TicketsIt's been a few days since I've cooked up the Breakfast you are so used to. We went with an unorthodox crepe recipe and then some organic alternatives from the hippies down the street the last few days. But no worries, today, it's back to the traditional bacon and eggs.
It feels like being home again. If only there were a beautiful 80s power ballad which could describe that feeling through the majesty of song?
Oh, wait....
Let's eat...
--- I'm working on a story that should be up later today on some of the changing bodies at UC camp this year. Among those -- for the second consecutive season -- is Walter Stewart. The full-time DE, now playing at 250 pounds after being 216 pounds in January of 2010 looks ready to be a power run-stopper on top of his remarkable ability to rush the edge.
Somehow he's become the most underrated players on perhaps this team's strongest unit. If Stewart can become the playmaker this team envisioned when he broke on the scene in 2009, the front four could be absolutely dominant. Andrea Adelson recently broached this topic.
He was very open with me and called last season "a lost opportunity."
I also talked to Andre Cureton, who is now remarkably under three spins at 299, Adrien Robinson, who lost about 20 pounds this offseason, and strength and conditioning coach Dave Lawson.
Undeniably, however, the best part is talking to these guys about food. Cureton in particular, who has seemingly been on a weight loss program since Lawson first saw him, has conditioned himself to avoid desserts and sweets. He estimates he hasn't had sweets in a few years.
Technically, he's allowed to eat desserts now if he would choose to, but I couldn't help but laugh at him describing his hesitancy to do that, especially here at Higher Ground.
"But I still walk to the dessert bar and coach Lawson is staring at me," Cureton said. "I just walk the other direction like nothing happened.
"He said I am good, but I know deep down inside if I get that plate he is going to have me doing something out here."
I have this great vision of Lawson staring at players with different levels of acceptance from the edge of the buffet like Forrest Gump stares at Jenny and Jenny's boyfriend he beat the crap out of the night before in Washington D.C.
(Mr. McSaucy, aka OL Randy Martinez gave a tour of the HG buffet on CoachButchJones.com)
--- Random sign of progress stat: Last year, UC ranked 44th in the country in sacks per game, but finished with 11 sacks in the month of November -- good for a top 20 ranking and second-best in the Big East over that time frame.
--- The big breaking news yesterday was Bob Arkeilpane being named the Interim AD to replace Mike Thomas. As for how long the previous deputy AD will be holding the interim position at UC, it's tough to tell. I wouldn't expect too much procrastinating on such an important position, though.
--- If there is reason to believe in the Bearcats this year, it's because of Zach Collaros. I've said this many times here and will say it again, UC will go as far as ZC can take them. Bill Koch wrote a great piece about why Bearcats fans should be excited by that concept.
Depending on how Collaros' playing career goes, I expect to see him on Butch Jones or somebody else's staff the moment he decides to hang up his spikes. And I expect him to excel.
He owns almost as much experience recognizing coverages and making throws at this level as any QB in college football this season.
Only eight BCS QBs threw more passes per game last season. Of those that will be back this year? Landry Jones (Oklahoma), Brandon Weeden (Okla. St.), Nick Foles (Arizona), Sean Renfree (Duke), Garrett Gilbert (Texas) and Robert Griffin III (Baylor).
Of those, only Foles, Griffin and Weeden finished with a QB rating better than ZC's 137.5.
The only QB that finished last year with a better QB rating than ZC that is on UC's schedule this year is Geno Smith of WVU. And we've broke out that debate many times and won't do it again. Just know that will be one fun game at PBS.
And with the way Collaros meticulously studies coverages and improves his knowledge of the game, I'd expect him to be right alongside the best in the country by year's end.
--- Dan Hoard hasn't unearthed his "Zach Collaros 4 Heisman" signs from the closet from last year just yet, but is buying into the senior QB.
--- I haven't been able to link to this yet, but Kerry Coombs put a little ying in your yang-yang the other day.Tommy G mic'd him up for practice. It was absolutely fantastic.
--- Sports Illustrated always digs to find the real story and create intelligent, informed journalism. That's no different in their selection of DT Derek Wolfe to first-team All Big East which I have been jaw-dropped to see him absent from in every other publication. Isaiah Pead and Pat O'Donnell were also on the first team.
Speaking of O'Donnell, I am on a mission to bring to you visual evidence of the best mustache at camp right now. Hold tight.
--- Here is the transcript from Butch Jones speaking with the media after practice yesterday (H/t Bearcat Lair). The Lair also has a story on Maryland transfer LB Ben Pooler (subscription only). I know many of you have been asking about him, so there you go.
