Hey all you UC football fans it's almost football season and we know you have a lot of questions about this year's football team. We want to provide UC fans a place where you can have your questions answered by Tim Adams who is THE AUTHORITY on UC football.
Here is our first question form BJUnklFkr (he posted this on our members only board)
Q: I saw in Paul Dehner's aritcle about the defensive line he did not include Jordan Stepp, Monte Taylor, and Ty Phillips. Should we be worried about this?
A: Jordan Stepp is near or at 100% and is finally pain free.
Unless something changed very recently, Monte Taylor is still good to go.
Ty Phillips' situation isn't totally clear. He is not on campus, but they are hoping to get everything cleared up so he'll be able to join the team when practice starts on August 9.
Tim Adams has spent more time watching the Bearcats practice than any other beat writer on the web. His knowledge and expertise is second to none.
If you have a question that you would like answered about this year's football team fire away. Tim will be more than happy to answer any question you may have.
My question is about the running game.
We have heard we will see a more balanced offensive attack. In what ways do you think we will see it. I'm hoping that is the case since I feel we have good backs and the previous staff's offensive mindset might be contributing to use not being able to secure a few rb's in recruiting.
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Big East Champs 2008 and 2009
Do it again in 2010
Go BEARCATS!
But of courseOriginally Posted by BattleCat
Dave, why am I not surprised that you would ask such an tough question? This one will take some time to answer since I think the implication is that running the football produces wins.
I have seen Tim Murphy practices, Rick Minter practices, Mark Dantonio practices. Brian Kelly practices and Butch Jones practices. I doubt anyone other than maybe Bill Koch could say the same. EVERY head coach talks about the importance of running the football and stopping the run so it is obviously important, but not everyone is committed to that philosophy.
I think Minter was overly consumed with running the football, and it cost him an excellent defensive coordinator. But that's another story. I think Butch Jones is more like Mark Dantonio, and his practices are more physical than what we've seen in the last few years
That's not meant to knock BK, but teams that run the football will tend to be more physical in practices and use their ground game to close out games by running the football. I didn't think BK's squads were all that good at closing out games although it's tough to argue with a 12-0 record.
I expcet to see Coach Jones trying to establish the run early and using his running game to close out games. I don't think we'll see as mch pressure put on the defense because of the lack of a running game.
Last edited by shankpavilion; 08-02-2010 at 04:45 PM.
Seems that many if not most of us are very happy about going back to the 4-3 defense. I am wondering if we will have a lot of pains switching back - mainly with the LB and DL groups.
shaun, I think we will still see some 3-4 alignments like we saw in 2008 when Conner Barwin played DE for the Bearcats.
I think they will do everything possible to take advantage of Walt Stewart's abilities.
Yes, battlecat, I plan to be at every practice that is open to the media and doing the usual practice reports.
tim
i have three questions
1.) Is Demarkus Bracy going to play DE this year for UC?
2.) Is Michael Hilty ready to contribute in your opinion?
3.) Does Dyjuan Lewis play or redshirt? I guess it depends on Thompkins.
thanks
We had a plethora (would you say we have a plethora of piņatas?) of preferred walk ons. I know that they are typically touch and go if they end up at the school they commit to since there is no LOI. Any word on which ones have enrolled in school or are not expected to still be in the fold?
It's about the personnel!..We never had the right fits to play the 3-4 like it's designed...The 4-3 way better suites UC's current roster. You will see Walt used in the 4-3 hybrid look that Strip used a lot at CMU. It has 3 down lineman and a DE who plays like a SAM OL up on the line in a 2 technique depending on where the DC wants the pressure/ what the Offense gives you...With Walt's skill set, it allows the DC to do some really dynamic things. UC's defense will NOT have Diaco's "Bend but don't break" mantra. This year you will see a much more aggressive look like when Joe was here in the mantra that we will be trying to create turnovers. I don't believe you will see them abandoning the concern of giving up the big play tho.
VICTORY goes to the player who makes the next -to last mistake
I hope so. And I agree 100% on the personal. I think you need a top of the line NT to run the 3-4. So unless there is one on the roster you better either be patient or get a JUCO to fill the role. I am very excited about the new defense.
I know that Tim isn't able to say much about the schemes and things like that, but I am looking forward to hear about the aggressive nature of the defense. I imagine that Battle and the group will like being able to press a little more.
If my memory serves correctly, we fought back from our large defecit at Pitt last year and held them in check for a while by being far more agressive on defense. Wonder if we wouldn't have had so many nail biters if we had played more to that philosophy all year.
You drove the nail through the roof. Spot on with your analysis.
Big East Champs 2008 and 2009
Do it again in 2010
Go BEARCATS!
I remember saying that in the stands. We blitzed more, we stunted more, we man covered more and shot gaps more during the 2nd half of Pitt, than we did all season. I know many kids on the defense liked it and voiced their opinions to the staff.
The philosophy has changed drastically this season. Now the defense wants to win games and be dominant. It's more of a SEC style defense. I can't wait.
Big East Champs 2008 and 2009
Do it again in 2010
Go BEARCATS!
