UCF Have to Assault Cincinnati Cornerback Ahmad Gardner

ORLANDO – When there’s a future NFL cornerback on the gridiron, it’s oftentimes hard to make passing plays to that cornerback’s aspect of the self-discipline. With upright device, blueprint, and play calling, taking profit of that proficient cornerback will be achieved.

The Bearcats will gallop out Ahmad Gardner in opposition to the Knights. He’s one in all the proper, if no longer the proper, cornerback in the country. Will maintain to restful UCF allege Gardner? Sure, but there wishes to be correct kind steps when making a concerted effort to plod straight at Gardner and his extensive abilities.

Here’s a peek at two areas that Gardner does successfully earlier than defining what can work in opposition to him and the Bearcats.

Ahmad Gardner

Field: Cornerback

Vitals: 6’3”, 200 pounds

Field of initiating: Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King

Simplest physical attribute: Size; Gardner’s hands permit him to deflect passes other cornerbacks simply can’t attain. He’s also consistently redirecting extensive receivers away from their intended route direction along with his length and his physical means to the sport of football.

Gardner will play bump-and-urge coverage by lining straight in front of the extensive receiver, and as soon because the football goes to the quarterback, Gardner will assault the extensive receiver. Any extensive receiver with life like or less device for defeating press coverage will be in danger in opposition to Gardner. He’s also a savvy defender.

Gardner will play press coverage and then, at the very very top moment, bail into a soft zone. Timing when he moves away from the extensive receiver can stamp to be the greatest element for Gardner, because if performed precisely, there’s no pre-snap adjustment for the quarterback and extensive receiver to make.

It’s great extra hard to alter after the snap of the football, and that’s what Gardner wishes his opponents to realize. Cincinnati coaches its cornerbacks very successfully, and Gardner’s savvy play provides to the general cornerback growth he receives from the Cincinnati educating employees.

Despite all of Gardner’s abilities, the next would be four upright ways to assault him.

Monitors

There would possibly maybe be now not any longer a cornerback alive that surely wishes to purchase on offensive linemen and tight ends. Even supposing cornerbacks would possibly maybe well sing it, great bigger gamers running in opposition to them with the intent to bury them into the turf will no longer be the first item on their wish listing of plays to plod up in opposition to. Gardner is now not any exception.

Early in the sport, UCF wishes to urge screens to the frequent suspects — Johnny Richardson, Model Antony-Richards, Amari Johnson, and Ryan O’Keefe — amongst several proficient skill relate gamers. When those screens purchase space, it’s fully crucial that UCF offensive linemen and tight ends hammer Gardner with their blocks.

Football is a sport of attrition. Produce definite Gardner is conscious of he’s enjoying football from the early stages of the sport the total methodology during the fourth quarter.

Perimeter Working Plays

This would possibly maybe be much like the screens, and then there’s the added bonus of attempting to tackle any individual as extensive as Antony-Richards dimension, which can perhaps be about 215 pounds. Much admire with the screens, that’s no longer the first decision for a cornerback.

The identical will be acknowledged when UCF quarterback Joey Gatewood enters the lineup. He is a extensive man at 6’5″, 220 pounds. When he runs in opposition to the sideline, he can lay a lick on Gardner and most other defenders.

Gardner deserves to be called a physical player, but he’s no longer a linebacker. Each and each time he wishes to tackle a UCF player that’s one extra physique blow he’ll soak up.

Stacked Huge Receiver Formations

On narrative of Gardner does an very very top job of enjoying press coverage, there’s no request UCF wishes to be ingenious with its extensive receiver formations. That’s the effect a stacked formation can arrive into play. It’s simply what it sounds admire, too.

Two extensive receivers line up one in front of the opposite. Rob a fundamental player admire O’Keefe and stack a tight pause or extensive receiver in front of him. That will back earn rid of press coverage, and it extra helps fabricate screens and snappily releases so that quarterback Mikey Keene will be in a relate to remark the football mercurial.

Double Moves

Gardner’s aggressive nature would possibly maybe well permit for a double cross to effect success. When there’s creep on the self-discipline with a player admire O’Keefe, UCF simply ought to gain ways for him to earn in the relieve of the secondary, Gardner integrated.

Ryan O'Keefe UCF — Discovering a ways for Ryan O’Keefe to beat Gardner deep will be a ought to-maintain for the UCF offense.

UCF Athletics

For that matter, Gardner would possibly maybe well apply O’Keefe around all sport lengthy. Terminate no longer request Jaylon Robinson to play in opposition to Cincinnati, so O’Keefe’s production will be a ought to-maintain. Even supposing it’s comely one play of O’Keefe going by Gardner and catching a cross for 50 yards, it would possibly maybe well be the adaptation in the sport.

With correct kind timing and play calling, there’s a possibility to connect Keene to O’Keefe during an out-and-up route, discontinuance-and-plod route, or something identical.

Final Thoughts

Gardner is one in all the nation’s greatest overall gamers, and wish to be respected. That would now not point out UCF can comely give him the aspect of the self-discipline he lines up on. The Knights wish to be physical with Gardner all sport lengthy, and gain a methodology to purchase profit of his aggressive enjoying trend.

For UCF insights, college football files, and recruiting files plod to: The Day-to-day Knight podcast. This will be came upon on iTunes and Spotify. For added UCF and recruiting files, plod to Twitter: @fbscout_florida and @UCF_FanNation, as successfully as my YouTube Channel and Instagram page. Tackle and Subscribe!