--- Tommy G still in the zone: DC Tim Banks here. Coach (yes, that's right, coach) Mike Mickens here.
--- Sandy Koufax will be announced on the list of UC HOF inductees to be released today. How he's not already in there is beyond my comprehension for rational thought.
Also on the list will be former the 1961 national championshp hoops team, K Jonathan Ruffin, Detroit Pistons PF Jason Maxiell and swimming coach Monty Hopkins. Here's the blog from Koch.
--- I wanted to make a quick rundown of the progress of some UC players in the pros after the first week of the preseason.
Mardy Gilyard received some love from Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo. This is a big camp for Gilyard, who didn't take full advantage of an opportunity to breakout in a receiver-less STL system last year.
He's making his mark on special teams thus far in camp. Reading between the lines, he'll need to make this team as a return man and special teams ace.
Neither Vidal Hazelton nor Armon Binns had a reception or target in their openers for San Diego and Jacksonville, respectively.
Marvin Lewis went out of his way to complement the play of P Kevin Huber on Monday. Huber had five punts for an average of 50.6 yards, including a 59-yarder and one inside the 20.
"But Kevin (punter Kevin Huber) had a good day and showed some things that he corrected during the offseason. He showed well, as he has every day down here."
Let's just say Huber would be the leader in the clubhouse for Team MVP considering the way the Bengals played Friday.
DE Connor Barwin made his return from injury and started at OLB for the Texans. He finished with two solo tackles on a night the Texans racked up seven sacks.
Philly.com documents a great play made by Jason Kelce that epitomizes why OL coach Howard Mudd sees Kelce pushing for the job at center.
Some quick randomness before I head out to Higher Ground....
--- The Western and Southern Open lost Brooklyn Decker last night as her husband went all Delta Bravo on the court...again. Such a tired act. Her departure confirms the fact I will not be attending.
--- The Onion with an accurate description of Visa.
--- Always wanted to go to Lebowski-Fest, and no more than this year in NYC with Goodman, Turturo, Bridges and Buschemi in attendance.
The Dude abides, indeed. Here are the deets, as the kids like to say.
It feels like being home again. If only there were a beautiful 80s power ballad which could describe that feeling through the majesty of song?
Oh, wait....
Let's eat...
--- I'm working on a story that should be up later today on some of the changing bodies at UC camp this year. Among those -- for the second consecutive season -- is Walter Stewart. The full-time DE, now playing at 250 pounds after being 216 pounds in January of 2010 looks ready to be a power run-stopper on top of his remarkable ability to rush the edge.
Somehow he's become the most underrated players on perhaps this team's strongest unit. If Stewart can become the playmaker this team envisioned when he broke on the scene in 2009, the front four could be absolutely dominant. Andrea Adelson recently broached this topic.
He was very open with me and called last season "a lost opportunity."
I also talked to Andre Cureton, who is now remarkably under three spins at 299, Adrien Robinson, who lost about 20 pounds this offseason, and strength and conditioning coach Dave Lawson.
Undeniably, however, the best part is talking to these guys about food. Cureton in particular, who has seemingly been on a weight loss program since Lawson first saw him, has conditioned himself to avoid desserts and sweets. He estimates he hasn't had sweets in a few years.
Technically, he's allowed to eat desserts now if he would choose to, but I couldn't help but laugh at him describing his hesitancy to do that, especially here at Higher Ground.
"But I still walk to the dessert bar and coach Lawson is staring at me," Cureton said. "I just walk the other direction like nothing happened.
"He said I am good, but I know deep down inside if I get that plate he is going to have me doing something out here."
I have this great vision of Lawson staring at players with different levels of acceptance from the edge of the buffet like Forrest Gump stares at Jenny and Jenny's boyfriend he beat the crap out of the night before in Washington D.C.
(Mr. McSaucy, aka OL Randy Martinez gave a tour of the HG buffet on CoachButchJones.com)
--- Random sign of progress stat: Last year, UC ranked 44th in the country in sacks per game, but finished with 11 sacks in the month of November -- good for a top 20 ranking and second-best in the Big East over that time frame.
--- The big breaking news yesterday was Bob Arkeilpane being named the Interim AD to replace Mike Thomas. As for how long the previous deputy AD will be holding the interim position at UC, it's tough to tell. I wouldn't expect too much procrastinating on such an important position, though.
--- If there is reason to believe in the Bearcats this year, it's because of Zach Collaros. I've said this many times here and will say it again, UC will go as far as ZC can take them. Bill Koch wrote a great piece about why Bearcats fans should be excited by that concept.
