Down The Drive - Cincinnati Bearcats Football 2018 PreviewA Cincinnati Bearcats blog for the moderately intelligenthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48741/downthedrive-fave.png2018-08-30T12:03:01-04:00http://www.downthedrive.com/rss/stream/172473652018-08-30T12:03:01-04:002018-08-30T12:03:01-04:00Eight Predictions for 2018 Cincinnati Bearcats Football
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Southern Methodist at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FTbCNpMkcm61RURqSs3HvloyhUM=/0x0:4617x3078/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61075353/usa_today_10359575.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Making predictions on the internet is a dangerous business, but let’s give it a shot. Here’s what should come to pass this season, the second of the Luke Fickell era. </p> <p id="wIegid">Certainties exist, but very few do when looking out over a fresh season of college football, or any sport for that matter. As much as it might be preordained that Alabama will win the national title, there is always going to be a 2016 Clemson standing in the way. For however much you think its a done deal that <span>Bryce Love</span> will win the Heisman Trophy, there are plenty of other players who will be worthy as well. (<a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/18/17702456/clayton2018cfbpreviewsecsunbeltindy">Kentucky’s Benny Snell for example</a>). You just can’t be 100 percent sure of anything...</p>
<p id="9WRbqp">... except for the following eight things. Here are this year’s predictions for <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> football, in no particular order. </p>
<h3 id="QolGnM">
<span>Kahlil Lewis</span> will be an All-<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american">American</a> Athletic Conference receiver</h3>
<p id="DoanjP"><strong>The reasoning: </strong><span>Lewis</span> ranked sixth in the league in receptions in 2017 and let’s see here, not one of the five guys ahead of him is back. Now I’m not going to argue that because a few guys graduated or went to the NFL that Lewis is now going to lead the conference, but it certainly means he will be among it’s best options. East Carolina’s <span>Trevon Brown</span> and SMU’s James Proche are going to light it up, but Lewis is going to be right there with them, earning a second-team mention, at the very least. </p>
<p id="QaM90z"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>A bit. Lewis doesn’t exactly have the benefit of a high octane offense or a top flight quarterback, assuming <span>Hayden Moore</span> doesn’t transform into the next coming of Zach Collaros. This one is based entirely on Lewis’ talent. If he gets the opportunities, the stats and accolade will be there. </p>
<h3 id="o77lbM">
<span>Jerron Rollins</span> will end up as the No. 3 receiver in terms of receptions</h3>
<p id="SkifEE"><strong>The reasoning: </strong><span>Rashad Medaris</span> won the No. 3 job out of camp, but <span>Rollins</span> is right behind him. If you look at the total number of receptions from a year ago, Rollins was fourth on the team among wide receivers, trailing Lewis, <span>Thomas Geddis</span> and Devin Gray. Its not a certainty that he will repeat in that area, but considering he already has somewhat of a rapport with <span>Moore</span> and that <span>Medaris</span> only had six receptions last year, there’s every chance that Rollins takes “his” spot back. </p>
<p id="PcVIn1"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>It depends on how you feel about Medaris. I think this prediction will be right but by a small margin. It’s not like Rollins’ body of work is considerably superior. If there’s one pick on here I’m not super confident in, its this one. </p>
<h3 id="OqOnzD">
<span>Perry Young</span> will lead the team in tackles and earn All-AAC honors</h3>
<p id="gr0saP"><strong>The reasoning: </strong>It just makes too much sense. So much sense, in fact, that I think this could be a trap, but I will make it anyway. <span>Young</span> ranked second on the team in tackles last year and that’s only because <span>Jaylyin Minor</span> had 125. Young managed 101 of his own, making him one of seven players in the AAC to reach the century mark. But Young does a lot more than just rack up tackles. He is excellent in pursuit and could be one of the key contributors in an improved pass rush. If he does all of that, then I don’t see why he wouldn’t be one of the best defenders in the AAC.</p>
<p id="U7xgAX"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>I don’t think its very bold at all. Young was fantastic last year and he should only get better, especially if the defense around him improves. </p>
<h3 id="N7bEoY">
<span>Malik Vann</span> will start multiple times</h3>
<p id="DZrsn5"><strong>The reasoning: </strong><span>Vann</span> was a four-star recruit who has been one of the most talked about prospects I can remember at UC. He is already listed as the second-string defensive end on the depth chart, so he’s going to be playing. If he plays up to his potential, it would be foolish not to give him a few chances at a starting gig. </p>
<p id="kspUVS"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>Reasonably bold. Even though Vann is highly regarded, the Bearcats have a pretty solid defensive line and he is blocked by a proven veteran in <span>Kimoni Fitz</span>, and don’t forget about Kevin Mouhon. There’s going to be competition here. </p>
<h3 id="O7B3UN">Cincinnati will have a positive turnover margin</h3>
<p id="uXrLo7"><strong>The reasoning: </strong>One of the easiest ways to put yourself in a position to win is to hold onto the ball, at least in theory. For the Bearcats, the problem wasn’t really giving the ball up last year, it was forcing turnovers. With only 11 collected, UC was outside the top 100 nationally. That outweighed rather decent work in ball control (16 giveaways). If the Bearcats remain similarly stingy in that regard and the defense gets more pressure, there will be more turnovers forced and a positive margin. </p>
<p id="k8gVef"><strong>How bold is this?:</strong> Not all that much. If the Bearcats had created just six more turnovers last year, they would have done this already. </p>
<h3 id="Mswf3u">The defense will be among the top five in the AAC</h3>
<p id="h6jNxf"><strong>The reasoning: </strong>Of the three phases, UC was best at defense last year. That wasn’t a big surprise considering their new head coach, Luke Fickell, is a former defensive coordinator. Now that Fickell and defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman have had a full year to craft the scheme they want and put the right players in the right places, I’m expecting a big step forward. </p>
<p id="T0hJU9"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>Not as bold as you think. On a yards allowed per game basis, UC actually ranked sixth in the AAC in 2017. But that’s just one number. This prediction is built on the idea that the whole unit will get better and that it will show in all metrics, not just one. </p>
<h3 id="iLCx7j">Cincinnati will go 3-5 in league play</h3>
<p id="SQRJKx"><strong>The reasoning: </strong>If you’ve been following our opponent preview series this offseason, you might have already pieced this together. Even if UC is better, it’s worth remembering that it almost went 1-11 last year, as most of the wins on the schedule were thanks to miracle finishes or by just a few points. Fickell’s team is going to be better this year, but not so much better that it walks to the AAC title game. </p>
<p id="kxi6xW"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>Considering the Bearcats haven’t won more than two games in league play since 2015, this has quite a large degree of difficulty. The games I expect them to win are as follows: UConn, Navy and East Carolina. </p>
<h3 id="85tnSs">The Bearcats will finish 5-7 overall, missing out on a bowl game by a sliver</h3>
