Cincinnati released the 2 deep yesterday. Some of you have already seen it. I did not because I was at the PGA Championship practice getting sunburn. To make up for letting you all down, I’m going to give my full thoughts on the 2 deep, position by position. What Bearcats Blog lacks in timeliness, we make up for in bloviating.
QB-Gunner Kiel (So.), Jarred Evans (Jr.), Munchie Legaux (Sr.)
Gunner Kiel is listed as your starting quarterback. I wouldn’t be surprised if Munchie pushed him as we get closer to September 12. If Kiel wins the job, which many including me think he will do, I think it’s his for the next couple of years. Unfortunately for Munchie. Jarred Evans also has a chance to play quarterback.
RB-Hosey Williams (Sr.), Tion Green (Jr.)
No surprises listed at running back. Hosey was the best back Cincinnati had a season ago. Once Tion started getting involved, he made a nice name for himself. RDA IV will find his way into the backfield I’m going to assume. He hit too many home runs a couple years ago to get no carries. He struggled a lot in the last two years to get a lion’s share again though. I feel like UC is set at running back for now. Especially with Rod Moore back as a running back after he was turned into a corner last year.
WR-Shaq Washington (Jr.), Ralph David Abernathy IV (Sr.)
WR-Chris Moore (Jr.), Jeremy Graves (Jr.)
WR-Mekale McKay (Jr.), Alex Chisum (Jr.)
WR (when 4th WR used)-Max Morrison (Jr.), Nate Cole (So.)
Just going to throw all the receivers here at once since placement doesn’t really matter on a depth chart.
Shaq Washington and Chris Moore being listed as starters is no surprise since, hey, they were starters last year. Mekale McKay takes the McClung spot. Max Morrison had a fine start to last season before hitting a bit of a wall. Nate Cole, COLE WORLD, and Jeremy Graves saw some minimal time a season ago. Alex Chisum practically missed the entire season. The major spotlight here is that RDA is listed as a receiver. He has to be playing some sort of Dexter McCluster role for Cincinnati. It’s the only thing that makes sense. He’s incredibly fast, he can make people miss, he’s got the ability to pop huge plays, he’s too good to keep off the field. He’s not the top back though, so you have to find ways to get him involved. This is a way to get him involved. I’m on board. Eddie Gran, Darin Hinshaw and Blake Rolan didn’t know they needed my sign off on this until it happened right now. Glad to validate you all. You’re welcome.
TE-DJ Dowdy (So.), Tyler Cogswell (RS Fr.)
The news here is that neither Jake Golic or the Virginia transfer Jeremy Dollin are listed on the two deep. Dowdy was the backup last year to Blake Annen. He did a good job I suppose. Like the two not listed, Tyler Cogswell didn’t play for Cincinnati last year, so who knows what he is capable of.
LT-Eric Lefeld (Sr.), Chad West (Jr.)
LG-Kevin Schloemer (Sr.), Ryan Leahy (So.)
C-Deyshawn Bond (So.), Dominic Mainello (Sr.)
RG-Parker Ehinger (Jr.), Kyle Williamson (RS Fr.)
RT-Cory Keebler (Sr.), Justin Murray (Jr.)
Mostly everyone was on the two deep last year. Keebler moved from left to right tackle starter. Schloemer moved from behind Austen Bujnoch to starter. Ehinger moved from right tackle to right guard. Justin Murray and Dominic Mainello hold the same spots as a year ago. Ryan Leahy, Chad West and Kyle Williamson are the three newcomers. The line situation should be pretty solid.
DE-Silverberry Mouhon (Jr.), Jerrell Jordan (Sr.)
DT-Brandon Mitchell (Jr.), Alex Pace (So.)
DT-Camaron Beard (Sr.), Chris Burton (RS Fr.)
DE-Terrell Hartsfield (Sr.), Brad Harrah (Sr.)
The defensive ends are exactly the same as last season so we can gloss over them. The movement comes at defensive tackle, where Cincinnati lost a lost. Gone are Jordan Stepp, Marques Aiken and Adam Dempsey. Brandon Mitchell is the only rotation player back. Beard has been a rotation player, even though he wasn’t a big part of the team statistically last year in his 10 games. Alex Pace and Chris Burton both bring something new. There will probably be a lot of fluidity with the defensive tackles. The ends are all returning players, so they should be ready to go in 2014.
SLB-Nick Temple (Sr.), Clemente Casseus (Sr.)
MLB-Jeff Luc (Sr.), Solomon Tentman (Sr.)
WLB-Eric Wilson (So.), Kevin Brown (Jr.)
The Cincinnati linebackers don’t look the same without Greg Blair in the middle. Nick Temple is the returning star of the unit. Jeff Luc has the big task of filling Blair’s cleats. With his talent level, he could do it. His overall numbers were a bit short of what some expected. It was like his jersey in that sense. Casseus and Tentman were both reserves a season ago. Eric Wilson is the Northwestern transfer who takes Luc’s spot from last year. With Corey Mason not returning, Kevin Brown jumps in on the two deep. I think he has a lot of potential.
CB-Adrian Witty (Sr.), Leviticus Payne (Jr.)
S-Mike Tyson (So.), Andre Jones (So.)
S-Zach Edwards (So.), Darren Doston (Sr.)
CB-Howard Wilder (Sr.), Grant Coleman (So.)
A lot of turnover in the secondary, even with three starters back. Witty moves to corner as a starter. That is interesting. With Trenier Orr at Sam Houston State and Rod Moore, who was listed as the backup corner late last year, not around (along with the seniors) there seems to be some weakness in depth. I like Howard Wilder a lot as the other corner. Leviticus Payne had some moments a year ago and should see more time. Grant Coleman is an unknown for the most part. Coleman had 3.5 tackles and broke up a pass in 2013.
Safety is the biggest question mark. Zach Edwards returns as the anchor after his fine freshman season. The rest are a bit of a mystery. Mike Tyson showed some flashes of what he was capable of with a couple of picks last year. I’m excited for him because he’s Mike Tyson. Andre Jones was a bit player last year with 15 tackles in 13 games. Darren Doston is a complete unknown to people who haven’t seen him practice. Witty at corner could give them a lot of flexibility when UC plays 5 backs and 3 of them can cover well.
PK-Tony Miliano (Sr.), Andrew Gantz (RS Fr.)
The Golden Toe Tony Miliano is listed as the starter. That is probably a disappointment to a lot of people. I believe in Tony and think he will bounce back this season. If he doesn’t, there is a legit chance Andrew Gantz can take his spot. Most of the time people don’t have two kickers on their roster for no reason.
P-John Lloyd (Sr.), Sam Geraci (RS Fr.)
No surprise.
LS-Kirk Willis (Jr.)
H-John Lloyd (Sr.), Sam Geraci (RS Fr.)
Also no surprises. Kirk Willis did a good job for the most part last year. I remember he messed up a snap in one game and a volleyball player got very mad at him. Great story. Definitely worth the words.
KR-Shaq Washington (Jr.), Ralph David Abernathy IV (Sr.)
PR-Shaq Washington (Jr.), Ralph David Abernathy IV (Sr.)
Shaq Washington is the man on returns. He was the most dynamic punt returner on last year’s squad. RDA IV struggled on kick returns. I’m not sure if we’ll actually see Washington return kickoffs. I might believe that when it actually happens. In fact, I will believe that when Toledo kicks off and he’s running the ball up the field.
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