5 Keys To The Cincinnati Bearcats v. The Miami Hurricanes

The Cincinnati Bearcats have a huge opportunity to knock off the five time National Champion Miami Hurricanes tomorrow night. Here are five keys for UC to come away victorious in front of a huge, and hopefully record setting, blacked out crowd at Nippert Stadium.

1) Strike First, Strike Fast

Miami’s starting defensive backs Jamal Carter and Deon Bush won’t play in the first half of tomorrow’s game, serving the final portion of the targeting penalties they received against Nebraska. So if Moore and crew can jump all over them on their opening drive them tack on another touchdown or two before halftime, it will go a long way to ensure victory for the good guys. Obviously, it’s the Canes, and Carter and Bush’s replacements will probably just be another pair of former four star recruits. But, whoever they are, they’re backups for a reason and Cincinnati needs to take advantage of that.

2) Mind The Turnovers

The Bearcats, last in the country in turnover margin at -2.5, remarkably an improvement over the previous week, face the second best team in the country in this area tomorrow night. The Hurricanes operate a blitz heavy defensive system with a secondary that can take advantage of mistakes should they be presented to them. Cincinnati doesn’t necessarily need to keep the turnovers to a minimum against Miami, although that would be preferable. They just need to make sure they don’t lose the turnover margin battle and lose it by a wide.. err.. margin.

3) Better Redzone Production

UC is 103rd in the country in turning redzone trips into scores (75%). They’re 112th in converting those into touchdowns (46%). Now, the Bearcats don’t seem to have a problem moving the ball between the 20’s or throwing long bombs. But for whatever reason (a shortage of Mike Boone), Cincinnati just can’t seem to punch it in when they’re close to the opponent’s goal line. Imagine this for a second. If the Bearcats had not squandered their two redzone trips last week, converting those to touchdowns, they would have dropped a 60-spot on Memphis and won. But they didn’t and are sitting at a disappointing 2-2.

4) Seal The Edge

When you see a running back trot to his left or right then burst upfield with the linebackers the first players to touch him, you know you have an issue keeping contain from the defensive linemen. To their credit, UC’s tackles this year have done a nice job not only creating penetration but sealing the A- and B-gaps. But the edge has been a real problem and the Bearcats are clearly feeling the effects of replacing three seniors with a handful of underclassmen this past offseason. I’m not sure if it’s more poor preparation, lack of experience, or the scheme not sending more blitzers off the edge (my bet’s on this one) but this has been absolutely killing Cincinnati lately. I’m sure Miami is just itching to get Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton out there on outside zone reads and counters tomorrow night.

5) Just.. Tackle?

Grant Coleman slipped off a Memphis wide receiver last week and it directly led to a Tigers touchdown. I mean, Coleman had the guy wrapped up, in stride but just slipped off of him and he sprinted into the endzone. If it’s not missed and/or poor tackles leading directly to opposing scores, they’re at least resulting in first downs for offenses. Cincinnati currently ranks 13th in the country in getting off the field on third down but if the Bearcats aren’t forcing third downs anyways, that stat doesn’t really mean much. It comes down to focus and fundamentals and UC has been lacking in both recently. They’ll need to clean that up should they hope to come out on the winning side tomorrow night.