<p id="pbEWDw"><strong>The reasoning: </strong><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/8/24/17768218/2018-college-football-rankings-projections-strength-schedule">According to projections</a>, the Bearcats are expected to win roughly six games this season. For that to happen, they’d probably need to either have an excellent start to the non-conference schedule (3-1 at least) or go .500 or better inside of league play. Neither path seems realistic enough to believe in, but I do think the chance for a bowl game will stay alive long into November. </p>
<p id="exkjhd"><strong>How bold is this?: </strong>Not very. It’s easy to predict that a team that went 4-8 in back-to-back seasons won’t suddenly be a winning squad. Also, in case you missed the opponent previews, the games I think UC wins outside of league play are against Miami-Ohio and Alabama A&M. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/30/17798334/eight-predictions-for-2018-cincinnati-bearcats-football-perry-young-kahlil-lewis-luke-fickellPhil Neuffer2018-08-28T07:02:06-04:002018-08-28T07:02:06-04:00The Three Best Safeties the Cincinnati Bearcats Will Face in 2018
<figure>
<img alt="Connecticut v Temple" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/12MqkgZHkjY-zoXWDtCmzzgMScc=/0x0:3856x2571/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61044949/861339996.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the finale of our Three Best series, we look at the best in the last line of defense. </p> <p id="CjvYKm">In pickup football games, the position of safety is both glorified and unfairly maligned. Usually when someone yells “I’ll play safety” in those circumstances they just mean they will roam around and do what they please on defense. Sometimes that is great, as you want one of your best defenders back there making adjustments, but other times it can be a lazy choice by your friend Steve to avoid having to feel much responsibility for the action near the line. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5hR9NHdtBM">Damnit, Steve!</a></p>
<p id="xBJObf">In one of the countless ways pickup football is nothing like the collegiate game, safeties are often some of the best defenders on the field and nominally the last line of defense. Some play like additional corner backs, others skirt the line between defensive back and linebacker and others play a position all their own. The following players fall into those categories, as they are doing more than just ranging around but actively improving the defense from back to front. </p>
<p id="hLiBnt"><strong>Honorable Mention:</strong> <span>Adarius Pickett</span> (UCLA), <span>Javon Hagan</span> (Ohio), <span>Sean Williams</span> (Navy)</p>
<h2 id="aws96D">
<span>Kyle Gibson</span> (UCF)</h2>
<p id="pHY6o8"><span>Gibson</span> erupted during UCF’s perfect 2017 season. After being a part-time player in his first two seasons, the 6’0”, 184-pound defensive back set a slew of personal bests as a junior. These included tackles (64) and interceptions (4), the latter of which tied for the fourth-most in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american">American</a> Athletic Conference. He had a relatively quiet game against Cincinnati, finishing with four tackles, but he had plenty of games where opposing offenses found him completely impossible to avoid. That’s why he ended the year on the All-AAC first team. He could very well make a return visit in his senior campaign. </p>
<h2 id="5kzMya">
<span>Mikial Onu</span> (SMU)</h2>
<p id="YuztxX">SMU already <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/21/17764244/best-cornerbacks-the-cincinnati-bearcats-will-face-in-2018-donnie-lewis-nate-meadors-jordan-wyatt">has the best cornerback that the Bearcats will face</a>, so having one of the better safeties is just unfair. Unfortunately for UC, and every other team that faces the Mustangs, <span>Onu</span> is just that. Much like <span>Gibson</span>, he broke onto the scene in a major way in 2017, compiling 105 tackles, along with seven passes defended and two picks. He had four games with at least 10 tackles, including each of the final two contests when he combined to create 22 solo tackles. What’s even more impressive is that Onu was just a sophomore last year so he could potentially get better. That quivering you hear is coming from every offense in the AAC. </p>
<h2 id="vZApEC">
<span>Delvon Randall</span> (Temple)</h2>
<p id="psFfXP">It really couldn’t have been anyone else. <span>Randall</span> has been one of the best safeties in the AAC (and the nation as a whole) for each of the last two seasons. He had four interceptions last year, which was the same number he had in 2016. On top of remaining constant in that regard, he improved as a tackler (80 compared to 65) and maintained his position as one of the better players in pursuit, with 6.5 tackles for loss. He had 6.0 in 2016. A Pittsburgh native, <span>Randall</span> crushed Notre Dame in the 2017 season opener (11 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) and just kept up that pace the rest of the year, culminating in a first-team All-AAC honor. Expect more of the same in 2018, including UC’s showdown with Temple on Oct. 20. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/28/17789394/the-three-best-safeties-the-cincinnati-bearcats-will-face-in-2018-delvon-randall-mikial-onuPhil Neuffer2018-08-27T09:03:02-04:002018-08-27T09:03:02-04:00Playing Best Case/Worst Case for the 2018 Cincinnati Bearcats
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Southern Methodist at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yDwybMoS1iyWF6FaaZ3pciaPakA=/0x0:3950x2633/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61025143/usa_today_10359578.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>If everything goes right or if everything goes wrong, here’s how the season might work out for Bearcats football. </p> <p id="HEArqs">There was some actual college football played this past weekend. Not a scrimmage or a spring game, but real regular season college football. Rice escaped an upset versus Prairie A&M, Hawaii won a shootout against Colorado State and Wyoming beat New Mexico State with <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/3/30/17179470/the-coco-chanels-of-college-football-ranking-the-top-130-uniforms-in-college-football-part-five">Clayton’s favorite uniforms</a>. </p>
<p id="CU78mf">While it was fun to see live football again, it still didn’t feel 100 percent satisfying since the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> were not involved in any of the games. That will change this weekend when UC opens the season with a trip to visit the <a href="https://www.bruinsnation.com/">UCLA Bruins</a>. Right now, the Bearcats are 16.5-point underdogs to the Bruins and are <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/8/24/17768218/2018-college-football-rankings-projections-strength-schedule">projected to win roughly six games this season</a>. But until that first game is played, we don’t <em>really</em> know what’s going to happen. For all we know, the Bearcats are going to win the opener by 50 points and go on to win the national title. Or they will lose by 50 and never win another game ever again. </p>
<p id="66d9M2">Those are both some pretty drastic extremes. Let’s try taking a more tempered approach to figuring out the most realistic best and worst ways the season could go. </p>
<h2 id="97Zhbx">Best Case</h2>
<p id="myMoIS">In week one, Chip Kelly’s new offense at UCLA doesn’t take off right away <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F94364%2F2017%2F09%2F05%2Funveiling-the-53-chip-kellys-2013-debut-in-washington%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.downthedrive.com%2F2018%2F8%2F27%2F17783446%2Fplaying-best-case-worst-case-for-the-2018-cincinnati-bearcats-football-preview" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">like it did when he was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles</a>. Perry Young and the Bearcats defense take major steps forward and suffocate the Bruins’ attempts at pushing the tempo while the offense, led by <span>Michael Warren</span> and <span>Gerrid Doaks</span>, pave the way for a 21-17 victory. </p>
