Bryan Brown: 'Going to Put Those Guys in Situations to be Successful'

CINCINNATI — UC football defensive coordinator Bryan Brown had plenty to offer on his approach to coaching his latest college defense.

Cincinnati projects to have a top-25 unit nationally by SP+ rating this coming season with plenty of returning talent.

"I think the biggest thing is to be able to trust me and trust our staff, that we know what we're doing," Brown said. "We're going to put those guys in situations to be successful, not only for themselves, but us as a team as well and I think that's really the biggest thing is trust and to allow those guys to make some decisions on their own as well to be able to play the game. But I think the biggest thing is for them to trust me and I think I'll be able to help those guys. You know, play the game the right way, understand situations. We're gonna put them in a lot of different situations, to where when they are in the game, and they get those certain type of situations. It just becomes second nature to them. And I think that's what we'll do this fall camp."

Cincinnati hasn't ranked outside the top 25 nationally in points allowed since 2017 and returns one of the game's best players in All-American defensive lineman Dontay Corleone.

It's a veteran-laden defense accompanying Corleone with names like Deshawn Pace in the star position and strong safety Taj Ward, with Brown confirming the position on Tuesday.

"Taj is like a quarterback for us on the defensive side," Brown said. "He's gonna get a lot of the guys lined up in the back end. He's gonna make a lot of the checks. And with him playing a lot of football that has helped, right, and so I'm excited to be able to move him around in different spots.

"We want to start him out at the strong safety spot right now. He's a natural born leader. He's a quiet kid. But he's gonna you know, do everything you ask him to do. And with him playing a lot of football, that strong safety spot, to be able to demand people to, you know, get in the right spots and things of that nature. That fits in perfectly. And so I'm excited for him as well this fall camp."

According to PFF, Ward's played a little less than 50 career snaps at free safety in his career, but no snaps at strong safety as the Blackcats defense looks to continue a strong run.

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