TicketsHeaded out to practice yesterday. It was the first since the Miami game and coaches were definitely making up for lost time getting after the players and making sure they weren't letting themselves go.
Both line groups were running extra after practice and there was no lack of urgency from the staff because of a bye week.
After, I spent some time talking offense with OC Mike Bajakian.
He always offers great insight into the attack and I used it as an analysis of where this unit is at as they head into conference play.
Looking at the non-conference numbers, this is arguably the best a UC offense has played in non-conference in recent history. The numbers top even the Brian Kelly quick-strike attacks.
Here is the non-con breakdown over the last five years. (Only includes first five games of season, no bowl games or late-season games in Hawaii)
Year G Rush Pass Total YPGame YPPlay Fum/Int/TO
2011 5 1104 1096 2200 440.0 6.3 3/3/6
2010 5 893 1189 2082 416.4 6.2 7/1/8
2009 5 545 1552 2097 419.4 6.7 1/2/3
2008 5 755 1308 2063 412.6 6.0 6/3/9
2007 5 965 1300 2265 453.0 6.3 3/4/7
--- A few things noticed about this year, not shockingly it is the first year the Bearcats have run for more than they passed since pre-BK. And it's not even close. Outside of that strong 2007 attack that posted almost 1,000 rushing yards while piling up 1300 through the air, this is far and away the most balanced the offense has been in recent history.
--- Along those same lines, you want to know the difference between last year at this time and this season? Running the football and holding onto it. Those yards lost due to fumbles are the difference in 24 yards per game.
I'd argue the offense played just as good, if not better than last season, only held onto the ball more.
--- The only concern to come out of these numbers? Remember, an overwhelming majority of UC's turnovers last year came in conference play. In particular, UC threw 13 interceptions in the conference schedule last year compared to just one this season.
While it appears Zach Collaros has adjusted and is making better decisions -- we haven't come close to opening the interception issue, yet.
--- Boy, it's hard to forget how electric that 2009 offense was. They were throwing the ball and knew there was nothing you could do about it.
--- If not for the two picks against Miami, you could have made an argument this was the best combination of production/efficiency in the last five years. Probably beyond. Those turnovers dinged that argument, though.
--- Assessing this offense at this point was my primary point of conversation with Bajakian yesterday and it was pretty clear he'd been pleased with the progress -- at least until the turnovers in Miami.
"There's always room for improvement. I'd say up until this last game -- the biggest improvement we wanted to make this season was ball security, which we had done until Miami. It allows us to refocus on that as a priority. We are always trying to move at a faster tempo and establish a tempo. We can never be fast enough until we run 100 plays in a game, we are not moving fast enough."
For the record, according to the available numbers (cfbstats.com), UC is yet to run 100 plays in a game, but came relatively close. They ran 90 against USF and 86 against Rutgers last year. They ran 80 against N.C. State for the most this season.
For all my recreational tempo judges out there that want to keep track of the pace, the bigger judge of UC's tempo is when they snap they ball.
"If we are snapping the ball with more than 20 seconds on the play clock, we are moving pretty well," Bajakian said. "If it is 19 or less, I would like to be moving faster, again depending on certain situations."
--- As for those turnovers, the Miami game will serve as a good teaching point and reminder heading into conference play about forcing the ball. When you haven't thrown many interceptions, becoming overconfident in throws can happen occasionally.
Regardless of the reason, any chance to re-emphasize the offseason mission during the season serves as a blessing in disguise for Bajakian.
"Especially where they occurred -- down in the red zone," he said. "We always talk about when we are down in the red zone we have three points in our back pocket. We need to walk off the field with a minimum of three points. Assuming we don't gain another yard in that game, we took nine points off the board. We got to keep that in the back of our mind. We have done a good job up until this point, especially down in the red zone. It was a setback we need to correct."
--- Another popular topic of conversation has been the season of D.J. Woods. He played exceptionally well against Tennessee, but outside of that hasn't had the breakout numbers some might come to expect. At least of late, he had three receptions for 22 yards against N.C. State and went without a catch against Miami.
Defenses are poised not to let DJ beat them -- and it's a big part of why Isaiah Pead and ZC are.
"It's a combination of a number of things," Bajakian said. "I don't look too closely at the stats, but when he doesn't have as many catches other guys have more. It's part of the benefit of having multiple weapons at the skill positions. We want to make the defense defend all of our skill guys, whether DJ Woods, Kenbrell Thompkins, Anthony McClung, Adrien Robinson, Travis Kelce, Isaiah Pead. If they are going to take away one, they are going to leave another open."
Chalk that up for the biggest reason McClung leads the team with 23 receptions and on pace for north of 60.
--- Bottom line of all this: UC is more set up to be a versatile, efficient offense than almost any time in recent history. The combination of run/pass/protection/ball security bodes well for the conference season.
All that said, much can change when the conference games begin. They did last year.
