2013 Cincinnati Bearcats Football Preview
By Michael Schneid
2011-2012 Overview: Back-to-back 10-3 seasons, winning a share of Big East Championship ending in 2011 with Liberty Bowl victory and 2012 with Belk Bowl victory
2012 Recap: Cincinnati finished 10-3 and won a share of the Big East Championship for the 4th time and 5 seasons, the second straight under former coach Lyle Jones. The season ended with a victory in the Belk Bowl against Duke. Cincy's losses came to Toledo, on the road, early in the season and at Louisville in overtime and at home to Rutgers. They finished 3rd, behind those two aforementioned teams, Louisville and Rutgers. The Bearcats biggest win came early in the season in Washington DC, a "home game" for them, against Virginia Tech.
Returning Starters: 13, 7 offense, 5 defense, 1 special teams
2013 Cincinnati Projected Win/Loss
Coaching
Shuffle
After three years, Lyle (Butch) Jones left the Bearcats for greener, in oranger, pastures in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jones went 24-16 in three seasons in Cincy, following Brian Kelly after consecutive BCS seasons. Jones was a hot commodity after the season. He was pursued heavily by Purdue and Colorado and some reports even claimed he accepted the Colorado job, before those reports were shot down. Kentucky also showed interest in Lyle but he never reciprocated.
After a long, drawn out process, Jones ultimately left for Tennessee. Cincy AD Whit Babcock reportedly offered Jones a new deal but it wasn’t enough.
With Jones off to Tennessee, the list of new coaches for Cincinnati included mostly current MAC head coaches and some of the top coordinators around the country. But Babcock moved quickly. In fact, less than 24 hours after Jones’ press conference in Knoxville, Babcock announced the hiring of Tommy Tuberville, from Texas Tech. Babcock and Tuberville worked together at Auburn and continued their relationship when Babcock was at Missouri and Tuberville at Texas Tech. So he worked quickly and quietly to hire the Texas Tech coach.
Tuberville has an overall coaching record of 130-77 that includes Ole Miss, Auburn, and Texas Tech. After 10 years at Auburn, including a perfect 13-0 campaign in 2004, before being fired and ultimately moving to Lubbock, TX.
Tuberville certainly brings a different style than Cincy's last two coaches, Brian Kelly and Lyle Jones. Kelly and Jones ran spread offenses while Tuberville could bring a more traditional, pro-style attack. Art Kauffman, his defensive coordinator with Texas Tech joins him in Cincinnati and hired Eddie Gran as his offensive coordinator. Gran previously worked with Florida St as their lead recruiter and QB coach.
Offensive Analysis
Offensively, the Bearcats got a blessing when the NCAA granted QB Brandon Kay a sixth year of eligibity. After starting the final 5 games of 2012, Kay enters training camp #1 on the depth chart, ahead of last year’s opening starter, Munchie Legaux. Kay completed 63% of his passes and threw 10 TDs, and only 2 INTs. He finished the season strong with a win in the Belk Bowl and Belk Bowl record 4 TD passes. Kay replaced Legaux at halftime of the Syracuse game. As a starter, Legaux completed only 52% of his passes and had just 13 TD and 9 INTs. Kay is more accurate and has a strong arm. Munchie did have one shining moment in 2012, leading the Bearcats to a game-winning drive against Virginia Tech.
2014 QB Outlook: With both Kay and Legaux gone, former #1 recruit and ND transfer Gunner Keil is the presumed favorite at QB but redshirt sophomore Bennie Coney will have a chance to compete.
At the skill positions, George Winn, Cincy's leading rusher (by 174 carries) is gone as are their top two receiving options, Kenbrell Thompkins and TE Travis Kelce. Winn will be replaced by Ralph David Abernathy IV and the committee of various backs. RDA4 only had 69 carries in 2012 but did average 5.3 yards per carry and 3 TDs and is a valuable pass catcher out of the backfield, catching 28 passes and 4 TDs. Despite being a homerun threat every time he touches the ball, he is 5'7, 160 pounds and probably cannot take the abuse that a RB carrying the ball 20-25 times a game would normally take. So he will split carries.
