Injuries Headline Monday Practice News and the Implications of these Predicaments

(Courtesy 247 Sports)

The Enquirer’s Tom Groeschen continues to follow the Cincinnati Bearcats’ football team at Camp Higher Ground like white on rice and released a few tidbits today, mostly concerning the injury report. UC has been relatively injury-free this offseason with the most notable occurring to Aussie freshman linebacker Lindsay Crook. However, for the most part, the starting lineup and even the backups have avoided the dreaded medical cart.

Not today, however.

The most notable nugget on the injury front is that Brendon Kay was held out from practice completely today. He’s been nursing what’s been vaguely called a “sore shoulder”. This means one of two things to me:

Tommy Tuberville is desperate to get Kay back and wants to give him as much rest as possible to ensure he’s ready to go as prep work for Purdue begins later this week. He doesn’t have as much confidence in Munchie Legaux leading this offense as he would lead us to believe.
The battle at the backup quarterback spot is tighter than ever between Legaux and Bennie Coney. Tuberville wants to give them as many reps as possible to get a better handle on who should be named QB-2. Given Cincinnati’s history of burning through field generals as the season progresses, listing a backup quarterback is almost as important as the starter.

As of now I’d believe that reason #1 is what’s occurring here. No matter how many spread elements offensive coordinator Eddie Gran implements this season, picturing Legaux starting against Purdue has me worried. He was serviceable under Butch Jones/Mike Bajakian because he could run the keeper but that won’t be the case under Gran. The quarterback will be asked to pass the ball and given Legaux’s history in that role, it doesn’t breed a ton of confidence.

Additionally, and almost as importantly, starting center Dan Sprague twisted his knee in today’s practice. Other than quarterback this is perhaps the single most critical position on offense. The center is the quarterback of the OL, calling out blocking assignments, understanding the snap count, and ensuring both guys on either side of him are doing their jobs. The mental aspect of this position is as important as the physical element and Sprague is a master of both. If he’s gone in would step youngster Deyshawn Bond. He has a ton of upside but is incredibly green. Transitioning from a battle hardened senior to redshirt freshman at such a crucial position as center and especially with the entire unit learning new blocking schemes would be worrisome.

But Sprague isn’t the only lineman on the mend after today as backup guard Kevin Schloemer is suffering from an injured ankle. The strength of the Bearcats’ offensive line not only due to the experience of its starting five but also its depth. Schloemer was a key cog in that depth who definitely had the OG-2 spot on lock this season and is in line to start in 2014. Like with Sprague hopefully this isn’t serious but could affect Cincinnati’s front blockers this season and beyond.

Anthony McClung continues to nurse a strained hamstring. As the Bearcats’ leading receiver heading into the 2013 season, having him running at less than 100% isn’t good. Having said that, McClung is incredibly tough and I have complete faith in him that he’ll be fine come August 31st. At this point in his career he’s mature enough to understand what he needs to do to be game ready.

Finally there’s starting fullback Jared Golden. This is the Bearcats’ newest position with Tommy Tuberville and his crew taking over. Cincinnati hasn’t installed true fullback in the offense in over six years. While UC won’t implement a traditional fullback in the I-Formation much of the time like in the Big Ten, utilizing something similar to the halfback in Jones/Bajakian’s schemes, the position is still incredibly new to this team. Golden had the inside track for this role and now it seems the race is now wide open. If he doesn’t return and the void isn’t filled it could create major issues for UC’s running game.