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SPORTS
There's more than one way to skin a Bearcat
There is more than one way to skin a Bearcat.
Really.
Just ask Marshall offensive coordinator "Trapper John" Shannon or Herd defensive coordinator Rick "The Skinner" Minter.
They know.
I swear on a stack of Grizzly Adams pelts.
That's particularly the case with this pack of University of Cincinnati Bearcats.
One way to skin 'em is to pressure UC's redshirt freshman quarterback.
Both Zach Collaros and Chazz Anderson are expected to play for Cincinnati when Marshall (3-2) hosts the Bearcats (3-1) at 8 p.m. today in a game nationally televised by ESPN from Edwards Stadium.
If the starting nod goes to Collaros, it will be his first collegiate start. If Anderson gets the start, it will be his first collegiate playing time.
So, either way, it appears to be the perfect time for Minter to utilize his extensive blitz packages.
I mean, just consider the circumstances facing the young Bearcat quarterbacks. Road game. Big crowd. National television audience watching on ESPN.
Besides all that, there's the fact this is a "White-Out" game at "The Joan." Geez, that means the Bearcat quarterbacks might go snow blind trying to read coverage.
So, what better time to rattle the UC quarterbacks' cages and try to make Collaros and Anderson come unglued?
"We want to create tension and some doubt in their kid's mind," said Minter. "We always go in thinking we carry X number of weapons in our arsenal."
That also would help the Marshall secondary defend Cincinnati's prolific pass-receiving duo of Mardy Gilyard and Dominick Goodman, who combine for 206 yards per game.
Yet, admittedly, blitzing and secondary play are not the primary tenets of sound defensive philosophy.
"We still have to make sure we stop the run," said Minter. "We can't let a team that believes they can throw the ball, run the ball on us.
"If we can make it be one-dimensional on our terms, then we have a chance. I still think football starts with stopping the run game first and making the game become one-dimensional."
That's another way to skin the 'Cats.
And still another is to continue carving up their struggling secondary.
UC, which has continued mixing and matching cornerback and safety personnel, has been sliced and diced for 257 yards per game and nine touchdown receptions this season.
That's good news for a Marshall offense that is averaging 194.2 yards passing per game and needs to get back on track after an off-performance against West Virginia University.
But UC head coach Brian Kelly admits pass defense has been a priority this week. Which is like letting Shannon in on a secret.
"That means they're going to blitz a lot more," said MU's offensive coordinator with a grin. "If he's looking for some of their offense from their defense, that means he wants turnovers, he wants takeaways, he wants pressure.
"We felt that they were going to do that."
That's why Shannon has a counter-punch ready.
"Exactly right," he said. "It's punch and counter-punch. We're going to do some things to help our guys see what's coming and be able to lock down and block them."
A Marshall blitz here. A catching UC in a blitz there. A stopping the Bearcats' running game everywhere.
Put it all together and it favors Marshall to win this skins game.
I look for the Herd to defeat Cincinnati, 27-17.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
