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^^ Agree with Mark. Two years ago a major reason why our offense was so god awful (remember we went several games without scoring a TD) was because we didn't have a WR who could get any separation down field. Defenses were able to stuff our running game because they knew we were not going to make any big pass plays beyond 10 yards out.

I think we have some decent receivers in Rashad Madaris and Jayshon Jackson, and I think Trent Cloud will be a good one for us (he had some nice catches in the Virginia Tech game in the second half). We need that Alpha. Thomas Geddis has been pretty inconsistent for us the past couple years. He can make some spectacular plays at times, but often he fails to make routine catches. Now that he is a Senior, he is going to have to step up his game. I still would like for us to land a transfer at the position-- remember last year we didn't get Dino Boyd and Cam Jeffries until the summer and they were able to come in and fill in nicely for us.

From Dan Hoard's Twitter

Interesting nugget from #Bearcats football practice. One of the tight end spots is now called the “K-position” in honor of UC great @tkelce

If we didn't have depth and talent at the running back and tight end positions, I would be more concerned about the lack of a "stud" or "alpha" WR. We have to play to our strengths and it remains a run-oriented attack to include Ridder when necessary. That said, yes, we must have the ability to pass to create some mismatches, take advantage of the coverage given, need a chunk of yardage, keep the DEE honest, etc. It may be a "receiving by corps committee" this year until someone can step up as the go-to-guy. I believe the passing game was limited some last year by Ridder's on-the-field development. I remember many on this board were ready to throw him to the wolves and have, dare I say it, Hayden Moore take over the reigns. I agree Desmond had some inconsistencies and played his best against weaker competition but he was a frosh after all. I feel like Ridder got better overall toward the end of last year and to know that he has a full season under his belt should, SHOULD, help him immensely this year. Thus, look for our passing game to be more consistent and dynamic, but it only needs to be complimentary to our running attack IMO.

Ridder's numbers from last year after 13 games:

Passing
194 Comp
311 Att
62.4 Pct
2445 Yds
7.9 Y/A
20 TD
5 INT
146.4 Rating

Rushing
149 Att
583 Yds
3.9 Avg
5 TD

Did we mention he also was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year? There is no QB controversy - it's his job to lose barring injury. He did fumble 10 times and lost 7 of them so that is an area he needs to get better at - football security. That is very correctable...

From Chad...

Chad...

Mr. Wiggins in da howwwss...

Hard workin' Chad brings us Coach Freeman...

A lot of positive energy in those videos. Last year I still felt the nervous energy from both coaches and players. Seems like everyone is bought in. Going to be an exciting year!

BDF looks lean. He looks good. Everyone is positive and motivated. The vibe is good.

Let's go get one in Columbus

(04-04-2019 05:46 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Let's go get one in Columbus

It should be a great barometer for where we are as a program. The great thing is if we lose it really doesn’t hurt us overall and it should help get us ready for some tough games down the road.

(04-04-2019 05:46 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  Let's go get one in Columbus

Let's get that statement win with a sold out Nippert week 1 against UCLA first. This game maybe even more important as it will be in front of all our fans.

I know Ohio State is one of the top talented teams in the nation, but I'm always weary of coaching changes. I will be very interested to see how their season plays out this year as well. Like him or not Urban IMO is easily one of the top 3 coaches in the last 25 years.

If UC wins week 2, you can count Ryan Day on the hot seat lol. Idk how much the National media will give UC credit for the win vs Ryan Day's poor job coaching. Ohioans would understand UC is legit though.

Another video from the hardest working man on the Bearcats football beat, Chad Brendel...looked like a perfect spring day today at the Nip.

