I hope Boise State gets in and wins the National Championship.

What on the UC resume says they don't deserve a lofty ranking at this point?

 

Quality BCS level road wins? Check.

 

Big name coach and offensive stars putting up huge numbers? Check.

 

Pasting of the one cupcake on schedule (I'll try and refrain from a UL joke here for a month or so)? Check.

 

If you are going to use the Fresno St game, you better come with complete knowledge of the injury situation in the Cats secondary that created a drastic shift in the normal game plan.

 

Let's hear it...

First, don't be defensive about me thinking they aren't a top ten team at this time. That Fresno game may have been an anomaly, but the national perspective doesn't view whether or not UC's secondary was banged up. They'll have a chance to continue to prove their mettle, but at this point they don't smell like a Top Ten team to me.

First, don't be defensive about me thinking they aren't a top ten team at this time. That Fresno game may have been an anomaly, but the national perspective doesn't view whether or not UC's secondary was banged up. They'll have a chance to continue to prove their mettle, but at this point they don't smell like a Top Ten team to me.

That was in large part because coach Brian Kelly clung to a conservative game plan with his mix-and-match defense. One of Cincy's starting cornerbacks Saturday was wide receiver Marcus Barnett, one of the many creative ways Kelly has plugged holes on that side of the ball. Because of inexperience at corner, the Bearcats played Cover 2 all day to provide safety help, thus limiting the number of players they could push into the box to confront the Fresno running attack.

 

"We are really banged up at the back end of our defense," Kelly said. "We played equal numbers in the box. I knew it was going to be a grind. ... Every time we touched the ball, we knew we would have to do something because there wasn't much margin of error."

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4510126&sportCat=ncf

 

 

National enough for you???

I think Michigan needs to be higher on the list.

Based on that stellar beat down of Indiana at home?

That was in large part because coach Brian Kelly clung to a conservative game plan with his mix-and-match defense. One of Cincy's starting cornerbacks Saturday was wide receiver Marcus Barnett, one of the many creative ways Kelly has plugged holes on that side of the ball. Because of inexperience at corner, the Bearcats played Cover 2 all day to provide safety help, thus limiting the number of players they could push into the box to confront the Fresno running attack.

 

"We are really banged up at the back end of our defense," Kelly said. "We played equal numbers in the box. I knew it was going to be a grind. ... Every time we touched the ball, we knew we would have to do something because there wasn't much margin of error."

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=4510126&sportCat=ncf

 

 

National enough for you???

In all my years of football, I have never heard of secondary injuries hurting the run defense. If they were in cover 2 all day that left 7 that could be in the box, they would've had the advantage.

In all my years of football, I have never heard of secondary injuries hurting the run defense. If they were in cover 2 all day that left 7 that could be in the box, they would've had the advantage.

5 O linemen plus one blocking TE plus one FB equals? My public school math says 7...

Ole Miss dropped way to low.

 

If OSU or USC would have lost they wouldnt have went that low.

I think Michigan needs to be higher on the list.

 

I like you more and more everyday Coupon :lol:.

 

But like swamprat said that Indiana game sure wasn't pretty. And that is what's holding Michigan back. I think they may have cracked into the top 20 if they had impressively beat Indiana. I never knew having your starting center out could hurt a team so badly! I would like to see Michigan play a team like UC that way we could see where both of them stand a little bit better.

Boise St. KILLS ME not because their rank. But because their rank will not change the rest of the season! The only ranked team they play all season was Oregon in week 1. I wish they played someone else down the road, to see just how good they actually are. But were going to have to wait for a bowl game to see that.

Ole Miss dropped way to low.

 

If OSU or USC would have lost they wouldnt have went that low.

 

I think it's because they all knew Ole Miss was overrated. But felt they had to give them the rank they did. They were just waiting for them to lose so they could give them their "new" rank.

In all my years of football, I have never heard of secondary injuries hurting the run defense. If they were in cover 2 all day that left 7 that could be in the box, they would've had the advantage.

 

From what I've seen of Fresno's State (granted I didn't watch the UC game or get a chance to TiVo it) it's seems that they have run alot of zone running schemes. Against the zone all 11 players on your defense become important in the run game. I've went back and watched and broke down their game vs. Boise, the Matthews kid had 3 huge TD runs, all of which the secondary could have made a play. But really against any offense the seconday is huge in the run game, IMO. Maybe their not making as many plays as the LB's and DL (at least hopefully not!), but they play a key role.

 

As for how many the could get in the box it really depends on the formation, the defensive call, how well you can disguise formations, etc. Equal numbers in the box for many coaches (including alot of zone coaches) means that they can effectively pass or run. For instance Urban Meyer would say that when the numbers in the box equal the number of blockers that the Gators are even and can run or pass. Alot of times if you are worried about the run you obviously may want to put an extra defender into the box, and force them to pass. But, with Cincy so short in the secondary, forcing Fresno to pass probably didn't work in their favor either.

5 O linemen plus one blocking TE plus one FB equals? My public school math says 7...

 

So they had no wr's? Come on bro....the defense was suspect, and they won....your boys are in the top ten. With a run defense like this past Saturday, that won't last....can they fix it? Sure....there's no need for excuses though.

From what I've seen of Fresno's State (granted I didn't watch the UC game or get a chance to TiVo it) it's seems that they have run alot of zone running schemes. Against the zone all 11 players on your defense become important in the run game. I've went back and watched and broke down their game vs. Boise, the Matthews kid had 3 huge TD runs, all of which the secondary could have made a play. But really against any offense the seconday is huge in the run game, IMO. Maybe their not making as many plays as the LB's and DL (at least hopefully not!), but they play a key role.

 

As for how many the could get in the box it really depends on the formation, the defensive call, how well you can disguise formations, etc. Equal numbers in the box for many coaches (including alot of zone coaches) means that they can effectively pass or run. For instance Urban Meyer would say that when the numbers in the box equal the number of blockers that the Gators are even and can run or pass. Alot of times if you are worried about the run you obviously may want to put an extra defender into the box, and force them to pass. But, with Cincy so short in the secondary, forcing Fresno to pass probably didn't work in their favor either.

While the above sounds great, you didn't watch the game, so most of your post is invalid in context.

So they had no wr's? Come on bro....the defense was suspect, and they won....your boys are in the top ten. With a run defense like this past Saturday, that won't last....can they fix it? Sure....there's no need for excuses though.

 

5 OL. 1 Te. 1 FB. 1 QB. 1 RB. 2 WR. That's still 11 right???

While the above sounds great, you didn't watch the game, so most of your post is invalid in context.

 

Did you watch the game? Come on RP, if you did you would have clearly seen what was going on in terms of game plan and personnel...

While the above sounds great, you didn't watch the game, so most of your post is invalid in context.

 

What did I say that was wrong then? Fresno state is a zone team correct? Best play for them is the inside zone, though they can hit you with the OZ or stretch. Am I correct there? Unless they changed their offense in one week, which I highly doubt, then what I said would be valid. In the modern day of college football, DB's are very important for run support.