TicketsSad, sad day on the blog. Not only does power ballad week come to an end (more on that later), but punter Pat O'Donnell has shaved his strong mustache. I had so many hopes, dreams and aspirations for that 'stache, but, alas, all good things come to an end.
Hopefully now we all can see what an upper lip can accomplish without the likes of a razor or any social concerns.
Here was the clean-shaven O'Donnell speaking with Tommy G yesterday at Higher Ground. RIP PODS.
Let's eat...
--- TG also talked to T.J. Weist about DJ Woods and what is becoming a deep receiving corps. When I spoke with OC Mike Bajakian earlier this week he talked about how exciting the future will be for that unit in coming years. They are loaded with talented, young wideouts.
Sorting out which one of them will contribute this year has been one of the more challenging elements of camp, strictly because of the numbers of them.
DJ Woods, Kenbrell Thompkins and Anthony McClung have the most experience (even if KT has JC years) and OJ Woodard has the most years experience at UC, but surrounding them are about 10-12 freshmen, sophomores who are vying for a place on the depth chart.
" When you look at the likes of the true freshman class," Bajakian said. "Chris Moore is very talented. Chris Moore is very talented. Alex Chisum is very talented. Shaq Washington is very talented. Max Morrison caught a million balls in high school. Even Ralph David Abernathy had some time at the slot positions, the future, boy that is exciting. Then you add Damon Julian to the mix. Then you add Kenbrell Thompkins for the first time. DyJuan Lewis who has four years left. They are all very talented, it is a matter of getting ripe and learning the offense."
Any of those names could be playing a significant role once the season fires up. Think about this. At this point last year, did anybody see Anthony McClung playing in ten games, starting two and catching the fourth-most passes on the team? Or Munchie Legaux moving from QB to WR to provide depth? Well, maybe you did, but I'm pretty close to the program and I sure as hell didn't.
Ending up in a position like last year where there is nobody to turn to at wideout won't be near the conundrum it was and that's a significant relief for the Bearcats.
--- Kerry Coombs says the secondary will be better.
--- I still remember, last August, attempting to project what Isaiah Pead's numbers would be last season by looking at the tendencies of Butch Jones and Bajakian's offense at Central Michigan.
He ended up just shy of the range I thought with 157 carries for 1,029 yards. Of course, he missed two games early in the season due to injury.
Projecting for this season would seem to be easier: More of the same, right?
Probably. But not necessarily.
I asked Bajakian about how much the offense realistically evolves from year to year -- how much change should anybody expect?
" The biggest thing is players, not plays. Getting the ball into the hands of the playmakers is the key. How do you do that? Part of that is identifying who your playmakers are then getting the ball in their hands. The tweaks in the offense always come to figure out how to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers. Year to year there are always little nuances that are changes and things like that. But we hang our hat on the meat and potatoes of the offense and tweak the things that we can."
Like he says, the tweaks in the offense always come to figure out how to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers.
On this year's team, I would contend there is no greater playmaker than Pead. Last year, Armon Binns, with his deep threat ability would probably accept that role. And, at this point last year, this offense was being molded around the concept of Binns, Hazelton and Woods as the pre-eminent trio in college football.
Woods, for all he does -- which is ample and provides traits nobody else on the team does -- doesn't have the consistent game-breaking ability of Binns or Pead. Most everyone else is unproven.
So, if your offense evolves to find more space for your playmakers, I would hope to see more of Pead. Do I have any proof of this? Have I seen the playbook? No and no. As The Dude would say: That's just, like, your opinion, man.
Last year, Pead became the first 1,000-yard rusher since Richard Hall in 2004. The potential exists for Pead to break UC rushing records this year. Consider the top rushing seasons in UC history (Pead's from last year not included):
Pead missed two games last year averaging 102.9 yards per game. Should he stay healthy, then add in a bowl game, that's three games and 307 more rushing yards. Then, add in, let's say a conservative two extra touches a game from added nuances in the offense to involve him. That's 26 extra rushes at his average of 6.6 yards per carry last season.
Follow closely public school kids (just kidding, obviously, delete your hate mail):
1029
+307
+(26x6.6=172)
----------------
1,508 yards
That would not only set the UC single-season rushing record, it would blow that thing away.
He was seventh in the country last year in yards per carry (min. 100 carries). If the above numbers held by last year's national stats, he would have finished 10th in the country in total rushing. Not bad out of a spread offense.
Considering all the twists and turns of the college football season, I wouldn't consider those stats likely. Too many changes can happen. But are they unrealistic? Absolutely not.
