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How Will Cincinnati Try to Slow Down Utah's Rushing Attack?
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- How Will Cincinnati Try to Slow Down Utah's Rushing Attack?
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Can Cincinnati contain Utah on the ground? That's the biggest question heading into this weekend's Big 12 matchup.
Devon Dampier has been excellent. He came into the season on the fringe of the Heisman Trophy conversation, but the dual-threat passer is elite this year. Cincinnati's focus first and foremost in this game needs to be on slowing down the dominant Utah rushing attack. That's easier said than done.
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By the numbers, the Utes' ground game averages 6.1 yards per carry, which is ninth in college football. It doesn't stop there. The unit is averaging 4.2 yards after contact per carry, fourth-best in the country. Obviously, Wayshawn Parker, who's been one of the best running backs in college football, is a major force behind those totals. His 39 broken tackles is seventh-most in the country right now. Not to mention, Parker had 507 yards after contact, which is tenth overall.
Cincinnati will have to decide how to effectively cover all of Utah's offensive weapons. Dampier has also been a threat on the ground right now. He's currently tenth in rushing yards among Power Four quarterbacks with 388 yards. When it's not Parker or Dampier, opposing defenses have to account for another quarterback.
This year, backup quarterback Byrd Ficklin has 150 rushing yards for himself. Utah does deploy a two quarterback system a lot. And this could be a major problem for the Bearcats to try and contain.
Cincinnati had some legit issues against opposing rushers this season. Right out the gate, they're 105th overall and 117th against an explosive run package. Needless to say, the Bearcats are one of the worst in the country against stout rushing attacks. Cincinnati can try and stack the box to slow down Utah, but there are too many playmakers. Also, the way Dampier has been able to play the role of conductor within this offense is why they've been having so much success.
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Utah's offense is so good in both dimensions of running the ball and passing the ball. If you stack the box on them, Dampier and Ficklin are very capable of beating you down the field. Cincinnati's defense will have their hands full all day long.
Dampier keeps it on the ground, expect the Utes to rack up a lot of yards on the way to a victory. If he shuffled his selection around, the game could be closer than expected. This should be a game the Utes dominate. But they're not treating this one as the next game up.
No. 6 Utah travels to Cincinnati on Saturday (3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN).