"We've always placed an emphasis on being a balanced offense. I don't think you can let the defense gang up on one particular area of your game. We've been able to play balanced football."
Both line groups were running extra after practice and there was no lack of urgency from the staff because of a bye week.
After, I spent some time talking offense with OC Mike Bajakian.
He always offers great insight into the attack and I used it as an analysis of where this unit is at as they head into conference play.
Looking at the non-conference numbers, this is arguably the best a UC offense has played in non-conference in recent history. The numbers top even the Brian Kelly quick-strike attacks.
Here is the non-con breakdown over the last five years. (Only includes first five games of season, no bowl games or late-season games in Hawaii)
Year G Rush Pass Total YPGame YPPlay Fum/Int/TO
2011 5 1104 1096 2200 440.0 6.3 3/3/6
2010 5 893 1189 2082 416.4 6.2 7/1/8
2009 5 545 1552 2097 419.4 6.7 1/2/3
2008 5 755 1308 2063 412.6 6.0 6/3/9
2007 5 965 1300 2265 453.0 6.3 3/4/7
--- A few things noticed about this year, not shockingly it is the first year the Bearcats have run for more than they passed since pre-BK. And it's not even close. Outside of that strong 2007 attack that posted almost 1,000 rushing yards while piling up 1300 through the air, this is far and away the most balanced the offense has been in recent history.
--- Along those same lines, you want to know the difference between last year at this time and this season? Running the football and holding onto it. Those yards lost due to fumbles are the difference in 24 yards per game.
I'd argue the offense played just as good, if not better than last season, only held onto the ball more.
--- The only concern to come out of these numbers? Remember, an overwhelming majority of UC's turnovers last year came in conference play. In particular, UC threw 13 interceptions in the conference schedule last year compared to just one this season.
While it appears Zach Collaros has adjusted and is making better decisions -- we haven't come close to opening the interception issue, yet.
--- Boy, it's hard to forget how electric that 2009 offense was. They were throwing the ball and knew there was nothing you could do about it.
--- If not for the two picks against Miami, you could have made an argument this was the best combination of production/efficiency in the last five years. Probably beyond. Those turnovers dinged that argument, though.
--- Assessing this offense at this point was my primary point of conversation with Bajakian yesterday and it was pretty clear he'd been pleased with the progress -- at least until the turnovers in Miami.
"There's always room for improvement. I'd say up until this last game -- the biggest improvement we wanted to make this season was ball security, which we had done until Miami. It allows us to refocus on that as a priority. We are always trying to move at a faster tempo and establish a tempo. We can never be fast enough until we run 100 plays in a game, we are not moving fast enough."
For the record, according to the available numbers (cfbstats.com), UC is yet to run 100 plays in a game, but came relatively close. They ran 90 against USF and 86 against Rutgers last year. They ran 80 against N.C. State for the most this season.
For all my recreational tempo judges out there that want to keep track of the pace, the bigger judge of UC's tempo is when they snap they ball.
"If we are snapping the ball with more than 20 seconds on the play clock, we are moving pretty well," Bajakian said. "If it is 19 or less, I would like to be moving faster, again depending on certain situations."
--- As for those turnovers, the Miami game will serve as a good teaching point and reminder heading into conference play about forcing the ball. When you haven't thrown many interceptions, becoming overconfident in throws can happen occasionally.
Regardless of the reason, any chance to re-emphasize the offseason mission during the season serves as a blessing in disguise for Bajakian.
"Especially where they occurred -- down in the red zone," he said. "We always talk about when we are down in the red zone we have three points in our back pocket. We need to walk off the field with a minimum of three points. Assuming we don't gain another yard in that game, we took nine points off the board. We got to keep that in the back of our mind. We have done a good job up until this point, especially down in the red zone. It was a setback we need to correct."
--- Another popular topic of conversation has been the season of D.J. Woods. He played exceptionally well against Tennessee, but outside of that hasn't had the breakout numbers some might come to expect. At least of late, he had three receptions for 22 yards against N.C. State and went without a catch against Miami.
Defenses are poised not to let DJ beat them -- and it's a big part of why Isaiah Pead and ZC are.
"It's a combination of a number of things," Bajakian said. "I don't look too closely at the stats, but when he doesn't have as many catches other guys have more. It's part of the benefit of having multiple weapons at the skill positions. We want to make the defense defend all of our skill guys, whether DJ Woods, Kenbrell Thompkins, Anthony McClung, Adrien Robinson, Travis Kelce, Isaiah Pead. If they are going to take away one, they are going to leave another open."
Chalk that up for the biggest reason McClung leads the team with 23 receptions and on pace for north of 60.
--- Bottom line of all this: UC is more set up to be a versatile, efficient offense than almost any time in recent history. The combination of run/pass/protection/ball security bodes well for the conference season.
All that said, much can change when the conference games begin. They did last year.
"We've always placed an emphasis on being a balanced offense. I don't think you can let the defense gang up on one particular area of your game. We've been able to play balanced football."