USF2011Grad

I think we're straight which is why I'm purchasing season tickets for the first time since 2011. What did they they call it? Taggarts bus? Well I just bought a seat. This team will be fun to watch because "that defense could actually be pretty pretty good." (Larry David voice) Wait someone isn't getting rid of there tickets but actually buy tickets... WOW LOL... yup We sucked so bad after I graduated I had time to get ahead with some disposable income that would have otherwise gone to me trying to make it to a couple of away games. So for me if our crappy play was a financial blessing. Now it's time to burn a hole in the wallet. We need to win. If we can just get to 7-5... anything else would be gravy. But that's all I need to get me fully convinced we are heading forward.

Question, do they cover recruiting here?

Good points. There's no doubt our program was left for dead with what Holtz did. Taggart was given barely anything to work with. What he had at QB that first year was nothing short of a disaster. I will never agree that we should have lost to McNeese State at home but do agree any wins against D1 competition that first year were a plus. I posted last year before the season started that I projected our record to be 4-8. I thought Tulsa and SMU would've been a heck of a lot more convincing but it is what it is. Maybe I'm too critical, but I just really think a good football coach finds a way to score some points against a mediocre at best UCF team at home last year. A good football coach finds a way to beat Maryland at home when the defense forces 6 turnovers. Those are just red flags to me. I don't expect Taggart to be a miracle worker and have us win the conference last year or this year. I just expect to score some points against average AAC competition at home in his 24th game as the head coach and a couple of recruiting classes in. Is that too much to ask for? I don't think so. This team is going to continue to improve based on, 1) it pretty much has to, 2) the younger more talented players have experience under their belt and have had time to develop, 3) the AAC is just downright terrible (We're apart of that) I think people are excited. Shoot, I'm excited for the season and to see where we are at. I just think a lot of people's expectations are extremely tempered at this point and I think that should be easy to understand why. Taggart has yet to show me a reason for me to think he's the man who will get us back to what we once were (whether people think that's respectability or not). I think he's been fantastic as far as bringing in talent but everything else has left a lot to be desired, especially what he's brought to the table offensively. Oh trust me, I cantotally relate to where you're coming from. I was there since 2011 so I don't blame anyone fir being there. I was just commenting as there seemed to be no optimism in regards to the season. I finally saw something that pulled me over . I hope I'm right. For my own sake because I swore I wouldn't allow myself ti be dragged into a crappy season emotionally. But I feel pretty good about this for some ofd reason. Maybe we will revisit this post during the season and things are good.

To put into perspective how far we were in the crapper... when Taggart got here he inherited a team that had Boby Eveld (a walk-on who was terrible) and Matt Floyd (who was just completely terrible). The first thing he had to do was find a QB. He got White but that guy needed to redshirt his frosh year and then Steven Bench. We were terrible. I think it was a miracle we won 2 game that year. That was 0-12 team in terms of talent. Should not have won a game. Last year there most of skips dead weight got tossed. Most of the starters and significant contributers were first and second year players.... and the 3-4 was not good for us. The skill positions on offense were all young guys just about. I also think there were scheme issues, the schemes didn't match the players skills. This was the year I was looking to when we got a new coach. This is the season I thought the guys would be mature enough and physically developed enough to compete at a high level. Because prior to last season, they did not look like college football players. Guys were small and not strong. I don't honestly see how anyone expected even a .500 team last year but obviously many did. I don't know, I just look at things for what they are and not how I want them to be. If I thought we were going to suck, I wouldn't have even googled usf sports blogs and joined this one. I thought more people would be excited given where we came from. I guess I was wrong. Oh well.

All he said is "I dont get the dooms day talk." He also said he's fairly new here ...... He'll learn that there's dooms day talk even in the best of times. Bottom line is that it boils back down to the optimist/pessimist angle again. Optimists will take whatever they can out of the game to try and build a case for hope for the season .... and there's nothing wrong with that. Pessimists' stance is basically that we've sucked in the regular season for two years and will continue to suck until we don't .... and you really can't effectively argue against that at this time.... and neither side will have much effect on the other. I never didn't say anyone who is worried was silly. All I was saying is I don't understand the doomsday talk. I don't see it this year. I've been disgusted with USF since 2011. I just didn't see anything there. We had a depletion in talent under Holtz with virtually zero player development on either side of the ball, we went from 8-5 to 3-9. We went to Taggart and I knew there was no way this team would be any good for at least 3 years. If anyone thought that, they were delusional. I think Taggat's biggest problem was the talent he brought in was too young and too inexperienced. We virtually played 2 seasons with mostly freshman and sophomores. It's crazy anyone thought we'd be any good. I attended spring practices under Leavitt, Skip and Taggart now. All I am saying is that I don't get the doom and gloom talk. I didn't say you anyone was silly for stating their opinion. I'm sorry if you thought I was calling you silly. That's not me. I don't do that. I just think the spring practice went like normal spring practices go. We just got use to the outlier spring games that were well... not a lot of good defense being played.

