Jeremy Cooper), so I can't guarantee the interior of the line will be as great as they were previously on top of the tackles being a problem. Truthfully, Des is far better against an edge rush than a gut rush, so I hope Cooper can fill in well.

Yeah, I forgot about O'Quinn but I believe Fick and the staff felt there is more depth at the guard position in terms of trying to shore up the interior protection/run blocking. I may be wrong but I remember plays that got blown up by defenders crashing through or pushing back our interior guys into Rid/Doaks before the changes were made at center and guard. If Rid hangs on to the ball too long then the edge rush is an issue. When guys come through your interior that's a direct line to your QB or RB.

(04-28-2021 03:55 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Didn't say what I anticipated. Just said it's the biggest area of concern. It's the biggest unknown. The truth is we don't know what we're going to get there. We had great starters last year, but our depth at the position that was ready to play was nonexistent. Are they ready now? We'll see.

My bad if I misunderstood your point. I still stand that I don't think the OLine will prove to be an issue one way or the other. Ridder making more consistent, accurate throws and better reads/decision making is what will take this team over the top. It's why he's worked so hard on mechanics, the x's and o's, footwork, etc., over the offseason.

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Also, just to note...one of those guards that you mentioned (Dylan O'Quinn) as a great improvement was bumped to tackle, and is being replaced by a walking holding call (Jeremy Cooper), so I can't guarantee the interior of the line will be as great as they were previously on top of the tackles being a problem. Truthfully, Des is far better against an edge rush than a gut rush, so I hope Cooper can fill in well.
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Fingers crossed Tunstall puts it all together and ends up manning RT so O'Quinn can be kicked back inside.

If the line holds up, I'm very excited for the offense. Whyle, Pierce, Young, Taylor, Jones among others and of course, Tyler Scott who has had a great spring from what I have heard.

Denbrock has alot of weapons, and it wouldn't hurt to rip off the Chiefs for some play designs. I'm looking forward to seeing Scott with the ball in his hands in the open field.