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Looking @ UCF

Posted by Scipio Tex on November 3rd, 2009 under Football

First of all, screw these guys.

I hate their erector set stadium, their fan base too dumb to gain entrance into Florida State, their resume-padding ruddy-faced coach, their color schemes, the sprawling sack of flatland swamp theme park offal of Orlando, and the fact that Kevin Smith tore our ass two years ago when we still played defense like Truman Capote. I also hate the fact that I confuse them with South Florida, Florida International, Florida Atlantic, Stetson, and, oddly enough, The Colorado School of Mines.

I’ve watched them twice this year, so I may know more about this team than any human being on this planet.

Offense

Weird group. Basically, they have a bunch of WRs that look like Under Armour models, an OL that looks more imposing than their blocking, and they love to pound the ball despite the fact that their main RB is named Brynn. LOVELY BRYNN, DANCING ON STAGE FIVE! I pray that they’re recruiting a FB named Lexy.

Brynn Harvey (173-679-7td) doesn’t get much blocking, as his 3.9 yards per carry will attest. He’s averaging 20+ carries per game, so I suppose they’re hoping that persistence eventually pays. UCF likes to pound Brynn. Who doesn’t? His best game was against Memphis where he went 42-219-1, but he’s also had games against Southern Miss and Miami that were 14-37-0 and 12-25-0, respectively. And neither of those teams play D like us.

The WRs are top notch and they’ve got four guys that can hurt you: Ross, Aiken, Newsome, Guyton. They’re big, athletic, and they can all get downfield. So naturally, UCF likes to hand the ball to Brynn Harvey as much as possible. I was impressed with these guys – and not in a “Oh, aren’t they cute for Conference USA kind of way” but more in a “Damn, the majority of the SEC and Big 12 would trade out for these guys” kind of way.

QB Brett Hodges (210-120-1558-10-7) looked OK. He reminds of an even knobbier Joe Cox. He had a big game against Marshall on Sunday. He’s not a big guy (6-1, 190) and isn’t much of a running threat. He transferred to UCF from Wake after Riley Skinner beat him out. That may have been during the Carter Administration because Riley Skinner has been QBing Wake since at least 1979.

On the season, they’re averaging 24 ppg and 337 ypg at 5.3 ypp. Nothing to get too excited about. The problem that UCF has is that they can’t protect their QB (17 sacks on the year) and they don’t seem to have an offensive identity congruent with where their talent actually rests. The result is a passing offense that can look good in stretches, a weak running game against a quality DL, and unreliable OL play. When they rallied against Marshall, they did it by getting their WR talent on the field and throwing the ball. I think O’Leary is more likely to try to play ball control and use that WR talent to convert some key third downs.

Defense

Probably the best DL we’ve seen except for Oklahoma. UCF gets mad pressure on the QB (27 sacks on the year) and DEs Miller and Geathers have combined for 16 on them. This is the kind of undersized, active front that typically gives us problems. They’re actually not much of a blitzing team though they do like to bring an extra safety down to outnumber the running game. This DL is fast, hostile, and plays with passion.

The LB group is smallish and active. None of them particularly blew me away, but I liked MLB Hogue. They can run and are well-suited for playing our kind of offense. I’ll be curious to see if O’Leary makes the mistake of keeping all three on the field.

The DB group struck me as weak and incohesive. They’re surrendering 7.4 yards per pass attempt against teams that aren’t QBed by Peyton Manning, so we’ll have plenty of chances to make plays if we can block their front. They have a big safety, Greco, that is a definite liability in pass coverage. I also question the quality of their nickel and dime personnel when we line up in 4-5 WR sets. Of course, those are the sets they’re also most likely to get hits on Colt, so maybe they’ll take that trade.

For the year, 19.2 ppg and 4.8 ypp are respectable numbers, but if you can block their front, this is a very average defense.

Special Teams

Their kick and punt coverage is good and Ross and Guyton are effective punt returners. They have a horrid punting game (36 yard punt average) and their FG kicker is unreliable (9 of 14). Not much to see here.

Bottom Line

An interesting 5-3 team. Miami had some trouble with them (winning 27-7) and they’ve certainly not humiliated themselves with close losses to East Carolina and Southern Mississippi. They have good players in their DL and at WR, but the rest of the team is totally average.