The RB by committee will include Deionte Buckley, Tion Green, and JUCO transfer Rodriguez Moore. All three should see the field, at least early, until the coaches figure out the best replacement for Winn to split carries with RDA4.
As mentioned, TE Travis Kelce, who led the Cats with 45 receptions and 8 TDs is gone. Also gone is Kenbrell Thompkins (2 TD) and Damion Julian (4 TD). Those three combined for 16 of the Bearcats 25 receiving TDs in 2012. WR Danny Milligan also graduated so Cincy has little endzone-experienced pass catchers.
Anthony McClung will be the number on guy in 2013. While the QBs struggling early is to blame, McClung had a rather underwhelming season in 2012. It will be up to him, Alex Chisum, and Chris Moore to step up and help out Kay or whomever may be at QB.
The expected replacements for Travis Kelce include Blake Annen, who had 1 catch for 2 yards in 2012 and Jake Golic, a transfer from Notre Dame, who has zero career receptions.
On the offensive line, all five starters return. From left to right, Eric Lefeld, Austin Bujnoch, Dan Sprague, Sam Longo, Parker Ehringer. These five will protect Kay and open holes for the running game. Cincy finished first in rushing and 3rd in sacks allowed in the Big East last season, which is reason for optimism that despite new running backs and receivers, the offense is in good hands.
Defensive Analysis
Cincinnati's defense returns returns 5 starters, from a unit that allowed just 18.5 points per game, 14th in the country.
The Bearcats may have one of the top linebacking groups in football. Jeff Luc, a transfer from Florida St, was the considered the top linebacker coming out of high school in 2010. Along with Greg Blair and Nick Temple, the three form a very solid nucleus in the middle. Blair finished 2012 with a Big East-high 138 tackles, nine stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, two picks and six pass breakups.
Up front, they lack some experience. Jordan Stepp has the most experience at DT. Silverberry Mouhon, one of the best names in college football, will start at DE as a sophmore and the other two line positions belong to a pair of seniors with limited experience - Mitch Meador and Elijah Shuler. Marshall transfer Marques Aiken will also rotate along with Adam Dempsey, Jerrell Jordon, Brad Harrah.
The secondary has a chance to be improved. CB Devan Drane deflected 6 passes and picked off 2 last season and will be assigned covering the top opposing receivers. Trenier Orr will likely start across from him and at safety will be Arryn Chenault and sophomore Kevin Brown. Safety Drew Frey finally departs after about 7 seasons in the Cincinnati secondary. Adrian Witty, Leviticus Payne, Marcus Foster, and perhaps freshman Mike Tyson will also have an impact.
Special Teams
Tony Miliano returns after hitting 17 of 21 field goals attempts on 51/53 on extra points. John Lloyd will take over as the punter. Pat O'Donnell was one of the nation's top punters in 2012 and would have been again in 2013 but transferred to Miami, to be closer to his family. Ralph David Abernathy will continue to manage kickoff returns.
2011-2012 Overview: Back-to-back 10-3 seasons, winning a share of Big East Championship ending in 2011 with Liberty Bowl victory and 2012 with Belk Bowl victory
2012 Recap: Cincinnati finished 10-3 and won a share of the Big East Championship for the 4th time and 5 seasons, the second straight under former coach Lyle Jones. The season ended with a victory in the Belk Bowl against Duke. Cincy's losses came to Toledo, on the road, early in the season and at Louisville in overtime and at home to Rutgers. They finished 3rd, behind those two aforementioned teams, Louisville and Rutgers. The Bearcats biggest win came early in the season in Washington DC, a "home game" for them, against Virginia Tech.
