By Tom Gelehrter
FOX Sports Ohio
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
CINCINNATI - While University of Cincinnati starting quarterback Zach Collaros nurses a bruised knee, back-up Chazz Anderson will be the starter Saturday versus Syracuse if Collaros cannot play.
Head coach Butch Jones said Tuesday that the two normally split snaps in practice and that he is confident Anderson will be ready if ends up as the starter. Collaros injured his knee on the Bearcats second to last drive against USF and did not return for Cincinnati's final drive, with the team trailing by eight. Anderson drove the Bearcats inside the Bulls 20 yard line before the team failed to convert a fourth down.
While Anderson's playing time has been limited this season and last, he did start two games in 2008 following an injury to Tony Pike, leading the red and black to victories at Marshall and versus Rutgers. The two wins represent the only two starts of Anderson's career.
TOUGH CHALLENGE: Regardless of who starts at quarterback on Saturday, the Bearcats offense will face a stiff challenge in a Syracuse defense that has seen a resurgence in 2010 and is ranked 16th in the nation. In the Orange's five wins this season, they have held their opponent to 14 points or less each time. In SU's two losses, the defense has been torched, giving up 41 points at Washington and 45 at home versus Pittsburgh. The unit is led by linebacker Doug Hogue, the reigning Walter Camp Football Foundation Defensive Player of the Week. The senior had a team-high 10 tackles, two interceptions and one pass breakup at West Virginia. Hogue and the Orange defense kept the Mountaineers off the scoreboard for the final three quarters in Morgantown.
HELP ON THE LINE: Jones said Tuesday that he expects to have right tackle Alex Hoffman back on the field versus the Orange. Hoffman injured his knee versus Miami and has missed Cincinnati's last two contests. Sean Hooey has started the last two games in Hoffman's absence.
HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES: Saturday will mark homecoming at the University of Cincinnati and the fourth consecutive week that Syracuse has played in a homecoming game. Festivities at UC will begin at 8:00 a.m. and fans are being encouraged to arrive early as areas around campus are expected to be congested throughout the morning. The homecoming parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. with kickoff set for Noon.
