(04-20-2017 05:46 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  Weren't we like, ready to run Tuberville out of town after 9-4, 9-4 and 7-6? Granted, the conference has improced dramatically in recent years. But if we're going to keep recruiting at a top 25 level, we should be posting records accordingly.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

That's because he inherited a loaded roster.

Fickell has inherited a weak roster.

(04-20-2017 05:46 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  Weren't we like, ready to run Tuberville out of town after 9-4, 9-4 and 7-6? Granted, the conference has improced dramatically in recent years. But if we're going to keep recruiting at a top 25 level, we should be posting records accordingly.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Come on man. Tuby had Jones recruits and as Tuby recruits filled roster things went down. We must give Luke time to turn over roster. We should expect immediate improvement in effort, execution, time management, etc.

6-6 and a bowl with effort in the bowl would be great in 2017

It takes time to turn a FB team with poor recruiting for 4 years.

The talent level of this roster in December 2016 was pretty cruddy. IMO the worst that it has been since some of the Minter years. Thank ******* wanna b guv'na for that. Some good pieces obviously but it was put together like a lackluster grab bag by a staff guilty of malfeasance or negligence.

Perhaps the two OSU transfers at tackle will immediately help a decimated OLine position group. Perhaps Gibson can help immediately as a playmaker on a team that just doesn't have many of them. What this staff did in its first class in the defensive backfield tells you all you needed to know about what it's early evaluations told them. It's going to take some time to get back to being the hog with the big balls in the conference but I expect marked improvement just due to the staff no longer needing a mirror under their nose to establish whether they are breathing or not.

The talent they have already brought in and that they have commitments from will speed things along greatly without some old duffer sucking up a check saying it will take 5 years to get his guys in place.

Look, im aboard with all the above sentiments. I just think it odd that 9-4 three years ago was considered a massive dissapoint, whereas 7-5 this year is considered a success.

I know I know, talent level, strength of schedule, etc need to be considered. But if the league is that bad again, we shouldn't wait long before expecting 10 win seasons.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

It's all relative, dude. Give the man a chance to install his culture with his players.

(04-20-2017 08:37 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  Look, im aboard with all the above sentiments. I just think it odd that 9-4 three years ago was considered a massive dissapoint, whereas 7-5 this year is considered a success.

I know I know, talent level, strength of schedule, etc need to be considered. But if the league is that bad again, we shouldn't wait long before expecting 10 win seasons.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Shouldn't be long but definitely not year 1 given where we are and how far we've fallen. Fortunately the schedule is soft. I think 7 wins should be realistic next year and then upward from there. I think if we get good QB play out of Gibson that could be the differentiator. Otherwise I fear that position might hold us back.

(04-20-2017 08:28 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  The talent level of this roster in December 2016 was pretty cruddy. IMO the worst that it has been since some of the Minter years. Thank ******* wanna b guv'na for that. Some good pieces obviously but it was put together like a lackluster grab bag by a staff guilty of malfeasance or negligence.

Perhaps the two OSU transfers at tackle will immediately help a decimated OLine position group. Perhaps Gibson can help immediately as a playmaker on a team that just doesn't have many of them. What this staff did in its first class in the defensive backfield tells you all you needed to know about what it's early evaluations told them. It's going to take some time to get back to being the hog with the big balls in the conference but I expect marked improvement just due to the staff no longer needing a mirror under their nose to establish whether they are breathing or not.

The talent they have already brought in and that they have commitments from will speed things along greatly without some old duffer sucking up a check saying it will take 5 years to get his guys in place.

If one of the tO$U transfer OL you're talking about is Grant Schmidt, I think he's been stuck playing on the 3rd string most of Spring ball, and he may have been moved to an interior line position.

I don't want to defend Tuberville given after he left we found out he was far more incompetent than we gave him credit for. One thing I won't say though is he had a loaded roster. For the first time in years we went consecutive years without a player being drafted, that speaks to the previous staff not leaving enough talent.

As far as this year Fickell's recruits may be a couple years away from really being a factor but don't discount the energy and focus this staff is bringing. I look at the early morning workout videos and I see a team that's bought in and driven. This will pay off big time with the existing players. We're playing in a conference where we shouldn't be at a talent deficit significant enough where we can't compete with most teams if we get the most out of our players. 8-9 wins wouldn't surprise me but if it doesn't happen I'm fine with that. A solid long term foundation is being built.

Oh my god. Whyyyyyyy. There's no reason to be talking TT right now.

I will be happy if the team plays hard and doesn't run out of gas at halftime I think 7 wins would be good improvement 8-9 would be great anymore than that and coach might get the key to the city lol Go Bearcats

as posted in the prediction thread, I would be happy with a 'tough' 6-6 at this stage.

major questions on the team: qb, oline, special teams, etc.

I am very sure clf will have them ready to play. And I am very sure we won't give up when we get punched in the mouth.

The AAC has been pretty good in football, not sure why some here are saying we should have an easy path to 10 wins once CLF team is in place.
Just looking at this year:
-Memphis, USF, Navy are tough.
-Tulsa will be a handful and very good
-UH had their run and will take a step back but they won't be chopped liver.

