TicketsFootball Outlook: The Passing Game
Contact: Tom Hathaway
8/12/2004
Gino Guidugli holds almost every passing record in UC history |
?Whenever you have a good quarterback, you have an opportunity for success,? stated UC head coach Mark Dantonio. The 2004 Bearcats have that element.
As has been the case the past three seasons, the Bearcat offense will be in the hands of Gino Guidugli. The 6-3 senior, who has already rewritten most of Cincinnati's season and career passing records, has the ability to rise in crucial situations. He has led the team for eight fourth-quarter comeback victories during his previous three campaigns.
UC is moving from a spread offense to a multiple scheme. That switch may be just fine with the super-competitive Guidugli, who last season made a successful adjustment to a short passing game with the team's inexperienced receivers.
That receiving corps is not quite as callow this season, with four of the top five pass catchers returning. George Murray, a classmate and occasional position-mate of Guidugli, heads this group, coming off a team-leading 30 reception campaign in his first year as a regular. The team's top all-around receiver, he has the running skills to turn short passes into long gains.
Cedric Dawley, a senior who impressed the coaching staff with his competitiveness during spring practice, and junior Derick Ross, who recorded a team-high 483 yards receiving in 2003, are likely to battle for the other starting wide out spot. Sophomore Bill Poland, who showed excellent progress through the course of last season, and senior Hannibal Thomas, who came on strong with 22 catches for 413 yards in the final five games, also return with starting experience. There is an excellent chance that one of the freshman newcomers will emerge.
Senior Collin Carey and Murray are the top backups to Guidugli.
Passing Game Personnel
Quarterbacks
2003 Starter: Gino Guidugli (6-3, 225 Sr.)
Returning Vets: Collin Carey (6-2, 210 Sr.), George Murray (6-1, 194 Sr.)
Newcomers: Todd Spitzer (6-5, 228 R-Fr.), Dustin Grutza (6-3, 200 Fr.), Earnest Jackson (6-3, 200 Fr.)
Wide Receivers
2003 Starters: George Murray (6-1, 194 Sr.), Derick Ross (5-10, 191 Jr.), Thaddeus Lewis (graduated).
Returning Vets: Cedric Dawley (6-1, 210 Sr.), Bill Poland (6-3, 201 So.), Hannibal Thomas (6-3, 205 Sr.), Mike Daniels (5-7, 185 So.), Charlie Vample (6-0, 184 So.)
Newcomer: Carlos Simpson (5-10, 195 Fr.)
Tight Ends
2003 Starter: A.J. Lucius (6-3, 250 Sr.)
Returning Vet: Brent Celek (6-4, 250 So.)
Newcomers: Hank Davis (6-4, 238 R-Fr.), Doug Jones (6-4, 282 R-Fr)