Returning Starters: 13, 7 offense, 5 defense, 1 special teams
Players
to Watch on Offense: WR Anthony McClung, RB Ralph David Abernathy IV
Players to Watch on Defense: LB Greg Blair, LB Jeff Luc, CB Devan Drane
Best
Non-Conference Game: vs. Purdue (8/31)
The Bearcats also face another Big Ten foe in week 2, when they travel to Illinois.
Best Game: vs. Louisville (12/5)
With Louisville off to the ACC, Cincinnati hosts the final "Keg of Nails" game. It's possible the American Athletic title is on the line on a Thursday night on ESPN to end the season, similar to last year when Rutgers faced Louisville.
The Bearcats also face another Big Ten foe in week 2, when they travel to Illinois.
Best Game: vs. Louisville (12/5)
With Louisville off to the ACC, Cincinnati hosts the final "Keg of Nails" game. It's possible the American Athletic title is on the line on a Thursday night on ESPN to end the season, similar to last year when Rutgers faced Louisville.
Key Storylines: 4th Head Coach in 8 seasons, first year in American Athletic Conference, Brandon Kay's 6th year of eligibility
Prediction:
10-2 (6-2 American)
T-2nd Place American
08/31
|
PURDUE
|
W | ||
09/07
|
at Illinois
|
W | ||
09/14
|
NORTHWESTERN STATE
|
W | ||
09/21
|
at Miami (OH)
|
W | ||
10/05
|
at South Florida
|
W | ||
10/11
|
TEMPLE
|
W | ||
10/19
|
CONNECTICUT
|
W | ||
10/30
|
at Memphis
|
W | ||
11/09
|
SMU
|
W | ||
11/16
|
at Rutgers
|
L | ||
11/23
|
at Houston
|
W | ||
12/05
|
LOUISVILLE |
L
|
||
After three years, Lyle (Butch) Jones left the Bearcats for greener, in oranger, pastures in Knoxville, Tennessee. Jones went 24-16 in three seasons in Cincy, following Brian Kelly after consecutive BCS seasons. Jones was a hot commodity after the season. He was pursued heavily by Purdue and Colorado and some reports even claimed he accepted the Colorado job, before those reports were shot down. Kentucky also showed interest in Lyle but he never reciprocated.
After a long, drawn out process, Jones ultimately left for Tennessee. Cincy AD Whit Babcock reportedly offered Jones a new deal but it wasn’t enough.
With Jones off to Tennessee, the list of new coaches for Cincinnati included mostly current MAC head coaches and some of the top coordinators around the country. But Babcock moved quickly. In fact, less than 24 hours after Jones’ press conference in Knoxville, Babcock announced the hiring of Tommy Tuberville, from Texas Tech. Babcock and Tuberville worked together at Auburn and continued their relationship when Babcock was at Missouri and Tuberville at Texas Tech. So he worked quickly and quietly to hire the Texas Tech coach.
Tuberville has an overall coaching record of 130-77 that includes Ole Miss, Auburn, and Texas Tech. After 10 years at Auburn, including a perfect 13-0 campaign in 2004, before being fired and ultimately moving to Lubbock, TX.
Tuberville certainly brings a different style than Cincy's last two coaches, Brian Kelly and Lyle Jones. Kelly and Jones ran spread offenses while Tuberville could bring a more traditional, pro-style attack. Art Kauffman, his defensive coordinator with Texas Tech joins him in Cincinnati and hired Eddie Gran as his offensive coordinator. Gran previously worked with Florida St as their lead recruiter and QB coach.
Offensive Analysis
Offensively, the Bearcats got a blessing when the NCAA granted QB Brandon Kay a sixth year of eligibity. After starting the final 5 games of 2012, Kay enters training camp #1 on the depth chart, ahead of last year’s opening starter, Munchie Legaux. Kay completed 63% of his passes and threw 10 TDs, and only 2 INTs. He finished the season strong with a win in the Belk Bowl and Belk Bowl record 4 TD passes. Kay replaced Legaux at halftime of the Syracuse game. As a starter, Legaux completed only 52% of his passes and had just 13 TD and 9 INTs. Kay is more accurate and has a strong arm. Munchie did have one shining moment in 2012, leading the Bearcats to a game-winning drive against Virginia Tech.
