Wednesday, September 04, 2002
Catch-up trend has Minter fretting
By Gary Estwick gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The University of Cincinnati rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat TCU on Monday. Sound familiar?
It does because the Bearcats, behind quarterback Gino Guidugli, came from behind to win three games last season.
Head coach Rick Minter knows if UC continues to get behind in games, the Bearcats (1-0 overall, 1-0 in Conference USA) will likely not be as fortunate as they were last year and during their 2002 Labor Day season opener.
“If we go out and play exactly the same way again, we'll probably get beat,” Minter said Tuesday. “Because typically, when you lose all the battles we lost, you're supposed to lose.”
The battles Minter mentioned included turnovers, special teams, big plays and drive-stopping penalties.
With no game this weekend, UC has 10 days to work on Minter's short list of problems before West Virginia (1-0) comes to Nippert Stadium on Sept.14. WVU, which will play at Wisconsin on Saturday, beat Tennessee-Chattanooga 56-7 last weekend.
Turnovers
UC's offense committed five turnovers, three of which were near midfield or in Bearcats territory. Four were Guidugli interceptions and one was a fumble by running back DeMarco McCleskey. The Horned Frogs converted the turnovers into one touchdown and four field goals.
Special teams
With the score tied at 7-7 in the first quarter, TCU's Terran Williams fielded a Chet Ervin punt at the Horned Frogs 30-yard line, then dodged several UC defenders en route to the end zone.
Drive-stopping penalties
On a third-and-1 near midfield in the third quarter, the Bearcats were penalized 5 yards for having 12 men on the field. The down changed to third-and-6, and Guidugli threw an incomplete pass to receiver LaDaris Vann. UC punted.
On the Bearcats' following offensive series, a false start turned a second-and-9 into second-and-14. George Murray played quarterback for one snap, and took a 1-yard loss on a draw. On third down, Guidugli was sacked.
Eliminating big plays
Minter said his defense played “solid” Monday, taking into consideration the situations the unit was put in because of the offense's turnovers. Minter did say his defense shouldn't have given up TCU quarterback Sean Stilley's 42-yard TD pass to fullback Reggie Holts.
Better preparation
Minter said he and his coaches have to be accountable. This week, the coaching staff will scrutinize every play, and every technique will be questioned.
Story from Monday's game
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 Catch-up trend has Minter fretting
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