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The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 23

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Cincinnati, Ohio
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23
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0 COVERING THE COMBINE Enquirer Bengals beat writer Joe Reedy is at the NFL Scouting Combine and will be filing updates today through Sunday on the Bengals blog at Cincinnati.Com. Search: Bengals Also, follow him at Twitter.comjoereedy. THURSDAY Eftr.Jssh Pdiief.jptrqjTrGm. 513-763 6381 CINCINNAT1.COM: What's on Doc's mind today? Check out Enquirer columnist Paul Oaugherty's ruminations on sports and beyond. SEARCH: bloqs Sports Briefs 16 turn to Piaco (3 defense ove style," Kelly said.

"I'm 1 familiar with him and I "St jj? i Diaco replaces Joe Tresey, who departed UC Feb. 10 after two seasons as defensive coordinator. Diaco By Cedric Brown fkhrxmnAmQuirrr com The University of Cincinnati football program has hired Bob Diaco to be its defensive coordinator, Bearcats head coach Brian Kelly announced Wednesday. Diaco, who had been an assistant at Virginia since December 2005. previously served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach as a member of Kelly's staff at Central Michigan during the 2005 season.

"I dont know if it's a matter of improvement; Bob just fits my coaching Kelfy also made two other changes to his staff, promoting defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs and special teams cxwdinorrecruiting coordinatortight ends coach Mike Elston. Coombs becomes associate head coach and Elston assistant head coach. Both also will retain their current duties. 1 "Kerry is just the kind of guy that I want promoting our program," KeDy said of Coombs. "He speaks on my behalf, representing the program, so I thought it would be a natural fit for him." ginia, where lie was the Cavaliers' linebackers and special teams coach before being named defensive coordinator before the start of last season.

Last season the Cavaliers went 5-7, but they shut out two opponents and held five others to 20 points or fewer -including Virginia Tech, which beat UC in the Orange Bowl 20-7. Before joining Central Michigan's staff, Diaco was an assistant at Eastern Michigan from 2001-03, coaching running backs, linebackers and defensive backs. In 2004, he was the special teams and linebackers coach at Western Michigan. per game. "Joe did a great job here and Bob has a high bar to reach," Kelly said.

"It was one of those things that we needed to move in a different direction with the 3-4 defense." With the departure of 10 starters from last season's defense which helped lead UC to an 11-3 record and an Orange Bowl berth Kelly has decided to use tlus offseason to make the transition to a 3-1 scheme. "It was an attractive fit for us to hire Bob for what we're doing," Kelly said. "He knows the 3-4 defense wel" Diaco left Central Michigan for Vir Last season, the UC defense finished 31st in the nation in total defense, allowing an average of 321.9 yards per game, and was 19th in run defense, surrendering 115 yards per game. The Bearcats also led the Big East in sacks with an average of 2.86 REDS SPRING TRAINING NFL SCOUTING COMBINE Rookies take center stage at workouts Players strive to impress teams No one will have a bigger spotlight on them than Matthew Stafford. The Georgia quarterback is predicted by most 71 'L ffrr'y i i Stafford By Joe Reedy jreedyenquirer.com INDLWAPOUS-Sometime around 3:15 p.m.

on April 25, the Detroit Lions will officially be off the clock after making their pick to open the NFL Draft. The process of whom the Lions, Bengals and others select in the first round starts today at the scouting combine. More than 300 draft prospects began arriving Wednesday for four days of medical exams, testing, interviews and workouts. There are varying opinions about how much this week's events can help or hurt a player. "I love the combine because it is like the football Olympics," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock.

"The area where some teams get burned, though, is that they fall in love too much with a kid's 40 (-yard dash) time." Associated Press fii Tiger Woods has been sidelined since having reconstructive knee surgery last June. GOLF Caddie: Woods close to return Tiger Woods is "a few weeks" away from a return to the PGA Tour and could decide within days where that return will take place, his caddie, Steve Williams, said Wednesday. "It's going to be anytime, shortly," Williams told Television New Zealand in an exclusive interview. "He's probably 95 percent of the way there." Williams said Woods wants to get in some competitive play before the Masters April 9-12. "He definitely wants to play a couple of tournaments before Augusta, so any day now he's going to make a decision when he's going to play," Williams said.

Woods hasn't played on tour since having surgery on his left knee a week after winning the U.S. Open last June. "He's had to modify his swing a little bit to accommodate his knee, but the guy always finds a way," Williams said. HIGH SCHOOLS Herbstreit event bypassing area The Kirk Herbstreit football series is unlikely to include any Cincinnati-area teams or venues on its schedule this year, Jim Herbstreit, the event's primary organizer, said. STORY, C4 Boone rallies to top Indian Hill Steven McFarland scored 12 third-quarter points to lead Boone County to a 75-58 victory over Indian Hill Wednesday.

McFar-land's outburst helped the Rebels, who are ranked No. 2 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, rally from a two-point halftime deficit against the Braves, who are No. 2 in the Ohio Divisions II-IV poll STORY, C3 early mock drafts, including Mayock's and Mel Kiper to be the Lions' choice. "In terms of what he has to do, he has to show everybody that he's not just a thrower, but a pitcher. We know he can throw the 100 miles per hour fastball What he needs to show is that he can take a little off, be more precise and put some finesse in his Kiper said.

