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

I thought our offense was very good this year. Now they didn’t perform against a highly talented Alabama squad with a month to prepare, but every other time we held our own. I think the issue all year was consistency. We would come out and click on all cylinders and look like a machine that could not be stopped. A lot of that was fueled by big plays from Ford, Pierce, Ridder, etc. Other times the offense would disappear for a quarter or two during games. Whether that was personnel or playcalling I am not sure. But we need to see the offense perform for all 4 quarters especially when we lose such big pieces for next year.

It hurt us last night because the defense struggled to get off the field against Alabama. The offense could not sustain or finish drives (although I think we were a batted pass here or there against scoring a couple of td’s). Bottom line was Alabama D played great and we played like we have much of the year except the ball didnt bounce or way and we had no big plays for answers.

(01-01-2022 10:05 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 09:22 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 07:12 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  Pete Thamel announced last night Denbrock will be the new OC at LSU.

As for next year’s starters, obviously there are guys like Des, Coby and Sauce who will be gone; but we need to see who will come back before knowing for certain which spots will need filled. We also need to see how the portal is going to work for the Bearcats.We might be able to grab a couple guys that will fill right in.

I hope they are active with several position groups. The shopping list:

We need an upgrade at OT.
An experienced QB to compete for the job.
I like our backups at RB but there is no guy like Ford in the wings.
An impact TE if both of ours declare.
A WR with size who can step into Pierce’s role.
All of the holes on D.

Staff has its work cut out for it in Spring camp. Lots of new pieces to fit.

One word: KICKER.

Got one Ryan Coe transfer portal

When Ridder was struggling passing early last season i mentioned that they needed to use his legs a la Pat White/Noel Devine/Steve Slaton. i hated those mountaineers teams because their offense was so efficient and effective. While i was certainly wrong about Ridder, using Prater via the RPO might work better. if nothing else, Prater is certainly a gifted runner and there's a risk of him running too much. But using the run to set up some easier passes for him while he develops his passing game might be a good solution if we can't get someone in the transfer portal.

This year UC was up at the level of most of the elite programs in college football (not Bama and not Georgia). Of course the COVID year and guys that could have been drafted coming back gave them a really unique situation with a ton of experienced NFL talent. Next year will be a step back, but that's fine.

I suspect instead of being at the elite top 5-10 type level, UC will be good enough to compete for the NY6 spot with the G5. They'll probably still be the most talented team in the AAC. Things that could bring them over the top:
1. Prater is ready and is a dude.
2. A few seniors take a super senior year
3. They kill it on the transfer market.

I think there is plenty of talent, but they'll need to gain experience. Should be a fun year in a totally different way.

(01-01-2022 03:24 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This year UC was up at the level of most of the elite programs in college football (not Bama and not Georgia). Of course the COVID year and guys that could have been drafted coming back gave them a really unique situation with a ton of experienced NFL talent. Next year will be a step back, but that's fine.

I suspect instead of being at the elite top 5-10 type level, UC will be good enough to compete for the NY6 spot with the G5. They'll probably still be the most talented team in the AAC. Things that could bring them over the top:
1. Prater is ready and is a dude.
2. A few seniors take a super senior year
3. They kill it on the transfer market.

I think there is plenty of talent, but they'll need to gain experience. Should be a fun year in a totally different way.

If I had to guess, this team will be similar to the 2019 team. Pretty good, not great. But still a Memphis CCG win away from a ny6

(01-01-2022 03:27 PM)Lurkercat Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 03:24 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  This year UC was up at the level of most of the elite programs in college football (not Bama and not Georgia). Of course the COVID year and guys that could have been drafted coming back gave them a really unique situation with a ton of experienced NFL talent. Next year will be a step back, but that's fine.

I suspect instead of being at the elite top 5-10 type level, UC will be good enough to compete for the NY6 spot with the G5. They'll probably still be the most talented team in the AAC. Things that could bring them over the top:
1. Prater is ready and is a dude.
2. A few seniors take a super senior year
3. They kill it on the transfer market.