<p id="uH6LCC">While the national headlines pontificate about why Kelly lost in his debut, the Bearcats surge with confidence on their trip back home where they prepare for the next Battle for the Victory Bell against the Miami-Ohio RedHawks the following week.</p>
<p id="7uL7AZ">During a sweltering evening at Paul Brown Stadium, the RedHawks and Bearcats play a back-and-forth game featuring more than a few lead changes, but once again the UC defense makes plays when it counts, with <span>Tyrell Gilbert</span> returning an interception 67 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that puts Cincinnati ahead 27-21. A field goal in the fourth quarter wraps up the scoring and the Bearcats’ 30-21 victory makes them 2-0. </p>
<p id="NkdhNo">The following week, in the home opener against Alabama A&M, UC wins a game by an excessively comfortable margin for the first time in the Luke Fickell era. <span>Doaks</span> and <span>Warren</span> score two touchdowns apiece and <span>Kahlil Lewis</span> tallies nine receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown, while the defense limits the Bulldogs to 179 total yards. </p>
<p id="Tzhfsx">Even with their 3-0 mark, the Bearcats are still mostly overlooked on the national level. Things don’t get much better when a rather unheralded but no less talented Ohio Bobcats team comes into Nippert Stadium and outlasts UC 28-24.</p>
<p id="cVgfSt">Despite that loss, a 3-1 record after non-conference play is more than enough to have UC fans optimistic about the rest of the season. That optimism rises further when <span>Hayden Moore</span> throws for 354 yards and four touchdowns in an absolute decimation of UConn in the conference opener. </p>
<p id="A7hfE5">Homecoming is the next week and the Bearcats don’t have another easy time, as Tulane’s running game punches harder than anything the UC defense has seen to that point. Trailing 31-28 with four minutes to play, the Bearcats execute a last minute drive for the ages and <span>Lewis</span>’ seven-yard touchdown reception in the final minute leads to a stunning victory. </p>
<p id="hszZSG">Now I promised this would be a realistic best case scenario, so don’t think this is going to end with the Bearcats 12-1 with an <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american">American</a> Athletic Conference title. Even in the best case scenario, UC is more than likely going to lose the next two games on the schedule at Temple and at SMU. Even with that they are 5-3 entering the last month of the season. <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/22/17767784/cincinnati-bearcats-football-opponent-preview-navy-midshipmen-malcolm-perry-zach-abey-sean-williams">I’ve already predicted that the Bearcats will upset Navy</a>, so obviously that will come to pass in this optimistic fantasy. Then, even though Charlie Strong is a great coach, there is so much roster turnover at USF that UC, clearly improved with a 6-3 record, makes the necessary adjustments and topples the Bulls at home. </p>
<p id="h32CTW">The next week features a cold dose of reality, as UC tries its best to upset UCF, a team that has already secured a spot in the AAC title game, but is ultimately dispatched 34-17. UC’s fortunes change the following week in a 41-13 exclamation point against an East Carolina team that wins all of two games the whole year. </p>
<p id="pds3yV">As they head into bowl season, the Bearcats are 8-4 overall. They are selected for the Birmingham Bowl where they play the <a href="https://www.aseaofblue.com/">Kentucky Wildcats</a>, <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/18/17702456/clayton2018cfbpreviewsecsunbeltindy">much to Clayton’s chagrin</a>, and win 35-28. After a 9-4 finish, Fickell’s name is bandied about on the head coach rumor mill, but he ultimately decides to stay put. </p>
<h2 id="z5zOVQ">Worst Case</h2>
<p id="cLqkIy">Kelly’s offense is actually what he did at Oregon right from the word go and the Bearcats are annihilated 48-14 in week one. </p>
<p id="fBnbAG">Miami-Ohio jumps on the bandwagon and, still stewing after last year’s epic collapse, takes UC out for a nice 31-24 revenge dinner. </p>
<p id="y7IVac">UC still gets an early win when Alabama A&M comes to town, but the final score is less decisive than expected. </p>
<p id="k7EhLm">Ohio, led by 456 all-purpose yards from <span>Nathan Rourke</span>, runs well past UC and finishes off a 1-3 start to the season for the Bearcats, causing many to begin wringing their hands.</p>
<p id="5LpQoZ">Some of those worries are assuaged temporarily when UC holds on for a 17-13 win at UConn the following week, but it is far from the launching pad of a conference opener than needed. </p>
<p id="dDKXMN">Over the next five games, UC somehow pulls out one victory (probably against Navy), but is outscored by an average of 20 points in its other four losses, setting it up for a regular season finale showdown with East Carolina at just 3-8. Once again, the Bearcats escape with a 4-8 finish, topping the Pirates 24-20, but it sends us off into the offseason still frustrated by the lack of progress. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="EEIOrM">
<p id="YjZAMf">When the 2018 season comes to a close, it is much more likely that the Bearcats will finish somewhere between the two extremes posted above, however “realistic” they may be. Until such time, we can cling to the hope of the first and try to banish the second into the recesses of our minds. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/27/17783446/playing-best-case-worst-case-for-the-2018-cincinnati-bearcats-football-previewPhil Neuffer2018-08-25T13:15:17-04:002018-08-25T13:15:17-04:00Opponent Preview: East Carolina Pirates
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Cincinnati at East Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HcvtVE70dpYSEfBpLR9z4riII1k=/0x0:4298x2865/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61019305/usa_today_10421460.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the first two seasons under Scottie Montgomery, the Pirates have posted identical records. Unfortunately, despite strong passing offense, those records have been 3-9. </p> <p id="7Lsktd">Stagnation is a dangerous adjective, especially in college football. While a program like Alabama can get away with it since it is competing for national championships every year, most programs need to be constantly evolving and, if they have been struggling, there needs to be evidence of improvement.</p>
<p id="a1z1Em">For the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/east-carolina-pirates">East Carolina Pirates</a>, back-to-back 3-9 seasons have left them in a bit of a holding pattern, as they search for the catalyst for a return to the days when bowl appearances and league title contention were expectations, not lofty aspirations. From 2006 to 2014, ECU went bowling eight times and even had a 10-win campaign. But then they slipped, leading to the departure of head coach Ruffin McNeil and a shake up of the program itself. </p>
<p id="cXiVhL">Since McNeil left, Scottie Montgomery has been at the helm. So far, things have come closer to flat lining than coming back to life, although ECU is still a place where passing offense comes to flourish. In Montgomery’s third year, there is mounting pressure for the Pirates to at least take some steps forward because of if stagnation is dangerous, regression could be lethal. </p>
<h2 id="fPGlBj">When Do They Play Cincinnati?</h2>
<p id="bh0Wcc">This game will serve as the regular season finale. It could very well be the difference between a bowl game appearance and an abrupt end for the Bearcats, assuming they are able to put themselves in such a position across the first 11 games of the schedule. If you need more specifics, this is a Friday kickoff on Nov. 23. </p>
