Bearcats Ready To Takeaway

All camp long at Higher Ground, Associate Head Coach, Kerry Coombs was preaching turnovers do the defense. Last season, the Bearcats did not do much of that. Bearcat defensive players were only able to takeaway eight interceptions from opposing quarterbacks last season.

Safties, Drew Frey and Wesley Richardson led the Bearcats last season as they both intercepted two passes. Cornerbacks, Reuben Johnson and Camerron Cheatham picked off a pass each while J.K. Schaffer and Pat Lambert also intercepted one pass. Two interceptions will not be the focus for a leading INT getter this season for the Bearcats. "We have a strong competition there with that," said Richardson. "I say myself. I have a number in my head that I am going to keep in my head. With that number I am going to say myself."

A statistic the Bearcats hope to grown on Saturday against Austin Peay is five straight games with an interception dating back to last October against Syracuse. "You like to think that your safeties are typically in a position to make the most picks," said DB Coach Kerry Coombs. "Corners are oftentimes isolated or in a man situation. Safeties have better vision for the field. Drew and Wes got a couple each last year. I know they are eager to raise their numbers."

Coach Coombs even hinted that defensive captain and linebacker, J.K. Schaffer could end up leading the Bearcats in interceptions. Ironic as it is, Schaffer is tied in career INT's of the active Bearcats with Drew Frey. They both have four interceptions each. For the defense as a whole, knocking down passes, catching passes, disrupting routes all continue to be a focus for the Bearcats.

Fumbles are also a weak point for the Bearcats. The defense recovered just six fumbles last season. This has become a major focal point in practice as well. A fumble simply flips the field, usually with good field position and can fire up the entire team.

"We practice that everyday," said Schaffer. "It is mostly comes with team defense. The first guy there has to secure the tackle. The second and third guy usually causes the fumble. They come up and they try to rip the ball out. That is what we have been working on."

Wesley Richardson, just like Schaffer gets to watch and read the play right in front of him. "Turnovers are created by everybody running to the ball, creating what we call 'cat piles,'" said Richardson. "That is eleven hats on the ball. When one guy has him held up we are just trying to get as many strip attempts as possible."

The coaches at UC have came up with an incentive for their defensive players making plays. "We have been trying to work on turnovers," said Coach Coombs. "The staff tried to think of things to do combining with the strip. So the staff came up with the strip steak. So the guy who has the most strip attempts in camp will get a strip steak dinner while the rest of the team is eating whatever they are eating."

Chris Williams was flashy as ever touting his strong performance on the field as he came off. "I just got three strip attempts," said Williams. "I am going to get that steak."

We are just a couple days away from seeing the 2011 Bearcats defense take the field for the first time against Austin Peay at Nippert Stadium on Saturday. Butch Jones made the point of adding another solid corner to the starting line-up as Sophomore, Deven Drane will be on the field to start the game. Drane is one of the most improved Bearcats from last season and it should be exciting to see this defense on Saturday.

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