--- Some other Pead records to keep an eye on this year:
UC career rushing yards (could challenge for second):
1. Reggie Taylor, 4,242
2. DeMarco McClesky, 3,487
3. Allen Harvin, 2,998
Isaiah Pead, 2,029
UC career rushing average:
1. Roger Stephens 6.65
2. Dom Del Bene 6.07
Isaiah Pead 6.59
UC career all-purpose yards (challenge for fourth):
1. Reggie Taylor, 5,322
2. DeMarco McClesky, 4.113
3. Al McKinney, 4,036
4. Allen Harvin, 3,663
Isaiah Pead 2,452 (last year, all-purpose was 1,219)
Some randomness...
--- Yesterday I mentioned the fight between Georgetown and a team from China on its "Goodwill Tour." Since then, video has surfaced. Wow.
--- There's an invention that mutes the TV whenever people you pre-select come on. Here's my list in no particular order other than all our tied for 1st under the heading intolerable:
-- Johnny Miller
-- Colin Cowherd (aren't we all just looking at Beadle anyway)
-- That guy from the Napa Know How commercials (do we have to know who they are?)
-- Jay Leno
-- Jim Nantz (but not the soft piano that accompanies him)
-- Coldplay
-- Phineas (Ferb is cool, though)
--- Now the latest from the "sentences you don't expect to hear department": I wonder what Emilio Estevez thinks about this whole thing.
--- Power ballad week comes to a conclusion and like any great rock concert in the 80s, you finish with the crowd-pleaser, the sing-a-long, the tune everyone has waited around for.
There's nothing worse than not holding your best song until the end, unless you are Led Zep or Pearl Jam or any band with an extensive collection.
I once say Rusted Root, who is not a terrible band, mind you, but don't exactly have a string of hits. Everyone knows Send Me On My Way, and they have some nice other stuff, which is fine. But you should know who you are.
They played Send Me On My Way as the second song. It was incredibly disappointing. On one hand, I enjoyed the song, but on the other I needed some good buildup time. The waiting for the big hit almost makes the others better.
Long story short, I left 40 minutes later. Longer story shorter: Here's Don't Stop Believin'.
Hopefully now we all can see what an upper lip can accomplish without the likes of a razor or any social concerns.
Here was the clean-shaven O'Donnell speaking with Tommy G yesterday at Higher Ground. RIP PODS.
Let's eat...
--- TG also talked to T.J. Weist about DJ Woods and what is becoming a deep receiving corps. When I spoke with OC Mike Bajakian earlier this week he talked about how exciting the future will be for that unit in coming years. They are loaded with talented, young wideouts.
Sorting out which one of them will contribute this year has been one of the more challenging elements of camp, strictly because of the numbers of them.
DJ Woods, Kenbrell Thompkins and Anthony McClung have the most experience (even if KT has JC years) and OJ Woodard has the most years experience at UC, but surrounding them are about 10-12 freshmen, sophomores who are vying for a place on the depth chart.
" When you look at the likes of the true freshman class," Bajakian said. "Chris Moore is very talented. Chris Moore is very talented. Alex Chisum is very talented. Shaq Washington is very talented. Max Morrison caught a million balls in high school. Even Ralph David Abernathy had some time at the slot positions, the future, boy that is exciting. Then you add Damon Julian to the mix. Then you add Kenbrell Thompkins for the first time. DyJuan Lewis who has four years left. They are all very talented, it is a matter of getting ripe and learning the offense."
Any of those names could be playing a significant role once the season fires up. Think about this. At this point last year, did anybody see Anthony McClung playing in ten games, starting two and catching the fourth-most passes on the team? Or Munchie Legaux moving from QB to WR to provide depth? Well, maybe you did, but I'm pretty close to the program and I sure as hell didn't.
Ending up in a position like last year where there is nobody to turn to at wideout won't be near the conundrum it was and that's a significant relief for the Bearcats.
--- Kerry Coombs says the secondary will be better.
--- I still remember, last August, attempting to project what Isaiah Pead's numbers would be last season by looking at the tendencies of Butch Jones and Bajakian's offense at Central Michigan.
He ended up just shy of the range I thought with 157 carries for 1,029 yards. Of course, he missed two games early in the season due to injury.
Projecting for this season would seem to be easier: More of the same, right?
Probably. But not necessarily.
I asked Bajakian about how much the offense realistically evolves from year to year -- how much change should anybody expect?
" The biggest thing is players, not plays. Getting the ball into the hands of the playmakers is the key. How do you do that? Part of that is identifying who your playmakers are then getting the ball in their hands. The tweaks in the offense always come to figure out how to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers. Year to year there are always little nuances that are changes and things like that. But we hang our hat on the meat and potatoes of the offense and tweak the things that we can."
