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(10-21-2023 05:08 PM)rtaylor Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 04:15 PM)mac6115cd Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 02:53 PM)mbj655 Wrote:  Remember when Nippert was considered a tough place for visiting teams to get a win? Seems like a generation ago.

There's no comparison between the teams in the Big12 and the AAC. Everyone should have known this would be a tough year after Fickell left.

This. Everyone wants someone to blame. What did everyone think was going to happen? Moving up in competition, a mass exodus of talent, and a new coach trying to plug all the leaks. You want to blame someone? Blame CLF. Now, having said that, there are things the coaches need to clean up, but the talk of firing people is just ridiculous. This was not going to be easy under any circumstances, and it sucks seeing this happen. We all want the success we have seen over the last decade plus, but it aint happening over night.

The bold has not happened. This is the same as memphis, houston, ecu, ucf, etc. baylor or byu isn't any different.

(10-21-2023 03:59 PM)cincybb51 Wrote:  

(10-21-2023 03:13 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  I can't even believe we're paying money for two jokers who have the position of "Quality Control-Offense" and another clown who has the job title of "Quality Control-Special Teams." That's simply unbelievable.

Coaching didn’t make Braden Smith fumble the kickoff or fail to field the last punt costing us field position. Frustrating but the players are making critical errors and are not making enough plays at critical times.

Just my opinion but I don’t think many coaches would have taken field goals in either situation today especially the first drive were it was forth and short .

Really? I wonder then what the purpose of a "Coach" is if it isn't to teach and improve the players on their team? Why bother with "practice"?

S*** happens. I get that. Punts get muffed, balls get dropped, players make mistakes. But darn, some of the BASIC, easy mistakes that this team makes...at the worst possible times.

If it's not the Coaches' jobs to fix these basic problems, then we're wasting more than $3 million a year on salary.

(Yeah, and we've been through this before, only in basketball. I get that "talent" over-rules "efforts" and "smarts" but I sure liked watching Bearcat football under Dantonio and Kelly when they were getting 4* production out of 2* guys. Right now we're not even getting 2* results from 3* guys.)

These players all they care about is how cool they are, chicks, social media, clout.

Sure is tough to sit here and watch these teams that are so far ahed of UC, Duke is miles better than UC, freakin Duke.....

The back 7 on defense couldn’t cover the Poor Sisters of the Blind. So many wide open receivers today. They had 7 pass plays 15yds and longer, if not for some drops or errant throws, and flat out not seeing by their qb, it easily could’ve been 15+. I can’t remember the last time UC had a defensive backfield this poor and poorly coached, it’s been a long time.

(10-21-2023 06:08 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  For some reason this team just can't get out of it's own way.

25-32.

I’d like to know why Braden Smith was back for KO after last week. Has that been said. I have not listened to the coaches shows or pressers.

Is there a rule of thumb for taking points early? I really like playing aggressive, but am having second thoughts. It is hindsight, but at this point of the season we know how bad our offense is.. I think we should take the points early in the game. . I can see the Miami game because we were still determining our strengths/weaknesses.

(10-22-2023 07:36 PM)ZCat Wrote:  I’d like to know why Braden Smith was back for KO after last week. Has that been said. I have not listened to the coaches shows or pressers.

Is there a rule of thumb for taking points early? I really like playing aggressive, but am having second thoughts. It is hindsight, but at this point of the season we know how bad our offense is.. I think we should take the points early in the game. . I can see the Miami game because we were still determining our strengths/weaknesses.

I know I got comfortable with "going for it on 4th Down" when we lacked a competent kicker. There were a couple of years there (under Fickel) where we might as well have gone for it on 4th...especially in the "redzone"...because we couldn't kick a FG for anything. We were so unlikely to "get points" that we were just better off going for it.

We have a GOOD PUNTER these days...so outside of the 40, we're better off punting it. AND we have a decent kicker. Field position (between the hash marks) is still important when you get below the 15, but...yeah...if we had "taken the points" (assuming a good kick) instead of fumbling on the 12, then...well...

Call it what it was. It was dumb.

Players make stupid mistakes. So do coaches.