<h2 id="kNhSEo">What They Do Well</h2>
<p id="Q7rREN">Montgomery has done a superb job of putting together a staff and game plan that has helped ECU continue to be an excellent passing offense. Offensive coordinator Tony Petersen, who also coaches the quarterbacks, has played a major role as well. ECU ranked third in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american">American</a> Athletic Conference in passing yards per game last season (317.9) while only four other teams in the country threw more often. </p>
<p id="0qJ91D">The problem for this year’s team is that the two quarterbacks that led the way are gone. Gardner Minshew transferred to Washington State (one of the few teams to throw more often than the Pirates last year) and <span>Thomas Sirk</span> is trying to cut it in the NFL. </p>
<p id="AYUFvz">While the quarterback situation is taking a big step in a different direction, ECU will try to make sure the offensive line work is still solid. The Pirates only allowed 15 sacks last season and they also were the rare pass-heavy team to dominate in time of possession, ranking third in the AAC. </p>
<p id="4X5nIx">Lastly, even though UC had the best punter in the conference in James Smith, ECU got great work from <span>Austin Barnes</span>, who led the AAC in punting average (44 YPP). The bad news is that he has since graduated. </p>
<h2 id="r6Nhjg">What They Don’t Do Well</h2>
<p id="HbA3M9">While the Pirates were good at moving the ball through the air, the rest of the offense was pretty bad. ECU couldn’t run the ball very well even when it wanted to, and all those throws led to fewer big yardage gains than you might expect. The team ranked last in the AAC in rushing yards, barely exceeding 100 yards per game, while only UC had fewer plays of 30 yards or more among AAC teams. </p>
<p id="VZsREK">Those big passing numbers also didn’t produce enough points. The Pirates only scored on 75 percent of their red zone tries, with 54.6 percent becoming touchdowns. That’s a big reason for ECU’s rather sorry scoring average (24.9 PPG), even if they did throw up 48 when they faced the Bearcats. </p>
<p id="JVibTQ">Those weaknesses on offense pale in comparison to ECU’s horrendous defense. The Pirates finished dead last in the country in defensive <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/10/13/16457830/college-football-advanced-stats-analytics-rankings">S&P</a>+. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/8/24/17768218/2018-college-football-rankings-projections-strength-schedule">Projections don’t favor a marked turnaround either</a>. Essentially, if you look at team rankings in the AAC for any defensive category, you can expect to find ECU at the bottom. That goes for yards allowed, sacks, tackles for loss and more. In fact, the Pirates were last in the country in yards allowed and tackles for loss (39), while managing to tie for 126th nationally with 11 sacks. Only Air Force sacked fewer quarterbacks. </p>
<p id="FiChAF">The defense also failed to create many turnovers (11), which was compounded by far too many giveaways (21). With some quick math, we can see that is a turnover margin of -10, which was the worst mark in the AAC. </p>
<p id="vDT0Nz">As if the defensive weakness wasn’t bad already, the Pirates lost their best defender from a year ago in <span>Kiante Anderson</span>, who led the team in sacks (4.0). </p>
<p id="zUNDhX">ECU also had some large problems on special teams, particularly in kick return coverage and returning punts. The Pirates allowed an average of 26.7 yards per kick return and on a season total of six punt returns — a terrible number in its own right — managed -4 yards combined. </p>
<h2 id="UvhQvP">Players to Watch</h2>
<p id="zYzWQn"><span>Trevon Brown</span>, WR</p>
<p id="o50uE6">The offense should still be predicated on passing if only because of how good <span>Brown</span> is. He was the only Pirate to be named to an all-league team (second) after turning 60 receptions into 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns while providing effective kick return talents as well. </p>
<p id="c6sbMR"><span>Hussein Howe</span>, RB</p>
<p id="VOQ1mJ">Howe might not be the star of the offense, but he is a back that can make plays as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught 30 balls last year and finished with 638 yards from scrimmage. </p>
<p id="D4eXts"><span>Devon Sutton</span>, DB</p>
<p id="wa3mdI">Sutton is the top returning tackler (68) and did some decent work creating negative plays (5.5 tackles for loss). </p>
<p id="tZKx9o"><span>Aaron Ramseur</span>, LB</p>
<p id="7EGUoc">Ramseur had 57 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a redshirt freshman. </p>
<h2 id="AWDIDO">Series History</h2>
<p id="OLLZSW">Even though the Bearcats finished with a better overall record than the Pirates last year, that didn’t seem to matter when they played each other. ECU looked like the far superior team, running away with a 48-20 victory on its home field. That snapped a six-game losing streak to UC for the Pirates, who lead the all-time series 13-8. </p>
<h2 id="5rj2Kf">Would This Be Better as a Basketball Game?</h2>
<p id="Fr7DI9">East Carolina won 10 games in men’s basketball last year and hasn’t been to the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">NCAA Tournament</a> in 25 years (1993). In 13 all-time meetings, UC has lost to the Pirates just once. The Bearcats also own an average margin of victory of 14.2 points per game. This once again falls into the category of a fun game to watch as a UC fan, but not an objectively strong watch for a non-affiliated party. </p>
<h2 id="E0xPnO">Prediction Time!</h2>
<p id="7ZSLNk">ECU was pretty bad last year and it still crushed UC. However, the Bearcats seemingly have more reasons to be optimistic than the Pirates, who are going to be running an offense with a brand new quarterback while the defense tries to produce any type of resistance. Considering they also get to host this game, the Bearcats have the edge in this one. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/25/17781328/cincinnati-bearcats-football-opponent-preview-east-carolina-pirates-scottie-montgomery-trevon-brownPhil Neuffer2018-08-24T10:45:19-04:002018-08-24T10:45:19-04:00Opponent Preview: UCF Knights
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: American Athletic Conference Championship-Memphis at Central Florida" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/by2mcnlIgWsIZ-0Kx9laA26plpA=/0x229:4040x2922/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61007297/usa_today_10453617.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The defending “national champions” have a new head coach and another roster built to dominate the AAC. </p> <p id="biaZkv">It’s pretty crazy that the 2018 College Football National Champions came out of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american">American</a> Athletic Conference. I think we, and by we I mean every person that follows college football, is in complete agreement that the <a href="https://www.blackandgoldbanneret.com/">UCF Knights</a> won the national title last year by virtue of their perfect 13-0 season. </p>
<p id="2qE0E2">What’s that? You remember watching the <a href="https://www.rollbamaroll.com/">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> raise the national championship trophy after beating the <a href="https://www.dawgsports.com/">Georgia Bulldogs</a> in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-playoff">College Football Playoff</a> finals? Hmm. You must be remembering that incorrectly. <a href="http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/23514786/alabama-crimson-tide-coach-nick-saban-dismisses-ucf-knights-claim-national-title">Nick Saban is as well.</a> </p>
