Cincinnati Bearcats Football: Defense Fails to Show Up in Knoxville

In a game that had the potential to springboard Cincinnati into an undefeated non-conference season, the Bearcats defense was a no show on Saturday against Tennessee. The Bearcats lost 45-23.

The Volunteers had no trouble marching down the field nearly every time they touched the football and the Bearcats never had an answer. 

For a team that returned all 11 starters on defense, the Cincinnati defenders looked lost out there.  

While they did force two turnovers, Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray picked Cincinnati apart and the Bearcats secondary was no match for the receiving group of the Volunteers. 

Running back Isaiah Pead had a 65-yard touchdown run with less than two minutes into the game to give Cincinnati an early 7-0 lead. Tennessee quickly answered with a touchdown and recovered an onside kick. The Volunteers never looked back from that point on.

For everything Cincinnati did right in season opener, they did the opposite in this week. The Bearcats were dominant against Austin Peay, yet were dominated by the Volunteers.

Cincinnati failed to get any pressure on Bray throughout the game. 

The Bearcats will need to show vast improvements in the coming weeks if they plan on contending for a Big East title.

Along with a better defensive approach, a more balanced rushing attack in the coming weeks is what Cincinnati will need to find to get back to their winning ways.

Pead only carried the ball 14 times for 155 yards. Pead will need to get a few more carries to help run the clock and keep the defense off the field.

The way it looks now, that seems to be the only way to hold the opposing offense in check.