No idea what UCF, ECU, SMU, Temple, Tulane, UCONN will do.


All in all though the AAC, at least in past few years has had three to four really good teams (ranked), putrid bowl record aside. It has been tougher than I thought it would be, that's for sure.

(04-20-2017 08:37 PM)Cataclysmo Wrote:  Look, im aboard with all the above sentiments. I just think it odd that 9-4 three years ago was considered a massive dissapoint, whereas 7-5 this year is considered a success.

I know I know, talent level, strength of schedule, etc need to be considered. But if the league is that bad again, we shouldn't wait long before expecting 10 win seasons.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

7-8 wins would be a huge step forward. It will take some time to overcome the realities of this roster and 4 years of mental decay... just not that much, IMO. I'd expect to at least challenge for the division in year 2 with the complete heart transplant. By year 3 when the incoming talent is replacing Tubby's guys en masse is where we should expect the stage 2 rocket to ignite.

(04-20-2017 09:22 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  I don't want to defend Tuberville given after he left we found out he was far more incompetent than we gave him credit for. One thing I won't say though is he had a loaded roster. For the first time in years we went consecutive years without a player being drafted, that speaks to the previous staff not leaving enough talent.

As far as this year Fickell's recruits may be a couple years away from really being a factor but don't discount the energy and focus this staff is bringing. I look at the early morning workout videos and I see a team that's bought in and driven. This will pay off big time with the existing players. We're playing in a conference where we shouldn't be at a talent deficit significant enough where we can't compete with most teams if we get the most out of our players. 8-9 wins wouldn't surprise me but if it doesn't happen I'm fine with that. A solid long term foundation is being built.

Bolded, I believe this too. Houston beat a couple of top five teams last season and UC was with them play for play until late in the game. "Late in the game" seemed to be a big problem under Tuberville whether it was against Temple, USF or even Miami OH. So I'm going into this season believing there is enough talent, when combined with better conditioning and discipline, to earn at least 6 or 7 wins and a bowl bid.

The euphoria over the recent verbal commitments is justified. But as others have said, they won't see the field this season. A friend closer to the program suggested to me that several of these 4 star guys are so good they'll play immediately in 2018. I don't doubt that so we might begin to see real forward progress at that time. My hope for this season? The inane play calling, poor special teams play and brain cramps by the coaching staff are behind us. Heck, that alone might yield 2 more wins.

(04-21-2017 06:40 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  as posted in the prediction thread, I would be happy with a 'tough' 6-6 at this stage.

major questions on the team: qb, oline, special teams, etc.

I am very sure clf will have them ready to play. And I am very sure we won't give up when we get punched in the mouth.

The AAC has been pretty good in football, not sure why some here are saying we should have an easy path to 10 wins once CLF team is in place.
Just looking at this year:
-Memphis, USF, Navy are tough.
-Tulsa will be a handful and very good
-UH had their run and will take a step back but they won't be chopped liver.

No idea what UCF, ECU, SMU, Temple, Tulane, UCONN will do.


All in all though the AAC, at least in past few years has had three to four really good teams (ranked), putrid bowl record aside. It has been tougher than I thought it would be, that's for sure.

Don't disagree about the improving AAC. We don't have Memphis or Tulsa on the schedule though, but SMU is improving. They are pretty explosive offensively, but they are pretty porous on defense.

USF and Temple return pretty much their entire teams from last year. The coaching staff has turned over at both schools. I don't think USF will skip a beat though as Strong will be solid for them. Temple's coach is a first time coach but again they have all the guys still in place that have handed us our arse the past couple of seasons.

UCF is getting better and better. I expect Scott Frost to get the call up to the P5 after this season.

As much as we want to rag on UConn football the last time I looked they still beat us last year by 13 points.

(04-21-2017 07:36 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(04-21-2017 06:40 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  as posted in the prediction thread, I would be happy with a 'tough' 6-6 at this stage.

major questions on the team: qb, oline, special teams, etc.

I am very sure clf will have them ready to play. And I am very sure we won't give up when we get punched in the mouth.

The AAC has been pretty good in football, not sure why some here are saying we should have an easy path to 10 wins once CLF team is in place.
Just looking at this year:
-Memphis, USF, Navy are tough.
-Tulsa will be a handful and very good
-UH had their run and will take a step back but they won't be chopped liver.

No idea what UCF, ECU, SMU, Temple, Tulane, UCONN will do.


All in all though the AAC, at least in past few years has had three to four really good teams (ranked), putrid bowl record aside. It has been tougher than I thought it would be, that's for sure.

Don't disagree about the improving AAC. We don't have Memphis or Tulsa on the schedule though, but SMU is improving. They are pretty explosive offensively, but they are pretty porous on defense.

USF and Temple return pretty much their entire teams from last year. The coaching staff has turned over at both schools. I don't think USF will skip a beat though as Strong will be solid for them. Temple's coach is a first time coach but again they have all the guys still in place that have handed us our arse the past couple of seasons.

UCF is getting better and better. I expect Scott Frost to get the call up to the P5 after this season.

As much as we want to rag on UConn football the last time I looked they still beat us last year by 13 points.

