The University of Cincinnati Bearcats hope to get a spark from backup quarterback Adam Hoover in today's game at Tulane.

UC at TULANE

• Kickoff: 6p.m. today, Louisiana Superdome (69,767), New Orleans.   • Records: UC 2-2 (1-0 Conference USA), Tulane 1-2 (0-1).   • TV: None.   • Radio: WCKY-AM (1360).   • Series:Tulane leads 9-2. (last: 1998, Tulane 52-34).   • Line: Tulane by 31/2.   • What to watch: Tulane quarterback Patrick Ramsey is big and strong (6-foot-3, 228 pounds) and isn't afraid to stay in the pocket until his receivers get open. Last week, in Tulane's 29-17 victory over SMU, Ramsey hit 34 of 50 passes for 347 yards and three TDs.

        Hoover, 23, a former junior-college player, is starting because Deontey Kenner (abdominal strain) is injured.

        If there can be a silver lining in such a dark cloud, it is that Kenner hadn't been throwing the ball quite as well as last year.

        Partly for that reason, and partly because UC's receivers have had a serious case of butterfingers, the offense hasn't been able to move the chains. At other times, they've had chances for big-play TDs but haven't converted.

        They dropped at least six catchable balls last week against Indiana.

        Hoover isn't as strong-armed as Kenner, but he is accurate — maybe even as accurate as Kenner was last year. The Bearcats are hoping this will help the receivers get back on track.

        UC coach Rick Minter gave an example of the role receivers play in maintaining a team's momentum at critical junctures.

        “Against Indiana (last Saturday), we had a slant route (that would have gone) for a touchdown,” Minter said. “But (Kenner) threw it a little bit behind our guy, and he doesn't make the play.

        “I've been throwing balls to the wideouts everyday, and I tell them, "This is your bad-ball drill,'” Minter said. “They've got to catch those balls on the back hip and on the back shoulder. If we catch that slant route on the second drive against Indiana, we're in (the game).”

        Nobody in the UC camp can explain why the wideouts aren't making more plays. There are theories, of course — drops are contagious; senior Tony Smikle hasn't been healthy — but one thing's for sure: The Bearcats are going to drop to 1-1 in Conference USA if the receivers don't catch the ball better for Hoover than they did for Kenner.

        “We're back in the conference and playing a team we haven't beaten (in three tries),” Minter said. “If we want to keep our seasonal goals intact — pursue a championship, finish in the top four (of C-USA) and go to a postseason game — then we have work to do.”

        UC believes it can move the ball with a balanced offense of running and passing. It would like to bust some big plays to go over the top of the red zone, instead of having to go through it, but so far the receivers haven't complied. Also, the Bearcats miss running back DeMarco McCleskey (hamstring), who is questionable for today. He's a breakaway back, who can make yards in a hurry. Fullback Ray Jackson runs hard but isn't elusive.

        The Bearcats are going to have to score some touchdowns to win. Tulane is averaging more than 435 yards a game in total offense. Green Wave quarterback Patrick Ramsey missed a start because of an injury, but in his two starts he's hitting 59 percent of his passes (46-for-78) with four TDs against only one interception. Tulane has a wide-open style.

        “Our defense is going to have to keep them down a little bit,” Minter said. “We aren't an explosive machine right now. But, who knows, (Hoover) could give us a spark.”

UC receivers must give all UC's Jones injured, out for 8-10 weeks

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