TicketsCINCINNATI – The Cincinnati football team will host Kennesaw State in the home opener at 3:30 p.m. at Nippert Stadium on Saturday.
The Bearcats are coming off a 31-24 loss at No. 19 Arkansas. Despite the loss, Cincinnati head football coach Luke Fickell pulled several positive moments from the game at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Fickell also talked about transfer quarterback Ben Bryant's performance, the Bearcats' physicality, first-time starters who stepped up and, of course, UC's next opponent. The Bearcats will put their 27-game home winning streak on the line against the Owls, a perennial FCS playoff team.
Here are five takeaways from Fickell's Week 2 press conference:
Offensive Line Rises to Occasion
Cincinnati's offensive line are the elder statesmen of the team, as the five projected starters entered the season with 94 starts at the school (eighth nationally), and 138 games overall as Bearcats. UC found some adversity on game week with the loss of center Jake Renfro to injury. Redshirt sophomore Gavin Gerhardt took his place there, while another first-time starter, former walk-on Joe Huber, earned the nod at right tackle after an impressive fall camp. The group helped the Bearcats total 436 total yards.
"I thought they did a good job," Fickell said. "I thought that's why we didn't have that solidarity, not just because Jake [Renfro] wasn't in there. But that's such a unique group as you go through camp. Not that Jake getting hurt on a Monday changed things up, but I think even through camp we had a lot of guys rolling in and out. Moving positions was Gavin and (Lorenz) Metz and so for the first game of them guys actually playing together, I thought they played really well together."
Bryant, Bearcats Shake Off Early Mistakes
Fickell said he was glad to see Bryant shake off early mistakes against Arkansas, including a first-drive interception and a couple overthrows, and said "he did a really good job."
Bryant came out blazing in the third quarter, leading three straight scoring drives and passing for 177 yards in the frame. He finished with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns with 235 yards and both scores coming after the break.
"I thought he did a really good job," Fickell said. "I think the thing that we got out of it as much as anything is I believe we're a much more mature team than what I would have given us credit for. It was a tough first half. You go in down 14 to nothing at halftime and had that been last year's team, not saying we wouldn't, but I would have been curious as to how they would react and respond. They were very mature about what it was. Minds were open to making the adjustments and things, and I think that's what showed when we came out the second half. Not just offensively but defensively as well."
Defensive Trio Shines in Starting Debuts
The Bearcats boasted the nation's top defensive passing efficiency in 2021, among other high-ranking charts, but losing three NFL Draft picks (especially Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Coby Bryant) was not a heavy undertaking for three first-time starting Black Cats. Sophomore safety Bryon Threats, senior cornerback Ja'Quan Sheppard and redshirt senior nickel back Taj Ward answered the call, holding the Razorbacks to seven points until the final minute of the first half. Sheppard and Threats each recorded career-highs of nine and six tackles, respectively.
"First and foremost, the effort level, the physicality, I am proud," Fickell said.
"I don't feel like we didn't step up to the challenge. I just don't feel like we executed the challenge at the level that we needed to so there's a lot of good things in that but it's only good, if you humble yourself. You recognize you need to challenge it and ultimately you own it."
Defensive Line Depth Shows
Cincinnati went multiple drives with its second-team on the defensive front, forcing 3-and-outs along the way against the SEC's top rushing team from a year ago. Redshirt senior Eric Phillips, who played just 15 games over the last three years, even recovered his first-career fumble inside the Arkansas 5. Ohio State transfer Noah Potter, redshirt sophomore Justin Wodtly, and redshirt freshman Dontay Corleone also showed their potential.
"It's a great test," Fickell said. "Dontay did a really, really good job in there. We were kind of thrust into it. I was hoping maybe he would only be a guy that have to play 15 plays in the first few weeks because Dom Perry would be the other guy that could play 20-25 plays while Jowon Briggs plays maybe 50 percent of the snaps. Obviously, not having Dom threw a lot more on to Dontay's plate. I thought he did a good job. I thought Eric Phillips, Justin Wodtly, Noah Potter did a good job. We played seven guys, all with I would say at least 15 reps. It's going to continue to pay off for us in the long run."
The Owls Will Run … A Lot
Kennesaw State averaged more than 275 rushing yards per game last season and has been among the nation's top rushing teams in the FCS for nearly a decade.
The Owls, who were preseason No. 6 in the FCS polls, are led by quarterback Xavier Shepherd, who led the FCS with 23 rushing touchdowns a year ago.
"They've only got one game under their belt from this year," Fickell said. "Last year, they played a lot of games. 11-2 and made a heck of a run in the playoffs. All triple option poses a lot of problems. We've got to be a little bit different than we ever have been. Just to make sure we're sound in their ability to throw the football a little bit more. But nonetheless, it's always going to be a unique challenge and it's not just a challenge for the defense. It's a challenge to the offense. You have to play so complimentarily because they do limit the possessions that you get. You have to make sure you're taking advantage of every one of those opportunities, whether it's offensively or even special teams."
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
// ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.369 overall GPA in the spring of 2021 with 77 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll, while six student-athletes collected CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our University and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
For more information visit gobearcats.com.