With the sixth pick, the Bengals have been projected to address either the offensive or defensive line. Most have predicted a run on tackles in the The EnquirerMichael E. Keating Jay Bruce was the Next Big Thing in last year's Reds camp. This year, things are more low-key, though he's projected to start in right field. "He just needs playing experience," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said.

less Spotlight, but very bright future See COMBINE, Page C5 if" Ml I ft rv By John Fay jfayenquirer.com SARASOTA, Fla. Jay Bruce may be getting less media attention so far this spring, but the Reds are depending on him much more. Bruce was last year's phenom and was considered by some the No. 1 prospect in baseball. Many expected him to make the team out of spring training and begin a career arc leading directly to Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame.

That plan hit a snag before spring ended, perhaps because Bruce tried to live up to the hype. "I tried to impress people too much when I just needed to play my game," he said. By March 20, Bruce was in the minor-league camp. He started the season in Triple-A, but he was in the major leagues by May 27. After a fabulous start he had 15 hits and three home runs in his first week in the big leagues Bruce struggled before recovering to bat .254 with 21 home runs, 52 RBI and 63 runs in 413 at-bats.

That projects to a 30-home run, 75-RBI, 91-run performance over a full season. mm The Kid came home, now heads back west Two years ago when Ken Griffey Jr. went to Seattle as a member of the Reds, he said he would like to finish his career as a Mariner. It looks like he got his wish. After an apparent agreement with Atlanta fell through, Griffey is going back to the West Coast.

Story, C5 More inside Reds third baseman Edwin Encarna-cion says his batting average dipped last season because he was trying to hit too many home runs. Reds notebook, C5 Online coverage Complete spring training coverage at Cincinnati.Com (search: Reds): Daily photo galleries and periodic video features from Sarasota Blog and Twitter updates from John Fay Project the Reds' final 25-man roster in our survey The NFL Scouting Combine What Is the combine? It's an event in which more than 300 of the best college football players are invited to Indianapolis, where executives, coaches and medical personnel from all 32 NFL teams will evaluate, interview and test them. How long has the combine taken place? It started in 1982 when National Football Scouting, Inc. first conducted a camp for its member NFL clubs in Tampa, which was attended by 163 players. From 1982-84, similar camps were held for teams that did not belong to National Football Scouting.

In 1985 all teams decided they would hold one combined camp. The combine has been held in Indianapolis since 1987 after prior stops in New Orleans and Arizona. Who decides who Is Invited? A selection committee consisting of directors of both National and BLEST0 Scouting Services, which represent 26 NFL teams between them, and members of various player personnel departments. No one knows most of the members of the committee. All draft-eligible players are reviewed and voted on by the committee mergers.

Each athlete receiving the necessary number of votes, by position, is then extended an invitation. What do the players do during their stay? Depending upon their position, some players might be in town for up to six days. They could interview with interested teams each day, and will partake in an orientation, hospital pre-exams and X-rays, medical exams, measurements, meetings with the media, psychological testing, NFL Players Association meetings and workouts. Who works out when? Saturday: Kickers, punters, offensive linemen, tight ends. Sunday: Quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs.

Monday: Defensive linemen and linebackers. Tuesday Defensive backs. The EnquirerMichael E. Keating Jay Bruce (with Willy Taveras) feels good as he approaches his second major-league season. "I'm a little more confident, a little more relaxed," he said.

See REDS, Page C5 re XAVIER BASKETBALL Share your own sports news on your community's page at Cincinnati.Com using Share. Post your stories, stats and photos it's easy and it's free. To get started, go to Cincinnati.Com or NKY.com. Search: Share For statistics and scores, send a text message with team name (e.g. UG) or player name (e.g.

Yancy Gates) Musketeers hoping to shake their recent road-game slump SJi i. No. 16 XU at Charlotte Tlpofh 7 p.m. today, Halton Arena, Charlotte, N.C. IV: ESPN2 Radio: WLW-AM (700) Up until the Duquesne game, we were one of the few teams in this country that (were) undefeated on the road.

I think we all want to at least be at our best," Xavier coach Sean Miller said. "Hopefully, with a couple added days here in between games, we can really have our house in order as we go down there and play because we're expecting a better Charlotte team, clearly led by one of the best players By Shannon Russell srussellenquirer.com Xavier's recent 35-point romp over struggling Fordham was crucial for rebuilding team confidence. The No. 16 Musketeers were sorely in need of a boost after losing back-to-back road games at Duquesne and Dayton, surrendering sole control of the Atlantic 10 Conference lead and ensuring consecutive tumbles in the Associated Press Top 25. The Fordham rout marked a re- 4463G (4info) yuj Note: 4INF0 of-fers the service for free.

But charges may apply based on your wireless plan coverage. Not all providers offer the service. turn to XUs winning ways. And now, as tonight's 7 p.m. nationally televised rematch with Charlotte awaits, the Muskies are eager to claim their first road win since Jan.

24. Enquirer file Jeff Swinger Terrell Holloway (going up against Charlotte's DiJuan Harris, left) and his XL) teammates hope to get their first road victory since Jan. 24. See XAVIER, Page C4 BrjjWejgBip.

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