TEAM PROFILE: #19 Cincinnati Bearcats

#19 Cincinnati Bearcats 9-3

Key Players:

DT- Terrill Byrd: good powerful first push, can get to QB, plays hurt
6-1, 290 JR (Ohio)- 2nd ALL AMERICA 07’, 1st Big East 07’, 1st Big East 06’

CB- Mike Mickens: great cover skills, athletic, could be preseason all America next yr
6-0, 190 JR (Ohio)- 1st Big East 07’, 2nd Big East 06’

FS- Hakuri Nakamura: emotional leader of secondary, 4.45, good athlete, returns punts
5-10, 190 SR (Ohio)- 1st Big East 07’

P- Kevin Huber: big time leg
6-1, 210 SR (Ohio)- 1st ALL AMERICA 07’, Big East Special Teams POY 07’
1st Big East 07’

QB- Ben Mauk: very mobile playmaker, accurate passer, efficent
6-1, 200 SR (Ohio)

WR- Marcus Barnett: great athlete, great leap
6-1, 165 FR (Md)- 2nd Big East 07’

OG- Trevor Canfield: key member of line and leader
6-5, 320 JR (Ohio)- 2nd Big East 07’, 2nd Big East 06’

DE- Anthony Hoke: gets after QB, good speed and keeps getting bigger
6-1, 255 SR (Ohio)- 2nd Big East 07’

CB- DeAngelo Smith: fast, big play corner
6-0, 185 JR (Ohio)- 2nd Big East 07’

WR- Dominick Goodman: was great KR in 06, explosive playmaker
6-1, 210 JR (Ohio)

TE- Connor Barwin: developed a lot from last year, solid blocker
6-4, 235 JR (Mich)

Watch Out For:
MLB- Corey Smith: fast, covers ground, 2.5 sacks, 2int
6-1, 225 JR (NJ)


Team Info:

Passing Off: 282.2 yrds/g, 23rd in NCAA
-Mauck better rolling out of the pocket than drop back passer
-skill positions very talented and underrated

Rushing Off: 157.4 yrds/g, 54th in NCAA
-must be able to get pressure off Mauk
-best between tackles
KEY TO GAME

Passing Def: 265.0 yrds/g, 103rd in NCAA
-very strange considering their skill players
-give up big plays, but force lots of turnovers to make up for it
-Hoke can create havoc for QBs
-worse as season progressed, 400+yrds to Syracuse
BIGGEST WEAKNESS

Rushing Def: 106.1 yrds/g, 13th in NCAA
-Bryd is a powerful anchor of this unit
-Nakamura a lot better against run than pass, poor mans Polamalu
BIGGEST STRENGTH

Special Teams:
Kicking- B- (55% for the year, 1-6 40-49, 1-1 50+ 55lng)
Punting- A+
Return Game- B-

Key Stats:
3rd Down Conversions- 64/164 (39%) vs. 62/179 (35%)
Penalties- 114 for 977yrds (81.4per) vs. 89 for 792yrds (66.0per)
Turnovers- 22 vs. 39 (+17)
TOP- 28:58 vs. 31:01

Head Coach: Brian Kelly, 2nd season- 10-3 (coached and won Intl Bowl) 1-0bowls
-former CMich coach, left in 06 and won Intl bowl last year
-53-11 at Grand Valley State
-aggressive def coach

*seem to eliminate big plays and penalties by forcing turnovers
*teams lives and dies by turnovers forced and efficiency of Mauk