Cincinnati Bearcats College Football Pregame Quote, 11/21/2023

I’ll just first recap very quickly on last week’s game. Obviously did not play very well. I did go back and watch the film and particularly on defense, we didn’t tackle well and didn’t do the things that it took to win that game. I don’t think on that side of the ball, particularly offensively we had limited possessions. I think we mentioned this after the game, those first two, three and outs we didn’t get were huge. Then we scored to make it 21-7 and then with a minute and a half to go, they go right back down to score. It was big momentum for them. I thought that was pretty key and the primary key in the game. Again, proud of the guys in the fourth quarter, putting up a couple touchdowns and holding them out of the endzone. I thought that was a certainly a positive, but credit to West Virginia. They played better than we did. There’s no question about it. We’re looking forward to this weekend, senior day, honoring these seniors. There are more than 20 seniors that’ll be walking. When you think about seniors now and it’s COVID era, it’s like who’s senior and who’s not. Who has another year coming back. We’re going to honor all these seniors for sure and I’m looking forward to that. Some guys have been here six years like Malik Van, Taj Ward and a couple guys that have been here a lot, won a lot of football games and done a lot of great things. Ryan Montgomery has done a lot of great things. Of course [Jowon] Briggs after transferring from Virginia. There is a lot to celebrate with these guys. We certainly want to send them out on a high note. We know Kansas is coming in here arguably one of the better teams in the Big 12. They’ve done a tremendous job over the last three years if you look at where they’ve come from, three years ago, when the coaching staff got there to where they are right now. Just a tremendous job. They are coached very well. When you watch the film, in all three phases, the guys play extremely hard. Offensively, they run the football, they’re going to get you in a lot of different formations, and they can control the game on the ground. But they are also good enough to throw. They’re one of few teams, probably not many, that have started three quarterbacks this year and all three really have played well. I would suspect we’ll see two quarterbacks in this game. Last week, I think Cole Ballard started and played the whole game. I do think the other quarterback that played, has played the last three or four weeks will end up playing as well. He can run, he’s one of the faster guys on their team as well and but also can throw. They do a really nice job with that. Devin Neal is a guy; I think he’s got over 1,100 yards rushing. Very impressive on offense and then defensively, they have one of the better defensive linemen, number nine [Austin Booker]. I think a great secondary of both safeties, they feel they tackle very, very well. Then both corners I think are very, very solid. Number three [Mello Dotson], he has four picks and two of them went back to the house. They took four touchdowns including in the Oklahoma game and Iowa State game and they won both of those games. Credit to those coaches and staff on what they’ve been able to accomplish and what they’ve done. So, we’ve got our work cut out for it for sure. We’re honoring these seniors, and hopefully go out and play a great game.

On any updates on Brady Lichtenberg:

He’s still banged up and hurting. It’ll be kind of day to day. Hopefully he’ll be able to go out there and do some things this week in practice, and hopefully he’ll be able to play this week. We’ll see how it goes as the week goes on.

On the possibility of freshman quarterback, Brady Drogosh playing this week:

When I think about three quarterbacks, I think of Kansas. They played three because their starter went out and has been for the last probably six weeks. They’re getting reps with those other two guys, and it is a tough job, guys. He [Brady Drogosh] gets reps but just very, very limited. There’s a chance we could potentially see Drogosh this week. We’ll see how it goes. He is certainly a great athlete and a guy who’s been learning. One of the things we’ve been doing, we started this three weeks ago, was at the end of Tuesday and Wednesday practices, we do a young guys scrimmage, and he’s been getting to participate in that, doing some really good things. So, it’s been great to see. It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him to get out there and get some action. Once again, we’ll have to see how the week goes particularly for [Brady] Lichtenberg and see where we’re at with Drogosh, but he may get some action as well.

