It was only 15 years ago when Luke Fickell was a standout nose tackle at Ohio State. A large part of his responsibility at that position was to clog up the interior and keep opposing offenses from running the football.
Over the last three weeks, the University of Cincinnati football coach has watched from the sideline as his Bearcats have surrendered an average of 225 rushing yards per game, including 297 yards on the ground last week against Tulsa.
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Fickell's Bearcats (9-0, 5-0 American Athletic Conference) won each of their last three games, but as a defensive-minded head coach, Fickell has to wonder what has happened to his team's once stout run defense.