3reppom wrote: UC has played top 25 defenses. If you think they haven't take five minutes and look up the stats. The bottom line when it comes to stopping UC's offense you need to get pressure in Tony Pike's face consistantly. Only USF was able to do that this year and Pike was knocked out with a real fluke play where he landed awkawardly on that broken arm. as for todays game UC took it very easy and kept the offense and the defense very simple. UC ran cover 3, cover 2 or quarters on every play. They might have blitzed half a dozen times. As a senior QB Juice Williams should be able to execute against repetative looks like that and he did. Illinois never had control of this game and they never seriously threatened to take controll either. UC didn't look their best, but in a game that amounted to a live practice for Tony Pike they still won with ease.

UC doesn't have the defense a top 5 team should have.

They are top 10, but not top 5 elite.

Florida would have destroyed Illinois today and not allowed 476 yards.

They wouldn't have allowed 462 to UConn either.

UC has played some real juggernaut defenses.

#22 Rutgers
#25 South Florida
SMS no rank
#42 Oregon State
#86 Fresno State
#75 Miami Oh
#66 Louisville
#36 Syracuse
#71 UCONN
#44 WVU
#89 Illinois

Average of #55.6

Plus, I don't give a shit what defense you run. You gave up 36 points and 476 yards of offense. 100+ more yards and 16 more points than their average. Don't come on here saying that UC took it easy when you and everyone else knows that the UC defense just isn't very good.

3reppom wrote: UC has played top 25 defenses. If you think they haven't take five minutes and look up the stats. The bottom line when it comes to stopping UC's offense you need to get pressure in Tony Pike's face consistantly. Only USF was able to do that this year and Pike was knocked out with a real fluke play where he landed awkawardly on that broken arm. as for todays game UC took it very easy and kept the offense and the defense very simple. UC ran cover 3, cover 2 or quarters on every play. They might have blitzed half a dozen times. As a senior QB Juice Williams should be able to execute against repetative looks like that and he did. Illinois never had control of this game and they never seriously threatened to take controll either. UC didn't look their best, but in a game that amounted to a live practice for Tony Pike they still won with ease.

Why do we have to go and look up the stats?

You're the one defending them. You show us some stats because they've played the 65th ranked schedule in the nation.

Don't be a homer.

Why such venom for Cincy? I know we all live in Buckeye Land, but a little love for the Bearcats isn't necessarily a bad thing, either. My God, they ARE undefeated after all so it's not like they're just lucky this year.

hrspeedmerchant wrote: Why such venom for Cincy? I know we all live in Buckeye Land, but a little love for the Bearcats isn't necessarily a bad thing, either. My God, they ARE undefeated after all so it's not like they're just lucky this year.

Don't mistake venom for just posting reality.

That's why posters like Paladin are annoying. You can't say anything bad about a team, esp if it is just pointing out the truth, without them jumping down your throat.

hrspeedmerchant wrote: Why such venom for Cincy? I know we all live in Buckeye Land, but a little love for the Bearcats isn't necessarily a bad thing, either. My God, they ARE undefeated after all so it's not like they're just lucky this year.

No venom at all, I watched the game without bias. UC has an excellent offense that hasn't faced an elite defense. Every top team has at least faced 1 defense in the Top 20 and every top team has a defense in the Top 5. Hell the defensive rankings go 1-Bama, 2-Florida, 3-Texas, 4-TCU.

I think offensively UC is a Top 5 team, no doubt about it (I'd like to see some more running) but they haven't went against defenses like the others and they sure as hell don't have a Top 25 defense at all.

devil1197 wrote: . Hell the defensive rankings go 1-Bama, 2-Florida, 3-Texas, 4-TCU.

.....................38-Cincy

Cincinnati won the game and that's all that matters. Whether there were questionable calls or not doesn't matter. What ifs don't matter. Nothing matters except what the scoreboard says when the game clock says 0:00. If Cincinnati isn't really a BCS cailber team, it will be apparent in their BCS game (if they get by Pitt). We will see when the time comes. I think they are probably better than those who don't like Cincinnati, and are not quite as good as those who say that Cincinnati is the best team in Ohio this season. Somewhere in the middle resides the actual truth of the matter.

You don't always have to have the best defense to win games or championships. The defenses job is too make sure the other team doesn't score as much as your own offense does.

I am a Buckeye fan but can respect what Cincy is doing. This is why I love the nfl. Nobody cares about offense/defense rankings. Strength of schedule means nothing because you actually have to win games on the field instead of through a computer program.

pmoney25 wrote: You don't always have to have the best defense to win games or championships. The defenses job is too make sure the other team doesn't score as much as your own offense does.

I am a Buckeye fan but can respect what Cincy is doing. This is why I love the nfl. Nobody cares about offense/defense rankings. Strength of schedule means nothing because you actually have to win games on the field instead of through a computer program.

