Cincinnati Bearcats: 10 Keys To Winning the Big East in 2011

After a disappointing 2010, the Cincinnati Bearcats and head coach Butch Jones are looking forward to the 2011 season. 

Last year, everything that could go wrong for the Bearcats did. Cincinnati suffered injuries in the early part of the season and had to play through the ineligibility of a few key transfers. 

A young and inexperienced defense did not help matters either, as Cincinnati could not stop anybody on that side of the ball. 

While the Bearcats will not be a favorite to win the Big East in 2011, they have a lot of talent coming back, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. 

Here are 10 keys to the Bearcats winning the Big East in 2011. 

When Butch Jones took over the Cincinnati program last season, he promised a more balanced offensive attack. Fans are still waiting to see that offensive balance he preached all of last summer. 

While running back Isaiah Pead carried the ball 157 times last season, that was not nearly as much as was expected. 

If the Bearcats give Pead the ball more in 2011, success will follow the talented Bearcat senior. 

Pead nearly led the nation last season in yards per carry at 6.6 and entering his senior season, Cincinnati needs to get him the ball more to be successful in 2010. 

Armon Binns is statistically one of the best receivers to come through the University of Cincinnati.

He finished his career with over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns, nearly all of which were achieved in his final two seasons. 

Replacing Armon Binns will be the Bearcats' most difficult task on the offensive side of the ball. Junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins was ruled ineligible last season because Tennessee would not release him from his letter of intent. 

Word at practice last season was Thompkins was the most talented receiver on the field. Thompkins is similar to Binns in size at 6'3" and 190 pounds. His 4.4 40-speed and big-play ability may help Bearcat fans quickly forget the departed Binns. 

To win the Big East, Cincinnati will need to start off strong and the schedule is not too favorable.

After a home game against the Louisville Cardinals, Cincinnati takes to the road for consecutive road matchups against South Florida and Pittsburgh. 

The South Florida Bulls were improved last season and the Pittsburgh Panthers were once again one of the best teams in the Big East. 

Both teams won bowl games last season and Cincinnati will have its hands full from the onset of conference play. 

While he was a first-team all Big East selection, Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros spent most of last season running for his life. 

Simply put, the offensive line was atrocious, particularly at the beginning of the season. Butch Jones switched around many players along the front line and it took a while for them to gel.

The departure of center Jason Kelce along with two other starters will be a big blow. 

Cincinnati will need senior Alex Hofmann to stay on the field and play like he did his sophomore season, along with the emergence of some youngsters to help protect their star quarterback. 

The Bearcats' non-conference schedule includes three games against bowl teams from last season. 

Cincinnati struggled in the early going last season, losing the season opener at Fresno State and three of its first four games overall. 

In 2011, Cincinnati opens with Austin Peay and then travels to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. 

The Bearcats will need to prove themselves against Tennessee as well as North Carolina State, who they face in Week 4. 

A date with the 10-win Miami (Ohio) RedHawks looms in Week 5 as well. 

The inaugural season for head coach Butch Jones did not go as planned. There were many question marks surrounding the Bearcats at the end of 2010 and the biggest of those surrounds the head coach. 

Jones will have to prove his worth in his second season as head coach. There is a lot of talent coming back on the team, and Jones will have to prove to fans that he can coach the talent that Brian Kelly left him. 

With a whole year to instill his principles into the program, Jones should be much improved in his second season as Bearcats head coach. 

Zach Collaros was one of the few bright spots for the Bearcats last season. He totaled 2,902 yards passing with 26 touchdowns, despite missing a game due to injury in the middle of the season. 

If the players around Collaros can improve, the Bearcat senior should have no problem putting up some huge numbers in 2011. 

Cincinnati will need him to make some big plays if it wants to win the Big East for the third time in four years. 

Last season, Cincinnati suffered numerous injuries throughout the season that hampered its chances of winning a Big East championship. 

Senior wide receiver Vidal Hazelton tore his ACL in the first game of the season last year. Running back Isaiah Pead also missed two games with a knee injury. 

Offensive lineman Alex Hofmann missed action in the early going and the Bearcats' best cover corner, Dominique Battle, missed most of the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. 

Throw in the fact that freshman receiver Dyjuan Lewis and junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins were ruled ineligible, and the Bearcats had some serious holes to fill. 

Cincinnati will need a little luck in 2011 to stay healthy and help cover up its lack of depth, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. 

If the Bearcats are to win the Big East conference, they will need to win all of their home games. 

The key to winning at home is a good home field advantage. The Bearcats will only play four games this season at Nippert Stadium. They will play Louisville and West Virginia downtown at Paul Brown Stadium. 

The larger venue will hopefully bring more Bearcat fans to the games and give Cincinnati a bit of a boost in its home city. 

Simply put, the Bearcats defense was awful last season. They allowed 28 points per game and gave up at least 27 points in every Big East game. 

The good thing about the defense is that all 11 starters return, including all of the key reserves. That could also be looked at as a bad omen, as the defense could not have possibly been worse last year.

Some offseason strength and conditioning should help improve the glaring weaknesses that have plagued this team the past two seasons.