With 2014 in the books as a 9-4, co-AAC champion season for the Cincinnati Bearcats, it’s easy to view 2015 with some optimism for the program. The ‘Cats are returning every piece of the 13th best passing attack in the FBS, and they will return to Clifton to play their home games in a renovated Nippert Stadium.
However, success in 2014 doesn’t guarantee the same in 2015, but a solid offseason could build on the foundation and positive momentum from last season to achieve even more this fall. So, what’s on the to-do list for head coach Tommy Tuberville and the Bearcats this offseason? Maybe more than you’d think…
1. Find and create depth at quarterback. Gunner Kiel definitely lived up to all of the hype of his recruitment and subsequent transfer from Notre Dame to Cincinnati as he led the AAC in passer efficiency and passing touchdowns in his debut redshirt sophomore season. However, Kiel battled several different injuries throughout the year that caused him to miss time in a few games. Luckily for the Bearcats, they had an experienced, former starter in Munchie Legaux to turn to when Kiel went down, but heading into 2015 they have no such luxury.
With the future of senior-to-be Jarred Evans still up in the air at this point after he was suspended from the team indefinitely when he was arrested on assault charges after the game against SMU, Cincinnati is VERY young and inexperienced behind Kiel. As it stands now without Evans, Kiel is backed up by a redshirt freshman, a true freshman and a walk-on. That’s obviously not ideal for Tuberville considering the “injury-prone” label Kiel garnered in 2014, so I would expect him to be aggressive in getting an experienced junior college or other transfer to add some depth. If not, these young guys are going to have to grow-up FAST during the spring and fall, and that’s not something Tuberville wants to count on happening.
2. Retool/remodel/rebuild/re-anythingthatimproves the defense. With defensive coordinator Hank Hughes taking the same position at Nebraska and, more importantly, a boatload of key contributors at every level of the defense departing, 2015 could be an even bigger struggle defensively than 2014. Ready for this list of key departures? The ‘Cats are losing Terrell Hartsfield, Brad Harrah and Jerrell Jordan on the defensive line, Jeff Luc and Nick Temple at linebacker, and versatile defensive back Howard Wilder. If you’re following along at home that list includes the AAC’s leading sack artist and two of the conference’s top ten tacklers. When you add the overall youth and inexperience of the players replacing those guys to the mix, Bearcat nation certainly has a reason to worry about its team’s defensive outlook.
Oh, and back to the point I first mentioned: Hank Hughes is gone. That said, he was a co-defensive coordinator for UC, and the other guy, Robert Prunty, is still on the staff and likely isn’t going anywhere given his recruiting prowess. The only question remaining is if Tuberville gives him the full-time gig or opts to bring in another coach to either take the job or share it with Prunty. Personally, I’d like to see Prunty get the job, if for nothing else some continuity. The Bearcats have had four different defensive coordinator combinations within the last four years, and maybe a steady, consistent voice and system is what this group needs to turn it around.
UC saw some success going to an aggressive style on defense about halfway through the season, and I think it would be wise if they implemented that style from the beginning of spring practice. And with some “green” players taking over at key spots, I think keeping Prunty at the helm and adding more depth along the defensive line and in the linebacker corps should all be priorities of this offseason.
3. Commit to the running game. Although Kiel is likely to be one of the top bets to win AAC offensive player of the year in 2015 and Cincinnati is returning all, I repeat ALL, of its wide receivers from 2014’s stellar group, the Bearcats need to commit to running the ball this fall.
Why should they run the ball with all that talent in the passing game, you ask? Well, in each of their first five games the Bearcats had more passing than rushing attempts, and they struggled to a 2-3 record with the two wins being ones they had trouble putting away against Toledo and Miami (OH). As for the last eight games, UC had more passing than rushing attempts just twice, and it’s no coincidence that its record in that stretch was 7-1.
Part of the success and commitment to the running game in the second half of the season was due to the emergence of Mike Boone, who as a true freshman, flashed some major ability and led Cincinnati in rushing with 650 yards on 101 carries and nine touchdowns. He had some huge games for Cincinnati down the stretch, rushing for 212 and 113 yards against USF and Tulane, and a throwing in a three-touchdown performance against Houston. Finding ways to not only get Boone the ball but be successful when doing so has to be a priority this offseason. A solid running game should limit Kiel’s exposure to hits and keep an inexperienced Cincinnati defense on the sidelines, both of which would be vital to a successful 2015 campaign.
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