I just went back 5 or so years to see who won the Nation Championship. A similar trend for those winners eh? You really think UC can win the National Championship with a #38 defense going against a team that will have a top 5 defense and effective offenses? This isn't high school where you can have a high powered offense and a lousy defense while still winning state. Florida, Texas, TCU, Bama all have offenses that can get the job done and Top 5 defense. Those teams are complete on both sides of the football. Unless UC significantly improves their defense to get on par with their offense they won't be a national contender. Call me a hater I don't really care because I am only pointing out the real facts. I love UC's offense with Pike and his receiving core, but their defense isn't National Championship material.

2008- Florida Top 10 defense
2007- LSU Top 5 Defense
2006- Florida Top 10 defense
2005- Texas Top 10 defense
2004- USC Top 10 defense
2003- LSU #1 defense

devil1197 wrote:

pmoney25 wrote: You don't always have to have the best defense to win games or championships. The defenses job is too make sure the other team doesn't score as much as your own offense does.

I am a Buckeye fan but can respect what Cincy is doing. This is why I love the nfl. Nobody cares about offense/defense rankings. Strength of schedule means nothing because you actually have to win games on the field instead of through a computer program.

I just went back 5 or so years to see who won the Nation Championship. A similar trend for those winners eh?

2008- Florida Top 10 defense
2007- LSU Top 5 Defense
2006- Florida Top 10 defense
2005- Texas Top 10 defense
2004- USC Top 10 defense
2003- LSU #1 defense

Look at the NFL too

Illinois only scored more points twice this season, 38 against Michigan and 45 against those pesky Illinois Staters....

Giving up just under 500 yard to Illinois just tells me that UC's ranking is very suspect and most likely not deserved. That D was horrible.

I have been saying the entire year that UC doesn't have to have a great defense to win ball games. I have never said that UC has a great defense, the Bearcats do some things on defense very well namely getting into the backfield in the form of tackles for loss and sacks. The secondary sucks at pattern recognition and Bob Diaco does not have a great feel for the game when calling plays. But none of that matters very much to me as a fan of UC because I know that the offense and the special teams will always come to play each and every week. The point I have made since the start of the season is that the special teams and offense are so overwhelmingly good for that the defense just has to hold serve. They do that, and they have done that. If UC doesn't fit your mold of what an elite team is though shit. But to say that after 11 games that you don't know how good UC is because "They haven't played anyone" is idiotic. The body of works speaks for itself at this point and the pattern is appernt to everyone who pays attention. UC doesn't win by playing back breaking defense, they just don't. They win because they have the best most efficient offense in the country, great special teams with Gilyard and Jake Rogers and a defense manages to get a couple stops every time one is really needed. That is how UC plays games this year. Is UC the best team in the country this year? maybe, maybe not. Can they beat Florida, Bama, or Texas in a one game scenario of course they can.

rep, that is all great I understand why you feel like Cincy is capable. But they won't be facing defenses like Ill, UCONN, or Oregon State in their BCS bowl games. Do you honestly think you will be capable of putting up 40+ on Florida, Texas, Bama, hell even TCU?

UC doesnt' have to have a great defense to win games, but they will need a great defense to win the National Championship or a BCS bowl game. If you think the offense will carry them during those games then your in for a rude awakening. I understand your excited because of how the offense looks but trust me as an OSU fan you need to look at the situations with a bias. Your setting yourself up for a big disappointment if you think UC is capable right now of going against the Top 3 in the country.

3reppom wrote:. UC doesn't win by playing back breaking defense, they just don't. They win because they have the best most efficient offense in the country, great special teams with Gilyard and Jake Rogers and a defense manages to get a couple stops every time one is really needed.

It's really only my opinion, but I think the reason UC is winning this season is because they haven't played anyone worth a shit. Again just my humble opinion.

I am a Buckeye fan and like to see Ohio teams do well, including Cincy. But defense is my favorite aspect of football and the aspect that I respect the most...and I just can't take UC seriously due to their lack of defense.

devil1197 wrote: rep, that is all great I understand why you feel like Cincy is capable. But they won't be facing defenses like Ill, UCONN, or Oregon State in their BCS bowl games. Do you honestly think you will be capable of putting up 40+ on Florida, Texas, Bama, hell even TCU?

UC doesnt' have to have a great defense to win games, but they will need a great defense to win the National Championship or a BCS bowl game. If you think the offense will carry them during those games then your in for a rude awakening. I understand your excited because of how the offense looks but trust me as an OSU fan you need to look at the situations with a bias. Your setting yourself up for a big disappointment if you think UC is capable right now of going against the Top 3 in the country.

I don't have a bias. I root for UC at all times but I know that they whould be a double digit dog against Florida, Texas or Bama. I know every aspect of this team and where they have advantages and where they don't. Spielman said several times today that in a one game situation anything can happen. That is my point. On paper UC doesn't match up with those three but games aren't played on paper. Don't forget that the underdog has won 7 of the 10 BCS championships.

ytownfootball wrote:

3reppom wrote:. UC doesn't win by playing back breaking defense, they just don't. They win because they have the best most efficient offense in the country, great special teams with Gilyard and Jake Rogers and a defense manages to get a couple stops every time one is really needed.