<p id="OT2udV">In all seriousness, the UCF Knights had a brilliant 2017 season and regardless of which way you feel about who the “real” 2017 national champion is, that can’t be taken away from them. The Knights won all 13 games they played, including their win over the <a href="https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/">Auburn Tigers</a> in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/peach-bowl">Peach Bowl</a>. </p>
<p id="fZNnSl">What is even more impressive about that year was the fact that just a couple seasons ago, the Knights <em>lost</em> every game on the schedule. I guess hiring Scott Frost ended up working out for the Knights. </p>
<p id="rlwE8v">That brings us to the bad news. Frost is gone. He left to take the head coaching gig at Nebraska. In his place is Josh Heupel, who was previously the offensive coordinator at Missouri. This will be the former Oklahoma quarterback’s first time as a head coach. You couldn’t really ask for a better situation to start that journey... or maybe you could. After all, the Knights had a perfect season in 2017 so they can only really go down from there. But even if they don’t win 13 games again, they are still going to very good, they probably just won’t win “national championship.”</p>
<h2 id="7Lsktd">When Do They Play Cincinnati?</h2>
<p id="bh0Wcc">This is the penultimate game of the season for both the Bearcats and the Knights. Set on Nov. 17 in Orlando, UCF will go on to finish the regular season at USF and the Bearcats will play East Carolina. </p>
<h2 id="kNhSEo">What They Do Well</h2>
<p id="Q7rREN">On a basic level, win games of football. I seriously considered just leaving that and moving to the next section, but that would be lazy and I am not... well I am, but I’ll push through. </p>
<p id="tQ3crO">You can really take your pick when it comes to strengths of this team. The Knights scored an incredible amount of points, averaging 48.2 points per game. To put that in Bearcat context, UC hasn’t scored more than 40 points since 2015. UCF <em>averaged </em>nearly 50. </p>
<p id="m4G8aY">It’s easy to score points when you can throw the ball like UCF can. Led by 2017 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year <span>McKenzie Milton</span>, the Knights averaged 331.8 passing yards per game. Milton threw for 4,037 yards and 37 touchdowns while completing 67.1 percent of his passes. He also recorded a 11.1 adjusted yards per attempt average and even ranked second on the team with 613 rushing yards. He is back and the UCF offense, which ranked second in the country in offensive <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/10/13/16457830/college-football-advanced-stats-analytics-rankings">S&P</a>+ last year, will be all the better for it. According to <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/8/24/17768218/2018-college-football-rankings-projections-strength-schedule">SB Nation’s most recent projections</a>, they are going to slip a whole one (1) spot this season. </p>
<p id="9QiJeB">UCF’s offense has the star skill position players, but perhaps the most critical part of the group is the offensive line, which is certainly <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/7/17/17580774/the-three-best-offensive-lines-the-cincinnati-bearcats-will-face-in-2018-ucf-knights-jordan-johnson">the best the Bearcats will contend with this season</a>. The Knights allowed only 13.0 sacks a year ago, which tied for the fifth-fewest in the nation. </p>
<p id="WHQ6UT">Don’t forget UCF’s strength in ball protection and on third down. UCF only turned the ball over 15 times and tied for second in the AAC in third down conversion rate (45.45) while being put into third down circumstances less than anyone else in the league. </p>
<p id="MX8HE3">Jumping off those very few turnovers they fell victim to, UCF racked up 32 forced turnovers, including 20 interceptions, which helped it have a turnover margin of +17. Only Wyoming had a better one nationally. It will be interesting to see how well UCF can keep that up since all-league cornerback <span>Mike Hughes</span> (who also helped UCF have exceptional kick and punt returning) is now playing for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. </p>
<h2 id="r6Nhjg">What They Don’t Do Well</h2>
<p id="NFpl87">UCF’s defense was fine last year, but not an elite group, even if it did have some exceptionally talented contributors like <span>Shaquem Griffin</span>, <span>Jamiyus Pittman</span> and Hughes. Unfortunately, those three guys, and a few others, are gone so an already average unit may take a further step back. In those same projections I mentioned earlier, UCF is ranked 87th in the country in defensive S&P+. </p>
<p id="R9soPq">It will be important for the Knights to limit their penalties better than they did last year since the margin for error will be smaller. UCF was penalized 8.4 times per game, which was the third-most in the conference. </p>
<h2 id="LDKHJ5">Players to Watch</h2>
<p id="4Qoltu"><span>McKenzie Milton</span>, QB</p>
<p id="8RKKk5">He’s the best quarterback in the AAC and a legitimate Heisman candidate. </p>
<p id="CzCQFP"><span>Adrian Killins Jr.</span>, RB</p>
<p id="qach6j">As a sophomore, Killins was named an all-AAC first team member. He rushed for 790 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. </p>
<p id="Wwfp9N"><span>Otis Anderson</span>, RB/WR</p>
<p id="7An1U4"><span>Anderson</span> is a multi-talented player. Last year he amassed 494 yards on the ground and 351 yards through the air, along with seven total touchdowns.</p>
<p id="PDffRn"><span>Dredrick Snelson</span>, WR</p>
<p id="4Oj553">With the departure of leading receiver Tre’Quan Smith and all-league tight end <span>Jordan Akins</span>, <span>Snelson</span> will be getting more targets. He caught 46 balls for 695 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore. </p>
<p id="pgg8ek"><span>Pat Jasinski</span>, LB</p>
<p id="w1Mqyr">Lost among all the great UCF defenders was <span>Jasinski</span>. All he did was lead the team in tackles (104), while adding 8.0 tackles for loss. </p>
<p id="nqBTxh"><span>Kyle Gibson</span>, S</p>
<p id="FdUaai"><span>Gibson</span> is going to keep the ball-hawking trend going. He had four interceptions last year and added 64 tackles. </p>
<p id="uqIEh5"><span>Jordan Johnson</span>, OL</p>
<p id="4JJoFp">A first-team all-conference center last year, <span>Johnson</span> will keep UCF protecting Milton at a high level. </p>
<p id="AENzfi"><span>Wyatt Miller</span>, OL</p>
<p id="jaW2NX">What an underachiever. <span>Miller</span> was “only” a second-team all-conference lineman, </p>
<p id="hMFt7G"><span>Matthew Wright</span>, K</p>
<p id="mUjTZC"><span>Wright</span> was the second-best kicker in the AAC last year. He connected on 13-of-18 field goal tries and also hit 80-of-81 extra points. </p>
<h2 id="AWDIDO">Series History</h2>
<p id="a4q0Ki">UC was one of the many teams to beat up on the 2015 Knights, stomping them 52-7. UCF has taken its revenge and then some, winning the last two games by a combined score of 75-26. Those are the only three matchups between the two programs. </p>
<h2 id="5rj2Kf">Would This Be Better as a Basketball Game?</h2>
<p id="Fr7DI9">Apparently. </p>
<p id="LTX4Qg">A lot of people are <a href="https://bustingbrackets.com/2018/04/09/aac-basketball-way-too-early-preseason-rankings-for-2018-19/4/">very high on UCF basketball for the 2018-19 season</a>. However, both games the Bearcats and Knights played last year were almost unwatchable from an objective standpoint. First they competed in a rock fight for the ages, with UC winning 49-38, and then the Bearcats ran the Knights out of town, 77-40. But if the prognosticators are to be believed, UC/UCF basketball games will be must see TV this coming year. </p>
<h2 id="E0xPnO">Prediction Time!</h2>
<p id="XaECmF">I’m not going to mince words here. UCF is going to win this game. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/24/17776898/cincinnati-bearcats-football-opponent-preview-ucf-knights-mckenzie-milton-josh-heupelPhil Neuffer2018-08-23T15:08:01-04:002018-08-23T15:08:01-04:00What Does Success Look Like for the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2018?
