Defense did well.

[E.T.]

This is what we should have done against this team.

photos by Tom Wagner

Go BULLS !!!

[The_Reaper]

some very nice photos E.T.  

[GarySJ]

The defense was better, but still not great. ECU's offense is pretty incompetent, but it was nice to see us getting pressure on the QB for once.

[smazza]

we tackle way too high

[USFPhil]

We were still a little soft on Pass defense we did a fairly good job of run defense and we got to the QB ok but the secondary still struggled

[bulls96go]

#1 missed a tackle that went for a TD

[bullsmania]

We were still a little soft on Pass defense we did a fairly good job of run defense and we got to the QB ok but the secondary still struggled

These are the reasons I am worried about Saturday.  I just hope we can keep up if it has to turn into a shootout.

[Bullpride08]

I agree Bullmania.  We were still a bit inconsistent in the defensive backfield.  The DL is starting to really come on (they still need a bit more stepping up), and so are the LB's, but I saw about 2 or 3 times were DB's could have stopped a play for a minimal gain and it turns around.  Sidney Simpson had a whale of a game, but he should have wrapped up that tackler.

Verpaele still stops or slows down severely before contact.  Camon still hits too **** high on occasion (although he's getting better), and doesn't wrap up.

The LB's still need to shed blockers better, and initiate contact.

On a positive,

1.  Our coverage is better.  Our DB's are hanging on the intermediate routes, and keeping the receivers in front of them preventing anything deep.

2.  Camon is not over-pursuing as much. He's still missing tackles too much, mainly because of improper technique not because he's not there.  Right now the way Camon is playing if he tackles low, and uses good technique he would be pretty solid (it only took 6 games).

3.  The LB's are shedding blockers the last three games.  Even in the UL game our LB's did a much better job of disengaging blocks, or avoiding them all together.  The negative (well I wouldn't call it a negative), is we're still small relatively speaking at this position.  For example I watched the ECU game again last night, and there was three times where St. Louis had the RB dead to rights at the LOS, or maybe behind the line of scrimmage.  However, he waited for the RB to initiate the contact instead of initiating it himself.  The results were a 3-4 yard gain versus a no gain or loss.  St. Louis at about 220lbs or less is still small.  In a year he'll add on about 10lbs or more muscle, and he'll attack the ball carry crushing him at the point of attack- it just takes time.

4.  Leaders are starting to emerge on defense.   Nicholas is a verbal guy that's high energy but the defense is looking for a guy when adversity strikes they can look up to to make plays or calm them down.  Suddenly, of all places, it seems to be coming from Terrence Royal.  The guy is grabbing people, pumping them up, he's motivated, he's pointing fingers.  That's the kid of stuff they needed, an elder statesmen to take charge.  Conversely, they could use one more guy, a DB to help in that category.  That's why if Johnny Jones could have played this season would have gone differently.  Verpaele is too young, and now that Camon's cut down on his mistakes we are seeing him become a bit more vocal.  

Also, Searcy seems to be a high energy guy as well that's suddenly getting things going.  He made some big plays in the ECU game.  The goal line stance he was the guy that plugged the middle on 2nd and goal from the half yard line, that set-up the big third down stop.  The OL had the ball on the half yardline, and had some success moving our DL around early on.  Searcy absolutely blew up the ECU center, and guard.  The result was Art Brown couldn't take off to go over the top because Seary pushed the guard and center too far into the backfield.  Brown's half ass attempted hurdle was then stuffed behind the line by Devon Davis, and Camon.

The positive is these guys seem to be improving by game.  The negative is Cinci runs a very precise passing game, and we must make some big plays in that area to stop them.  It won't be enough just to stop them from running, other teams have done that, because they are so proficient at passing.  We must have big plays in the passing game- INT's, sacks, TFL's.  Set up lots of third and longs that force Guiduli to use his gambling mentality.  That's how we shutdown Cinci.

[dabull80]

Wrong Bien, the way we stop Cinci is to have a ball control offense that eats up the clock.  If our run game continues the way it has been and PJ makes his throws as he has been we will be tough to beat.  Limit Cincinati offensive touches is how you win this game.  They will move the ball on us just as they have on everyone else.  The key for the "D" will be to get two turnovers in this game and that will be enough to make the difference.  By the way I have been watching Simson as of late and he has been the man most of the time.  He is making plays when it counts even though he doesn't look like the most gifted athlete on the field.  Verpaele is too young, I agree 100%.  He is high energy and looks like he may have a bright future but way too many misreads and missed tackles.  He did have that one nice hit on the WR at the goal line which was an incomplete pass but is sure was a nice hit.

[Bullpride08]

Wrong Bien, the way we stop Cinci is to have a ball control offense that eats up the clock.  If our run game continues the way it has been and PJ makes his throws as he has been we will be tough to beat.  Limit Cincinati offensive touches is how you win this game.  They will move the ball on us just as they have on everyone else.  The key for the "D" will be to get two turnovers in this game and that will be enough to make the difference.  By the way I have been watching Simson as of late and he has been the man most of the time.  He is making plays when it counts even though he doesn't look like the most gifted athlete on the field.  Verpaele is too young, I agree 100%.  He is high energy and looks like he may have a bright future but way too many misreads and missed tackles.  He did have that one nice hit on the WR at the goal line which was an incomplete pass but is sure was a nice hit.

Actually, I was speaking of the defense because frankly dabull it won't be enough just to ball control either.  No one has really stopped Cinci's offense all year except Cinci.  As you mentioned your best bet is limit their touches, and also force them to be one dimensional on offense.  And we do need to disrupt the passing game.  Guiduli has always been a bit of a gambler, if we force them to throw, the next thing is to rattle Guiduli.  

Their defense is difficult to run the ball on.  They've got good speed on the perimeter especially with their DE's, and LB's.  The most effective running game against them is when teams are running up the gut.  Thankfully Hall, and Crossley are those type of runners.  Another thing is our offense cannot get frustrated because Cinci's team doesn't give up many big plays.  It's going to be solid ball control offense that wins just like ECU, and the second half of UAB.