I see a 37 point line for this game and I’m not sure I’m interested in messing with that. This UCF team strikes me as hard to blow out that can elevate (or lower) it’s play to the competition. We’ve just completed three straight games away from home, it’s an early morning kick against a non-con opponent, and UCF has a couple of characteristics that typically give us some trouble. I expect a convincing win but a full-on mudholing just doesn’t strike me as the sure bet our home games often are.

Love to hear your thoughts…

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37 Responses

  1. UT wildcatter said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Is Rollins College their sister school? I knew 2 girls and one guy from Episcopal in Houston that went there

  2. Woody Bombay said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    “He reminds of an even knobbier Joe Cox.”

    That’s what she said …?

  3. jonestopten said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 5:18 am

    Take it easy on Truman Capote; he’s Robert Killebrew’s favorite author.

  4. NBMisha said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 5:52 am

    I was also impressed with their D line Monday night, and think they will present a worthwhile challenge to the Texas O. I’m not sure Texas will score 37, much less a line of 37.

    Having said that, the D might get a shut out here. Most of the Monday game it seemed UCF was just bad on offense. I appreciate your take that there is likely more their at QB and receiver than that. I would still enjoy a shutout, and think Muschamp and crew have that very goal.

    Lets hope the Texas O gets a great workout. I don’t want to see another Colorado turd.

  5. TomCollins9 said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 6:46 am

    O’Leary once banged Beyonce in a hotel elevator. True story.

  6. WWGDD said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 6:49 am

    “The DB group struck me as weak and incohesive.”

    We noticed this when Tulsa ass slapped Colorado too. No chance in our boy Davis attacking it.

  7. WWGDD said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 6:49 am

    Check that, Toledo.

  8. parlinhall said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 7:23 am

    “First of all, screw these guys.”

    Good: a subtle beginning makes what follows all the more effective. I approve.

  9. Reality said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 7:26 am

    Horns won’t rush for 100 yards. And UCF will score points, no way you shut them out.

  10. Bob in Houston said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 7:28 am

    O’Leary once banged Beyonce in a hotel elevator. True story.

    Won’t believe it unless it’s on his resume.

  11. ghostofagroundgame said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 7:30 am

    Reality is a stupid troll.

    Haven’t watched this team, but they sound like they’d win the Big 12 North.

  12. texastough said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:13 am

    Sounds like the perfect D to work on run/play action. So I expect to see a lot of empty backfield and 3 yard passes. Need to save the good stuff for Baylor.

  13. HenryJames said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:14 am

    We’re playing a credit union?

  14. goosehorn said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:17 am

    For some reason I see a mudhole. I think Texas is going ot want to put on a show for their return to DKR.

  15. Perez Hilton said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:28 am

    Finally, a Scipio Tex post I can relate to!

    “First of all, screw these guys”

    “…the sprawling sack…”

    “…Kevin Smith tore our ass…”

    “…Truman Capote…”

    “…Under Armour models…”

    “…they’ve got four guys that can hurt you…They’re big, athletic…”

    “…an even knobbier Joe Cox…”

    “…Riley Skinner beat him out…”

    “…17 sacks on the year…”

    “…O’Leary is more likely to try to play ball control…”

    “…27 sacks on the year…”

    “…None of them particularly blew me…”

    “…I’ll be curious…”

    “…a full-on mudholing…”

    I feel all tingly and flush. Good work, tiger. MEEEE-OWWWW!

  16. Lowery said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:34 am

    A Geathers playing DL huh? Any relation to Jumpy?

  17. NateHeupel said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:41 am

    “Damn, the majority of the SEC and Big 12 would trade out for these guys”

    Scip, I would trade our WR’s (excepting Ryan Broyles) for a half dozen determined Hispanic kids and a bottle of Gorilla Glue.

  18. Perez Hilton said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 8:43 am

    “…a half dozen determined Hispanic kids and a bottle of Gorilla Glue.”

    Oh. My. GAWD. This thread just keeps getting better and better!

  19. uthookem said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 9:19 am

    Gorilla Glue does expand when you add moisture…

  20. University of Texas Uberoom said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 9:49 am

    UT has had trouble against speedy teams. I expect quick slants and a few WR screens from UCF against a blitz in a close game early, then UT slaughtering UCF in the 2nd half.

  21. Blueshorn said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 10:03 am

    “…and the fact that Kevin Smith tore our ass two years ago when we still played defense like Truman Capote.”