He is 100000% waiting for Nebraska to open up. That'll probably be in two years if the rate that Riley is alienating the fan base in Lincoln continues.

(04-21-2017 07:35 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(04-20-2017 09:22 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  I don't want to defend Tuberville given after he left we found out he was far more incompetent than we gave him credit for. One thing I won't say though is he had a loaded roster. For the first time in years we went consecutive years without a player being drafted, that speaks to the previous staff not leaving enough talent.

As far as this year Fickell's recruits may be a couple years away from really being a factor but don't discount the energy and focus this staff is bringing. I look at the early morning workout videos and I see a team that's bought in and driven. This will pay off big time with the existing players. We're playing in a conference where we shouldn't be at a talent deficit significant enough where we can't compete with most teams if we get the most out of our players. 8-9 wins wouldn't surprise me but if it doesn't happen I'm fine with that. A solid long term foundation is being built.

Bolded, I believe this too. Houston beat a couple of top five teams last season and UC was with them play for play until late in the game. "Late in the game" seemed to be a big problem under Tuberville whether it was against Temple, USF or even Miami OH. So I'm going into this season believing there is enough talent, when combined with better conditioning and discipline, to earn at least 6 or 7 wins and a bowl bid.

The euphoria over the recent verbal commitments is justified. But as others have said, they won't see the field this season. A friend closer to the program suggested to me that several of these 4 star guys are so good they'll play immediately in 2018. I don't doubt that so we might begin to see real forward progress at that time. My hope for this season? The inane play calling, poor special teams play and brain cramps by the coaching staff are behind us. Heck, that alone might yield 2 more wins.

Losing late in a game, turnovers and stupid penalties all boil down to discipline and strength and conditioning. Those two things were severely lacking the past 4 years.

Rath made a great point above about it taking a couple of years to get that mentality wiped out of this system. I am not trying to speak ill of anyone that is here, but it is practically impossible to get the mentality and bad habits out of the guys that have been here 3-4 years under Tubs and crew. It is who they are at this point. You might get them to do it at times, but to consistently do it over the course of the season is a tough task.

I really do wonder how much the emphasis on improved tackling will help our defense too. We probably gave up 50-60 yards a game and multiple 1st downs on 3rd downs due to our inability to actually wrap and drop people. I could see us really being anywhere between 9-3 (if Gibson comes out and sets the world alight) or 6-6 (if our QB's are inconsistent and the roster is only as talented as we think based on last year). I truthfully don't see us missing a bowl this year, we have too many high-probability games on the schedule (Austin Peay, Miami, Marshall, Tulane, Temple, ECU, UConn) along with two toss-ups (UCF and SMU) to not have 6 wins this year IMO.

It also has not been mentioned, but we only have one short week (@Tulane to vs. Temple) this year as opposed to the short week schedule we had last year which included our hardest games with the least prep time: @Purdue to vs. Houston, where we quite obviously died in the last few minutes and @UCF to vs. Memphis where the team was basically just done with the season.

(04-21-2017 07:43 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(04-21-2017 07:35 AM)OKIcat Wrote:  

(04-20-2017 09:22 PM)RealDeal Wrote:  I don't want to defend Tuberville given after he left we found out he was far more incompetent than we gave him credit for. One thing I won't say though is he had a loaded roster. For the first time in years we went consecutive years without a player being drafted, that speaks to the previous staff not leaving enough talent.

As far as this year Fickell's recruits may be a couple years away from really being a factor but don't discount the energy and focus this staff is bringing. I look at the early morning workout videos and I see a team that's bought in and driven. This will pay off big time with the existing players. We're playing in a conference where we shouldn't be at a talent deficit significant enough where we can't compete with most teams if we get the most out of our players. 8-9 wins wouldn't surprise me but if it doesn't happen I'm fine with that. A solid long term foundation is being built.

Bolded, I believe this too. Houston beat a couple of top five teams last season and UC was with them play for play until late in the game. "Late in the game" seemed to be a big problem under Tuberville whether it was against Temple, USF or even Miami OH. So I'm going into this season believing there is enough talent, when combined with better conditioning and discipline, to earn at least 6 or 7 wins and a bowl bid.

The euphoria over the recent verbal commitments is justified. But as others have said, they won't see the field this season. A friend closer to the program suggested to me that several of these 4 star guys are so good they'll play immediately in 2018. I don't doubt that so we might begin to see real forward progress at that time. My hope for this season? The inane play calling, poor special teams play and brain cramps by the coaching staff are behind us. Heck, that alone might yield 2 more wins.

Losing late in a game, turnovers and stupid penalties all boil down to discipline and strength and conditioning. Those two things were severely lacking the past 4 years.

All of this! No matter how good the coaching is, UC isn't likely to beat OSU or Alabama because the talent difference is just too dramatic. But I don't believe that to be true to any team in the AAC. UC can be an 8+ win team this year just by improving the strength, conditioning, coaching, play calling and discipline.

Wonder if CLF is teaching em' to tackle high?

(04-22-2017 07:05 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Wonder if CLF is teaching em' to tackle high?

No, rugby style tackling.

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0LEVyvrT...qWCVeKtl8-