Cincinnati Football: Bearcats offense coughs up game to Houston

The Cincinnati football program had a chance to make a statement against the No. 6 Houston Cougars. Unfortunately, the only statement made is that they’re a long way from greatness.

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Cincinnati football fans wanted more, and deserved better, than what they saw from a putrid Bearcats offense against the No. 6 Houston Cougars.

While no one thought this would be an easy game for the Bearcats, it was clear – even well into the third quarter – that Cincy could hang with this tough Houston team.

Then the meltdown started.

Bonehead plays, turnover after turnover, and suddenly the Bearcats went from a 2-point third quarter lead to being lambasted by the Cougars in a 40-16 loss. Tommy Tuberville’s offense looked unprepared, bland and inept through the entire night.

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So now what? Where do the Bearcats go from here?

The win against Tennessee-Martin was anything but inspiring. It took everything the Bearcats could muster to get past Big Ten doormat Purdue, and then a complete 4th quarter hari kari against Houston.

This is not shaping up to be the season for which fans had hoped.

Tip of the cap to the Bearcats defense. In truth, they didn’t give up 40 points, with 14 of them coming on consecutive pick-6 interceptions in the 4th quarter. The defense did a masterful job of keeping Cincinnati in this game.

The offense…a completely different story.

While some of it can certainly be attributed to a quality Houston defense (just ask Oklahoma and Lamar), some of the blame has to fall on the Cincinnati coaching staff. The Cougars have given up a total of 39 points in their first three games this season, and have outscored opponents 56-12 in the second half, but the Bearcats handed Houston three turnovers and 21 points off them.

Cincy’s offense was entirely too predictable and the running game was a non-factor, mustering only 30 rushing yards against the Cougars after steamrolling Purdue for 262 yards on the ground last week.

Is this to be chalked up as just playing an opponent who was that much better, or will things continue to become a struggle as each week passes? There was little comfort in watching the Bearcats and their Jekyll & Hyde act.

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The conference record is now in an 0-1 hole, with Miami (Oh) coming into town next week in the second of three straight home games for the Bearcats. Tuberville has to get this offense into a rhythm and figure out how to get Hayden Moore into a comfort zone when the pressure is on.