The Bearcats are coming off a 31-24 loss at No. 19 Arkansas. Despite the loss, Cincinnati head football coach Luke Fickell pulled several positive moments from the game at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Fickell also talked about transfer quarterback Ben Bryant's performance, the Bearcats' physicality, first-time starters who stepped up and, of course, UC's next opponent. The Bearcats will put their 27-game home winning streak on the line against the Owls, a perennial FCS playoff team.
Here are five takeaways from Fickell's Week 2 press conference:
Offensive Line Rises to Occasion
Cincinnati's offensive line are the elder statesmen of the team, as the five projected starters entered the season with 94 starts at the school (eighth nationally), and 138 games overall as Bearcats. UC found some adversity on game week with the loss of center Jake Renfro to injury. Redshirt sophomore Gavin Gerhardt took his place there, while another first-time starter, former walk-on Joe Huber, earned the nod at right tackle after an impressive fall camp. The group helped the Bearcats total 436 total yards.
"I thought they did a good job," Fickell said. "I thought that's why we didn't have that solidarity, not just because Jake [Renfro] wasn't in there. But that's such a unique group as you go through camp. Not that Jake getting hurt on a Monday changed things up, but I think even through camp we had a lot of guys rolling in and out. Moving positions was Gavin and (Lorenz) Metz and so for the first game of them guys actually playing together, I thought they played really well together."
Bryant, Bearcats Shake Off Early Mistakes
Fickell said he was glad to see Bryant shake off early mistakes against Arkansas, including a first-drive interception and a couple overthrows, and said "he did a really good job."
Bryant came out blazing in the third quarter, leading three straight scoring drives and passing for 177 yards in the frame. He finished with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns with 235 yards and both scores coming after the break.
"I thought he did a really good job," Fickell said. "I think the thing that we got out of it as much as anything is I believe we're a much more mature team than what I would have given us credit for. It was a tough first half. You go in down 14 to nothing at halftime and had that been last year's team, not saying we wouldn't, but I would have been curious as to how they would react and respond. They were very mature about what it was. Minds were open to making the adjustments and things, and I think that's what showed when we came out the second half. Not just offensively but defensively as well."
Defensive Trio Shines in Starting Debuts
The Bearcats boasted the nation's top defensive passing efficiency in 2021, among other high-ranking charts, but losing three NFL Draft picks (especially Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner and Coby Bryant) was not a heavy undertaking for three first-time starting Black Cats. Sophomore safety Bryon Threats, senior cornerback Ja'Quan Sheppard and redshirt senior nickel back Taj Ward answered the call, holding the Razorbacks to seven points until the final minute of the first half. Sheppard and Threats each recorded career-highs of nine and six tackles, respectively.
"First and foremost, the effort level, the physicality, I am proud," Fickell said.
"I don't feel like we didn't step up to the challenge. I just don't feel like we executed the challenge at the level that we needed to so there's a lot of good things in that but it's only good, if you humble yourself. You recognize you need to challenge it and ultimately you own it."
Defensive Line Depth Shows
Cincinnati went multiple drives with its second-team on the defensive front, forcing 3-and-outs along the way against the SEC's top rushing team from a year ago. Redshirt senior Eric Phillips, who played just 15 games over the last three years, even recovered his first-career fumble inside the Arkansas 5. Ohio State transfer Noah Potter, redshirt sophomore Justin Wodtly, and redshirt freshman Dontay Corleone also showed their potential.
"It's a great test," Fickell said. "Dontay did a really, really good job in there. We were kind of thrust into it. I was hoping maybe he would only be a guy that have to play 15 plays in the first few weeks because Dom Perry would be the other guy that could play 20-25 plays while Jowon Briggs plays maybe 50 percent of the snaps. Obviously, not having Dom threw a lot more on to Dontay's plate. I thought he did a good job. I thought Eric Phillips, Justin Wodtly, Noah Potter did a good job. We played seven guys, all with I would say at least 15 reps. It's going to continue to pay off for us in the long run."
The Owls Will Run … A Lot
Kennesaw State averaged more than 275 rushing yards per game last season and has been among the nation's top rushing teams in the FCS for nearly a decade.
The Owls, who were preseason No. 6 in the FCS polls, are led by quarterback Xavier Shepherd, who led the FCS with 23 rushing touchdowns a year ago.
"They've only got one game under their belt from this year," Fickell said. "Last year, they played a lot of games. 11-2 and made a heck of a run in the playoffs. All triple option poses a lot of problems. We've got to be a little bit different than we ever have been. Just to make sure we're sound in their ability to throw the football a little bit more. But nonetheless, it's always going to be a unique challenge and it's not just a challenge for the defense. It's a challenge to the offense. You have to play so complimentarily because they do limit the possessions that you get. You have to make sure you're taking advantage of every one of those opportunities, whether it's offensively or even special teams."
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Athletics, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
// ABOUT CINCINNATI ATHLETICS
The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 500 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 117 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first American Athletic Conference program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.
UC student-athletes collectively posted a 3.369 overall GPA in the spring of 2021 with 77 percent earning spots on the Honor Roll, while six student-athletes collected CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades.
Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our University and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.
For more information visit gobearcats.com.