On the tight end situation and the effects of the transfer portal:

That’s a problem and you see it across the nation. To speak on the tight end room, we also lost Joey Beljan in the spring. So, essentially, we’re looking at our top four tight ends being out. We’ve got a couple tight ends that are still available. The last couple of weeks we’ve played Trevor [Radosevich] at the tight end position to give a little bit more blocking right there. Evan Prater has done some things as an H-back type player as well. I give credit to Evan, he’s very smart. He’s played a lot of different positions as far as split in, a wide slot receiver in each bag. He’s been able to do that. So, we’re trying to take up the slack a little bit, so to speak with those guys. You mentioned this, it’s sad that these players can’t finish out of season. Across college football, you put so much hard work into it and when I think about it we have guys that have been on the scout team for four or five years that are they’re practicing their butts off and doing everything they can to help the team win. You think about those guys that would do everything, Ben Blevins, Jiair Thomas, guys that have been around for a while, and all they do is bust their butt of in practice.

On the progression of Emory Jones this season:

His whole career has been a lot of ups and downs as we mentioned. The thing I always say about him is that he’s a great person. He comes in here and he really didn’t say much. He just worked and earned the respect of his teammates. I would say that about Braden Smith and [Dee] Wiggins some of these guys that did the same thing to come over, Donovan Ollie as well. They’re all great kids, they really are. They’re great to work with. They show up every day trying to do the very best that they can do. Obviously, you have high expectations for them, and they have high expectations for themselves and sometimes you fall short of that. But I do think that for me, it’s more about the person and the character and how they handle themselves. And they’ve been awesome. I do think there’ll be successful in whatever their endeavors in life will be. I think sometimes, as fans and as people, all we care about is how they perform on a Saturday. As for coaches, we care about how you perform on Saturday, but we also care about the person. We care about how you carry yourself, how are you going to be as a father, as a husband, as a community leader when you leave. This program and those guys are mentors standing up there. Certainly, they’ve had their ups and downs this year and, and us as a team, but they can take away the fact that they’ve done things the right way and are very quality young men.

On struggle with rush defense:

We’ve played some good teams. Central Florida is one of the top rushing teams, West Virginia is one of the top rushing teams, Ollie Gordon is [Oklahoma State’s running back] one of the top running backs in the country. We’ve played some really good teams that can really run the football. I think that’s a part of it and gives them a little bit of credit. But also, I just think the depth factor for us is kind of worn down a little bit. I think we’ve got some guys out there that are dinged up from playing that way. [Bryon] Threats has been dinged up, DP [Deshawn Pace] has been dinged up, Dingle’s [Jack Dingle] out there in a cast. There are a lot of guys that we have to count on and there’s not a lot of rotation, I think that’s been a part of it. I thought Saturday we didn’t tackle very well. Credit to them, number 22 [Jahiem White] is electric in space and the quarterback can really run. I think all those reasons are why we had those last three or four games not go very well.

On the issue of quarterbacks getting out of the pocket:

It certainly has. I think it’s been two things. One, obviously, is when they scramble. We’ve done a pretty good job in the last few games. We’re recovering well. Now we have our rush lanes and then all of a sudden, they pop out and now they get their first down on third. That’s one aspect, but then also last week in particular there were some plays where the quarterback really made us pay. It’s the fact that when you have the running back going one way, and the quarterback going the other, you’re splitting the defense so now it’s going to be one or two guys who have to make that play. We didn’t make the play. Whether that quarterback was in space, he’s very elusive, we just didn’t make the play and we obviously have to do a better job. If you get that assignment as quarterback, you have to make the play before you can get loose and get into the secondary.

On Senior Night this coming Saturday:

I feel bad personally for these guys because we didn’t have the kind of season that we wanted to have for them as seniors, who have meant so much to this program, the city, and the school. You obviously want to send them out on a high note, but you want to celebrate these guys. Hopefully our fans will come out and celebrate these seniors and show them appreciation for everything that they’ve done for the program for many years. These guys have sacrificed a lot. Early morning lifting for five years or six years, all of the meetings, and all the blood and sweat they put out there on that field. Practicing and going out there to play and laying it all on the line. For this program I think as a senior especially when the game gets ready to kick off you start thinking about those things. You think about all of the memories, all of the people that you came in contact with and you get emotional. Those guys will be emotional and rightfully so for all the things they’ve been through. Hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate these guys this Saturday, lift them up and hopefully they’ll have a great game and go out on top.