Like he says, the tweaks in the offense always come to figure out how to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers.
On this year's team, I would contend there is no greater playmaker than Pead. Last year, Armon Binns, with his deep threat ability would probably accept that role. And, at this point last year, this offense was being molded around the concept of Binns, Hazelton and Woods as the pre-eminent trio in college football.
Woods, for all he does -- which is ample and provides traits nobody else on the team does -- doesn't have the consistent game-breaking ability of Binns or Pead. Most everyone else is unproven.
So, if your offense evolves to find more space for your playmakers, I would hope to see more of Pead. Do I have any proof of this? Have I seen the playbook? No and no. As The Dude would say: That's just, like, your opinion, man.
Last year, Pead became the first 1,000-yard rusher since Richard Hall in 2004. The potential exists for Pead to break UC rushing records this year. Consider the top rushing seasons in UC history (Pead's from last year not included):
| Rushing Yards | ||
| 1,361 | DeMarco McCleskey | 2002 |
| 1,325 | Reggie Taylor | 1986 |
| 1,283 | Allen Harvin | 1978 |
| 1,245 | Robert Cooper | 1999 |
| 1,226 | James Bettis | 1981 |
| 1,197 | Steve Cowan | 1970 |
| 1,179 | David Small | 1993 |
| 1,161 | Allen Harvin | 1982 |
| 1,112 | Reggie Taylor | 1985 |
| 1,021 | Reggie Taylor | 1984 |
| 1,012 | Richard Hall | 2004 |
| 1,004 | David Small | 1991 |
Pead missed two games last year averaging 102.9 yards per game. Should he stay healthy, then add in a bowl game, that's three games and 307 more rushing yards. Then, add in, let's say a conservative two extra touches a game from added nuances in the offense to involve him. That's 26 extra rushes at his average of 6.6 yards per carry last season.
Follow closely public school kids (just kidding, obviously, delete your hate mail):
1029
+307
+(26x6.6=172)
----------------
1,508 yards
That would not only set the UC single-season rushing record, it would blow that thing away.
He was seventh in the country last year in yards per carry (min. 100 carries). If the above numbers held by last year's national stats, he would have finished 10th in the country in total rushing. Not bad out of a spread offense.
Considering all the twists and turns of the college football season, I wouldn't consider those stats likely. Too many changes can happen. But are they unrealistic? Absolutely not.
--- Some other Pead records to keep an eye on this year:
UC career rushing yards (could challenge for second):
1. Reggie Taylor, 4,242
2. DeMarco McClesky, 3,487
3. Allen Harvin, 2,998
Isaiah Pead, 2,029
UC career rushing average:
1. Roger Stephens 6.65
2. Dom Del Bene 6.07
Isaiah Pead 6.59
UC career all-purpose yards (challenge for fourth):
1. Reggie Taylor, 5,322
2. DeMarco McClesky, 4.113
3. Al McKinney, 4,036
4. Allen Harvin, 3,663
Isaiah Pead 2,452 (last year, all-purpose was 1,219)
Some randomness...
--- Yesterday I mentioned the fight between Georgetown and a team from China on its "Goodwill Tour." Since then, video has surfaced. Wow.
--- There's an invention that mutes the TV whenever people you pre-select come on. Here's my list in no particular order other than all our tied for 1st under the heading intolerable:
-- Johnny Miller
-- Colin Cowherd (aren't we all just looking at Beadle anyway)
-- That guy from the Napa Know How commercials (do we have to know who they are?)
-- Jay Leno
-- Jim Nantz (but not the soft piano that accompanies him)
-- Coldplay
-- Phineas (Ferb is cool, though)
--- Now the latest from the "sentences you don't expect to hear department": I wonder what Emilio Estevez thinks about this whole thing.
--- Power ballad week comes to a conclusion and like any great rock concert in the 80s, you finish with the crowd-pleaser, the sing-a-long, the tune everyone has waited around for.
There's nothing worse than not holding your best song until the end, unless you are Led Zep or Pearl Jam or any band with an extensive collection.
I once say Rusted Root, who is not a terrible band, mind you, but don't exactly have a string of hits. Everyone knows Send Me On My Way, and they have some nice other stuff, which is fine. But you should know who you are.
They played Send Me On My Way as the second song. It was incredibly disappointing. On one hand, I enjoyed the song, but on the other I needed some good buildup time. The waiting for the big hit almost makes the others better.
Long story short, I left 40 minutes later. Longer story shorter: Here's Don't Stop Believin'.