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Cincinnati at East Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LK04fTCeXCPMU3UlM4qdW-95Rxg=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60998665/usa_today_10421543.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Luke Fickell will enter his second season as head coach in 2018 and the expectations have changed since his first.</p> <p id="BoDYNq">Fans can be some of the toughest graders in the world. Forget about the most exacting professor you ever had. A fan base will scrutinize even the tiniest problem when things are going well. When things start going poorly, as they have for the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> the last few years, those tiny problems balloon in size and it feels like nothing is going right at all.</p>
<p id="pl0GUH">Luckily we know that’s not entirely true when it comes to the Bearcats football program. Tommy Tuberville wasn’t given another year to torpedo things after UC went just 4-8 in what would be his final season. After Tuberville’s departure, the Bearcats brought in a young and up-and-coming coach with a winner’s pedigree, naming Luke Fickell the head coach. Fickell has provided a new energy to the program and the results he has managed in recruiting can’t be questioned. The Bearcats had the No. 1 class in the American Athletic Conference in 2018 and an adherence to recruiting locally and within the state is already paying off. </p>
<p id="3YeIRD">The harsh reality, however, is that while all that great recruiting was going on, the Bearcats were still pretty miserable on the field itself. In his first season as head coach, Fickell oversaw a team that again went 4-8 and did not come anywhere close to a league title or bowl game contention. Weighed down by the AAC’s worst offense, the Bearcats barely scraped by in the wins they did have. Aside from a 26-14 triumph over Austin Peay in the season opener, they won their other three games by a total of six points. If not for a few missed kicks and a fortunate turnover against Miami-Ohio, UC could very easily have finished 1-11. </p>
<p id="kN8fj5">You can’t really blame Fickell for such a bad season. Its not as if he was gifted with a program stuffed with future NFL talent or that had enjoyed much success in the months before he was hired. This was always going to be a major rebuild. The hope is that the worst part of that process is over and can be left in 2017. </p>
<p id="ojthU4">That brings us to 2018, with Fickell assuming the reins for the second year. His seat should still be rather cool and I would expect his bosses and the fan base that supports the Bearcats to give him plenty of time to course correct. So that begs the question: what does success like in year two of the Fickell era? Even if he has the benefit of a better understanding of his team and some reinforcements from recruiting, those things alone cannot be expected to equate to a complete reversal of fortunes. Many of the same players that went 4-8 last season are still going to play key parts this year. Now, many of those players have improved and so will the schemes and play calling, but even with that written, it is important to temper expectations.</p>
<p id="HwfjjT">If we look out at the schedule, like we did earlier in the summer, <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/6/25/17500940/cincinnati-bearcat-football-2018-schedule-is-very-manageable">we can see that this is far from the toughest schedule in the country</a>. According to ESPN’s Strength of Schedule measurement, <a href="http://www.espn.com/college-football/statistics/teamratings/_/sort/sosRemainingRank/order/false">the Bearcats have the 86th-most difficult slate of games in the nation</a>. ESPN also projects somewhere in the vicinity of a 6-6 mark. Such a record would earn the Bearcats a bowl game and would mean they knocked off at least a couple teams in the AAC. In all likelihood, for them to get to six wins overall, they will need to claim three victories against league foes at the very least, and that’s if they can go 3-1 against the non-league slate of UCLA, Miami-Ohio, Alabama A&M and Ohio. Its more probable that four wins in league play will get them to that magic six wins. It did in 2015, which was also the last time the Bearcats not only went bowling, but finished with more than two wins in league play. </p>
<p id="ZRrstH">But let’s back up before we get caught diving into granular breakdown of all 12 games on the schedule. If we’re really trying to answer the question posed in the headline, the simple answer is that there needs to be improvement that is not only visible during games but in the box score and standings. That means producing more on offense than last year. If the Bearcats can even make themselves a league average offensive team, both in yards gained and points scored, that will be a major win. On defense, Fickell’s area of strength, the Bearcats need to find a pass rush. They can’t hope to dominate and win games with their defense otherwise. UC was right in the middle of the AAC in yards allowed last year, but tied for second-to-last in sacks. If they can accumulate more than 20 sacks or so, that should indicate a superior defensive presence.</p>
<p id="Mwpu52">If the Bearcats can make those improvements in the two major phases, and at least hold their own on special teams, they stand a real chance at not having to wait on miracles to win games, and winning games is where the real measure of success will be found. Getting to six wins would mark a huge improvement, but even a 5-7 finish with more definitive victories than they had last year would go a long way in proving that Fickell is leading the Bearcats in the right direction. </p>
<div id="M7tnXc"><div data-anthem-component="poll:1524090"></div></div>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/23/17774210/what-does-success-look-like-for-the-cincinnati-bearcats-in-2018Phil Neuffer2018-08-23T11:57:48-04:002018-08-23T11:57:48-04:00Opponent Preview: USF Bulls
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: South Florida at Connecticut" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3CObu3sxQdP5uX6Yfnrxp9JW-9o=/0x0:2994x1996/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60995753/usa_today_10391218.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The 2018 Bulls are even more Charlie Strong’s team since so many of last year’s star contributors are no longer around, but that doesn’t mean USF is going to regress. </p> <p id="I0SYKC">Regardless of how you feel about his tenure at Texas, Charlie Strong has proven that he is a good coach. He has a 63-39 all-time record, which accounts for a .618 winning percentage. As one of the highest profile hires of last offseason, Strong made his return to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/american">American</a> Athletic Conference with an already loaded USF team. He was able to do quite a bit with the roster he was handed, leading the Bulls to a 10-2 overall mark, a No. 21 final AP ranking and a 46-39 win over South Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl. </p>