Depending on how Collaros' playing career goes, I expect to see him on Butch Jones or somebody else's staff the moment he decides to hang up his spikes. And I expect him to excel.
He owns almost as much experience recognizing coverages and making throws at this level as any QB in college football this season.
Only eight BCS QBs threw more passes per game last season. Of those that will be back this year? Landry Jones (Oklahoma), Brandon Weeden (Okla. St.), Nick Foles (Arizona), Sean Renfree (Duke), Garrett Gilbert (Texas) and Robert Griffin III (Baylor).
Of those, only Foles, Griffin and Weeden finished with a QB rating better than ZC's 137.5.
The only QB that finished last year with a better QB rating than ZC that is on UC's schedule this year is Geno Smith of WVU. And we've broke out that debate many times and won't do it again. Just know that will be one fun game at PBS.
And with the way Collaros meticulously studies coverages and improves his knowledge of the game, I'd expect him to be right alongside the best in the country by year's end.
--- Dan Hoard hasn't unearthed his "Zach Collaros 4 Heisman" signs from the closet from last year just yet, but is buying into the senior QB.
--- I haven't been able to link to this yet, but Kerry Coombs put a little ying in your yang-yang the other day.Tommy G mic'd him up for practice. It was absolutely fantastic.
--- Sports Illustrated always digs to find the real story and create intelligent, informed journalism. That's no different in their selection of DT Derek Wolfe to first-team All Big East which I have been jaw-dropped to see him absent from in every other publication. Isaiah Pead and Pat O'Donnell were also on the first team.
Speaking of O'Donnell, I am on a mission to bring to you visual evidence of the best mustache at camp right now. Hold tight.
--- Here is the transcript from Butch Jones speaking with the media after practice yesterday (H/t Bearcat Lair). The Lair also has a story on Maryland transfer LB Ben Pooler (subscription only). I know many of you have been asking about him, so there you go.
--- Tommy G still in the zone: DC Tim Banks here. Coach (yes, that's right, coach) Mike Mickens here.
--- Sandy Koufax will be announced on the list of UC HOF inductees to be released today. How he's not already in there is beyond my comprehension for rational thought.
Also on the list will be former the 1961 national championshp hoops team, K Jonathan Ruffin, Detroit Pistons PF Jason Maxiell and swimming coach Monty Hopkins. Here's the blog from Koch.
--- I wanted to make a quick rundown of the progress of some UC players in the pros after the first week of the preseason.
Mardy Gilyard received some love from Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo. This is a big camp for Gilyard, who didn't take full advantage of an opportunity to breakout in a receiver-less STL system last year.
He's making his mark on special teams thus far in camp. Reading between the lines, he'll need to make this team as a return man and special teams ace.
The Rams gave Mardy Gilyard plenty of opportunities to impress them on punt and kickoff returns as well as from scrimmage. He did have a 15-yard punt return, and at wide receiver caught two passes for 21 yards (and two first downs).
"I think all of them do need to step up and perform on special teams," Spagnuolo said. "That's going to be really important.
"Mardy did it as a returner. He also covered some kicks; we thought he did a pretty good job there as well. I think he made a little bit of a jump in that regard on special teams, and he made a couple plays as a wide receiver."
Also, TE Ben Guidugli had two receptions for 15 yards in the Rams' victory.Neither Vidal Hazelton nor Armon Binns had a reception or target in their openers for San Diego and Jacksonville, respectively.
Marvin Lewis went out of his way to complement the play of P Kevin Huber on Monday. Huber had five punts for an average of 50.6 yards, including a 59-yarder and one inside the 20.
"But Kevin (punter Kevin Huber) had a good day and showed some things that he corrected during the offseason. He showed well, as he has every day down here."
Let's just say Huber would be the leader in the clubhouse for Team MVP considering the way the Bengals played Friday.
DE Connor Barwin made his return from injury and started at OLB for the Texans. He finished with two solo tackles on a night the Texans racked up seven sacks.
Philly.com documents a great play made by Jason Kelce that epitomizes why OL coach Howard Mudd sees Kelce pushing for the job at center.
Some quick randomness before I head out to Higher Ground....
--- The Western and Southern Open lost Brooklyn Decker last night as her husband went all Delta Bravo on the court...again. Such a tired act. Her departure confirms the fact I will not be attending.
--- The Onion with an accurate description of Visa.
--- Always wanted to go to Lebowski-Fest, and no more than this year in NYC with Goodman, Turturo, Bridges and Buschemi in attendance.
The Dude abides, indeed. Here are the deets, as the kids like to say.