Bearcats could make Teel’s nightmare even worse

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, October 09, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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The Big East season is now at the point where it should start to begin making sense. No such luck.

Conference play just started two weeks ago, and Pitt -- after its surprising 26-21 victory over South Florida -- is atop the league standings at 2-0. Connecticut and West Virginia are at 1-0, Cincinnati is 0-0, while Louisville, USF, Rutgers and Syracuse are 0-1. This isn't telling us much.

Saturday's matchup between Cincinnati and Rutgers (at Cincy) will be the highlight of a light Big East slate in Week 7 (only two other games are scheduled), and should go a long way toward answering two pertinent questions: 1. Is Cincinnati as good as its 4-1 record?; 2. Is Rutgers as bad as its 1-4 mark?

The Scarlet Knights' numbers are puzzling. Quarterback Mike Teel has thrown for over 1,000 yards already in five games, but only three touchdowns -- two to WR Tim Brown and one to TE Kevin Brock. Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt, both of whom gained over 1,000 yards in receptions last season, have yet to find the end zone.

Rutgers has been outscored by an average margin of 23-19, but it has a dominant edge in first downs, 94-75. Part of the reason for this discrepancy is that several opposing teams injected special teams or defensive touchdowns into the mix.

Ray Rice has also been missed, badly. Coach Greg Schiano has rotated four different backs in an effort to spark the running game, but has put up anything close to Ricean numbers. The Scarlet Knights, despite their name, have obviously struggled in the red zone, and the stats on third-down conversions (19 of 66) are an indictment both of Teel and a partially retooled offensive line.

Rutgers also misses defensive end Eric Foster, who not only provided a formidable edge rush but a lot of leadership.

The biggest puzzle, however, has been Teel. The senior has seven interceptions alongside his three touchdown passes, and in the last two losses -- to Navy and West Virginia -- he failed to get his team into the end zone late in the fourth quarter. The last drive against Navy ended when Teel was picked, after which the frustrated quarterback threw a punch at teammate Glen Lee.

The Rutgers blogosphere has been calling for Teel to be replaced by either junior Chris Paul-Etienne or freshman D.C. Jefferson, a couple of Floridians. Schiano, thus far, has remained in his veteran quarterback's corner.

That loyalty could be sorely tested this Saturday, because Cincinnati -- led by All-America cornerback Mike Mickens -- has intercepted Teel seven times in the last two games between the two teams. And it was Cincinnati, remember, which almost spoiled Rutgers' Cinderella season in 2006 with a 30-11 upset.

Cincinnati has a quarterback problem, too, however -- they're falling out faster than presidential candidates in primary season. Dustin Grutza broke his leg against Oklahoma (which the Bearcats played even for a half), then Tony Pike broke his arm against Akron, to be replaced by Zach Collaros. Last week, though, freshman Chazz Anderson led the Bearcats over Marshall.

Brian Kelly's team may be 4-1, but the victories have come over Eastern Kentucky, Miami of Ohio, Akron and Marshall. So far, the Bearcats have done it with defense (Connor Barwin, switched over from tight end, has been a beast at defensive end), a stout offensive line, a couple of unspectacular but steady running backs and one of the top receiving corps (Marshawn Gilyard, Marcus Barnett, Dominick Goodman) in the conference.

Still, Rutgers has to be better than what it's shown. Doesn't it?

This game could be what turns the Scarlet Knights' season around -- or buries them.

Meanwhile, Louisville -- with a retooled offense reminiscent of the glory days way back in 2006 -- hosts Memphis, and 1-4 Syracuse travels to (ouch) West Virginia.

Donald Brown, bless his heart, has the weekend off.
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