Just some thoughts a couple of days after:
Braden Smith... I understand that mistakes happen but at this point, let someone else try. It's not like Braden is a top 5 return guy in the country so keeping the possessions is worth a ton more to this team than even 5-10 extra yards per return
Coaching... Agreed that coaches don't do the fumbling or blow the coverages but they do pick the guys that are on the field. Either their strategy isn't working or their choice of who to play is suspect
Talent at UC... What is scary to me is not the product on the field but that apparently we don't have anyone who the coaches feel that even with PT/coaching up and being thrown to the wolves that can give the Bearcats even similar results and the impression the coaches are trying "something". Our DBs for instance just don't seem to be able to get much worse...same with the O-line.
AAC vs Big12... At least with the results to date, it seems like playing style as the big fish in a small pond was dominate on D and have an offense that's "good enough" vs now needing a powerful, highly energetic offense with a defense designed to get some key stops. We (the 4 newbies) weren't ready offensively and although most of our Ds are above average at least, they can't put up shut outs or low teens games week in and week out vs this caliber of offense
FGs vs Going For It... At this point the Bearcats need points, ANY POINTS, on every offensive possession. Not just for score purposes but for momentum and morale and making the D not feel like they have to be perfect. Choose the spots for going for it on 4th far more judiciously until the tools on offense are capable of making up for an empty possession from time to time.
Play the Kids... There's no risk anymore of playing the kids. Time to evaluate what is in the cupboard for the offseason portal musical chairs fun. Not looking for absolute brilliance but for capabilities and possibilities. Is the moment too big for them? Can a position coach design a plan to leverage a skill set? Does UC even have a "skill set" at a particular position? Do we have a hidden practice bum, game time hero on the sideline?
Hoping Wes has a better group and grip on hoops. I expect more losses than I like just because it's the #1 conf but I also hope for a better looking/feeling team than FB has been able to provide.

(10-22-2023 07:36 PM)ZCat Wrote:  I’d like to know why Braden Smith was back for KO after last week. Has that been said. I have not listened to the coaches shows or pressers.

Is there a rule of thumb for taking points early? I really like playing aggressive, but am having second thoughts. It is hindsight, but at this point of the season we know how bad our offense is.. I think we should take the points early in the game. . I can see the Miami game because we were still determining our strengths/weaknesses.

Braden Smith is their guy from Louisville, right? If so, his continued mistakes are on the staff.

I searched for his return stats just now and the first link to pop up was a mug shot of him being arrested last year at UL for DV and stalking. Same guy? How'd we miss that gem?

288 yds rushing and lost...that is hard to do. We have the 10th most rushing yards per game in the country. Stop throwing the ball. Run every down, play defense, don't turn the ball over. Where is Fickell when you need him.

He is coaching the Wisconsin Badgers.

Was traveling during the first half but watched the second half.

It just wasn't enjoyable football to watch.

(10-23-2023 02:55 PM)bcat1997 Wrote:  288 yds rushing and lost...that is hard to do. We have the 10th most rushing yards per game in the country. Stop throwing the ball. Run every down, play defense, don't turn the ball over. Where is Fickell when you need him.

Baylor was giving up 5+ yards a rush attempt on the season. That is a bad FCS level rush defense.

Of course, the brain trust game planned dropping back to pass @ 40 times when you factor in sacks and scrambles.

(10-24-2023 10:13 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(10-23-2023 02:55 PM)bcat1997 Wrote:  288 yds rushing and lost...that is hard to do. We have the 10th most rushing yards per game in the country. Stop throwing the ball. Run every down, play defense, don't turn the ball over. Where is Fickell when you need him.

Baylor was giving up 5+ yards a rush attempt on the season. That is a bad FCS level rush defense.

Of course, the brain trust game planned dropping back to pass @ 40 times when you factor in sacks and scrambles.

Tony Pike at one point during the game broadcast said, "The staff wants Jones to get some confidence in his passing game..." as a reason why they kept Jones in the game and why they kept calling passing plays (as opposed to runs and RPO stuff).

Uh, how the hell is he going to "gain confidence" when he CAN'T hit a receiver more than 10 yards away? You can throw it down the field all friggin' day, but he's not going to complete a bunch of those passes... You're hoping for...what?...that "one in a hundred" where the defender falls down, the wind blows just right, and the WR has put "stickem" on his hands and manages to finger-tip catch that sucker...to build confidence???

Realize who Emory Jones IS, and what he is...and ISN'T...capable of. He's not...he's never going to be...a "deep threat" QB. Opposing D's can stack the line BECAUSE they know that he's not going to stretch the field that way. You're going to have to find a different way to stretch the field. I don't know what that is, but they'd better figure it out soon.

(10-23-2023 10:31 PM)Tim Biddle Wrote:  He is coaching the Wisconsin Badgers.

If only UC were in the Big Ten West...