We could use some of this around here...
"When we've had issues, it's been in tackling," UC head coach Luke Fickell said. "We've done a much better job covering down the field, allowing ourselves to challenge guys. Which, in turn, makes people have to make some big plays. There are contested throws and catches, and that's what we want. The combination of tackling better and tracking the ball, it gives you the opportunity for your guys to make big plays."
Defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, who has 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss this year, said there is no hidden secret to the defensive improvement.
"One thing we really emphasize is getting to the ball," Broughton said. "Get to the ball, get to the ball, get to the ball. Finish every play. Little things like that. Putting your hat on the ball, swarming the football. Those are some of the biggest things we've been doing."
Here's what FICK faced as he took over UC. He's doing a great job working his plan to turn UC around.
Off the field, however, everything is progressing as planned. Fickell was hired to dominate the non-Big Ten recruiting market in Ohio, scooping up top local prospects who don’t get Ohio State offers. In an abbreviated recruiting session, Fickell brought in the third-best class in the AAC in 2017.
Given a full year, he inked a brilliant 2018 class. Per the 247Sports Composite, it ranked 47th overall — easily the highest in the Group of 5. Fickell’s class ranked ahead of four Big Ten teams and was nearly equal to Wisconsin’s, and 70 percent of it was from Ohio. He signed a four-star in tight end Leonard Taylor and four others who were nearly at his level.