Lovem or hatem..BK had his philosophy, and hung with it no matter what. I can't argue with your subjective introspect. However we can't complain to much with 12-0 regular season. I guess you, and I will be more comfortable with a little more pressure, and a lot more finger nail life!
VICTORY goes to the player who makes the next -to last mistake
Question: I see in the QB/RB/TE preview that Travis Kelce is scheduled to sit this year out, but apparently is not being written off. Without divulging more than necessary regarding his situation, do all parties see that as the plan? By all accounts, Travis has as much ability and potential as anyone, but I understand also some maturity issues to conquer. Hey, we've all been there.
As I consider his dimensions (listed at 6-6 and 259 in the preview now - he's filled out even more then?), gee, Connor Barwin comes to mind. Maybe Travis's ball skills and mentality are a better fit for TE, but that's starting to be prime DE scale.
Is he going to be with the team this year, practicing, doing the training, etc? Or is on hiatus altogether and may return next spring? I would think if anyone could relate to him and nurture him through to a successful conclusion, it would be his brother. But it's always really a matter of what a young man has inside of himself.
Battlecat - I imagine you know a guy who is probably excited for the scheme change as well
Another question to both Tim with -
Is Adrian Robinson's inconsistency with route running, pass dropping or blocking? Just wondering what was holding him back. I thought that he was the biggest recruit we had at the time and would love for this year to be the year potential is turned into to production.
Navin,
1) Bracy is no longer with the team.
2) I think Hilty will face some tough competition to get on the two-deep depth chart. Brandon Mills and a healthy Jordan Stepp would be my early picks to back-up Wolfe and Hughes. I am also interested in seeing Ty Phillips, assuming the NCAA clears him. Even though he's a freshman, I won't count out Roney Lozano until I see him perform on the practice field. Hilty has added 20 pounds, and I like his potential. We'll have to see if he can get past Stepp and Mills on the depth chart.
3) Coach Jones has said he plans to use as many as 8 or 9 receivers. If he does, it would be tough for Lewis not to see the field this year.
shaun, you are so right. Walk-ons really have very little binding them to their verbal commitment.
Here are some of the guys I'm expecting to see.
Evan Aleshire WR from Wyoming. He had a great year last season for the Cowboys catching passes from Kyle Seyfried. He has excellent hands.
Juan Glover WR Winton Woods. Glover is small but has very good speed. As you know, he had a scholarship offer from Louisville before Charlie Strong revoked it.
John Lloyd P CHCA. I'm very interested to see what this kid can do. He's a big boy and Louisville also wanted him.
Corey Mason LB Elder. He's 6" 2.5" and 218 pounds. Again, as you know, he held an offer from Kent at one point in the process.
Isaiah Nearor RB Wyoming. He's built pretty thickly and has been working on his speed.
Nick West QB Conner, KY. Has good size, but I really haven't seen him play.
Tony Miliano K Elder. As you know held a Ball St. offer.
Nick Olthaus WR (formerly of Elder). transfer from Thomas More
Some of the holdovers:
Adam Dempsey DT
Steve Hancock DL
Dominic Mainello OL (Had CMU offer)
Doug Pike OL
Obadiah Cheatham LB
Stewart Kehl LB
Brent Black S
Rueben Haley CB
Aaron Roberson CB
Alex Apyan LS
Adam Fearing WR
Demetrius Richardson TE
Quinton Hines RB
Colin Lozier FB
Travis will be with the team practicing all year. He has taken full responsibility for his situation, and I think we'll see him continue to improve as a player and person. I know he was helping host recruits this summer so he's been active in his commitment to UC.
Where could Travis play? Good question. He's an athetic big man (6' 6"/259) that can also throw the football. To be honest, I never understood why we didn't see more of him in the Wildcat formation last season. I'm expecting Travis to stay at TE, but I wouldn't rule out an audition at DE.
shaun, I would say understanding the offense, blocking and consistently catching the football are all areas that have plagued A-Rob at times.Battlecat - I imagine you know a guy who is probably excited for the scheme change as well
Another question to both Tim with -
Is Adrian Robinson's inconsistency with route running, pass dropping or blocking? Just wondering what was holding him back. I thought that he was the biggest recruit we had at the time and would love for this year to be the year potential is turned into to production.
I think I am all caught up on questions, and in an effort to head one off at the pass, let me correct another internet report.
Monte Taylor is NOT a redshirt freshman. As most know, he is a junior college transfer. Since he missed last season due to trying to get academically eligible, I believe he has only two years of eligibility and has now lost the ability to redshirt.
Yeah, I saw that about Taylor. Seems like Robinson could study and work harder.
That being said...A-Rob would be interesting as a DE. Or a bruising LB. Same for Demaris R.
Where do you think Harrah and Leveled get funneled to?
A-Rob was actually put at DE a couple springs ago, and remember that he came here as a WR. The DE experiment didn't work out. If you are not a particularly good blocker at his size, the chances are you won't have a lot of aptitude for DE.
Tough question about Brad Harrah and Eric Lefeld. Both were recruited to play DE, but both have really nice frames and also played on offense in high school.
Harrah (6' 5"/230) was also a TE, and Lefeld (6' 6"/249) was an OT.
Thanks Tim. The auto-correct on my new phone keeps 'correcting' my spelling. Thanks for overlooking that.
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