Cincinnati
Bearcats
Preview 2009 - Defense
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2009 CFN Cincinnati
Preview
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2009 Cincinnati
Offense
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2009 Cincinnati
Defense
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2009 Cincinnati
Depth Chart
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2008 Cincinnati
Preview
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2007 Cincinnati Preview
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2006 Cincinnati Preview
What you
need to know:
Change. It’s evident in every nook and cranny of the defense. A
whopping 10 starters are gone from last year. Joe Tresey has
been replaced by Bob Diaco at defensive coordinator. Oh, and
Diaco’s first initiatives is to begin making the switch to a 3-4
alignment that uses a hybrid defensive end, who can shift to
outside linebacker. Yeah, this won’t be the same unit that was
such a nuisance over the last few years. In place of current
pros, like Mike Mickens and Connor Barwin will be a new wave of
stoppers, who’ve been itching for bigger spotlights. Up front,
Curtis Young finally gets a chance at a starring role, while
Derek Wolfe takes his first step toward becoming a household
name in league circles. At linebacker, the unit is relying on
position-switchers, like Marcus Waugh, Craig Carey, and
Demetrius Jones, to pick up some slack. And in the rebuilt
secondary, the pressure will be on Drew Frey to stay healthy and
Marcus Barnett to adjust after catching 92 passes the last two
years.
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Returning
Leaders
Tackles:
Aaron Webster, 60
Sacks:
Curtis Young, 4
Interceptions: Aaron Webster, 1
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Star of the defense:
Senior DE Curtis Young
Player that has to step up and become a
star: Junior CB Marcus Barnett
Unsung star on the rise:
Sophomore DE Derek Wolfe
Best pro prospect:
Young
Top three all-star candidates:
1) Young, 2) Senior FS Aaron Webster, 3) Senior DT Ricardo
Mathews
Strength of the defense:
The safeties, size of the front seven, run defense
Weakness of the defense:
The pass rush, 10 new starters, the corners
Defensive Line
Projected Starters:
The Bearcats are basically starting from scratch on the
defensive line after losing last year’s four regulars, including
all-stars Connor Barwin and Terrill Byrd. There will still be a
veteran presence, however, courtesy of the returns of seniors
Ricardo Mathews and
Curtis Young on the
inside and outside, respectively. Mathews has played a lot of
football for the program over the last three seasons, appearing
in 34 games and earning a handful of starts. A year ago, he had
a dozen stops, a level of production he’s ready to triple in
this final season of eligibility.
Young will have an interesting role in a new hybrid position
that combines the attributes of a defensive end and an outside
linebacker. Like Mathews, he’s been a frequent contributor, who
hasn’t quite been able to crack the starting lineup. Still, a
year ago, he proved to be a valuable pass rusher coming off the
bench, producing 25 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and four
sacks. At 6-3 and 260 pounds, he has the athletic ability to
flip between the line of scrimmage and linebacker as the defense
sees fit in the new 3-4 look.
One of the program’s budding stars on defense is 6-5, 295-pound
sophomore Derek Wolfe.
A defensive end wrapped in the body of a tackle, he moves
exceptionally well for his size and has had the staff buzzing
throughout the offseason. With his size, strength, and footwork,
he can be used on either side of the ball, but for now, he’ll be
used up front, where he has the potential to blossom very early
in his career.
At defensive tackle is another precocious sophomore, 6-3,
300-pound John Hughes.
As a first-year player, he appeared in 13 games, making 20
tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pair of sacks. Last
season’s performance was evidence that he’s physically and
mentally prepared for a promotion, promising news for a line
that’s looking for a young leader on the inside.
Projected Top Reserves:
Senior Alex Daniels
has followed a long and winding path to become the Bearcats’
first option off the bench at defensive end. The 6-3,
260-pounder was a former running back at the University of
Minnesota before transferring in 2007. A dynamite athlete at 6-3
and 260 pounds, he made his Cincy debut a year ago with 16
tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. He’ll be even better
now that a nagging Achilles injury has healed.
On the inside, Cincinnati is counting on 6-3, 260-pound junior
Rob Trigg to give
occasional breathers to the starters. A player who has been long
on potential and short on production his first two seasons, he
could be poised for a breakout. A three-tech type tackle, he has
the moves of a defensive end, but needs to avoid getting tied up
by larger opponents.
Watch Out For…
Wolfe to begin blossoming into a really big deal for this
defense. To the eye, he may not be your typical defensive end,
but with his size and quickness, he’s going to be making plays
somewhere. In the past, players, like Byrd were outstanding
college performers, who didn’t exactly project well at the next
level. Wolfe, on the other hand, has the early signs that he’ll
be a success wherever he plays.
