[EmpireWF]

Coach Kelly is doing a diary during the pre-season for a local Cincy paper. Here's his take on the team after a weekend intra-squad scrimmage.

We saw some guys that can make some plays skill-wise. We saw Marshwan Gilyard and his ability to catch the ball. He's got great hands, and he's athletic. Antwuan Giddens used his

6-foot-3 frame to go up and get the football.

I saw David Wess do some things at wide receiver. I think we've finally found a position for a good athlete.

We found that we're pretty athletic in terms of being able to make plays. You've got to add running back Jacob Ramsey, who had a 65-yard touchdown run. I don't know that there's many guys that have played at running back that I've seen that can turn the corner against some pretty good speed. He's got that breakaway speed.

Our first-team defense is a bear. They're just so tough. But there's a big drop-off with our second group, so we've got to stay healthy. Just like all coaches, you worry that we can't lose key players on defense.

Our new placekicker, Jake Rogers, has a great leg and his potential is unlimited. But he's got to kick the ball through the uprights all the time.

I think the quarterback position is probably where we thought it was going to be. We've got three or four good quarterbacks. As we go out to Higher Ground next week, we're going to have to start to separate them, because it's not going to happen by itself.

You have to try to get a bit of continuity with the first group and say, "OK, today is your day, tomorrow is his day," and take stock as you go through the week of practice.

This could get a little competitive now, because I think they all know that we're going to have to start moving on this thing.

I bolded two interesting things. The defense is expected to be great and the kicking situation is not something to worry about.

They're still working on their QB with a competition between several players.

[Lefty Noob]

Interesting that he's so high on that defense, and yet read on and clearly they lack depth. They could be tough to beat, but if they can't stay healthy, sounds like it could be real trouble for the Bearcats. As for kicking, well, pretty much everyone breaking in new kickers are having similar problems. He'll be okay.