I think there is plenty of talent, but they'll need to gain experience. Should be a fun year in a totally different way.

If I had to guess, this team will be similar to the 2019 team. Pretty good, not great. But still a Memphis CCG win away from a ny6

Top 25ish team. Hopefully top 15. Funny thing - I was just watching the Arkansas bowl and the announcers were talking about the Razorbacks' schedule next year - specifically OOC games against UC and BYU. One of the announcers said it's not too late to cancel one or both of those games - "Just pay the fee." That annoyed me - it's too easy for some programs to do that. Honestly, if Arkansas wants to become something, they need to play those games. Just my thought.

I think people are underestimating the effect that losing 30+ seniors will have. It's going to sting.

The underclassmen they are going to lose (Sauce and Ford) may hurt even more.

People who are wanting to open up the offense a little more should temper their expectations. Especially if Prater is the guy. He was a highly ranked recruit because he was an athlete. ie. He is a runner, not a passer.

I tend to think the D is going to be fine. We've run a lot of guys out there already this year that will fill in next year in starting roles and our recruiting is strongest on the defensive side. The CB losses scare me though. Those guys made all teams we faced one dimensional. Offense is a big question. OL might be our best part of O next year given who we have coming back. That will play into more Tressel ball. Run, run, run. Still think there's enough there to win conference. Imagine we'll be picked to win it again. I think Houston and UCF top contenders. And don't underestimate the impact of coaching continuity.

We’ll compete for the AAC title. I see virtually no chance of a losing season. UC football is now a well-oiled machine and there is ample young talent to not fall off a cliff. I would set the regular season win over/under at 9.5.

Who do we see as other non-aac contenders for the g5 ny6 spot? I think the usual suspects, Boise and coastal are going to be average. Does Utah state make another run in the mwc? Does app return to the top 25?

(01-01-2022 03:20 PM)eroc Wrote:  When Ridder was struggling passing early last season i mentioned that they needed to use his legs a la Pat White/Noel Devine/Steve Slaton. i hated those mountaineers teams because their offense was so efficient and effective. While i was certainly wrong about Ridder, using Prater via the RPO might work better. if nothing else, Prater is certainly a gifted runner and there's a risk of him running too much. But using the run to set up some easier passes for him while he develops his passing game might be a good solution if we can't get someone in the transfer portal.

You don't give yourself enough credit...the offense looked the best it had in either of these past two years when Ridder ran.

(01-01-2022 03:42 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I think people are underestimating the effect that losing 30+ seniors will have. It's going to sting.

The underclassmen they are going to lose (Sauce and Ford) may hurt even more.

People who are wanting to open up the offense a little more should temper their expectations. Especially if Prater is the guy. He was a highly ranked recruit because he was an athlete. ie. He is a runner, not a passer.

Next year is definitely going to be a down year but I think we'll still be pretty good. Our defense is definitely going to be worse and losing Ford will be big for our offense. It was a noticeable difference when he was running and anyone else we had. We're losing a lot of weapons on offense but I think Prater brings a different dynamic to the offense so it will be interesting to see if we create an offense to his strengths.

Prater is definitely better with his legs than Ridder and I think eventually will be at least as accurate. Ridder got a lot of props for having having high win % but anyone who watched the games knows it was rarely him putting in a herculean effort and usually it was the entire team, defense, or run game carrying.

If Prater can't top 62% pass percentage (Ridders career average and only was 65% this year) we are going to be in some deep trouble. That's not an impressive % at any level and the only people who ever clamored about Ridders accuracy were announcers who had seem maybe 2 UC games in a year.

