Scott Satterfield, Dontay Corleone Praise UC Coverage Members For Stepping Up Against Houston

Cincinnati notched its first Big 12 win this past weekend thanks in part to the best day in coverage since conference play started.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Updated:
Nov 14, 2023 3:59 PM EST

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Cincinnati Bearcats

CINCINNATI — The Bearcats stifled the second-leading passer in the Big 12 this past weekend and it was a great mix of how the defensive front can get complemented by the secondary.

Multiple shakeups have hit that back-end unit as Kalen Carroll made his second career start and Rayquan Adkins started his first career game as a bit of a wake-up call to Jordan Young.

It worked. Young posted his best college performance ever by Pro Football Focus grading (80.4 overall, season-low four yards allowed in coverage on four targets).

“We talked about being disciplined and doing the things to be disciplined," Satterfield said about the accountability entering a win over Houston. "He (Young) was undisciplined early in the week. So, we were like ‘listen Rayquan [Adkins] is going start until you get your mind right. You're going be a decent player, but you have to do the right things, and I'm talking on and off the field.’ When you do that, then you play better. And I think that sent a message. I thought he went out and played very well once he got an opportunity to get back in the game.”

Houston quarterback Donovan Smith posted his second-lowest passing total of the season with 102 yards.

Star defensive tackle Dontay Corleone (81.2 grade, one sack, team-high three QB pressures) got unlocked by the great day from Young, Carroll, and a serviceable nine snaps from Adkins.

"Two good young corners," Corleone said about Carroll and Adkins. "Kalen Carroll got to step in for a senior. I feel like he's not getting the right recognition he deserves, going against UCF. I feel like he's earned more praise, good young quarter. Rayquan, since day one came to the university and had great confidence in himself, so I'm very happy for those two, especially Kalen because he worked so hard from his redshirt year."

That's my top thing to watch in the final two games: Can Cincinnati's tweaked secondary continue to keep improving and give this team a solid defensive foundation on the backend?

There is plenty of turnover expected on the defensive front as the offseason approaches, especially if Corleone decides to enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

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