Cincinnati (6-3, 4-1 AAC) looked both dominant and hapless throughout this game, but despite its best efforts to lose, UC atoned for its miscues and held on to beat ECU (6-3, 3-2 AAC) 54-46. I’m not really sure if the Bearcats answered questions and doubts or provided more about themselves going forward, but this win is no less pivotal regardless.
Here are five things that we learned about Cincinnati on an odd but victorious Thursday night.
- Tommy Tuberville is still the “Riverboat Gambler.” Cincinnati looked like it had ECU beat when the lead was 45 to 34 after a big time 4th-and-6, 36-yard touchdown catch by Mekale McKay from Kiel with 4:47 left in the game. The decision to go for it was made easier given the field position, but Tuberville’s risk was rewarded with a well-executed play. However, surprising to no one, UC’s defense ceded a Pirates touchdown just 1:03 later, making it 45 to 40 after a failed two-point conversion. Tuberville’s second gamble was a highly questionable decision to go for it from his own 33 yard-line on 4th-and-2 with a five-point lead and just over two minutes left in the game. The play-call from Eddie Gran was also curious, as Kiel was asked to run a speed option to the left and pitched it late in desperation behind his running back, Rod Moore. ECU’s Lamar Ivey recovered the ball on the errant pitch, and the Pirates scored a little over a minute later to take a 46 to 45 lead with 1:02 left.
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- Gunner Kiel is legit, but still green. Kiel was 29-of-44 for 436 yards and four touchdowns, but he turned the ball over four times by throwing three interceptions and fumbling on the aforementioned option play on 4th down. All of those turnovers came deep in his own side of the field. Anyone who watches Kiel play sees the huge talent he possesses. He has prototypical size for a quarterback, his arm is strong enough to make any throw, he is accurate (especially on throws down the field), and he isn’t afraid to squeeze the ball into tight windows. All of that said, its easy to see he is still a young quarterback who is learning to make better decisions. Two of his interceptions could have been avoided, and the pitch on the option play, albeit a play that should not have been run, was a choice he cannot make to win games. Kiel should continue to get better, and with the numbers he is already posting, look out AAC.
- The defense was not improved, but rather took advantage of its lackluster competition. The defense that got roasted by Ohio State, Memphis and Miami (Fl.) was the same defense that looked great against SMU, USF and Tulane, and that same defense took one on the chin last night from Shane Carden and the Pirates offense. While the ‘Cats D did end up with four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown that was essentially meaningless as the game was already won, they allowed ECU to run 94 plays and rack up 572 yards and 46 points. The Bearcats defense still struggled to get off the field on third down, allowing the Pirates to convert on 10-of-19 attempts (53 percent). Blown assignments, penalties, poor plays in pass defense and some key missed tackles were the all-too-familiar factors in this game.
- Explosive offensive plays will have to carry this team to the AAC title. The Bearcats made seven plays that went for 20+ yards last night, including two that went for 50+. The key here is that Cincinnati didn’t just pick up chunks of yardage, but rather scored in the process. For example, Kiel’s four touchdowns were on pass plays of 55, 17, 66 and 36 yards. Cincinnati now has 26 pass plays of 25+ yards with a long of 83 and 11 rush attempts of 20+ yards with a long of 63 on the season.
- Special teams has become a strength of this team. Last year the Bearcats were a disaster in all phases of special teams from field goal kicking to punt coverage. This season has been a different story. The kickoff coverage team is allowing an average of 22.82 yards per return, and kickoff specialist Tony Miliano is delivering a touchback on 45.16 percent of his attempts. Last night the kick coverage was spectacular, mainly due to solid tackling in one-on-one situations, holding ECU to 18.8 yards per return on eight attempts. Freshman place kicker Andrew Gantz has been fantastic this season as he’s made 12 of his 13 field goal attempts, including his career long 47-yarder that gave UC the lead with 15 seconds left last night. Gantz is a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza award, which is given to college football’s best kicker each season.
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