For anyone interested I always find his previews to be the best and most detailed available. I thought it was fair. It actually encouraged me a bit about the offensive line laying more blame on RBs for last years running failures (maybe Boone was banged up all year?). QB still scares me a ton, but I think the defense can be good.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...ule-roster

From the article:

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability
31-Aug Austin Peay NR 43.5 99%
9-Sep at Michigan 10 -24.6 8%
16-Sep at Miami (Ohio) 88 1.9 54%
23-Sep at Navy 71 -3.7 42%
30-Sep Marshall 101 9.6 71%
7-Oct Central Florida 78 2.8 57%
21-Oct SMU 81 5.1 62%
28-Oct at South Florida 56 -8.2 32%
4-Nov at Tulane 94 3.3 58%
10-Nov Temple 67 -1.5 46%
18-Nov at East Carolina 100 4.5 60%
25-Nov Connecticut 125 16.7 83%

That chart suggests UC with a better than 50% chance of winning 8 games. And that is strictly a stat based analysis. If Fickell can make the coaching improvements we all hope and expect then I see no reason UC can't be an 8+ win team THIS season.

Is Bryce Jenkinson Bearcat career over or not from injuries ?. He is mentioned in article and still on roster on gobearcats.com.

(04-24-2017 09:39 AM)nachoman91 Wrote:  From the article:

Date Opponent Proj. S&P+ Rk Proj. Margin Win Probability
31-Aug Austin Peay NR 43.5 99%
9-Sep at Michigan 10 -24.6 8%
16-Sep at Miami (Ohio) 88 1.9 54%
23-Sep at Navy 71 -3.7 42%
30-Sep Marshall 101 9.6 71%
7-Oct Central Florida 78 2.8 57%
21-Oct SMU 81 5.1 62%
28-Oct at South Florida 56 -8.2 32%
4-Nov at Tulane 94 3.3 58%
10-Nov Temple 67 -1.5 46%
18-Nov at East Carolina 100 4.5 60%
25-Nov Connecticut 125 16.7 83%

That chart suggests UC with a better than 50% chance of winning 8 games. And that is strictly a stat based analysis. If Fickell can make the coaching improvements we all hope and expect then I see no reason UC can't be an 8+ win team THIS season.

Well the article says they will be the favorite in 8 games (though slight favorite in many). The article projects they'll win 6.7 games. I think it's pretty much in line with what many think... some clear questions, potential on defense but a long way to climb on offense.

This is a fantastic, thorough, stat-based article. The predictions for the season are in line with what many UC fans expect, though the article does allow for some additional optimism that we may win more games than anticipated.

One of the perks of getting more national attention again is not having to rely on the local trash for coverage.

(04-24-2017 10:51 AM)TubaCat Wrote:  This is a fantastic, thorough, stat-based article. The predictions for the season are in line with what many UC fans expect, though the article does allow for some additional optimism that we may win more games than anticipated.

One of the perks of getting more national attention again is not having to rely on the local trash for coverage.

This guy writes these articles for every team in FBS college football. If you are a big college football fan he's really great for getting coverage of every team in the country.

(04-24-2017 10:27 AM)cincybb51 Wrote:  Is Bryce Jenkinson Bearcat career over or not from injuries ?. He is mentioned in article and still on roster on gobearcats.com.

He's done. Unfortunately.

mc

7-5 is very doable IMO even if the talent has not improved much from last season. We'll win another game or two just with better strength and conditioning, discipline and not giving up special teams gaffes. Moreover, we don't play the three better programs in the AAC-West and play two of the worst, which should help.

If Gibson is the real deal, the OL figures out how to push the line of scrimmage back a yard or two, we could be poised to win a few more.

(04-24-2017 09:02 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  For anyone interested I always find his previews to be the best and most detailed available. I thought it was fair. It actually encouraged me a bit about the offensive line laying more blame on RBs for last years running failures (maybe Boone was banged up all year?). QB still scares me a ton, but I think the defense can be good.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...ule-roster

I forget how far back in spring ball it was, but Big Kuntry was talking about the difference in blocking Boone's presence makes for the OL guys.

He's so fast with his decision making, first step that the OL doesn't have to hold their blocks as long. I truly believe that this team has more talent than people give it credit for due to their - justified - disdain for all things (insert name of he who will no longer be named).

A healthy Boone, who is apparently going to get a lot more passes thrown his way in order to optimize his skill set, is a key cog for us.



mc

I was really impressed with the hard running by Doaks in the Spring game. One can only hope Doaks and Boone stay healthy. Who are the backs behind them?

(04-24-2017 01:30 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  I was really impressed with the hard running by Doaks in the Spring game. One can only hope Doaks and Boone stay healthy. Who are the backs behind them?

Taylor Boose, Chad Banschbach (can't stay healthy), and Joshuwa Holloman. Also have freshmen Jaelen Greene (early enrollee) and Michael Warren expected in fall camp.

(04-24-2017 01:36 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(04-24-2017 01:30 PM)bearcat72 Wrote:  I was really impressed with the hard running by Doaks in the Spring game. One can only hope Doaks and Boone stay healthy. Who are the backs behind them?

Taylor Boose, Chad Banschbach (can't stay healthy), and Joshuwa Holloman. Also have freshmen Jaelen Greene (early enrollee) and Michael Warren expected in fall camp.

I'm really hoping Holloman has a chance to see the field. Kid had a great body of work in high school and even better film but has been hampered by injuries.

it feels good to be excited for pigskin again

I agree with him on this statement:

I’m not going to lie: I get a little bit concerned when I see a coordinator hire made, seemingly, for recruiting purposes (Freeman), or when I see another coordinator (Denbrock) tasked with establishing an identity he hasn’t proven he can establish.

While the recruiting has been encouraging, I'll wait to see how the team actually performs on the field before completely buying into the hype. I got sucked into the hype when TT got hired. I'm not doing that again.

(04-25-2017 07:47 AM)Cat-Man Wrote:  I agree with him on this statement:

I’m not going to lie: I get a little bit concerned when I see a coordinator hire made, seemingly, for recruiting purposes (Freeman), or when I see another coordinator (Denbrock) tasked with establishing an identity he hasn’t proven he can establish.

While the recruiting has been encouraging, I'll wait to see how the team actually performs on the field before completely buying into the hype. I got sucked into the hype when TT got hired. I'm not doing that again.

I'm in the same boat. I am encouraged by the recruiting victories so far. But I need to see (a) competent game day management; (b) proper use of the tools in the tool box; and © development of talent once they join the roster. TT failed miserably in all three of those areas. I'm excited about what's ahead, but CLF needs to prove his worth in the areas above or he will fare no better than the Old Pine Box.