'09 Football Opponent Preview: Cincinnati
August 26, 2009 | Football
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- As college football fans across the country gear up for another exciting season of action on the gridiron, UofLSports.com will give Louisville fans breakdown, analysis and things to watch for on each of the Cardinals' 2009 opponents leading up to the start of the season.
The staff of UofLSports.com continues its 2009 football season preview with an in-depth look at the Cards' BIG EAST rival game against Cincinnati.
 | Game Buildup |
The Cardinals hit the road for the second straight week and head down I-71 to face the Bearcats of Cincinnati. The two former C-USA rivals will meet for the first time at Nippert Stadium since the Cardinals upset 15th-ranked UC 28-24 in 2007.
| Season Outlook |
The Cincinnati football team put together a banner season in 2008 that included a school-record 11 wins, the program's first BIG EAST Conference Championship, a final ranking of No. 17 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Top-25 polls, and a Bowl Championship Series appearance in the 75th FedEx Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2009.
Head coach Brian Kelly; the two-time defending BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year, enters his third season at the helm of the program with a 22-6 record at UC and has the Bearcats' sights set on another BIG EAST Championship and a return to the BCS.
The pieces are in place for another championship run, as UC returns 43 letterwinners and 11 starters, including second-team all-BIG EAST selection Tony Pike at quarterback, stalwart offensive tackle Jeff Linkenbach, and safety Aaron Webster, who many preseason publications regard as the hardest-hitting defensive player in the league.
Adding to UC's nationally-recognized talent is wide receiver/kick returner Mardy Gilyard, who set school records with his receiving (1,276) and kickoff return (996) yardage totals from a year ago.
The 2009 season is not without its challenges, as UC has to replace key starters on both sides of the ball, including 10 on the defensive side. Kelly will also have to settle on a replacement for the first two-time first-team AP all-America selection in school history, punter Kevin Huber, who now works his craft at Paul Brown Stadium for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kelly is quick to point out that while the faces may have changed, the mission remains the same; win the BIG EAST Championship and play in a BCS bowl game.
| Players to Watch |
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Mardy Gilyard | WR/KR | No. 1 | Senior
Cincinnati will welcome back All-American kick returner and wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, the 2008 BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year, who made 81 catches for a school-record 1,276 yards and a team-high 11 touchdowns. Gilyard, a First Team All-BIG EAST selection at wide receiver and kick returner, also set a school record with 994 kickoff return yards along with a pair of scores. He capped off his remarkable season with a superb showing in the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl, hauling in seven catches for a school-bowl record 158 yards and a score. Gilyard is a preseason Biletnikoff Award and Walter Camp Player of the Year candidate.
Other Key Players
| Scouting Opponent's Offense |
The return of Tony Pike gives Kelly a luxury he has not had in some time, a returning quarterback. For the first time in his UC tenure, the Bearcats head into the fall with someone firmly entrenched at the quarterback slot.
Pike missed two games, and parts of three others due to a broken arm, forcing UC to use a total of five quarterbacks last year. One thing that accomplished was to give sophomores Chazz Anderson and Zach Collaros some much needed experience.
Anderson, who enters fall camp as the backup, started the two games Pike missed. He also relieved Pike during the second half of the loss at Connecticut.
Collaros, who spent time with the UC baseball squad during the spring, played the part of reliever to perfection, coming in during crunch time in two games. He led UC on a drive to a game-winning field goal at Akron, and secured a game-clinching first down against USF.
UC has five running backs vying for playing time, with junior John Goebel and senior Jacob Ramsey at the top of the depth chart. Goebel started the final three games of the year.
Both backs were held back during the spring due to injury, allowing sophomore Isaiah Pead and redshirt freshman Darrin Williams to take most of the reps. Williams did not see any game action in 2008, but had a strong spring and will battle for playing time in fall camp. Scott Johnson will also be in the mix.
Mardy Gilyard leads the wide receiving corps as a senior. He is one of most exciting returning receivers in the nation and will continue to stretch defenses with his talent.
D.J. Woods returns for his sophomore season after playing behind Marcus Barnett in 2008.
Armon Binns is penciled in as the starter at the other wide receiver spot. Binns saw limited time a year ago backing up stalwart Dominick Goodman, but after a solid spring, the promising talent looks to step into a starting role.
Charley Howard, Adrien Robinson, and Orion Woodard will all challenge for playing time in the rotation.
Kazeem Alli and Ben Guidugli will vie for playing time at tight end.
The offensive line returns its entire left side with Jeff Linkenbach (left tackle), Jason Kelce (left guard), and Chris Jurek (center) all back for another year.
C.J. Cobb and Alex Hoff man will look to hold down the starting spots on the right side with Frank Becker and Sam Griffi n pressing them for playing time. Sean Hooey, Randy Martinez, and Evan Davis will all battle to be in the rotation.
| Scouting Opponent's Defense |
The defense will feature a new look, a new coordinator, and 10 new starters in 2009. Many position battles are ongoing, making fall camp a competitive situation for the defense.
Bob Diaco joined the staff as the defensive coordinator in February from Virginia, and spent the spring installing UC's new multiple-front defense. With the loss of 10 seniors, the spring was a critical period for getting a look at different players on the defense.
The secondary is headlined by returning starter Aaron Webster at safety. The hard-hitting Webster entered the starting lineup against Marshall a year ago and did not relinquish his spot. Drew Frey looks to nail down the other safety spot after losing most of 2008 to injury. Quincy Quetant and Pat Lambert will serve as the understudies entering fall camp.
Senior Brad Jones will occupy one starting cornerback role, while Marcus Barnett, after an impressive spring, moves over from the offensive side of the ball to take the other spot. Dominique Battle, UC's 2008 Newcomer of the Year, and Camerron Cheatham will compete for playing time.
Seniors Andre Revels and Craig Carey lead the returners at linebacker. Revels missed most of the spring recovering from injury while Carey spent the spring learning a new position after playing at defensive end in 2008. They will be pushed for playing time by Marcus Waugh and Robby Armstrong.
Sophomore JK Schaffer holds down the other linebacker spot with Collin McCafferty on his heels. Another former quarterback, Demetrius Jones, has moved to linebacker and will look to get involved in the mix.
Derek Wolfe, Ricardo Matthews, John Hughes, and Curtis Young highlight the returners on the defensive line. All saw time a year ago and will look to continue the success UC has had in recent years attacking opposing quarterbacks.
Alex Daniels, Rob Trigg, Brandon Mills, and Walter Stewart will all look for time in the playing rotation.
| Scouting Opponent's Special Teams |
Senior Mike Windt and junior Jake Rogers lead the returners on special teams. Windt, a long snapper has been flawless the past two seasons. Rogers was a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2008.
The punting job is open for competition after the graduation of Kevin Huber. Rogers, Michael Cooke, and Danny Milligan all punted during the spring, and look for true freshman Patrick O'Donnell to get involved in the competition once camp begins. UC has led the NCAA in net punting for two straight years, only the fourth team in Football Bowl Subdivision history to do so.
Mardy Gilyard is one of the most explosive kick returners in the country, earning first team all-BIG EAST honors at that spot a year ago.
D.J. Woods enters camp as the primary punt returner after serving as a backup in 2008, while Marcus Barnett will also be competing for returns.
| Game Implications |
The Cardinals have played well at Nippert Stadium through the years, winning the last five contests. The game is big because its the second straight road game for the Cardinals in the uncertain BIG EAST Conference.
The countdown to the start of the season marches on as UofLSports.com provides and in-depth look at the Cards' final non-conference game against Arkansas State in its next installment.
