Putting the 4-0 start into perspective

[General Woundwort]

Here is some "fun with numbers" to put the Bearcats' recent performance in perspective:

Through 4 games, the Bearcats have scored 34 or more points 4 times. During the 2005-2006 seasons (24 games), the team scored 34 or more points zero times.

Mark Dantonio's teams scored 34+ points 4 times in 3 seasons (all in his one C-USA season with Guidugli). Tim Murphy did it 5 times in 5 seasons, Dave Currey 8 times in 5 seasons.

Only 3 UC teams have ever scored 34+ points in a game more than 4 times in a season - 2002 (5 times in 14 games), 1953 (5 in 10 games), and 1951 (7 in 11 games).

The only other time the team has ever scored this many points in 4 straight games was in 1951, when they scored 34+ in six straight games.

UC is averaging 429.5 yards of total offense. If they maintain this pace (and play in a bowl game), thye will set the single season total yardage mark (surpassing the 14-game 2002 squad), and have the second-highest YPG mark in team history, behind the Greg Cook-led 1968 Cats (incidentally, both the 2002 and 1968 Cats were mediocre teams - 7-7 in 02, and 5-4-1 in 68).

And the weak link on this team is the offense.

Now, I realize that this hasn't been the toughest 4 game stretch in history, and that the defense is helping them score a lot of points, but still. The offense has been the weakness, and it is on a pace to set team records for yardage and points. Just a year ago, a good team (8-5) failed to score 34 points a single time - not even against Miami, Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Syracuse, UConn, or Pitt.

There are certainly improvements to be made, and it will help if Mauk's shoulder starts responding, but if our biggest complaint is an offense gaining 430 yards a game, we've got little to complain about.

[BearcatDAN]

The most impressive part of the offense in my mind is that neither Ben nor Dustin have hurt the team with bad decisions. Most throws have been deliberate and controlled. That is the biggest challenge that they face is platooning and I applaud them for that......to come in and out and to be smart is why this 2 qb situation is working right now. Against the OSU rush, Ben may have taken sacks, but he didn't turn it over on a rushed or bad decision.

It's nice to have smart play from our weak link right now. NOt sure how weak you can call it, but since the defense is ahead....that's a nice problem for us to have!!!

Great numbers to read and appreciate the time you took to do it!

[CincySuperFan]

Now about the kicker...

[BearcatDAN]

Would that be the punter? Cause he is rock solid!!! :-)

[AeroCat]

And Jake Rogers (PATs and Field Goal kicker) has a great set of legs on him, he just needs to develop some aim! He's going to be great next year... or even later this year!

[Bearcat85]

Right now, Jake Rogers has not hurt us one bit, and in fact, has contributed to this winning streak by putting kickoffs high, and to the goal line, and by hitting a 55 yarder against OSU that kept the momentum building. And for all we know, the misses he's had on FG attempts and PAT's may have been on the holder. If he hadn't gotten off to such a bad start in his first ever collegiate game, no body would think twice about his stats since then.

[Justin Register]

While the QBs have been great, I think the fact that Ben or Dustin haven't made bad decisions stems from the offensive scheme. In previous years, we would typically see a conservative run on 1st and 2nd down, putting them in a 3rd and long situation. That leads to the QB having the pressure of taking a 5+ step drop and picking up 7+ yards. I think BK realizes that he doesn't have Peyton Manning back there, and he doesn't want to put them in those situations. Throwing for even 6 yards on first down is a huge relief has a QB...means that things won't have to be forced.

The wife has asked me "If these are mostly the same players, why are things so much different?" This is the most common example I use of a coach's plan working, and using the talent you have without trying to completely mold players.