Ask A Blogger Series: BearcatsBlog Talks Cincinnati Spring Football

Of paticular interest to Virginia Tech fans are the Cincinnati Bearcats. The Bearcats are one of the non-conference teams on the Hokies schedule. Let’s check out the Bearcats.

Good evening from @HokieGuru.  I’m here today to discuss the University of Cincinnati Bearcats spring football practice.   Virginia Tech plays at Cincinnati on Saturday, September 29, 2012 and this will be a good early season neutral site game for the Hokies.  I’m here today to interview @BearcatsBlog.  

According to the BearcatsBlog bio, “I tweet a lot during games, and am quite cussy. The only Bearcats blog named Bearcats Blog. Probably.”   @BearcatsBlog probably is the most comprehensive University of Cincinnati Bearcats athletics sports blog on the Internet.  Without further ado, here’s our interview below:

@HokieGuru:  Tell us about your spring game – how was the turnout?  Was the team well received?

@BearcatsBlog: Unfortunately, there was no spring game this year because Cincinnati weather hates the Cincinnati football program and rains every single year. I think this is the 4th year in a row where it’s rained.

@HokieGuru: What are some of the major strengths coming out of spring practice?

@BearcatsBlog: I would say that it’s depth. Jones and the staff have depth a nearly every position for the first time in a while for the Bearcats. They have multiple options at running back with George Winn, Jamel Poteat, Ralph David Abernathy IV. The receiving corp goes deep with Anthony McClung, Alex Chisum, and Kenbrell Thompkins as the starters. The entire secondary started at least 1 game last season. The defensive line goes 6 deep. The next man up thing started with Brian Kelly, but Butch Jones has a solid depth chart should injuries occur.

@HokieGuru: What are some of the major weaknesses coming out of spring practice?  In other words, what do you think Cincinnati will be working on in August before the first game?  What are the questions that you think have to be resolved?

@BearcatsBlog:  Offensive line. Alex Hoffman, Randy Martinez and Evan Davis were the left tackle, left guard and center last year. All depart and leave a sizeable hole. Eric Lefeld started the last 5 games of last season and will be back. Sean Hooey started the games Lefeld didn’t. Austen Bujnoch was the right guard all 12 games last year, the only stability coming back. But, Bujnoch and Lefeld are moving from the right side to left. Junior Dan Sprague is the center, sophomore Kevin Schloemer is in at right guard and Sean Hooey is back at right tackle. 2 seasons ago, the line was a major issue for Cincinnati. It’s looking like one this year.

@HokieGuru: Fall will be here before we know it – what position concerns you the most?

@BearcatsBlog: Quarterback. Isaiah Pead was the Cincinnati Bearcats offense last season. But I think UC has a nice combination of backs that can match most of his production. Maybe not his home run ability, but his numbers. When Zack Collaros got hurt, Cincinnati really struggled. Munchie Leagux only completed 47% of his passes with 4 INTs against 5 TDs. Jordan Luallen threw just 4 passes. Both QBs can run, 4th and 5th on the team in yards last year, but the passing game is going to be an issue. Leagux is going to be the starter, but you have to wonder how long Jones will stick with him if things get off slowly. I think Leagux can be a nice player. If he is, they could win the conference. If not, it might be a long year. Brandon Kay is going to get a chance to start, but he’s really been hurt by the injury bug during his UC career.

@HokieGuru: Who are the new recruits that you are impressed with the most?  Are there any that you think will get some major playing time right away?

@BearcatsBlog: I’m the wrong person to ask about this because I don’t really follow football recruiting very much. Like at all. It never really pulled me in like it has other people. That being said, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Bennie Coney, a dual threat QB. Alex Dale is a corner from Memphis that is pretty entertaining on twitter. Yes, that’s what impresses me the most, how entertaining they are on twitter. If I expanded this to redshirt freshmen, which I can because I’m answering the question and this can’t be edited, I would say that Patrick Coyne will have a bright future because he went to the same high school as I did. Badin pride.

@HokieGuru: Based on what you saw/read from spring practice, do you think Cincinnati will be better than last year?  Why or why not?

@BearcatsBlog: Just looking at what the Bearcats lost, I don’t think they are going to be better than last season. Munchie Leagux has a lot of potential and a lot of talent, but he wasn’t ready to be the man last season. Jordan Luallen isn’t known for his passing skills. Losing Isaiah Pead, as mentioned was the offense,, is a gaping hole that will have some trouble closing. And a couple of linemen are gone. On the other side of the ball, you lose your two defensive stallwarts in Derek Wolfe and JK Schaffer. The defensive line has some depth, but the loss of Schaffer is going to be tough. The league is down, so Cincinnati could win a share, but I just think Louisville is better and will win outright.

@HokieGuru: Give us the pulse of the Cincinnati football program – what are are the Bearcats bloggers/fans thinking right now on the status of the program?

@BearcatsBlog: I think a lot of people were pleasantly surprised by last season. I do think there are some people who were disappointed with how things turned out with not winning the Big East outright and all. That certainly didn’t help attendance for the UConn season ender. Overall, it was a much needed bounce back year for the program and for Butch Jones. Every recruiting class he has pulled I believe has been the highest rated in UC history.

I think there is more optimism surrounding the program from the people who cover it though. Attendance last year was pretty weak. The home slate this year is just bleh. We’ve seen that Cincinnati will rally around winners, so if this team can turn some heads in the league, I think the fans will get behind them. If the Pitt game isn’t sold out or close, that would be a problem.