On the potential of gaining/ losing players over the next month:

Hold on tight because something happens every day when you get into December, right? That’s the world we’re living in now and it’s recruiting, and we’ve been recruiting all season. When you think about the middle of December, we’ll sign for high school players. And then of course, December 4th, the portal will open up and that’ll be open all the way through December into the first of January. Certainly, we’ll probably have some guys that will get in the portal, every team in the country will and there will be some movement, and there will be some things that will happen within that. We’re prepared for that. Last year was way different because you get in here and you’re scrambling, you’re trying to get a staff, you’re trying to figure out what’s going on and what’s more difficult. But now with our recruiting department in play and our coaching staff, we’re all here and ready to go. So, I think it’ll be much better for us this offseason as far as gaining the proper players to come in here and help us win.

On Barry Jackson not playing vs WVU:

He didn’t but he’s got an opportunity to play this week. We’ll get him in and he’ll certainly play this week. He’s a talented player. He’s worked hard this whole season to learn a lot of things that are going on within the offense. Braden Smith has done a great job with him throughout this year to help teach him and kind of show him the ropes. He’s an electric player, and he’ll certainly be on the field this week.

On the struggles of creating team culture with the transfer portal:

Yeah, that’s the most difficult part. It’s a great point because these high school guys, I talk to at least once every week for a long time. So, you really get to know them because when you talk to them every week, you come up with something to talk about and you get to know them. Last night, I talked to 29 guys. Now December 4 is signing day. So, if this particular player comes in, it’s like speed dating. You’re getting on the phone, you’re talking to them being like ‚Äòhey you’re interested in us, we’re interested in you.’ Boom, now it’s on. Then you start calling everybody that knows that player. You try to get a pulse and figure out exactly who that player is and what makes him tick. What’s the reasoning? Why is he leaving and all those type things. It’s very difficult to figure out exactly what kind of person you’re getting. For example, Xzavier [Henderson] that happened pretty fast. We got him in the summer but he’s a great kid. He works his butt off every day. You want to find guys like that. [Dee] Wiggins and Braden [Smith], of course we knew those guys so it’s a little bit different but Donovan Ollie, we didn’t know him when he came in, but he’s been awesome. He’s a great kid. I love being around him. So, if we can find guys like that with the right attitude, the right perspective on things. It’s very difficult because when guys are looking to transfer, obviously they want to help themselves out but, we’re looking to build a team for the team aspect. I think that’s the thing that’s the most difficult. As we go through it, we try to vet those guys as quickly as we can, and we’ve brought guys in after talking to them and then realized that I don’t think that’s going to fit for our program. Here’s the other good thing, guys like [Dontay] Corleone and some other guys on our team, they’ll want to know who we bring in here. They’ll want to be around them and they’re going to help us get a good pulse about who these guys are.

On what he does to find a sense of normalcy during these times:

It is hard, it really is. When I’m not doing all that, I try to get with my wife and family and just have some sort of normalcy but it’s very hard to do. You can’t even have normalcy anymore in this coaching room. Particularly when you start in August because we’re here every day, at least 12 hours a day for seven days a week all the way through. Then December doesn’t stop. We’re going to be recruiting our players here, high school players and in the portal all the way through Christmas. Then during Christmas, hopefully you can get a little bit of a break and relax for a week but then you’re right back in January. It is very, very difficult to try to separate the work from family life.

On how helpful General Manager of Recruiting, Zach Grant has been:

Zach and all our guys, Carter [Wilson, Director of Scouting], Jack [Griffith, Director of Player Personnel], Cass [Simmons, Director of Recruiting Strategy] and all of the recruiting department, they’ve done a phenomenal job. They understand it. They have to be great at roster management. Every single week we’re looking at our roster. We’re looking at each position, looking at needs, potential guys that may leave or guys we want to bring in, all of these things. So, we have a great plan, which is awesome. Now that you have that plan, we must go work. We have to be able to do all that because, as head coaches, you can’t do it all, you don’t have time. So. to have a department that you trust, that’s going to put the work in and man they’ve been tremendous. So, we’ll see how this all pans out. We’ll see how good they are when January gets here.

On Kansas’ rushing offense:

To me, this is one of the best teams in the Big 12. They’ve lost a couple of games but they’re one of the best running teams. They played two really good running backs in last week’s game. They’re doing the Wildcat thing where maybe four different people call a snap. They’ve put the pressure on you because they play hard. They’re coached very physical as well. These guys are good. There’s no question.