Strength:
Muscle. Say what you will about the lack of experience up front,
but this starting unit will be tough to run on and even tougher
to move off their blocks. In Wolfe, Mathews, Hughes, and Young,
the Bearcats average a robust 6-3 and 285 pounds, with the
quickness to beat opposing blockers off the snap.
Weakness: The
pass rush. The Bearcats will be trying to replace four of last
year’s top five pass rushers, who combined for 26 sacks. That’s
a lot of slack to pick for a wave of newcomers with very few
starts. Besides Young, no one in this group has a proven track
record of getting penetration and breaking the rhythm of a
quarterback.
Outlook: All
things considered, the situation could be far worse for the
Bearcats. The experience may be thin, but the talent is rather
impressive. Young and Mathews bring the veteran presence,
leadership, and know-how. Wolfe, Hughes, and even redshirt
freshman Walter Stewart
have loads of untapped potential. Daniels is a combination of
the two, who could be a very pleasant surprise if he can stay
healthy for the entire year.
Rating: 7
Linebackers
Projected Starters:
Consistent with the rest of the defense, the linebackers were
virtually stripped clean from a year ago. Unlike the defensive
line and defensive backfield, however, there were no NFL-caliber
players here, so suitable replacements should be a little easier
to find. In 6-0, 221-pound senior
Andre Revels, the Bearcats have the equivalent of a starter, a
three-time letterwinner and the favorite to wind up at inside
linebacker. While he doesn’t have blazing speed, he’s used good
instincts and even better angles to rack up 118 tackles over the
last two seasons.
At weakside, the Bearcats are excited about the potential of
6-1, 220-pound sophomore
J.K. Schaffer, one of the best all-around athletes of the
group. At this stage of his career, most of his explosiveness is
in his lower body, allowing him to stand up larger blockers and
sky high in pass defense. As a special teams ace in his rookie
year, he had a dozen tackles, while flattening out the learning
curve.
Over at the other outside spot will be 6-4, 251-pound senior
Craig Carey, the
biggest of the starters and the type of player who can be a real
asset, especially in run defense. A former quarterback and
defensive end with the Bearcats, there’s hope that he’s finally
found a home on the second line of defense. He won’t have the
range of Revels or Schaffer, but his size makes him a natural
for handling pulling guards getting out to the second level.
Projected Top Reserves:
While Revels sat out the spring with an injury, 6-0, 260-pound
senior Marcus Waugh
became one of the ‘Cats’ most intriguing projects of the
offseason. A converted fullback and regular on special teams, he
is freakishly strong and pound-for-pound, the most powerful
member of the team. Will that translate into production on
defense? No one will really know until September.
Lining up behind Schaffer at weakside is 6-2, 220-pound junior
Collin McCafferty,
who has lettered as one of the program’s best special teams
performers over the last two seasons, making 10 tackles in 2008.
Like his competition on the outside, he’s a terrific all-around
athlete, with the range to track down ballcarriers all over the
field.
Watch Out For…
junior Demetrius Jones.
Yup, the same former can’t-miss quarterback prospect at Notre
Dame will be looking for playing time on the defensive side of
the ball. The staff is hoping to get his 6-4, 214-pound frame
and obvious athletic ability off the sidelines before he runs
out of eligibility.
Strength: The
middle men. Between Revels and Waugh, the Bearcats should have a
viable successor to Ryan Manalac and better-than-expected depth.
Both players are seniors, with five combined letters and the
physicality to stand tall as run defenders.
Weakness: Lack
of a true star. New year. Same problem. While Cincinnati has a
decent collection of linebackers, it lacks that one lights-out
player, who’s capable of taking over a game. Schaffer might have
that potential in the future, but not in his debut season as a
starter.
Outlook: While
Cincinnati has a bunch of try-hard types and overachievers,
there’s no one who’s going to attract NFL scouts or votes for
all-star recognition. The drop-off from a year ago won’t be
noticeable, but then again, the 2008 Bearcats didn’t exactly set
the bar in the clouds.
Rating: 6.5
Secondary
Projected Starters:
The defense took hits everywhere, but the blows were especially
painful in the secondary, where
three NFL Draft
choices must be replaced. Losing Mike Mickens, DeAngelo Smith,
and Brandon Underwood could take a year or more to overcome. The
lone returning starter is 6-3, 205-pound senior
Aaron Webster, the
team’s free safety. An imposing figure and all-around good
athlete, he started 10 games a year ago, making 60 tackles and
2.5 tackles for loss. Considering the state of this unit, he’ll
be asked to do even more than a year ago and take on a greater
leadership role.
One piece of good news in the defensive backfield surrounds the
return of 6-3, 210-pound redshirt freshman SS
Drew Frey from a
broken arm. Seemingly poised for a breakthrough season, he was
lost after four games and shortly after cracking the starting
lineup. He had last season restored by the NCAA, meaning he’s in
a unique position to be classified as a freshman for a third
straight season. A former cornerback, he has the size, speed,
and football IQ to become a real gem once he shakes the injury
bug.
