Louisville had every opportunity to win this game, but eventually just gave it away. Both teams were plagued by turnovers, penalties, questionable playcalling, and poor clock management.

Cincinnati

4 Dustin Grutza QB 2009 6' 1.5" 215lbs 4.90 - lost his starting job after suffering a broken leg in Week Two. Now completely healthy, but still relegated to backing up sophomore Tony Pike. Saw some action at the tail-end of this game after Pike went down with a minor ankle injury, but did little more than hand off as the Bearcats ran out the clock to protect their lead. I doubt Grutza will even be picked up as an UDFA. Grade - incomplete

1 Mardy Gilyard WR 2010 6' 0" 180lbs 4.45 - was relatively quiet for most of the game after scoring a 48yd TD early in the 1st quarter on a bubble screen where he displayed good hands, speed, and run-after-the-catch skills. Made a more consistent impact at kick returner, averaging 27.3 yds on four returns. Should stay in school for one more year and polish his skills. Looks like a slot receiver and kick returner at the next level. Grade - slightly positive

16 Dominick Goodman WR 2009 6' 1" 218lbs 4.53 - much more consistent in this game than Gilyard, usually lined up against sophomore CB Johnny Patrick. Finished the game with 9 catches for 134yds with a long of 31yds and a TD. Looks like a Brian Finneran type at the next level - not a starter, but reliable on third downs to make the catch to keep the chains moving. Good size, sneaky speed, runs good routes, knows how to sell them, and runs well after the catch. Grade - positive

76 Trevor Canfield OG 2009 6' 4" 295lbs 5.25 - none of the OLs in this game were overly impressive. Nobody dominated, and nobody got dominated. Nobody did anything to change my opinion of them from previous scoutings (Cincinnati vs Marshall from six weeks ago and Louisville vs Memphis from five weeks ago). Canfield lined up at RG. Grade - neutral

5 Connor Barwin DE 2009 6' 3.5" 255lbs 4.80 - didn't look as good in this game as he did against Marshall. Relatively quiet. 1 solo and 1 assist. Big effort type. Versatile. Has played TE and DE and has the athletic ability to move to 3-4 OLB. Also plays on special teams. Effort can be used against him, as he will overpursue at times. Grade - neutral

95 Terrill Byrd DT 2009 6' 0.5" 295lbs 4.86 - looks like an under tackle type in a Colts style defense. Not an NFL starter, but could fill in due to injury for a few weeks in a pinch or contribute in a rotation. Rang up 4 solos and a TFL. Grade - neutral

42 Corey Smith OLB 2009 6' 0" 225lbs 4.70 - too small and too slow. I don't even see him as a weakside 'backer in a Cover-2. Will likely be in a camp as a UDFA and might even stick on a practice squad, but I just don't see him as an NFLer. Grade - negative

45 Mike Manalac MLB 2009 5' 11.5" 235lbs 4.80 - looks as small as his dimensions would indicate. Going to need to be protected at the next level to be effective. Not a run stuffer or a downfield thumper, but could be effective as a nickel 'backer. Better in coverage than his forty time would indicate. 3 solos and an assist. Almost always around the play, if not in it. Might not look pretty manning up on a back or a tight end, but got the job done. A little overly aggressive, which led to a pass interference call. Grade - slightly positive

21 Mike Mickens CB 2009 5' 11" 170lbs 4.45 - see below

6 DeAngelo Smith CB 2009 6' 1" 191lbs 4.49 - both CBs played very well on this day, with Mickens getting an INT and returning it for 28yds and Smith breaking up three passes (all of them in the endzone) and returning a punt for 18yds. Both corners also threw their bodies around, not the least bit afraid to come up in run support. Neither is exactly what you'd call a textbook form tackler, but at least they make the effort. Smith looked to be the better of the two on this day, appearing more fluid, active, and versatile. Throw in the fact that he's two inches taller and twenty pounds heavier than his teammate, and I'd definitely take him over Mickens. I could see Smith becoming a starter in the NFL someday, whereas Mickens looks like a career nickel back, albeit a very good one. Grade - positive

47 Kevin Huber P 2009 6' 1" 220lbs 5.00 - definitely draftable, which is saying something for a punter. Only punted twice, averaging 39.5yds a kick with a long of 48yds, but his other kick was to pin the Cardinals inside their own 20. Gets the ball off quick, gets good hang time, can both boom it deep and pooch it. Handled a low snap cleanly. Didn't do double duty as either a kicker or kickoff specialist. Grade - positive

