Overreactions, report card from UC Bearcats win vs. Kansas State

1. Cincinnati Bearcats are 4-0, is it ticker-tape parade time?

The final 4-0 begin was in 2021, which ended with an undefeated yr till the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with Alabama.

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Overreaction: So, making CFP reservations could also be a bit optimistic. It is Scott Satterfield’s first crew to begin 4-0 and he is had some double-digit win years in his profession. The apparent factor to know is there are 4 Top 25 groups forward within the subsequent eight video games. The crew would not need to repeat one other late-season collapse, so that you’re more likely to hear some “one recreation at a time” quotes within the close to future.

2. Dual-threat for UC Bearcats means tandem tailbacks

Dual-threat is normally a time period for quarterbacks and is normally how a Satterfield offense rolls. For the report, French has run for 164 yards in 4 video games, which places him on tempo to beat his career-high of 315 set at Georgia Southern final season.

His finest guess has been handing the ball to both Gi’Bran Payne or Cole Tabb.

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Overreaction: The two-back system labored with Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor at instances final yr, however not higher than what Payne and Tabb have carried out. Tabb has an eye-popping 11.1 yards per carry common and Payne is having his finest school season since transferring from Notre Dame with a 7.2 common. Tabb leads the landing tally 6-2, however each are vocal supporters of the opposite.

“My thoughts form of goes clean,” Tabb stated of his scores. “It’s form of a second nature, but it surely’s trusting the blokes and the place they’ll be. Trusting the combos to go to the linebackers and whether or not they’re operating them by or reducing them off, I appear to get in place to do a giant reduce and get a management.”

3. Is UC Bearcats protection giving up too many factors?

Fans had been fidgety when UC allowed Miami University 28 first-half factors final week and 31 for the sport, despite the fact that UC gained. In the Sept. 26 evening recreation at Nippert, Kansas State had 26. It was a season-low for them, however early on, it regarded like Johnson and firm would possibly rack up 30-plus.

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Overreaction: One factor being seen that was not final yr is the power of defensive coordinator Woody to make changes. UC walloped Miami 28-3 within the second half Sept. 19 and got here again from a 17-10 deficit to beat Kansas State. Even within the non-conference video games, they’ve made changes. Even although they did not flip Johnson over, they contained him sufficient to foil the Wildcats.

“Our defensive workers does an excellent job of constructing changes at halftime,” Satterfield stated. “We have carried out it in all 4 video games. In the second half, you return and have a look at that since you get an thought about what they’re attempting to do offensively. But, the place do we have to tweak it? What do we have to do? You have time at halftime to sit down down, sit the blokes down, and say, here’s what we’re going to do.”

Grades from Cincinnati Bearcats win vs. Kansas State

Cincinnati

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▪ Overall: B+

Had the Bearcats utilized foot-to-neck after going up 31-20, this could be an A. Instead, issues oddly change on the finish of video games. The upside? It saved followers of their seats and well-schooled Cincinnati followers ought to know that many leads aren’t as comfy as they seem.

▪ Offense: A

While throwing simply 13 instances is not enjoyable in video video games, in big-boy soccer in the event you can impose your will on a crew and have two runners over 100 yards, it opens issues up and also you’re more likely to win.

▪ Defense: B-

Avery Johnson bought his yards, however they got here via the air. Defensive coordinator Nate Woody has now contained the damaging Wildcats quarterback twice in two seasons (at Army final yr and with UC).

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▪ Special groups: B+

Zylan Perry could have taken a danger or two decision-wise, however sooner or later, he’ll break one thing. Malachi Henry had a 36-yard punt return along with his landing catch, Max Fletcher averaged 46.5 per punt with a protracted of 57, and Stephen Rusnak linked on his lone 45-yard discipline aim try.

▪ Coaching: B-

You’re a bit spoiled complaining over a 4-0 begin. However, after Kansas State reduce the result in 31-26 and UC bought possession, they in all probability had higher performs within the holster than plowing straight forward for nothing, permitting Kansas State to cease the clock. Chewing time can work, however so can first downs. Also, Zion Johnson could break some runs this yr, however with two backs having 100-yard nights, you surprise why you get away from a profitable mixture.

Cincinnati Bearcats with one other evening recreation forward vs. Arizona

The Bearcats will probably be up even later subsequent weekend after they’re in Tucson towards the Arizona Wildcats. The Mountain Standard Time kickoff is 8 p.m. at Casino Del Sol Stadium, so domestically, fans can tune into the Fox Sports broadcast at 11 p.m. Arizona was a 34-24 winner over Washington State to go to 3-1 Sept. 26.

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It’s UC’s newest kickoff since that they had an 11:30 p.m. (Eastern) begin in December 2008 towards Hawaii in Brian Kelly’s second season, which resulted in an Orange Bowl bid.

This article initially appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Overreactions, report card from UC Bearcats win vs. Kansas State