The Bearcats have looked to an unlikely source to help solve its
concerns at cornerback. Junior
Marcus Barnett, a
former all-star wide receiver, has changed zip codes and
impressed the staff with how quickly he’s picked up the nuances
of a new position. At 6-1 and 175 pounds, he has good size and
the blazing speed to keep plays in front of him. If he can
polish up his technique over the summer, he’s liable to make
this experiment look like a stroke of genius.
Rounding out the secondary at the other corner spot is 6-2,
205-pound senior Brad
Jones, a versatile defensive back, who has lettered at
corner and safety the last two years. Last season, he appeared
in a dozen games and had 11 tackles and two picks. While no
slouch as a run defender, his biggest priority will be to prove
he won’t get exposed in pass coverage.
Projected Top
Reserves: Battling Barnett for one of those corner jobs
is 6-0, 175-pound sophomore
Dominique Battle, the
program’s 2008 Newcomer of the Year. One of the few true
freshmen to see the field last fall, he contributed 13 tackles,
but most important, grew markedly throughout the season. He’ll
challenge for more playing, while vying for the spot at nickel
back.
Redshirt freshman Quincy
Quetant is aiming to be the first safety off the bench and
the heir apparent for a starting job in 2010. A very physical
6-0, 190-pounder, he used his first season on campus wisely,
adding more weight and getting substantially stronger in the
upper body.
Watch Out For…
the emergence of Frey. The talent is clearly there, but the luck
hasn’t over the last couple of seasons. That appears on the
brink of changing in 2009. With a clear path to notoriety and
production in his sights, Frey is ready to take his first
definitive step toward becoming one of the league’s best
safeties. It’ll take time, but he’s going to get there.
Strength:
Measurables. Okay, so triangle numbers alone won’t shut down
opposing passing attacks, but it’s hard not to be impressed by
the athletes roaming around the Bearcat secondary. Almost every
member of the two-deep is at last 6-0, and their ability to
cover ground should mask some of the issues with inexperience.
Weakness:
Proven cornerbacks. Herein lies the biggest concern for the
secondary, maybe even the entire defense. The fall-off from
Underwood and Mickens to Barnett and Jones is difficult to
quantify. The former two were All-Big East first teamers trying
to make NFL rosters. The latter two are not even cornerbacks by
trade.
Outlook: While
the raw materials are there for Cincinnati to make the
transition in 2009, the days of shutting down opposing
quarterbacks and picking off a million passes will be over for a
while. In order to even approach last year’s solid numbers,
everything would need to go right for the Bearcats, including
Frey staying healthy and Barnett making a seamless transition to
cornerback.
Rating: 6.5
Special Teams
Projected Starters:
Cincinnati takes pride in its special, using plenty of starters
here, and it shows. The first order of business will be to
replace Kevin Huber, the nation’s premier punter a year ago.
Junior Jake Rogers,
last year’s placekicker and kickoff specialist, is expected to
add a new responsibility to his resume. While he doesn’t have
much experience at the position, he is 6-3 and 205 pounds, with
the leg strength to put a drive into the ball. As the kicker, he
went 16-of-23, improving on his accuracy from a year earlier.
Consistent with his attributes, he’s drilled at least a
54-yarder in each of the last two seasons.
Senior Mardy Gilyard
gives the Bearcats one of the most explosive kickoff returners
in America. A year ago, he led the Big East at almost a 28-yard
clip, taking two back for touchdowns. He’ll be joined at punt
returner by redshirt freshman
Danny Milligan and sophomore
D.J. Woods, who averaged just under 10 yards last fall.
Watch Out For…
the arrival of true freshman
Patrick O’Donnell.
Another strong-legged Cincinnati recruit, he was brought in to
be Huber’s replacement at some point, possibly as early as this
fall. He’s also a kicker, which could create competition for
Rogers at both positions.
Strength: The
return game. Now that Huber is with the Cincinnati Bengals,
Gilyard takes over as the most valuable special teams performer
in red and black. A threat to go the distance every time he
touches the ball, he forces teams to adjust how they kick the
ball off.
Weakness:
Punting. Wow, talk about a turn of events. A year after leading
the nation in net punting, Cincinnati isn’t quite sure who’ll
handle the job this September. It’s Rogers for now, but if he
doesn’t hold on real tight, O’Donnell is liable to pry it away
in the summer.
Outlook: It
won’t get talked about too much, but assistant Mike Elston does
a really nice job with the special teams. The Beacats cover
well, have dangerous return men, and should get enough out of
Rogers as a kicker and a punter. While his leg strength is not a
question, he does need to straighten out more of his kicks.
Rating: 8
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