<p id="zAoeTS">Strong’s next task is recapturing the same magic with a roster that features far fewer holdovers from the Willie Taggart era and far fewer star players than a year ago. The list of departing players is lengthy for the Bulls, who will no longer have quarterback <span>Quinton Flowers</span>, running backs <span>D’Ernest Johnson</span> and <span>Darius Tice</span> along with defensive standouts like <span>Bruce Hector</span>, <span>Deadrin Senat</span>, <span>Deatrick Nichols</span>, <span>Devin Abraham</span> and <span>Auggie Sanchez</span>. </p>
<p id="ubTlP2">Strong and his staff did plenty during the 2018 recruiting season to make sure the Bulls are on the right track in the wake of losing so many contributors. Its a tall task, since those guys led a two-year stretch which featured a 21-4 record and two bowl wins. Still, the Bulls had the No. 2 recruiting class in the AAC in 2018, trailing only Cincinnati, and as of posting are sitting at No. 3 for the 2019 class. So even if there are a lot of questions to answer this season, the future, both in the short and near-term, is... strong. </p>
<h2 id="biaZkv">When Do They Play Cincinnati?</h2>
<p id="bh0Wcc">The Bearcats and Bulls will celebrate Veterans Day by playing a football game on Nov. 10 in Cincinnati. </p>
<h2 id="kNhSEo">What They Do Well</h2>
<p id="b3WUUH">Strong has built a reputation as a defensive-minded coach and his first year in USF only added support to that claim. The Bulls were the best defensive team in the conference, ranking 28th in the country in defensive <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/10/13/16457830/college-football-advanced-stats-analytics-rankings">S&P</a>+, while putting two defenders on the All-AAC first team (<span>Senat</span> and <span>Sanchez</span>) and leading the way in points (23.5 PG) and yards (.359.8 PG) allowed. </p>
<p id="vh6euH">Like many great defenses, the Bulls put unrelenting pressure on their opponents. They finished the year with 36 sacks and 101 tackles for loss, ranking second to Temple in both categories. They had three sacks alone against UC, a team they smashed 33-3. The loss of <span>Hector</span>, Senat and <span>Mike Love</span>, who combined for 18 sacks, means the defensive front needs players to step up, but <span>Greg Reaves</span> (14.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks) already led the team in tackles for loss and will be a force. </p>
<p id="xF7W2U">As for its ability to force turnovers, which was solid enough, USF might not have <span>Abraham</span> and his five interceptions back, but cornerbacks <span>Mazzi Wilkins</span> (3 INT, 9 passes defended) and <span>Ronnie Hoggins</span> (2, 8) will make opposing offenses wary of letting the ball fly. </p>
<p id="Zij6ct">Defense wasn’t the only phase of the game in which USF excelled. In fact, the Bulls ranked higher in offensive S&P+ (27th) than in defensive. <span>Flowers</span> powered the attack, throwing for 2,911 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushing for 1,078 and 11 more. He got plenty of help with making USF one of the best rushing offenses in the AAC, as both <span>Johnson</span> (796 yards, 7 TDs) and <span>Tice</span> (943 yards, 11 TDs) were exceptional runners. With the trio gone, and <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/usf-bulls/2018/08/22/still-no-starting-qb-named-following-usfs-final-scrimmage/">no starting quarterback named as of yet</a>, the backfield will look entirely different. We’ll just have to see if that equates to a drop in production, but its likely that it will, at least at first. </p>
<p id="lFXBxp">USF’s strengths on special teams in 2017 were on field goals and punt returns. Unfortunately, primary punt returner <span>Tajee Fullwood</span> and all-conference placekicker <span>Emilio Nadelman</span> are no longer on the roster, although <span>Nadelman</span> is on the staff as a graduate assistant. </p>
<h2 id="r6Nhjg">What They Don’t Do Well</h2>
<p id="R9soPq">USF’s worst enemy was itself last year. The Bulls were called for 111 penalties, or just a few more than nine per game. That cost them 86 yards on average and earned them the last place ranking in the AAC. Only Oregon was penalized more among all the teams in the country. </p>
<p id="ipD4wc">Other weaknesses are more nitpicks than anything else. The Bulls weren’t the best when it came to kick and punt return coverage, but they also blocked their fair share of kicks when the tables were turned. The offensive line also missed some spots occasionally, which led to 81 tackles for loss allowed, the second-most let up in the AAC. </p>
<h2 id="LDKHJ5">Players to Watch</h2>
<p id="4Qoltu">Greg Reaves, DE/LB</p>
<p id="XN1tni">Reaves is great, <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/15/17692652/the-three-best-linebackers-the-cincinnati-bearcats-will-face-in-2018-kyran-mitchell-greg-reaves">no matter what position he plays</a>. </p>
<p id="hf9rDK"><span>Juwuan Brown</span>, DE</p>
<p id="RtdrkX">Someone else is going to have to get some sacks and <span>Brown</span> seems like the next guy in line. The senior had 3.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss last year and will team with <span>Kevin Bronson</span> to form a nice foundation for the defensive line. </p>
<p id="g81H09"><span>Mazzi Wilkins</span>, CB </p>
<p id="0IMvxk">Wilkins is very good. He had three interceptions and nine passes defended last year and is the top returning player on the roster in both categories.</p>
<p id="7JYdug">Ronnie Hoggins, CB</p>
<p id="fobtKv">Hoggins didn’t have superior numbers compared to Wilkins but he is another corner that will lock opposing wideouts down. </p>
<p id="GFtxzL"><span>Nico Sawtelle</span>, LB</p>
<p id="wt8JiO">Sawtelle is a linebacker who can do just about anything. He had 4.5 tackles for loss (54 total) and even added two interceptions last year. He finished fourth on the team in tackles and the three guys ahead of him are no longer on the team. </p>
<p id="DdA2lm"><span>Khalid McGee</span>, LB</p>
<p id="VqCqoZ">McGee enters his senior season following a year when he managed 38 tackles (3.5 for loss). </p>
<p id="uDGTRO"><span>Marcus Norman</span>, OL </p>
<p id="q6YcEM">Norman was named to the All-AAC second team in 2017 and will be a critical part of USF’s revamped offensive efforts. </p>
<p id="0XAMOp"><span>Tyre McCants</span>, WR</p>
<p id="vpjFLC"><span>McCants</span> (36 receptions, 686 yards, 7 TDs) is now the No. 1 wideout on the team in the wake of <span>Marquez Valdes-Scantling</span>’s departure. <span>Darnell Salomon</span> (32 receptions, 512 yards, 5 TDs) should get more targets as well. </p>
<p id="VIZRGu"><span>Mitchell Wilcox</span>, TE</p>