Coach Fickell and his staff better figure out the OL personnel before we get to the b12 because watching Baylor rn and their DL has some dudes

(01-01-2022 09:39 PM)eroc Wrote:  Coach Fickell and his staff better figure out the OL personnel before we get to the b12 because watching Baylor rn and their DL has some dudes

I think there are 4 guys on the team or about to be on the team who will be more than serviceable in a P5 setting. Gone are the days of getting converted TEs.

(01-01-2022 09:55 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 09:39 PM)eroc Wrote:  Coach Fickell and his staff better figure out the OL personnel before we get to the b12 because watching Baylor rn and their DL has some dudes

I think there are 4 guys on the team or about to be on the team who will be more than serviceable in a P5 setting. Gone are the days of getting converted TEs.

Agreed, we will be ok. This rebuilding year is coming at the perfect time for our transition and we should be competitive in the B12 day 1

I think 8 years is probably the ceiling next year unless Prater makes a significant jump in consistency as a passer. Even then, there is no telling how much this defense is going to regress with the loss of so many guys and one more year away from Freeman's coaching.

Saw that a sparty DL entered the portal. Wonder if Tressel has any relationships with sparty players that may come in useful

(01-01-2022 09:56 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I think 8 years is probably the ceiling next year unless Prater makes a significant jump in consistency as a passer. Even then, there is no telling how much this defense is going to regress with the loss of so many guys and one more year away from Freeman's coaching.

8 as a ceiling? No way. We'll split Ark/IU. We will possibly drop a game to Houston or UCF. That still leaves room for a slip up game to someone like Tulsa. I think 8 is the floor and anything lower would be very bad. We have the best coach who is going into his 6th? Year. We have been recruiting better than anyone. No we are not bama, but we have a 'program' now and should be able to operate at a high level after some roster turnover. I think we get lucky in that the other big AAC programs are also going through a transition

(01-01-2022 10:03 PM)Lurkercat Wrote:  

(01-01-2022 09:56 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  I think 8 years is probably the ceiling next year unless Prater makes a significant jump in consistency as a passer. Even then, there is no telling how much this defense is going to regress with the loss of so many guys and one more year away from Freeman's coaching.

8 as a ceiling? No way. We'll split Ark/IU. We will possibly drop a game to Houston or UCF. That still leaves room for a slip up game to someone like Tulsa. I think 8 is the floor and anything lower would be very bad. We have the best coach who is going into his 6th? Year. We have been recruiting better than anyone. No we are not bama, but we have a 'program' now and should be able to operate at a high level after some roster turnover. I think we get lucky in that the other big AAC programs are also going through a transition

We lose effectively 10 starters on defense and our offensive backfield. Houston, ECU, SMU, Memphis, Tulsa, USF, and UCF will all be better, Arkansas is a Top 25 team next year. I am not sold on Prater from everything I've seen and been told over the last few years...if he comes in and isn't at least solid, it could be a rough year (which is fine given the turnover). We have no idea what any of the guys in the defensive backfield are going to be like, but we know the whole field is open again. Our LB corp becomes extremely young, or DL loses essentially all of its production. There are just so many unknowns on defense for me to say 8 wins is a disappointing season.

I'll leave you guys to try and figure out wins and losses for next year. Too early for me to try and analyze it so close to our season's end. Too many unknowns that can change as we move forward. I do know we have a driven coach who was the most disappointed person on the team last night. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. The man wants us to be great. During the postgame presser he mentioned once we are a top ten program the goal will shift to become a top five program. In his eyes there is no ceiling for UC football. How can that not get us excited? How can that not keep the fanbase engaged? There's work to do to get there but his expectations and vision is the driving force right now in our university's athletics. This belief spreads to his players who we already know will go through a brick wall for him. No doubt there will be a sea of change for next season with player turnover and staff [if Denbrock leaves]. But this isn't 2017. This is 2022 with an uptick in recruits and performance. The transfer portal is also alive and well. Bottom line is we're in really good hands. Allstate level hands. My money is on we will exceed lower fan expectations next season.