Is anyone else a little worried about tonight?

[DBrentonBuck]

The biggest thing that concerns me is the run defense. UC gave up 175 yards against a much lesser team. Now there were some factors involved like Byrd not playing, the D was shutting down the passing game, etc. However, that number still seems higher than it should. Oregon State has a very good O-Line and as you know a very good RB. It is important that special teams give them a long field to start with. It isn't a big deal if a RB has a 100 yard game when his team is starting from inside the 25 on average. However, if they have short fields and average the 4.7 yards a carry that SEMO did then we are in for a long game.

We need some guys to really step up tonight.

[CatAttackFootball]

A little worried, I might be, but I'm definitely more excited than nervous! The bearcats have a great d-line and having byrd back is going to be great when getting pressure on Canfield and stopping Bernard..

Go Bearcats!

[bearcatmark]

I think UC’s defense is at their most vulnerable against spread offenses with fast QBs. It is why WVU gives us trouble. Our defense plays with such speed and energy…the spread option offense takes advantage of that speed for some big plays. I think Oregon State plays a style we are incredibly comfortable defending

[General Woundwort]

Worried? Not really. Bernard is a good runner, but he has averaged only about 4.4-4.5 YPC for his career, and rarely breaks long runs (although he did have one against Utah). He is very solid, but he is not a breakaway back, and they are probably not going to ride him to a 30 point outburst. This isn't Steve Slaton/Pat White, where they can kill you for 3-4 50+ yard runs in a single game.

If OSU builds an early lead, and UC doesn't tackle well, they could shorten the game with Bernard and make things tough. But if the OSU pass defense struggles the way the have in the past, Bernard will not be a factor, no matter how well he plays.

OSU's best chance is to make this a grind it out, 17-14 type game and frankly, I don't think they have the pass defense for it

[DBrentonBuck]

Worried? Not really. Bernard is a good runner, but he has averaged only about 4.4-4.5 YPC for his career, and rarely breaks long runs (although he did have one against Utah). He is very solid, but he is not a breakaway back, and they are probably not going to ride him to a 30 point outburst. This isn't Steve Slaton/Pat White, where they can kill you for 3-4 50+ yard runs in a single game.

If OSU builds an early lead, and UC doesn't tackle well, they could shorten the game with Bernard and make things tough. But if the OSU pass defense struggles the way the have in the past, Bernard will not be a factor, no matter how well he plays.

OSU's best chance is to make this a grind it out, 17-14 type game and frankly, I don't think they have the pass defense for it


I agree with what you are saying about Bernard... but what I am saying is we let SEMO average 4.7 yards a carry. What was their RB name? Anderson I think. Anyway, do you think if he were starting for OSU that he would average 4.4 yards a carry like Bernard? I don't think he would even get close to that. So if OSU has a better back and a better O line, then it stands to reason that they could carry for more than 4.7 yards against us.

I will tell you another thing that worries me is the emotional boost that Stroughter coming back will give OSU. I am a Falcons fan and I witnessed just how you can get your arse handed to you when a team is on an emotional high last year against the Saints on MNF. Now, granted, OSU isn't going to have U2 singing here comes Sammie before the game, but you get the point.

[General Woundwort]

Anderson was actually the QB, and he did most of the damage on the ground. I don't think they were really prepared for all the runs from the QB that they saw against SEMO, but I don't think that has much bearing here.

They do have to tackle better this week, but I'm just not that worried about OSU's running game. If it turns out to be a low scoring game, it will be a big factor, but if UC gets their offense going at all (and I think they will), Bernard simply cannot keep the team in the game, even if he has a great game (150+ yards). They are going to need an effective passing attack, and I really like our chances of preventing that.

I'm more worried about either a) Mauk laying an egg or b) Canfield putting it together than I am about Bernard. If Canfield throws for 300 yds and Bernard is awful, UC is in trouble. But if Canfield plays like he did against Utah and Bernard is great, the 'Cats will likely roll.

[DBrentonBuck]

You called it General... I am glad you were right!

Anderson was actually the QB, and he did most of the damage on the ground. I don't think they were really prepared for all the runs from the QB that they saw against SEMO, but I don't think that has much bearing here.

They do have to tackle better this week, but I'm just not that worried about OSU's running game. If it turns out to be a low scoring game, it will be a big factor, but if UC gets their offense going at all (and I think they will), Bernard simply cannot keep the team in the game, even if he has a great game (150+ yards). They are going to need an effective passing attack, and I really like our chances of preventing that.

I'm more worried about either a) Mauk laying an egg or b) Canfield putting it together than I am about Bernard. If Canfield throws for 300 yds and Bernard is awful, UC is in trouble. But if Canfield plays like he did against Utah and Bernard is great, the 'Cats will likely roll.