Last Stand: Cats clinging to national title hopes

There are several key matchups the University of Cincinnati football team will have to pay close attention to when it plays Pittsburgh Saturday, Nov. 5, for the Big East Championship.

The Bearcats’ main concern on defense will be the task of containing the Panthers top wide receiver, sophomore Jonathan Baldwin.

“I think what’s different about them [compared to last year] is their balance,” said UC head coach Brian Kelly. “They really hadn’t taken the shots down the field to Baldwin like they are this year. They’re taking their shots and making big plays.”

Baldwin is a big target at 6 foot 5, 225 pounds, and is a constant deep threat.

Baldwin has six 100-yard receiving games on the season and has caught 48 passes for 967 yards and six touchdowns. Baldwin ranks eighth in the nation with an average of 20.1 yards per reception.

Pittsburgh has one of the best play- action games in the country, which will make it even harder to contain Baldwin.

“I’m not worried about the linebackers,” Kelly said relative to Pitt’s play-action game. “It’s the 1-on-1 matchup down the field when you put Baldwin against
99.9 percent of the defensive backs in this country. I don’t care if they’re from the SEC, Big Ten, it doesn’t matter; he’s a matchup problem.”

The Panthers passing attack is complemented by a solid run game led by freshman running back Dion Lewis.

“Balance, vision, you can’t get a hard hit on him,” Kelly said of Lewis. “He’s a bigger Jacquizz Rodgers.”

Lewis has emerged as Pittsburgh’s running back of the future and has amassed 1,446 yards on 250 carries along with 13 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh’s rushing offensive is ranked 40th in the country, averaging 183.8 yards per game and 5.2 yards per attempt.

The Panthers also have an experienced offensive line that includes three seniors.

“Offensively they have what I think is the heart of their team and that is their offensive line,” said UC linebacker Andre Revels. “They just look mean on film. Their stances are aggressive, they come off the ball aggressive and it’s going to be a real aggressive game.”

Senior quarterback Bill Stull has also come into his own this season and has thrown four less interceptions and 10 more touchdowns than he did all of last year.

Stull has a quarterback rating of 153.05 and has completed 179 out of 276 passes for 2,294 yards and 19 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions.

The Bearcats defense has given up an average of 34 points in its last three games, but Cincinnati maintains it’s not a problem as long as the offense can continue to put up points.

“I have a great deal of confidence in our defense,” Kelly said. “We’ve given up some points in the last few weeks, there’s no question about it, but I’m confident we can compete and keep the score to where it doesn’t have to be a shootout.”

UC’s defense ranks 47th in the country, giving up an average of 348.55 yards per game.

The Bearcats are also ranked dead last in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 26:03 minutes per game.

Cincinnati will not only have its undefeated season on the line, but also its 17-straight regular season wins streak.