Bearcats defensive coordinator Hank Hughes is headed to Nebraska to take the same role on Mike Riley’s coaching staff.
#UC co-defensive coordinator Hank Hughes is headed to Nebraska as co-DC/D-line coach. #Bearcats
— Tom Groeschen (@TomGroeschen) January 3, 2015
Hughes was the long time DC at Connecticut before coming to Cincinnati after the UConn coaching change. This will mark the 3rd different defensive coordinator in 3 years for Tommy Tuberville. It’s the fourth in four years when you go back to Butch Jones’ coaching staff.
Cincinnati’s defense ranked 97th on the Football Outsiders FEI rankings for 2014. It was an up and down year for the Cats. In the beginning of the year, they couldn’t stop anyone. Toledo, Miami University, Ohio State, Memphis and Miami all hung big yardage totals on UC. Things changed as the competition switched to some of the worst offenses in the country in conference play. The defense did get better though, that can not be ignored. 8 quarters without a touchdown is impressive against anyone and UC did it against UConn and Temple. The defense was a big reason for the 7 game win streak.
The defense also gave up a ton of yards to the last 3 good offenses they played, East Carolina, Houston and Virginia Tech. Cincinnati did win two of those games before losing in the Military Bowl.
Tommy Tuberville’s teams have not been known for defense lately. Here are their FEI rankings the past few years.
2014 – 97
2013 – 54
2012 (Texas Tech) – 66
2011 – 116
2010 – 48
2008 (Auburn) – 32
Let’s hope the next coordinator gets the Cats on track. Good luck to Hughes in Nebraska.
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