2014 QB Outlook: With both Kay and Legaux gone, former #1 recruit and ND transfer Gunner Keil is the presumed favorite at QB but redshirt sophomore Bennie Coney will have a chance to compete.
At the skill positions, George Winn, Cincy's leading rusher (by 174 carries) is gone as are their top two receiving options, Kenbrell Thompkins and TE Travis Kelce. Winn will be replaced by Ralph David Abernathy IV and the committee of various backs. RDA4 only had 69 carries in 2012 but did average 5.3 yards per carry and 3 TDs and is a valuable pass catcher out of the backfield, catching 28 passes and 4 TDs. Despite being a homerun threat every time he touches the ball, he is 5'7, 160 pounds and probably cannot take the abuse that a RB carrying the ball 20-25 times a game would normally take. So he will split carries.
The RB by committee will include Deionte Buckley, Tion Green, and JUCO transfer Rodriguez Moore. All three should see the field, at least early, until the coaches figure out the best replacement for Winn to split carries with RDA4.
As mentioned, TE Travis Kelce, who led the Cats with 45 receptions and 8 TDs is gone. Also gone is Kenbrell Thompkins (2 TD) and Damion Julian (4 TD). Those three combined for 16 of the Bearcats 25 receiving TDs in 2012. WR Danny Milligan also graduated so Cincy has little endzone-experienced pass catchers.
Anthony McClung will be the number on guy in 2013. While the QBs struggling early is to blame, McClung had a rather underwhelming season in 2012. It will be up to him, Alex Chisum, and Chris Moore to step up and help out Kay or whomever may be at QB.
The expected replacements for Travis Kelce include Blake Annen, who had 1 catch for 2 yards in 2012 and Jake Golic, a transfer from Notre Dame, who has zero career receptions.
On the offensive line, all five starters return. From left to right, Eric Lefeld, Austin Bujnoch, Dan Sprague, Sam Longo, Parker Ehringer. These five will protect Kay and open holes for the running game. Cincy finished first in rushing and 3rd in sacks allowed in the Big East last season, which is reason for optimism that despite new running backs and receivers, the offense is in good hands.
Defensive Analysis
Cincinnati's defense returns returns 5 starters, from a unit that allowed just 18.5 points per game, 14th in the country.
The Bearcats may have one of the top linebacking groups in football. Jeff Luc, a transfer from Florida St, was the considered the top linebacker coming out of high school in 2010. Along with Greg Blair and Nick Temple, the three form a very solid nucleus in the middle. Blair finished 2012 with a Big East-high 138 tackles, nine stops for loss, 2.5 sacks, two picks and six pass breakups.
Up front, they lack some experience. Jordan Stepp has the most experience at DT. Silverberry Mouhon, one of the best names in college football, will start at DE as a sophmore and the other two line positions belong to a pair of seniors with limited experience - Mitch Meador and Elijah Shuler. Marshall transfer Marques Aiken will also rotate along with Adam Dempsey, Jerrell Jordon, Brad Harrah.
The secondary has a chance to be improved. CB Devan Drane deflected 6 passes and picked off 2 last season and will be assigned covering the top opposing receivers. Trenier Orr will likely start across from him and at safety will be Arryn Chenault and sophomore Kevin Brown. Safety Drew Frey finally departs after about 7 seasons in the Cincinnati secondary. Adrian Witty, Leviticus Payne, Marcus Foster, and perhaps freshman Mike Tyson will also have an impact.
Special Teams
Tony Miliano returns after hitting 17 of 21 field goals attempts on 51/53 on extra points. John Lloyd will take over as the punter. Pat O'Donnell was one of the nation's top punters in 2012 and would have been again in 2013 but transferred to Miami, to be closer to his family. Ralph David Abernathy will continue to manage kickoff returns.
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