<p id="g9nuNc">Wilcox actually ranked fourth on the team in receptions last year (17, 158 yards, 2 TDs) and could get his named called a bit more in 2018. </p>
<h2 id="AWDIDO">Series History</h2>
<p id="a4q0Ki">It hasn’t been that fun to play USF recently for the Bearcats. They have lost each of the last three meetings with an average margin of defeat of 31 points. UC still leads the all-time series 8-7, but its looking less and less likely that that will continue. </p>
<h2 id="5rj2Kf">Would This Be Better as a Basketball Game?</h2>
<p id="Fr7DI9">Thankfully the Bearcats can always return the favor come basketball season. Cincinnati has beaten USF by double digits in four-straight games and has won nine-straight in the all-time series, which it leads 32-8. It appears that finding a competitive balance in either sport may be years away from happening.</p>
<h2 id="E0xPnO">Prediction Time!</h2>
<p id="KiD0hf">There’s a narrative you could craft where the Bulls regress heavily because of all the roster turnover. Parallel to that regression would be a meteoric rise for the young Bearcats. If both things come to pass, then this meeting could herald a changing of the guard. Unfortunately, Strong is too good a coach and USF’s roster still has lots of talent, so the expectation should be for another good Bulls team. UC will keep this game closer than the previous three meetings, but the Bulls will still win. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/23/17772574/cincinnati-bearcats-football-opponent-preview-usf-bulls-greg-reaves-ronnie-hoggins-charlie-strongPhil Neuffer2018-08-22T14:15:01-04:002018-08-22T14:15:01-04:00Picking Breakout Candidates for the 2018 Cincinnati Bearcats
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Marshall at Cincinnati" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eC0s2Uzz9ODJi8WWpH_gf6UUPgE=/0x302:2162x1743/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60981845/usa_today_10319399.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Every year there are players who surprise us. Here are the best bets for this season. </p> <p id="IIks9w">If you were to name the best players on the roster for the <a href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>, you’re list would probably include <span>Perry Young</span>, <span>Jarell White</span>, <span>Kahlil Lewis</span>, <span>Gerrid Doaks</span> and a few others. </p>
<p id="9UmBgv">Picking the best is easy. They make the most plays, have the best statistics and get the most attention. A more difficult, and sometimes rewarding exercise, is trying to figure out the players who will go from obscurity to stardom, or at least close to it relative to the team they are on. With college sports having constant roster turnover built into them, there will always bee a need for players to step up and fill the shoes of a player who was once a critical contributor but has since graduated or entered the professional ranks. There is also a need for players to step up and fill roles that were poorly serviced in prior years. These are those players. </p>
<h2 id="6A6c0r"><span>Michael Warren II</span></h2>
<p id="fmOg9g">I’m bending the rules a bit here since Warren was actually a pretty important piece of the offensive puzzle last year. Still, he was the third string running back and with <span>Mike Boone</span> gone and <span>Gerrid Doaks</span> coming off an injury, Warren is going to get a lot more playing time. If what he did last year is any indication (324 yards, 6.0 YPC), more playing time is going to equate to a whole lot of production.</p>
<h2 id="z8HtQL"><span>Rashad Medaris</span></h2>
<p id="pduMPP">In 2016 it was Devin Gray. In 2017 it was <span>Thomas Geddis</span>. A third wide receiver has consistently made his presence felt in the UC offense. (And I’ve hit on picking who it would be twice). <span>Medaris</span> is entering his junior season with UC and to this point he has produced very little. He redshirted in 2016 and appeared in only five games last year, with his campaign ended by an injury. Now fully healthy, Medaris is one of a few wideouts who will be competing for the No. 3 job behind <span>Lewis</span> and <span>Geddis</span>. According to Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Medaris <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincinnati.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Funiversity-of-cincinnati%2F2018%2F08%2F09%2Fuc-bearcats-football-look-whos-who-offense%2F946278002%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.downthedrive.com%2F2018%2F8%2F22%2F17767830%2Fpicking-the-cincinnati-bearcats-2018-breakout-football-candidates-michael-warren-malik-vann" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">has the inside track at the post</a> and that could lead to big things. </p>
<h2 id="se4Jkm"><span>Darrick Forrest</span></h2>
<p id="MvhMkO">As the Bearcats build out their secondary, there is a need for improved play at safety and <span>Forrest</span> could provide just that. The 6’0, 198-pound sophomore was a three-star recruit and has already made an impact on the field, even if it has gone largely unnoticed. He appeared in 12 games for the Bearcats last year, doing most of his work on special teams. He wasn’t just limited to special teams play, accumulating five total tackles while getting playing time against Michigan, Navy and USF. </p>
<p id="zr2Obf"><span>James Wiggins</span> is another safety that could be on here because its not going to be long before <a href="https://gobearcats.com/news/2018/8/14/football-hoard-theres-a-freak-in-the-bearcats-secondary.aspx?path=football">his name is mentioned by more than a few college football insiders</a>. </p>
<h2 id="xOR40k"><span>Malik Vann</span></h2>
<p id="wbNbXJ">We still don’t know just how much <span>Vann</span> will play but it appears likely that he is going to get some chances early on. The four-star prospect could help give the Bearcats a boost in the pass rush, which they desperately need and after headlining the best recruiting class for the program in years, it only makes sense that he would be tested right away. Based on his potential, if he gets those chances, then he will excel. </p>
<h2 id="hKSYpn"><span>Garrett Campbell</span></h2>
<p id="QvbWeh">You might be thinking, “How does an offensive lineman break out?” That’s a tough question to answer, but <span>Campbell</span> is a holdover from an offensive line that was rather good last year and lost a number of starters. The 6’5”, 315-pound senior will anchor the line this year and if it remains as effective (or even gets better), than we’ll have <span>Campbell</span> to thank. Those thanks could come with some all-conference honors and that alone would be enough to solidify breakout status for a player who was a backup prior to 2017. </p>
https://www.downthedrive.com/2018/8/22/17767830/picking-the-cincinnati-bearcats-2018-breakout-football-candidates-michael-warren-malik-vannPhil Neuffer