BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rex Ryan never gave up on his family's famed "46" defense. He was rewarded by his University of Cincinnati defenders setting a school record, holding Kansas to minus-46 yards rushing in a 34-7 win Saturday night.

Defense records The best defensive games in UC history: Fewest rushing yards 1. -46 vs. KANSAS, 1997 2. -37 vs. Wichita St., 1974 3. -20 vs. NW Louisiana, 1977 4. -19 vs. NE Louisiana, 1996 5. -17 vs. Louisville, 1968 Fewest total yards 1. 18 vs. SW Louisiana, 1973 2. 22 vs. Ohio U., 1950 3. 32 vs. Xavier, 1954 4. 53 vs. KANSAS, 1997 5. 70 vs. Louisville, 1976

UC (2-1) had allowed 55 points in its previous two games, with luke warm pressure on the quarterback and spotty pass coverage.

"This defense has been great for a hundred years, obviously, with my father," said Ryan, UC's defensive coordinator. "We got back to doing what we do best, which is pressuring people."

While it hasn't been 100 years since the "46" came into vogue with Buddy Ryan's old Chicago Bears, it may seem that way. Today, the "zone blitz" created by Bengals coordinator Dick LeBeau is all the rage. But the Ryans are stubborn.

Rex Ryan, 34, is the son of former NFL defensive guru Buddy Ryan, who devised the "46" as Chicago coordinator in the 1980s. The 46 was named for Bears headhunting safety Doug Plank, who wore that uniform number.

The 46 can be the ultimate in pressure, with eight men stacked near the line, every gap covered, and constant blitzing. It propelled the Bears to the Super Bowl title in January 1986, but copycats soon discovered it didn't work without athletic defenders such as Bears stars Mike Singletary, Wilber Marshall, and Richard Dent.

Next UC (2-1) at Boston College (2-1) When: 6 p.m., Saturday Line:BC by 1 1/2.

The 46, teams learned, could be vulnerable to big plays. Offenses could burn cornerbacks, who wore down from constant man-to-man coverage.

Enter LeBeau's zone blitz of the '90s, with four rushers streaming in but also six or seven men, including linemen, dropping into zones stretching 20 yards downfield.

UC, whose defense ranked No. 13 nationally under Ryan last year, gave up some big plays in its first two games this year. Especially galling were several 3rd-and-long pass completions.

But Ryan, who returned his front seven defenders from last year, remained convinced that the 46 still worked. And it did against Kansas, with pressure that produced four forced fumbles, six quarterback sacks, and two interceptions.

UC linebacker Brad Jackson, when told that UC had held Kansas to 53 net yards overall, frowned. "We've gotta do better," he said.

What? "Seriously. 50-some yards total offense, that's not good enough. We have our standards."

Jackson said UC believes it has the best defense in the country. He and fellow linebackers Phillip Curry and Hassan Champion were ranked the country's 10th best linebacking unit in preseason by The Sporting News, and defensive end Derrick Ransom is rated an early-round NFL choice. "If we just play like the coaches tell us, we will be the best," Jackson said.

Ryan, who coached under his father with the Arizona Cardinals in 1994 and '95, said Saturday's performance was a result of UC fixing some fundamental flaws. Exactly what? He doesn't want opponents to know.

UC plays at Boston College (2-1) Saturday. BC was upset by Temple in its opener, pulled its own upset of West Virginia, then beat Rutgers 35-21 Saturday.

UC 34, KANSAS 7 Sept. 21, 1997

SEASON IN STORIES