TicketsBy Bill Koch
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI – Now that the University of Cincinnati Bearcats seem to be making strides in their passing game, it's time for them to get their running game cranked up.
And while they're at it, they might want to figure out how to stop their opponents from running the ball.
UC (2-2 overall, 0-1 in the American Athletic Conference) ranks 11th in the 12-team American Athletic Conference with 90.5 rushing yards per game. And after surrendering 569 rushing yards at Navy last week – the most ever allowed by a UC team – the Bearcats rank 10th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 264 yards per game.
The Bearcats will face Marshall in a non-league game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium looking to get on a roll after splitting their first four games. The Thundering Herd is 2-1 overall and has yet to play a game in Conference USA.
"We all know if we're going to say we're going to be an offensive line and defensive line driven program we've got to be able to run the football and we've got to be able to stop the run," said UC coach Luke Fickell. "You can say that Navy is unique (because of its triple-option offense), but It's still about the fundamentals of the game. It's still about doing the things that you expect to do and the things that you've worked on from the time spring ball started. We'll continue to get better at it. We know in order for us to to be where we want to be at the end of the year we want to have balance. We've got to be able to run the football and we believe we've got the guys to be able to do it."
One of those guys is redshirt freshman Gerrid Doaks, who has started the last two games in the absence of senior Mike Boone while Boone recovered from a twisted ankle that he suffered against Michigan. Doaks has been impressive with his strong, physical running style. He gained 71 yards against Miami two weeks ago, but managed only 59 last week against Navy.
The Bearcats have cracked the 100-yard rushing threshold as a team only once this season when they gained 139 yards on the ground vs. Miami.
"That's something we need to improve on," said center David Niehaus.
Marshall's defense has allowed 139 rushing yards per game. Miami gained 131 against the Herd, North Carolina State had 144, and Kent State managed 142.
"We've just got to come out fast and aggressive," Doaks said. "It all starts with the O-line we need to be aggressive and move the ball."
This will be the first game this season that UC will be favored to win against a Football Bowl Subdivision team. UC hasn't faced Marshall since 2008 when the Bearcats posted a 33-10 win in Huntington during their Orange Bowl season under Brian Kelly. They're 8-3-1 vs. Marshall overall.
UC's two losses – one coming against No. 8 Michigan and the other against unbeaten Navy, with one of the top rushing offenses in the nation – are understandable but not easily accepted by Fickell and his players. Marshall presents its own challengers with an experienced quarterbacks, speed on the perimeter and an aggressive defense.
"This will be as athletic a football team that we've played probably since week two (vs. Michigan)," Fickell said. "Their quarterback is really explosive and they have some playmakers on the outside."
The quarterback is junior Chase Litton, who has thrown a touchdown pass in 24 straight games, the second-longest streak in the country. His tight end, Ryan Yurachek, has caught at least one pass in 32 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
Wide receiver Tyre Brady averages 124.3 receiving yards per game with an average of 19.6 yards per catch with two touchdowns. And on special teams, Keion Davis returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Miami – one for 99 yards and one for 97 yards - making him the first player in Marshall history and the 21st in NCAA history to do so.
The Bearcats, who have spent the last three weeks on the road, hope to build on last week's impressive passing performance by quarterback Hayden Moore, who threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns against Navy.
"We're gonna be pretty jacked up to be back at home," said Doaks, who missed the Austin Peay game with an injury. "This is my first time playing at home this season so I'm pretty excited."
Bill Koch covered UC athletics for 27 years – 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer – before joining the staff of GoBearcats.com in January, 2015.
GoBEARCATS.com
CINCINNATI – Now that the University of Cincinnati Bearcats seem to be making strides in their passing game, it's time for them to get their running game cranked up.
And while they're at it, they might want to figure out how to stop their opponents from running the ball.
UC (2-2 overall, 0-1 in the American Athletic Conference) ranks 11th in the 12-team American Athletic Conference with 90.5 rushing yards per game. And after surrendering 569 rushing yards at Navy last week – the most ever allowed by a UC team – the Bearcats rank 10th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 264 yards per game.
The Bearcats will face Marshall in a non-league game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium looking to get on a roll after splitting their first four games. The Thundering Herd is 2-1 overall and has yet to play a game in Conference USA.
"We all know if we're going to say we're going to be an offensive line and defensive line driven program we've got to be able to run the football and we've got to be able to stop the run," said UC coach Luke Fickell. "You can say that Navy is unique (because of its triple-option offense), but It's still about the fundamentals of the game. It's still about doing the things that you expect to do and the things that you've worked on from the time spring ball started. We'll continue to get better at it. We know in order for us to to be where we want to be at the end of the year we want to have balance. We've got to be able to run the football and we believe we've got the guys to be able to do it."
One of those guys is redshirt freshman Gerrid Doaks, who has started the last two games in the absence of senior Mike Boone while Boone recovered from a twisted ankle that he suffered against Michigan. Doaks has been impressive with his strong, physical running style. He gained 71 yards against Miami two weeks ago, but managed only 59 last week against Navy.
The Bearcats have cracked the 100-yard rushing threshold as a team only once this season when they gained 139 yards on the ground vs. Miami.
"That's something we need to improve on," said center David Niehaus.
Marshall's defense has allowed 139 rushing yards per game. Miami gained 131 against the Herd, North Carolina State had 144, and Kent State managed 142.
"We've just got to come out fast and aggressive," Doaks said. "It all starts with the O-line we need to be aggressive and move the ball."
This will be the first game this season that UC will be favored to win against a Football Bowl Subdivision team. UC hasn't faced Marshall since 2008 when the Bearcats posted a 33-10 win in Huntington during their Orange Bowl season under Brian Kelly. They're 8-3-1 vs. Marshall overall.
UC's two losses – one coming against No. 8 Michigan and the other against unbeaten Navy, with one of the top rushing offenses in the nation – are understandable but not easily accepted by Fickell and his players. Marshall presents its own challengers with an experienced quarterbacks, speed on the perimeter and an aggressive defense.
"This will be as athletic a football team that we've played probably since week two (vs. Michigan)," Fickell said. "Their quarterback is really explosive and they have some playmakers on the outside."
The quarterback is junior Chase Litton, who has thrown a touchdown pass in 24 straight games, the second-longest streak in the country. His tight end, Ryan Yurachek, has caught at least one pass in 32 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
Wide receiver Tyre Brady averages 124.3 receiving yards per game with an average of 19.6 yards per catch with two touchdowns. And on special teams, Keion Davis returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against Miami – one for 99 yards and one for 97 yards - making him the first player in Marshall history and the 21st in NCAA history to do so.
The Bearcats, who have spent the last three weeks on the road, hope to build on last week's impressive passing performance by quarterback Hayden Moore, who threw for 381 yards and three touchdowns against Navy.
"We're gonna be pretty jacked up to be back at home," said Doaks, who missed the Austin Peay game with an injury. "This is my first time playing at home this season so I'm pretty excited."
Bill Koch covered UC athletics for 27 years – 15 at The Cincinnati Post and 12 at The Cincinnati Enquirer – before joining the staff of GoBearcats.com in January, 2015.