5 Things The Bearcats Need to Do to Finish The Season Perfect.

UC fans, we have to be real here: before the Oklahoma game, the Bearcats have looked dismal at best. If you would like to argue that fact, the only basis is the second half of the win against Indiana State—and honestly, opponents like that just do not cut it for any team that hopes to compete in a BCS bowl.

Prior to the near victory at Paul Brown Stadium against the Sooners, nothing the Bearcats have done has appeared to work.

The opening weekend against Fresno State was a debauchery once their defensive coordinator realized UC has no offensive line to speak of. Some new blocking schemes from head coach Butch Jones have improved the O-line considerably, but it still falls short of a team trying to three-peat a Big East title.

Here are five things that would considerably improve the Bearcats' chances to win out. 

1. Better Pass Rush

Getting pressure on the quarterback has been a serious fault this season.

The first quarter of the Fresno State game was great with two sacks, but after that UC was dominated on every side of the ball.

Ryan Colburn was left with way too much time to throw. The same can be said for NC State’s Terry Harvey. Possibly one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the nation was allowed to absolutely tear the UC secondary to shreds because he just had way too much time to throw the ball.

It doesn’t matter who is playing quarterback against UC because they will look like Heisman candidates. UC, despite a solid run defense, has to introduce new blitzes to get at the QB if it has any hopes of getting to a BCS game. 

2. Short Passes

The short passing game is absolutely unstoppable unless the opposing secondary is full of Darrell Revises and Charles Woodsons.

If you aren’t willing to pony up the money that Rex Ryan and the New York Jets have forked up, you are pretty much screwed as far as defensive backs go.

If Butch Jones isn’t putting the ball in the hands of Isaiah Pead in the backfield, Zach Collaros needs to be letting go of the ball in no less than three steps. Slants, curls, ins, and quick outs will return to Collaros the confidence he needs to take the Bearcats to a third BCS appearance.

Not to mention the fact that Collaros has the Big East's leading receiver in D.J. Woods, who is poison to opposing secondaries when lined up in the slot.

3. Run the Option

The option has not been a part of any Big East team since the departure of Pat White. Even though almost everyone works for players like White, Denard Robinson and Taylor Martinez, those players are few and far between.

Cincinnati has one of the premier rushing quarterbacks in the NCAA, as Zach Collaros has the legs to match any QB shy of Robinson this season.

If he was able to count yards scrambling for his life to prevent a sack, Collaros would easily be leading the league.

So what I am saying is run the option!

The Big East isn’t used to that kind of attack. It can’t end any worse than what has already happened.

Even if opponents start pinching on the option, Collaros is athletic enough to throw the ball down the field while scrambling, which could really open up some big-play opportunities and create favorable matchups for the very talented UC wide receiving corps.

4. Protect the Quarterback

Protecting the QB has been the most embarrassing aspect of Cincinnati football this season.

After Week 1 the UC offensive line gave Fresno State a huge jump in sack totals by allowing Collaros to be brought down eight times. Not to mention how many times he was forced to run for his life to prevent a sack.

New blocking schemes are a must.

It is not questionable how badly the Bearcats' O-line has played. Collaros needs to have time to get through his reads and make things happen.

Some new schemes have brought slightly better protection to Collaros and allowed Isaiah Pead to rush for over six yards per carry in his 169-yard performance against No. 8 Oklahoma. Despite the moral victory against the heavily favored Sooners, UC still has much to accomplish on the the offensive line.

5. Pass Defense

Although the run defense has been ranked 11th in the nation even after facing Heisman hopeful DeMarco Murray, the Bearcat defense is continuously getting beat down the field for the big play.

The secondary is by far the weakest point on the entire squad.

Despite a few goal-line runs, the only touchdowns to be scored against UC have been through the air. The lack of depth at DB and what at this point seems to be under coaching is killing what could be the best defense in Bearcat history.

If the Cincinnati defense wants to make a tougher stand and make a run at a third consecutive Big East title, something must be done to improve pass defense. Some new blitz packages along with more man coverage could help save the dismal performance of the Bearcats' pass defense.