2011 Football Preview: Cincinnati Christian Cougars

Fulcher says CCS ‘is not going to be everybody’s homecoming game.’

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer Updated 1:45 AM Sunday, August 21, 2011

FAIRFIELD TWP. — Former Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro safety David Fulcher takes over as head coach of a program that has struggled to win more than one game per year, and he has a message for the opponents on this year’s schedule:

“If you’re coming thinking you’re just going to beat us because you’ve done it in the past, you better think again,” Fulcher said. “Cincinnati Christian is not going to be everybody’s homecoming game this year.

“Cincinnati Christian is going to surprise a lot of people this year,” Fulcher continued. “We’re not going to be favored in any of our games, but we’re going to surprise some people. We’re going to be competitive, we’re going to chase the ball on defense and we’re going to make some things happen on offense.”

Fulcher has just 30 players on the squad, many of whom are freshmen, so his focus during the preseason has been keeping things simple.

The key will be to have a promising enough season to make all of these freshmen want to play again as sophomores, something past coaches have struggled to do at CCS.

Offense

The Cougars will run a lot of Power-I and some split-back formations with the intent of running the ball, running the ball and running the ball some more.

“We know that’s what we have to do,” Fulcher said. “Because we have a limited number of kids, we have to control the football and keep the other team off the field and shorten the game.”

Fulcher said he has five backs who can carry the ball, but most of the workload will belong to Luke Hill. Quarterback Mitchell Moon has a strong arm, but he also can tuck the ball and run when needed. And David Jeffries proved last year as a freshman he can have a big impact.

“We’ve got some kids in certain places that can make plays, but it has to be an all-around effort,” Fulcher said. “The O-line has to make way in order for us to run the ball.”

Defense

They say teams often mirror the personality of the coach, and if that’s the case at CCS, opponents better make sure their chin straps are tight.

Fulcher made his living as a big-time hitter in the NFL, and he expects the same type of aggressive, physical play from the Cougars.

“We’re not that big, but we’re going to be a fast team that’s flying around the football,” Fulcher said. “When you look at last year’s film, you see a guy hit a runner and no one else is there. If that guy breaks the tackle, he’s gone. We need to have 11 guys pursuing and hitting and tackling. If we do that, we’ll be OK.”

The Cougars’ primary defense will be a 4-3, but Fulcher said he won’t hesitate to switch to a 5-2 “if the other team is running the ball down our throats.”

CCS does have the luxury of seven starters back on defense, but with the installation of the new scheme, they’re not that much further ahead than the others.

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