    I enjoy your writing, but imagery of tearing Truman Capote’s defenseless ass goes beyond the pale.

  22. UTomlinson said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 10:51 am

    Perez Hilton-

    I’m not following. You’re saying you can relate to out of context gay innuendos?

  23. Scipio Tex said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    NBMisha -

    Agree on their O. If they put up more than 10 points, I’ll be surprised.

    Perez:

    You’ve cracked the code.

    Nate -

    I wouldn’t be surprised if you win out, so hang in there. Broyles is really impressive to me. Mark Clayton reborn. Would you rather play USC in the Holiday Bowl or LSU in the Cotton?

  24. NateHeupel said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Scip, I wouldn’t be surprised if we won out either. Except that we can’t seem to catch a break in Lubbock. So the fighting pirates and their fat little girlfriends worry me.

    That said, I want USC in the Holiday Bowl. Remember the 50 point OU beatdowns in the ancient past? You know that incredibly cathartic feeling of watching OU fans in dismay after the skullfucking in 2005 and every other victory since? That’s why I want USC. After watching them just completely confuse us like Sarah Palin taking a geography test, I really need to see us beat them.

  25. spider said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    I was also impressed with their D line Monday night, and think they will present a worthwhile challenge to the Texas O. I’m not sure Texas will score 37, much less a line of 37.

    I’m not sure the Texas O will score all of 37, but Earl Thomas or Jordan Shipley may be running up the score while most of America is still YouTubing the new Carrie Prejean masturbation tape.

    If Texas mudholes them, few outside Travis county will know or care.

  26. Art Vandelay said:

    November 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    First of all, great to have you back Scipio.

    “We’re playing a credit union?” HJ continually cracks me up. Go ahead, make fun of me.

    Finally, I’m in downtown San Fran all week for a conference. Where is the BC HQ? (on a related note…. if I see one more Enterprise Social Networking start-up I’m going to scream). On second thought, maybe BC should be exhibiting at the show as a Sports Social Networking company.

  27. macanudo said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 12:49 am

    It seems like we never cover 30+ point spreads due to late scores when Ron McKelvey is playing and Mack is puckering like Scip visiting Perez Hilton’s house.

  28. NBMisha said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 5:47 am

    Nate
    That’s a great Palin crack.

  29. mikecrabtree said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 9:54 am

    UCF likes to pound Brynn. Who doesn’t?….
    this is one of the funniest posts and threads i’ve read all year. My fat little girlfriend agrees.

  30. Nelson said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 11:13 am

    That OLeary story is a little off. It wasn’t Beyonce. It was Truman Capote.

  31. mashtun said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    37 . . . not sure. I think Texas has only covered once this season.

  32. Scipio Tex said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    mashtun-

    We covered against UTEP, Mizzou, OSU just going off the top of my head.

  33. yojimbox said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    Their secondary is awful, though. Basically, if you want to score on them, just throw. Everytime Marshal threw on them, it was 20-30 yards. The only reason Marshal lost that game was because they kept fumbling the ball away in the fourth quarter. Otherwise, I expect Colt to attack the secondary and make them his bitch.

  34. Scipio Tex said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    yojimbox -

    The secondary is awful if you can and are willing to go deep. We’ll see.

  35. mashtun said:

    November 5th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    Scipio, you are correct. My bad, I was still locked into my early season thinking when we hadn’t covered hardly anything. Now we’re 3 out of 8. It will be interesting to see what they do this week.

    It has been said, but naturally this is a good time to start pouring it on. Putting up 50-60 against weak competition is expected at this time of year and keeps the voters happy. Hope we see some downfield passing. Would also love to see Gilbert get a TD pass.

  36. FatBastard said:

    November 6th, 2009 at 1:23 am

    Don’t think you will have anywhere near the trouble you think with these guys. O’Liar hasn’t shown much imagination on offense since Fat Ralph left for Maryland. (Since they both left GT there has been a such a glut of uneaten chik-fil-a sandwiches in ATL 3 franchises were even forced to close)
    Even if he did grow an offensive brain, The Horns would stop them in their tracks.
    Colt has an even decent game, you win by 21.

  37. Monkey snot said:

    November 7th, 2009 at 10:19 am

    Reading this thread-peeing myself. Perez Hilton, Scipio-please-I’m gasping for air I am laughing so hard.

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