Grading The Cats: Inconsistencies Dooming Cincinnati

The Bearcats have lost three games in a row for the fir time since 2017.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Oct 2, 2023 9:54 AM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — Pro Football Focus grades are out for UC's 35-27 loss to BYU on Friday night. Starting on offense Cincinnati had just four players grade out 70 or higher, led by RB Myles Montgomery (78.1). Fellow skill players in WR Braden Smith (75.3), and TE Chamon Metayer (73, best career grade in a high-snap game) had nice outings as well.

The offensive line was better this week, but still not good as four of the six high-snap players graded between 59 and 64 overall. Emory Jones did not do enough to elevate the offense in Provo, posting a 60.3 overall grade and just a 55.3 passing grade.

His two worst passing and overall grades at UC have occurred in the last two games.

Payten Singletary (29.4) and starting right tackle Deondre Buford (42.3) had by far the lowest offensive grades. Both players have been liabilities in pass protection this season, a recent trend in Buford's college career (Buford: 58.4 pass block in 2023, Singletary: 12.6 pass block).

Metayer needs to play more and the coaches are recognizing that. Singletary's snap count fell off a cliff compared to Oklahoma.

Defensively, DTs Dontay Corleone (75.3) and Justin Wodtly (75.1) led that unit as six of the top seven grades belonged to front seven players. Jones burnt the offense, and the secondary burned the defense again.

After a decent bounceback against Oklahoma, Jordan Young (46.3) was the worst high-snap player on the defense. He allowed three catches for 116 yards and one touchdown on seven targets.

Safety Taj Ward (48.4) missed a big tackle in the game and had an overall rough day as one of five high-snap defenders to grade out 59 or worse.

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