Sept. 27, 2008
(7:14 p.m.): Wow, scary game there for Bearcats fans, huh? I was not in attendance at the Rubber Bowl today, and, like most of you I’m sure, I couldn’t watch until the beginning of the fourth quarter. Here are a few observations from the final 16 minutes of the game:
How about Jake Rogers? That 48-yard field goal was huuuuuggggeeeee. How huge? Without him, there’s a 95 percent possibility the Bearcats are 2-2 today (it would have been awfully tough to expect Zach Collaros to win UC the game there). Did you see how many people surrounded him after that field goal? Most popular guy on the team today.
Another brutal blow for UC’s quarterback corps with Tony Pike leaving the game with an injured left arm. Quick story: after I returned home from Argentina (following the Oklahoma game), I sent BK a text message, sarcastically asking if I missed anything while I was gone. He wrote back that he was running low on quarterbacks.
Now, depending on how long Pike is out (his left arm (non-throwing) didn’t look too good as he was being carted off the field), BK is down to two redshirt freshmen, a couple true freshmen and a transfer who doesn’t know the entire offense.
So, if I’m guessing, I think BK might temper down the playbook and throw Demetrius Jones out there next week (assuming Pike can’t go). Zach Collaros didn’t have much time to show his attributes, but he looked nervous to throw the ball. If UC still has hopes of winning a Big East title, who do you trust the most: Jones, Collaros or Chazz Anderson? I’m learning toward Jones, though I’m not sure why.
I don’t understand the furor over the intentional grounding call on Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain. Yes, there was a receiver within a few feet of him when he threw the ball into the ground with about 2 minutes to play. But he was about eight yards behind the line of scrimmage.
The pass must cross the line of scrimmage in order for you to avoid the penalty. I don’t know why TV announcers always seem to forget this. As upset as Zips coach J.D. Brookhart looked, it was the correct call. It was intentional grounding all the way.
Marcus Barnett has not had a great year – mental mistakes galore – and with his fumble in the fourth quarter, he nearly cost his team the game.
Did Brad Jones remind anybody else of Ryan Manalac with that last-minute interception?
Send me your thoughts at jkatzo@hotmail.com. I’m looking for a mailbag next week, and I need freshly-stocked questions and/or comments. Talk to me about Pike, the backup quarterbacks, Rogers, the pass defense, or whatever you want. If you were at the Rubber Bowl, all the better.
