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Tomorrow the Bearcats will face a very formidable 7 – 3 Rutgers football team. Cincinnati’s recent success against the Scarlet Knights is only rivaled by their dominance over Miami (Oh) since Ben Roethlisberger graduated. This includes a 69 point walloping last season in which Isaiah Pead (picture above) scored 5 total touchdowns. As I mentioned in my preview yesterday, the Bearcats won’t need to score 69 points against Rutgers this time around as both teams boast much better defenses but Pead will have to be a big factor in this game especially considering how bad Rutgers’ rush defense is. This is an important game for both teams, as well. Coming down the stretch, Cincinnati is still in a strong position to win the conference being at least a game up on everyone else but with their loss to West Virginia last week, it allowed teams like Rutgers (who beat Louisville last week) to sneak back up into the conference championship picture. The Bearcats are more than capable to run the table, even with the loss of Zach Collaros, but it starts this week with a very good Scarlet Knights team. Here are five things Cincinnati needs to do to get one step closer to their third Big East crown in four years:
1. Pead is Hungry. So Feed Him!: As I mentioned, Rutgers is a sieve against the run giving up almost 150 yards per game. You can guarantee that Pead knows this and is itching to get the ball on Saturday. He will be the most important factor on the Bearcats offense in it’s last three games. Tomorrow his play will help dictate Cincinnati’s attack as always and take pressure off of Munchie Legaux to get critical yardage in 3rd and long situations. Keeping the ball on the ground will also keep the ball away from Rutgers’ extremely opportunistic secondary.
2. Create Havoc With the Front Four: If there is one unit that’s worse than Rutgers’ rush defense it might be their own running attack, which averages only 90 yards per game. Cincinnati is the 2nd best team in the country against the run so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Rutgers only has 20 – 30 yards on the ground tomorrow. But this has to be accomplished with just the defensive line so the Bearcats can drop 7 or 8 into coverage and give the quarterback, whoever that may be, no one to throw to. It will also help keep the Harrison/Sanu duo in check if the Bearcats can create a pass rush and stop the run with just 3 or 4 players.
3. Play to Munchie’s Strengths: Matt over at DtD explained it perfectly how Legaux has the skills to run Butch Jones/Mike Bajakian’s offense very well. In the running game, he takes a look at how UC’s new starting quarterback can reincorporate the inside/outside zone read. In the passing game, Munchie’s strengths are, thankfully, those that a quarterback must have to roll through the playbook perfectly- Standing tall in the pocket, surveying the field, and delivering the ball with strength. He can do all of those things but is still lacking in the experience department
4. Provide Average Run/Pass Blocking: Over the past few weeks key injuries to Alex Hoffman and Sean Hooey have taken it’s toll on the offensive line and this has been reflected in their sub par performance. Hooey will actually miss the rest of the year because of his legs and Hoffman has been fighting through his own injuries on a flat tire. These issues are catching up to the Bearcats and was showcased last week as Bruce Irvin torched Hoffman countless times off the edge. Cincinnati only needs the entire line to be average in order to succeed, Hoffman included.
5. Avoid Mental Gaffs on Punts/Kickoffs: The game-winning blocked punt by West Virginia last week aside, Cincinnati has been playing with fire on their special teams. The Scarlet Knights have returned a blocked punt and kickoff for a touchdown this year. From those who have watched Rutgers more closely this year, they have also come close to blocking other punts and field goals this season. The Bearcats can’t afford to be sloppy on special teams, especially on the road against an extremely motivated opponent.
Other Big East Games – Syracuse, West Virginia, and Pitt are all off this week. Which means.. drumroll please… TWO other Big East games tomorrow! Woo hoo! Doesn’t this conference just suck!
UConn vs. Louisville: There are fewer things scarier than a team in the Big East title chase, that just lost last week, and got it’s butt kicked by Charlie Strong all week in practice. The Huskies will be facing such a team this tomorrow and while they played very well against Syracuse two weeks ago, I don’t have faith in their offense. Louisville 24, UConn 12
South Florida vs. Miami (FL): The Bulls have another big opportunity to knock off their in-state rival after taking the Canes down last year. Both teams are playing below expectations with the Hurricanes reeling from the NCAA investigations. Still, I think they pull this one out. Miami (FL) 38, South Florida 31