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haven't read it yet but I'm guessing an 8 win season despite a much better S&P

"Still, after a brief stumble, Cincinnati was basically back to looking like a power conference team last year. The Bearcats were nasty, physical, and fun. That probably won’t change as long as Fickell’s there."

I think 8 or 9 wins is realistic with the schedule.

With next year's schedule, sign me up for 8 or 9 wins right now and I'd be happy.

"Per S&P+, they are projected favorites in nine games and one-possession underdogs in two more. "

I'll take that as 11 wins.

(04-10-2019 08:46 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  "Still, after a brief stumble, Cincinnati was basically back to looking like a power conference team last year. The Bearcats were nasty, physical, and fun. That probably won’t change as long as Fickell’s there."

Yep, those three sentences stood out to me as well.

This is what hit me right in the article title...

Quote:What happens if the offense figures things out?

And this...

Quote:It was a pretty good year, in other words. And now Ridder, 1,300-yard rusher Michael Warren II, all but one receiver, seven defensive starters, and Doaks and Mouhon return.

Finally this...

Quote:If you’re looking for signs that Cincinnati can climb higher in 2019, your biggest source of encouragement has to be that the offense still has a lot of room to rise.

I believe we will be a BETTER team than last year's version but with a worse record due to the schedule. That aside, all I care about is winning our division this year and having a shot at the AAC Championship game. That is a realistic goal IMO.

(04-10-2019 09:33 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  This is what hit me right in the article title...

Quote:What happens if the offense figures things out?

And this...

Quote:It was a pretty good year, in other words. And now Ridder, 1,300-yard rusher Michael Warren II, all but one receiver, seven defensive starters, and Doaks and Mouhon return.

Finally this...

Quote:If you’re looking for signs that Cincinnati can climb higher in 2019, your biggest source of encouragement has to be that the offense still has a lot of room to rise.

I believe we will be a BETTER team than last year's version but with a worse record due to the schedule. That aside, all I care about is winning our division this year and having a shot at the AAC Championship game. That is a realistic goal IMO.

What I've been hearing is we are going to have a log jam at running back: Warren, Doaks, Thomas, etc. Fickell is trying to figure out how to use all the talent he has there. I can't wait to see!

Go Cats!

(04-10-2019 10:32 AM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(04-10-2019 09:33 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  I believe we will be a BETTER team than last year's version but with a worse record due to the schedule. That aside, all I care about is winning our division this year and having a shot at the AAC Championship game. That is a realistic goal IMO.

What I've been hearing is we are going to have a log jam at running back: Warren, Doaks, Thomas, etc. Fickell is trying to figure out how to use all the talent he has there. I can't wait to see!

Go Cats!

The "log jam" is a good problem to have especially if there is a long term injury or two. Of course, someone may want to transfer if they can't get on the field much and have a better opportunity elsewhere but let's cross that bridge if it happens. Running the rock is set - Ridder needs to develop his passing game more and I think he will in Year 2. Is it football season yet?

If UC wants respect on the national landscape you can't be happy with an 8 or 9 win season. The only game that seems like an extreme long shot is the OSU game. UC is favored in 9 of the 11 remaining games. You win the games you should and split the other two. That's a 10 win season and that has to be the goal.

(04-10-2019 11:29 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-10-2019 10:32 AM)cpawstoney Wrote:  

(04-10-2019 09:33 AM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  I believe we will be a BETTER team than last year's version but with a worse record due to the schedule. That aside, all I care about is winning our division this year and having a shot at the AAC Championship game. That is a realistic goal IMO.

What I've been hearing is we are going to have a log jam at running back: Warren, Doaks, Thomas, etc. Fickell is trying to figure out how to use all the talent he has there. I can't wait to see!

Go Cats!

The "log jam" is a good problem to have especially if there is a long term injury or two. Of course, someone may want to transfer if they can't get on the field much and have a better opportunity elsewhere but let's cross that bridge if it happens. Running the rock is set - Ridder needs to develop his passing game more and I think he will in Year 2. Is it football season yet?

Bolded, amen to that. If Ridder runs as much as he did last season I think he's at great risk of injury. Any QB should probably run it a few times each game to keep the defense honest but if he wants a long career he'll lean more heavily on his arm than his legs.

The article was good; a pretty thorough report on the upcoming season. With the way Reds baseball is going, UC football can't arrive soon enough.

well, at least we all love Coach Fick.

(04-10-2019 12:55 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  well, at least we all love Coach Fick.

The Great Communicator Unifier

Pretty solid analysis. I’m thinking 9 wins, which is a good year considering the schedule. The maojor thing is that we are still fairly young and building for the future. Hopefully, we can take the next step, but it may be another year or so before we can take the next step and win the conference and have a shot at a NY6 Bowl.

(04-10-2019 06:48 PM)C1ncy4Life Wrote:  Pretty solid analysis. I’m thinking 9 wins, which is a good year considering the schedule. The maojor thing is that we are still fairly young and building for the future. Hopefully, we can take the next step, but it may be another year or so before we can take the next step and win the conference and have a shot at a NY6 Bowl.

I think you're right on...this year I see 8-9 wins given the schedule, but next year (20-21) we could be seriously special and I think this staff would probably move on once that season is done. After this season, we will lose 6 starters (Medaris, Young, Wright, Mouhon, James, and Ferguson). Returning 16 starters, everyone in the DB, RB, QB, and practically everyone in the DL and WR rooms...if we can plug holes in LB and OL, I wouldn't be shocked to see another '09 type year.

Great analysis, I'm very excited for the next couple years of Cincinnati football!

It's still mindboggling we won 11 games last year. What a turnaround.

(04-11-2019 09:11 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  It's still mindboggling we won 11 games last year. What a turnaround.

I know, right? Schedule aside, it goes down as only the third time in school history the Cats have won at least 11 games in a season. I also thoroughly enjoyed winning the bowl game since Tulane was the only other AAC team to win one. Plus, it helped to put the previous regime to bed after the three bowl loss fiascoes.

(04-10-2019 05:16 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-10-2019 12:55 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  well, at least we all love Coach Fick.

The Great Communicator Unifier

If I ever met Coach Fick I’d say this:



And we’re going 15-0 this year.

(04-11-2019 07:58 PM)Dannyboy Wrote:  

(04-10-2019 05:16 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-10-2019 12:55 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  well, at least we all love Coach Fick.

The Great Communicator Unifier

If I ever met Coach Fick I’d say this:



And we’re going 15-0 this year.

Danny, my boy, how about saying that after we go 15-0 this year....