Bearcats Seek Bowl Eligibility vs. USF

[Bullpride08]

Yes, our O line needs to step it up.  Hall is most of what we've got.  If they stop him, we're in for a looooong night.  

Hall's a unique back.  He's not the kind that's so easy to stop because he possesses some very unique traits.  Some backs are quick, or have speed, or shifty, but Hall has this amazing balance, quickness, and shiftiness that makes breaking tackles routine for him.  Most guys slow down, or attempt to absorb contact when they experience their first hit, Hall's the type of back that seemingly explodes after the first hit, and almost bounces one or two or three times.  The guy looks like he's going to be dropped for no gain, and suddenly he squirts for 4 yards.   He's not one of those backs that you try to run a toss sweep, or option pitch to hopefully catch him streaking down the end for a 30 yard gain.  He can do that, but Hall's real ability, and which makes him so tough for defenses to stop, is his ability to run between the tackles.  This is what's going to cause Cincinnati fits all day long.  The thing that reporter failed to realize is that DeAngelo Williams, and Lonta Hobbs are outside backs, speed backs that you use to exploit outside.  Neither are really great between the tackles runners.  HOWEVER, Walter Reyes, Carlton Jones, and Lydell Ross are between the tackle backs, and they had tons of success against Cincinnati.

That's the uniqueness of the offense, and probably something the coaches didn't even realize they had until about the Army game.  Hall is special, and therefore we can use him almost exclusively to set-up our offense.  He's the type of back that demoralizes defenses.  They think they have him stopped, and suddenly he breaks three tackles and it's 2nd and 3.  That's what has changed.  PJ's now staring at 2 downs where he typically only has to pick-up 5-3 yards.  Suddenly he isn't forced to go long, or in fact, it gives him the ability to go deep without worrying about picking up yards.  It also makes it easy for PJ to scramble for yardage.  This is the way the offense can work with PJ.  

The key to this game is simple.  It's patience.  We can't try to go for the knock out blow early because Cinci has proven all year that their defense doesn't give up easy, and they don't give up easy points.  Simply put, to win this game we must be patient.   We might see a bunch of series that go like; 1st down- 3 yard run by Hall;2nd down-2 yard run by Hall; 3rd down QB draw by PJ for 5.

That's how it will probably be, but we need to keep using Hall all first half to soften the middle.  Even if the score is 10-0 UC, and it seems like we're going nowhere, and we are forced to punt every series.  UC doesn't get beat outside on sweeps, or options.  Stay between the tackles, wear their asses out, then in the second half start hitting the homers once we suck in their DE's, and OLB's.

[Bullpride08]

Glad Davis is back this week.

Are you?  Since his departure our OL hasn't surrendered a sack.  

[bulls96go]

we must win this game!