Cincinnati 2010

Cincinnati (2009 Statistics)

• Head Coach Butch Jones is in his 1^st season.  He was previously at Western Michigan, where he replaced Brian Kelly after Kelly left coach at Cincinnati.  He now replaces Kelly once again as Kelly has left to coach at Notre Dame.  Cincinnati was 12-1 last year under Kelly so it will be challenging for Jones in taking over a program that has exceeded and raised expectations for the past three seasons (33-7 record).
• Quarterback Zach Collaros gained valuable experience coming in for an injured Tony Pike last year.  He was mobile (344 yards and 4 TDs rushing) and had a 75% completion rate passing as well as a 10-2 Touchdown-to-Interception ratio.
• The biggest hit the offense takes this year is the loss of wide receiver Mardy Gilyard (now in the NFL with St. Louis). He became the UC career leader in receiving yards last year.  Otherwise, there is a significant return of talent.
• Gilyard’s influence was also felt on Special Teams. Cincinnati led the Big East in both Punt and Kickoff returns because Gilyard individually led the Big East in both categories.   As the #2 All-Purpose Runner in the Nation last year he will be missed by the Bearcats.
• Offensively the Bearcats led the Big East in scoring, passing yards, passing efficiency, sacks allowed and total yards in 2009.
• On defense Cincinnati shifted to a 3-4 scheme in 2009 plus they had to replace all of their starters in the Front Seven (the typical combination of Defensive Linemen and Linebackers equals seven); so perhaps it’s not a surprise that they finished last in the Big East in total defense.
• This year they return to a 4-3 defense.  The Linebacker position is in better shape having two starters return to a reduced number of just three spots.  But the Defensive Line loses two starters and has to add an additional position, leaving them with three new starters this year.
• Last year Cincinnati lost three of their Defensive Backs to the April 2009 NFL Draft and struggled somewhat in passing defense as a result (78^th in the nation giving up over 230 yards per game).  This year they are in better shape in terms of experience.