Towson 8/31 2:30 ESPN+

[swilsonsp4]

Live action football can't get here fast enough. I looked at a few Towson highlights from last season, so here are a few comments. The Tigers are a standard spread team and virtually their entire offense is through the air. The only run plays I saw were goal line dives, except for one in which the RB lost a fumble. The QB appears to be decently accurate. He uses the TE, who is normally outside the box, quite a bit.

On the defensive side, most of the time they employed a 3-man line, but did switch to 4-man inside the 10. The Tigers were very porous last year. The other CAA teams had no trouble getting open.

Towson finished 6-5 (4-4 in the FCS CAA) in the current head coach's first season. The Tigers opened at Maryland (their sole FBS foe), with the Terrapins dominating, 38-6, as expected. I anticipate much of the same at Nippert.

[bearcat1518]

We were terrible in the redzone last year, one of the worst in the NCAA. This year does not look much different. Here are the bads: 1 missed field goal, 1 fumble, 1 failed 4th down attempt.
Here is the game summary from the hometown boys. Sorsby, Transfers Power Cincinnati to 23rd Straight Home-Opening Win - University of Cincinnati Athletics (gobearcats.com)

When was there a failed 4th down attempt?

[bearcatbret]

I have to agree with this. We pulled this off with elite defenders in the Freeman DC era. I think the Tressel DC year had a harder time with it because we lost some guys and people figured it out a bit. Veidt had a really good defense at ISU last year but there were a few draft picks going on there in the backfield.

The current makeup of our roster makes the scheme a liability. At least for now. Veidt needs to recruit to to his scheme going forward. He really didn't get an legit oppotrunity to do that outside of transfers and freshman this season. A lot of our roster was here to play a 4 down lineman scheme left over from last season.

Which begs the question: If we came from a 3-3-5 and went to 4-3 and right back to 3-3-5, why the heck didn't Satterfield just implement the 3-3-5 from the get go last season and just deal with it since it was a reboot anyway? We didn't have the personnel for it last year either and It might have kept us from running off some guys on the team and in recruiting due to the scheme change.

Because we brought in a new DC from Iowa State which runs this.

[Lobot]

Did we make it through the game without any serious injuries?

I believe we did. I guess we'll find out at the Tuesday press conference

[Lobot]

I am with you on the 3-3-5. It only works if a team has multiple superior defensive linemen and defensive backs. I know Fickell played with that God awful 3-3-5. However, Fickell had some superior defensive linemen and some NFL defensive backs. Check this out. Fickell and Marcus Freeman NOW play with FOUR down defensive linemen in their defensive schemes. I wonder why. Let's see how long it takes for Satterfield to figure out that the 3-3-5 will NOT work for this current UC team.

I have to agree with this. We pulled this off with elite defenders in the Freeman DC era. I think the Tressel DC year had a harder time with it because we lost some guys and people figured it out a bit. Veidt had a really good defense at ISU last year but there were a few draft picks going on there in the backfield.

The current makeup of our roster makes the scheme a liability. At least for now. Veidt needs to recruit to to his scheme going forward. He really didn't get an legit oppotrunity to do that outside of transfers and freshman this season. A lot of our roster was here to play a 4 down lineman scheme left over from last season.

Which begs the question: If we came from a 3-3-5 and went to 4-3 and right back to 3-3-5, why the heck didn't Satterfield just implement the 3-3-5 from the get go last season and just deal with it since it was a reboot anyway? We didn't have the personnel for it last year either and It might have kept us from running off some guys on the team and in recruiting due to the scheme change.

[westside bearcat]

Did we make it through the game without any serious injuries?

[leeraymond]

I still don’t like that 3-3-5. I really don’t like it.

I am with you on the 3-3-5. It only works if a team has multiple superior defensive linemen and defensive backs. I know Fickell played with that God awful 3-3-5. However, Fickell had some superior defensive linemen and some NFL defensive backs. Check this out. Fickell and Marcus Freeman NOW play with FOUR down defensive linemen in their defensive schemes. I wonder why. Let's see how long it takes for Satterfield to figure out that the 3-3-5 will NOT work for this current UC team.

[Lobot]

Box score:

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...meId/401628591

[Lobot]

Watching the defense live was very concerning. They have very many issues to fix. The DBs were constantly beaten, little to no pressure at the line of scrimmage and gaping holes for the opposing RBs, all against an FCS opponent. Maybe it was first-game issues but I was not impressed by the 3-3-5 defense. We'll find out whether it is effective against a true opponent next Saturday. I have my doubts.

The offense looked decent, though they had trouble running the ball in the first half. Sorsby looked sharp but so did Jones last season in game 1. Then we discovered what Jones could do against FBS opponents. Sorsby seems to lock onto his target and not look elsewhere. Red zone offense was average, at best. Royer was certainly a highlight at TE.

A lot of work to be a competitive team. I am not optimistic.

I'll disagree with the lock on to a receiver statement. He certainly did that a couple times but there were several passes where he went through his progression and hit the 3rd option. We didn't see that from Jones at all last year.

I do agree with the FBS opponents statement. We looked great against FCS last year as well and then the wheels mostly fell off.

I thought the Towson coaches made good adjustments against our defense.

Pitt put 55 on Kent State yesterday so that's something we can take over to the Pitt thread.

[London 'Cat]

Watching the defense live was very concerning. They have very many issues to fix. The DBs were constantly beaten, little to no pressure at the line of scrimmage and gaping holes for the opposing RBs, all against an FCS opponent. Maybe it was first-game issues but I was not impressed by the 3-3-5 defense. We'll find out whether it is effective against a true opponent next Saturday. I have my doubts.

The offense looked decent, though they had trouble running the ball in the first half. Sorsby looked sharp but so did Jones last season in game 1. Then we discovered what Jones could do against FBS opponents. Sorsby seems to lock onto his target and not look elsewhere. Red zone offense was average, at best. Royer was certainly a highlight at TE.

A lot of work to be a competitive team. I am not optimistic.

[Bearcat Chris]

Was not an easy win that we all expected it would be..... D better play a lot better next week and beyond, or it will be a long season.

B.C.

[leo from jersey]

I will remain silent until the next game is over. I do hope for improvements though.

[bearcatjd]

I’ve said it before,K Combs needs to be just the recruiting coordinator. He cant coach on the defensive end.

[bearcatbret]

We were terrible in the redzone last year, one of the worst in the NCAA. This year does not look much different. Here are the bads: 1 missed field goal, 1 fumble, 1 failed 4th down attempt. Here are the good: 1 TD, one field goal. It seemed that most of our scores were 40 yards out or longer. Some newcomers looked good today.
Here is the game summary from the hometown boys. Sorsby, Transfers Power Cincinnati to 23rd Straight Home-Opening Win - University of Cincinnati Athletics (gobearcats.com)

[Rufus]

I'm going to say this and people are going to be mad.

Kerry Coombs Special Teams and CB units are not ready to play. Kerry is a Cincinnati institution and it bothers me to say this but he needs to retire and pass the torch to someone. Love the guy. He's a positive force in motivation and recruiting but I think it's over.

I agree. I think his techniques for cornerbacks are not complimentary to today's passing game. Last year the Cb's were all the time getting burned.