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UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: Cincinnati Bearcats

By Mike Regalado

OXFORD, OH - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Luke Fickell of the Cincinnati Bearcats looks on against the Miami Ohio Redhawks during the first half at Yager Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Oxford, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
OXFORD, OH - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Luke Fickell of the Cincinnati Bearcats looks on against the Miami Ohio Redhawks during the first half at Yager Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Oxford, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Hayden Moore #8 of the Cincinnati Bearcats takes aim for a receiver during the game against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr. /Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 14: Quarterback Hayden Moore #8 of the Cincinnati Bearcats takes aim for a receiver during the game against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr. /Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Offense

Cincinnati is a team that is still fitting into their system. The Bearcats’ first season under the guidance of Luke Fickell produced a 4-8 record, which isn’t horrible considering what little the new coach had to work with. There were both improvements and regressions, but nothing out of the ordinary, especially for a team in major transition.

As most teams do, Cincinnati seemed to start meshing toward the end of the season. After a five-game midseason losing streak, the Bearcats finished 2-2 in their last four games with a 22-21 win over UCONN in their season finale.

Cincinnati 2017 Offensive Stats

Total Offense Passing Offense Rushing Offense Scoring Offense
 351.8 (12th)  216.4 (9th) 135.3 (11th) 20.9 (12th)

( ) – denotes ranking in the American Athletic Conference

Related Story: Eight Bruins make Athlon’s 2018 Pac-12 All-Conference Team

Though there is progress, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that they did not exactly strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. They were near the bottom of every major team stat in their conference last season and that could continue to be an issue in 2018.

Cincinnati loses four linemen, leaving Garret Campbell and Kyle Trout as the only experienced players on the line. That is not going to help with consistency, but if the Bearcats can overcome that, they could be successful at the glamour spots.

Cincy returns starters QB Hayden Moore, RB Gerrid Doak, and WR Kahlil Lewis, so there is something to build off of. Despite the ups and downs, Moore put up his best stats of his career with 2,562 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He also had 9 interceptions and 15 sacks, both of which were improvements from the previous season.

Though Cincinnati should be a lot more comfortable with their offense, they are going to be seriously tested by the Bruins’ defensive front. Though UCLA is thin in the LB group, they have several talented players that can inflict the aggression and “violence” the offensive coaches are requiring.

And if the Bearcats try to air it out, they will be met by one of the best secondaries, in the Pac-12 (and quite possibly the nation) as CB Nate Meadors, CB Darnay Holmes and S Adrius Pickett patrol the skies.