Cincinnati Bearcats 2018 Football Preview

Cincinnati Bearcats 2018 Football Preview

Opening Statement: Things have gotten bad since Butch Jones took that ill-fated trip to Knoxville several years back, and the program killer, Tommy Tuberville, took over. Luke Fickell's first year at the helm was doomed by having a bad roster and a lack of depth, and the Bearcats stumbled to a 4-8 finish that included a 5 game losing streak at one point mid-season. Fickell's team looks no better off in 2018, as the damage done by the Tuberville era continues, as massive holes dot the landscape of this roster.

Breakdown Offense: The Bearcats bumbled their way through on offense to a tune of just 20.9 points per game last fall, which was actually a 1.6 point per game improvement over the 2016 season, if you can believe it. The Bearcats passed for 216.4 yards per game, while they ran for 135.33 yards per game during the process.

The QB position gets Hayden Moore back after he passed for 2562 yards and 20 TDs to 9 INTs. He completed 56.4% of his passes while averaging just 6 yards per attempt. He may be the only option heading into the 2018 season, a backup Ross Trail left the program, leaving Ben Bryant and Desmond Ritter, both freshmen, to compete with Jake Sopko for the backup job. Obviously, none of the candidates for the backup job have any experience, meaning it really is all on Moore to stay healthy and produce.

The run game appears to be in the hands of two sophomores who really failed to push the needle last fall. Gerrid Doaks and Michael Warren II are both returning. Doaks rished for 513 yards, but scored only twice, while Warren rushed for 324 yards, but scored only once. The passing game will depend on increased production from these players to get this offense up and flying again. Taylor Boose, who carried all of 4 times last fall, is the only other option with any playing time left on the roster.

Kahlil Lewis returns at WR after leading the team with 61 receptions and 7 TD catches last fall. The senior rolled up 676 yards and averaged 11.08 yards per grab. Thomas Geddis is the second best option returning after catching 29 passes for 388 yards and 3 scores, and he can stretch the field a bit after averaging 13.88 yards per grab last fall. After those two, the experience on the roster is thin, with Jerron Rollins fighting for a starting job after catching just 11 passes last season. Javan Hawes is all the real depth they have in a reserve role, and he caught 8 passes. Rashad Medaris caught 6 passes, and will also be looking for a reserve role.

Tyler Cogswell caught 29 passes at TE last fall, but has moved on. Josiah Deguara is back to take the starting job, but caught just 11 passes a year ago. Bruno LeBelle is likely going to end up as the primary backup. Four freshmen will also battle for time, as will one RS freshman, making depth a bit thin when it comes to experience.

The offensive line was a patchwork mess in the spring, with 3 jobs open still as we head into fall camp in August. The Bearcats are looking for help at LG, RG and RT. Blake Yager appears to have won the LT job, while Jakari Robinson is the C, but little else has been decided, and the unit needs a basic complete overhaul.

Breakdown Defense: The defense regressed in Fickell's first season, as they allowed 31.8 points per game. The Bearcats allowed 236.1 yards per game passing, while allowing 192.42 yards rushing.

Much like the line on offense, the D line is full of holes heading into summer, with one half of the unit up for grabs at LDE and LDT. Curtis Brooks could slide into the LDE spot but really did nothing to solidify the job in spring ball, and did not do much as a freshman last fall. Marquise Copeland does return, and would be the most likely to win the spot after finishing with 8 TFLs last fall. Kevin Mouhon lines up at DE on the right side, and finished last season with 7 TFLs. Kimoni Fitz will rotate into the lineup as well after finishing with 3.5 TFLs last fall. Look for some depth added with Bryan Wright returning as well.

The DT spots could get filled fairly quickly, as Norman Oglesby and Cortez Broughton are the favorites to land the starting roles in camp. Broughton finished with 3.5 TFLs last fall. Marcus Brown played in 10 games as a freshman and provides some depth. There are 7 total incoming freshmen that can all see some playing time at DE or DT at some point, but again, experience will be thin.

Perry Young is the star on defense at LB, as he recorded 101 tackles with 9 for loss last fall. He added 3 PBUs as a pass defender, and helps take up some of the blow from losing leading tackler Jaylyin Minor. Joel Dublanko, who finished with just 8 total tackles last fall, is in line to replace Minor at MLB. Jarrell White, who finished with 46 tackles, lines up opposite Young at SLB. The reserve corps will be young and inexperienced for the Bearcats, which is a recurring theme everywhere.

The Bearcats left spring ball with a a secondary full of holes and few answers. Only one player, Sophomore Marquis Smith, had a job locked up at CB heading into the summer. Smith played in 12 games last fall as a reserve, finishing with 12 tackles. Tyrell Gilbert will compete for an open Safety job, and finished with 43 tackles last fall. Chris Murphy will also compete for a Safety job after finishing with 27 tackles and 3 PBUs. The rest of the secondary group has virtually no real experience, and will be incredibly thin.

Breakdown Special Teams: Cole Smith was the only PK left on the roster this spring, and will likely be handling PK duties this fall, unless Punter Ryan Jones wins the battle once again, but he only hit on 6/10 FG attempts last fall, and should be pushed.

Australian Punter James Smith is back after averaging 42 yards per punt last fall, and he may be one of the more important members of this football team this fall.

Warren handled kick returns last fall, and will do so again after averaging 23.11 yards per return. Javan Hawes inherits the PR job, having not returned any punts in game action.

Final Analysis: There is no doubting that Luke Fickell inherited a massive mess to clean up when he took the job a year ago. All he can do now is rebuild from a crumbling foundation and work with what he has. He has recruited fairly well, and there are more RS freshmen and freshmen on the roster than one cares to count this fall, and that could be the new foundation, but building that group into anything coherent will take a solid amount of time. Fickell should be given a long leash, and UC fans should be extremely pateitn for the next couple of years. This program is nowhere near being in shape to compete in the AAC, and are at least a couple of seasons away from bowl contention.