Wednesday, September 06, 2000
Bearcats gear up for Syracuse
Offense has to finish drives
By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bearcats aren't saying as much, but they have to be licking their chops at the thought of what could be if University of Cincinnati quarterback Deontey Kenner finds his groove by Saturday.
Combine an accurate Ken ner with UC's bruising running game — running backs Ray Jackson and DeMarco McCleskey had 198 yards against Army on Monday — and suddenly the Bearcats would be going toe to toe with Syracuse's multidimen sional attack in what could be an offensive afternoon (3:30 p.m.).
Saturday's game will be televised on Fox Sports Net and will go to about 80 percent of the country. Monday's game against Army was televised coast to coast.
UC was rusty in the first half of the Army game, taking only a 6-3 lead, but the Bearcats cranked it up in the second half. So did Army, however, and that gives UC coach Rick Minter some concern. Syracuse is much faster than Army.
“They say this is one of the fastest Syracuse teams they've ever had,” Minter said. “They return seven or eight starters on defense, and they feel really good about most of their guys.”
The Bearcats are scrambling to recover from Monday's game and get ready for Saturday. Syracuse played last Saturday, pummeling Buffalo 63-7. The Orangemen are ranked 24th in the USA Today/ESPN poll.
The Bearcats (1-0) have to improve upon a number of things to beat Syracuse (1-0). Among them:
• The defense has to tackle better.
• The running game can't take a quarter and a half to establish itself.
• Perhaps most important, UC has to finish drives.
Kenner was 18-of-28 passing against Army, but he threw about six passes that were a foot too low. His missing six days late in preseason camp (left Achilles tendinitis) showed.
“He was inches away from having a banner night,” Minter said. “The fortunate thing is he's so close to being pretty good. He could have been 24-of-28. That needs to be the level of expectation.”
UC, which was concerned about new Army coach Todd Berry possibly “bringing the heat” on the quarterback the way Berry did when he coached at Illinois State, played conservatively early. One has to believe that if the Bearcats think they can throw on Syracuse, they will get right to it.
Kenner has a talented, veteran stable of receivers at his call, and they looked good in the 23-17 victory over Army, even though UC ran the ball a lot.
• UC notes: Kicker Jonathon Ruffin was named Conference USA special teams player of the week for going 3-of-3 on field goals (30, 20 and 26 yards) against Army. ... Defensive tackle Mario Monds, who didn't play Monday (deep thigh bruise), is expected to play Saturday. Middle linebacker Eddie Johnson is battling a sprained right knee.
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