It's really only my opinion, but I think the reason UC is winning this season is because they haven't played anyone worth a shit. Again just my humble opinion.

At this point UC's schedule is about as tough has Texas's has been to date so are you going to make the same statement about the longhorns?

I usually like to see Ohio teams do well.

My reason to dislike UC is the fans and cockiness of their players. All of a sudden, there's a giant UC bandwagon because they've finally had consecutive winning seasons. Even the announcers realized that this still isn't a program known for football.

Look at '98 Tulane, '07 Hawaii, and I'm sure there are more. Every lower team has a great few years in which people jump on the band wagon. It's all well and good for UC, but I just wish their fans would stop acting like their team beats Florida and Alabama caliber teams every week.

3reppom wrote:

devil1197 wrote: rep, that is all great I understand why you feel like Cincy is capable. But they won't be facing defenses like Ill, UCONN, or Oregon State in their BCS bowl games. Do you honestly think you will be capable of putting up 40+ on Florida, Texas, Bama, hell even TCU?

UC doesnt' have to have a great defense to win games, but they will need a great defense to win the National Championship or a BCS bowl game. If you think the offense will carry them during those games then your in for a rude awakening. I understand your excited because of how the offense looks but trust me as an OSU fan you need to look at the situations with a bias. Your setting yourself up for a big disappointment if you think UC is capable right now of going against the Top 3 in the country.

I don't have a bias. I root for UC at all times but I know that they whould be a double digit dog against Florida, Texas or Bama. I know every aspect of this team and where they have advantages and where they don't. Spielman said several times today that in a one game situation anything can happen. That is my point. On paper UC doesn't match up with those three but games aren't played on paper. Don't forget that the underdog has won 7 of the 10 BCS championships.

ytownfootball wrote:

3reppom wrote:. UC doesn't win by playing back breaking defense, they just don't. They win because they have the best most efficient offense in the country, great special teams with Gilyard and Jake Rogers and a defense manages to get a couple stops every time one is really needed.

It's really only my opinion, but I think the reason UC is winning this season is because they haven't played anyone worth a shit. Again just my humble opinion.

At this point UC's schedule is about as tough has Texas's has been to date so are you going to make the same statement about the longhorns?

The Big 12 is far tougher than the Big East so that doesn't fly.

At this point UC's schedule is about as tough has Texas's has been to date so are you going to make the same statement about the longhorns?

IF all things being equal as you say as far as current SOS are concerned, then yeah I'd say the same thing about Texas. But it's really subjective as far as SOS is concerned. Ive found some that have UC/Texas in the 30's, others in the 50-65 range so it's too subjective for you to really use as your argument.

But as skyhook here says I and most reasonable fans recognize that the Big12 is a far superior conference than the Big East. It would also stand to reason that the quality of players is also better in the Big12.

The bottom line is that the 10th ranked offensive unit in the Big10 dropped 36 on your Bearcats. As a program that is looking to gain a BCS berth I would be worried about what Texas/Bama/Florida would be dropping on my squad rather than how much we could score.

If OSU played Cinci...Cinci would wake up strapped to a table with Tressel standing over them ready to plunge a knife into their chest. This team would get Tresselized.

Illinois hung 39 on them today. 39! To one of the worst offenses in the Big 10.

We'd run the ball down their undersized D's throats and keep their ball of the field. One pick by Pike and it'd be over. Cinci is not top 5 worthy.

Sigh.. the posts on here are as expected. Look, I admit the defense is the biggest weakness of this team. However, I have been hearing all year wait til you play_____. Each time, UC has passed the test and the haters respond by saying _____ was not really that good (despite them talking them up the week before).

All I'm saying is it is easy to sit up and take shots from the peanut gallery. The haters have been calling for multiple losses this season and that is not going to happen. It is easy to say UC is going to lose the next one, because the odds are they very well may. Very few teams end with a perfect record.

Little Danny wrote: Sigh.. the posts on here are as expected. Look, I admit the defense is the biggest weakness of this team. However, I have been hearing all year wait til you play_____. Each time, UC has passed the test and the haters respond by saying _____ was not really that good (despite them talking them up the week before).

All I'm saying is it is easy to sit up and take shots from the peanut gallery. The haters have been calling for multiple losses this season and that is not going to happen. It is easy to say UC is going to lose the next one, because the odds are they very well may. Very few teams end with a perfect record.

I agree it is unfortunate that nobody will give Cincy any dap at all. But let's face it, today was a measuring stick day and for Cincy to get a thumbs up they had to score alot (they did) and embarrass Illinois (they didn't). Illinois had a ton of yards and scored a good bit of points with a crappy offense and a terrible QB. I am rooting my heart out for Cincy (as a Buckeye fan though)

c'mon danny, after three years you should be used to that kind of behaviour by now lol.

Each time, UC has passed the test and the haters respond by saying _____ was not really that good (despite them talking them up the week before).

Illinois was a test? Good. Listening to everyone, you would think that Ohio State hadn't beaten anyone this year, but they passed the Illinois test 30-0.