Chad has referred in some of his posted videos of the size of the Oh linemen group compared to previous years. Here are the stats for this season's roster:

Lorenz Metz 6-9 322 Fr. RS Neuötting, Germany / Kirchdorf Wildcats
Morgan James 6-5 320 Gr. 3L Highland, Mich. / Lakeland
Darius Harper 6-7 318 Jr. SQ Springfield, Ohio / Springfield
Colin Woodside 6-5 316 Fr. RS Lancaster, Ohio / Fairfield Union
Jeremy Cooper 6-4 315 Fr. RS Chicago, Ill. / Mount Carmel
Jonathan Allen 6-6 310 Fr. HS Dayton, Ohio / Dunbar
Chris Ferguson 6-5 308 Gr. 1L Nassau, Bahamas / Lake Nona
Ethan Voelker 6-5 308 Fr. RS Cincinnati, Ohio / Taylor
Dylan O'Quinn 6-4 307 Fr. RS Toledo, Ohio / Lake
Zach Bycznski 6-4 303 Jr. 2L Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark
Mason Garrison 6-4 300 Sr. 1L Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills
Jakari Robinson 6-0 295 So. 1L Talladega, Ala. / Munford
Cody Lamb 6-4 292 So. SQ Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg
Vincent McConnell 6-5 280 So. 1L Massillon, Ohio / Washington
Colin Truett 6-3 273 Fr. RS Lebanon, Ohio / Lebanon
Alex Heil 6-2 260 Sr. 1L Wickliffe, Ohio / Benedictine
James Hudson 6-5 255 R-Fr. TR Toledo, Ohio / Central Catholic

Here is the same position group during Coach Fick's first season:

Kyle Trout 6-6 310 Jr. TR Lancaster, Ohio / Lancaster
Morgan James 6-6 308 So. 1L Highland, Mich. / Lakeland
Chris Ferguson 6-5 305 Jr. SQ Nassau, Bahamas / Lake Nona
Korey Cunningham 6-6 305 Sr. 3L Montevallo, Ala. / Montevallo
Garrett Campbell 6-6 301 Sr. 2L Cincinnati, Ohio / St. Xavier
Will Steur 6-4 300 Sr. 1L Cincinnati, Ohio / Madeira
Kendall Calhoun 6-7 300 Sr. SQ Paducah, Ky. / Tilghman
David Niehaus 6-1 299 R-Sr. 2L Cincinnati, Ohio / Colerain
Mason Garrison 6-5 296 So. SQ Cincinnati, Ohio / Oak Hills
Tyler McGarr 6-4 295 So. SQ Hamilton, Ga. / Harris County
Zach Bycznski 6-3 295 R-Fr. RS Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark
Keith Minor 6-4 293 Jr. 1L Tyler, Texas / Chapel Hill
Blake Yager 6-5 292 So. JC Fort Wayne, Ind. / Carroll
Jakari Robinson 6-2 290 Fr. HS Talladega, Ala. / Munford
Cody Lamb 6-4 288 Fr. HS Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg
Alex Heil 6-2 280 So. SQ Wickliffe, Ohio / Benedictine
Doug Bates 6-4 267 R-Fr. RS Cincinnati, Ohio / Moeller
Drew Hartmann 6-0 250 Fr. HS Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville

At first glance, you notice the OL position group this year has 11 300+ lb kids compared to 7 in 2017. Not a huge disparity. However, looking a little closer the upper weight limit of the 2017 group was 310 lb. There are 6 kids in this year's group that are 310 lb or greater. What's really striking, and makes me appreciate what BDF and his staff have accomplished in gaining depth in the OL room, is 6 kids weighing 300+ are frosh (including red shirt). There were zero, ZERO, kids of that weight range and class in 2017. I know size isn't everything but man does it help to be physical at the line of scrimmage to help impose your will - the running game in particular.

(03-26-2019 01:22 PM)Marcus Wrote:  

(03-26-2019 11:07 AM)Racinejake Wrote:  Then you have Trent Cloud who came on at the end and had a few catches against VT.

This is the guy I pinpointed at WR heading into this spring/season as the one to watch as far as a guy who can make a real move. He's not a burner and may not do any one thing incredibly well but his is "good" at everything he does. Just solid across the board. He seems to have good hands, run good routes, find the open spaces. I think he could become a really nice piece in this offense.

Tom Rossley 2? Shaquille Washington 2?