Louisville

14 Hunter Cantwell QB 2009 6' 3" 236lbs 4.99 - size, stature, and arm strength are readily apparent. Also moves fairly well, can throw on the move, and does a better than average job selling the play fake. Can find alternate receivers. Has a long release, shaky footwork, and needs to improve his accuracy. Apparently Todd McShay of ESPN thinks Cantwell's a 5th rounder. I see more of a 4th or even a 3rd rounder in him, but that's based on potential, not production. Grade - slightly positive

32 Brock Bolen RB 2009 5' 11.5" 238lbs 4.80 - converted FB, though apparently has never really been a true FB. Always has played the role of a Mike Alstott / Heath Evans type. Good short yardage runner. Runs faster than his time, but is no burner. Can catch out of the backfield. Think a poor man's Jason Snelling, but bigger. Not the featured runner for Louisville and plays only in certain situations, so it took him a while to get going, but he got better as the game went on. Grade - slightly positive

77 Eric Wood C 2009 6' 4" 301lbs 5.15 - see Trevor Canfield above

68 George Bussey OG 2009 6' 2" 306lbs 5.20 - see Trevor Canfield above. Bussey lined up at LG.

99 Earl Heyman DT 2009 6' 2" 285lbs 5.05 - Heyman actually lined up as a base 4-3 LDE for this game. He has the size but not the acceleration or speed to do so at the next level. Like the Bearcats' Byrd, Heyman will be better suited as a Cover 2 UT. Grade - neutral

94 Adrian Grady DT 2009 6' 2" 305lbs 5.15 - see Terrill Byrd above, though Grady wasn't as active in this game. Grade - neutral

52 James Bryant OLB 2009 6' 3" 257lbs 4.65 - pretty good triangle numbers. Lined up at SLB. Now wears # 49. Lined up at FB on occassion and caught a TD from that position in a goalline situation. Was a non-factor on defense in this game. Grade - negative

9 Woodny Turenne CB 2009 6' 0.5" 182lbs 4.50 - not in the class of Mickens or Smith, but a solid CB nonetheless. Looks like a nickel or dime back and special teams contributor at the next level. Grade - slightly positive

19 Johnny Patrick CB 2011 6' 0" 184lbs 4.55 - did nothing to convince me he should declare early. Had the responsibility of covering Goddman for most of the game, and Goodman won almost every battle. Not a bad player, and not without upside, but has quite a bit to learn before he's ready for the NFL. Grade - neutral

This whole report dovetails perfectly with my own assessments of the PPS from these two clubs.

Good to know great minds think alike!

UC has 3 QBs with at least an outside shot at the NFL and though Grutza is the longest shot since he's less of a prospect than Gino Guidugli of the Green Bay Blizzard of af2 and British Columbia Lions but Chazz Anderson [poor man's Troy Smith] and Tony Pike, who I thought was a RS Jr., ? [working man's Tim Couch] have a chance to at least be reserves. I do prefer smith to the more flashy Mickens and Barwin has a lot of Matt Roth to him which is both good and bad, he'll need to be in the right situation. I like Terrill Byrd, [poor man's John Randle?] but agree with your overall assessment. I don't think Smith is even 6 feet but at 224 and around 4.66 I think he'll get a chance to be selected in the 6th/7th by a 'Tampa 2' team that will try him at a few positions including SS. Kevin Huber is a bargain from the 5th round on, he has a real shot a winning the Ray Guy.

Louisville is a team that is a few years away from being in the top 5-10 regularly they remind me of themselves when John Smith 1st got there; Cantwell is a 5th rounder in most minds but he and guys like Boeckman, Carpenter, Harper and Longshore will need to have HUGE offseason workouts, fortunately for Cantwell he has a pretty good chance to light it up in that situation. I hope he gets to the Senior Bowl he's one of those guys who might have a 2-3 round rise based on the post season Bowls, All-Star games and Combine. Bowlen really reminds me of Don Nottingham though he is about 1 inch taller and 25-30 lbs. heavier he has a similsr running style and will likely have a similar career. Earl Heyman is again a player I like a great deal and Grady's superior measurables mean he is more likely to be drafted, but I think Heyman will make a team as a rotation guy he has top level intangibles, IMHO.