Exactly. I do think Taggart was the one who changed the offense though. It's basically a power run spread so I'm not expecting to see big passing numbers. I think we will get about the same production we got from Grothe and Daniels at the QB position. What I think could make this team different than a lot of teams we've had in the past is we have a go to RB. We have a guy who is "The man" back there. We know he's going to run a lot. We also have depth at the 2 and 3 RBs. I think this type of offense will do well. I just like at how Tice and Mack played knowing Johnson is going to be back too... Dillion showing early he'll be a weapon. I see a team that may come together nicely. We have some talent and now they have some experience under their belt. We basically have played with true freshmen and sophomores for the past two seasons and virtually no QB play to speak of. At least Flowers can be productive with his feet when all else fails. White and Bench couldn't do that. I think we're straight which is why I'm purchasing season tickets for the first time since 2011. What did they they call it? Taggarts bus? Well I just bought a seat. This team will be fun to watch because "that defense could actually be pretty pretty good." (Larry David voice)

. You're just conveniently ignoring that we've had an offense ranked in the triple digits 2 years in a row with Taggart. If there was history like with Leavitt's teams where the offense never really struggled to score some points then no one should be worried. However, it is the COMPLETE opposite under Taggart. LOL! We had some terrible offenses under CJL for sure. Anyone remember Ronnie B or Pat J?? The difference is the D was always solid under Wally. So... lets break it down. Offensive Rankings under Leavitt 2009: 62 2008: 30 2007: 37 2006: 40 2005: 71 2004: 84 Offensive Rankings under Taggart 2013: 124 2014: 120 We didn't become a D1 team until 2001 so I think it's fair to leave out the first few years of those stats (2001-2003), and also because ESPN doesn't have past 2004. I don't think anything before D1 should even be discussed. Add on top of that our football program was less than 7 years old before the 2004 season. After 2004 - I even think 84 is pathetic, but compared to what we've had under Taggart that's a heck of a lot better. Which is just sad to say. Our offenses were respectable to really good 2005-2009. So a CJL coached team whose offense struggles in the spring game is a lot different than the guru that Willie Taggart is on offense and his offense struggling in a spring game. Spring games should be taken with a grain of salt for every program, but my point is USF2011Grad made it seem like anyone worried is silly. Anyone NOT worried is somewhat outside of their minds.... Now that I've had a day to digest the spring game, I honestly feel it was positive the offense didn't run wild over the defense. That would have had everyone here saying the defense will be terrible this year. The defense took it to the offense as they should in spring games. As I've said before, under CJL (coach leavitt) we never had great spring games. I remember Grothe and Daniels throwing a few interceptions in them over the years. I also recall a lot of criticizing of B.J. that almost mirrors what is being said about Flowers. Look... The offensive line is a unit. They have to play together to be good. When you have mixed lines there really isn't any continuity there. When the ones are together and everyone is healthy and here, I think they will be fine. I think Bethel (that JUCO All American guy) will likely start. Flowers will be more dynamic because it wont be a game of touch with the QB. That guy has some serious feet... Tice, Mack, and Johnson are going to give us an above average running game. We could likely say we have the best three deep and RB in the conference. I feel the WR and TE play will be fine. I don't see doom and gloom. The wind affected the passing game no doubt. I think once he's run enough with the guys who he will be throwing to regularly, the will develop chemistry. People forget, this is first spring practice. The kid is coming along fine. The defense had a few mental errors but they played fast and hard. We haven't seen the defense play like this in spring ball in a while. I really think this team could be poised to have a good season. I saw a spring game that reminded me of a spring game. Not this arena crap we've had since 2010 when you know who took over.

I'm trying to figure out when has the soring gane ever been good in a season we had decent teams. It never has. We didn't start seeing scoring until Skip got here. Daniels and Grothe never lit it up in the spring...eell BJ did one year under skip and the defense was garbage. Shoot... Matt threw 2 picks in 2009 apring game and the offense played line ****. That was the year we beat FSU, when BJ was a freshman. I'm new to this but it seems like USF fans are forgetting history. This reminds me very much of a CJL spring game. I dont get the dooms day talk.

Seemed like a normal soring game to me for a change... The wind affected the passing game but Part of football. I'm mot aure why the doom and gloom is around, i actually think it will be a really good season. I think Flowers is doing really well for spring ball. That guy can run too... And he has good arm strength. I'm not sure what you were expecting from a spring game but this seemed like what one expects from a spring game.

Doubled

Thought the exact same thing .... kind of encouraging. Was actually pretty impressed with Flowers. The deep balls were an adventure all day because of the wind but he did hit a beauty late in the game. He seemed to have a better pocket awareness than last year. Doesn't just take off at the first sign of pressure. Made a nice play where he started to take off but saw Tice out ahead of him and flipped the ball to him for a nice gain for a 1st. But there was a play late in the game where he had Adams wide open, waving his arms at him from near the sideline for a first but chose to try to run for a 1st but didn't make it. Those right decisions should come with experience. Looks like Bench or Flowers would be fine starting in this offense. The difference between those two and White was painfully obvious on the couple of designed qb runs with him in there. Great assessment. I think, with improved play at QB and the running game we have coming back, things are looking pretty bright. We are starting to see the results from recruiting. I'm happy that Taggart said he would name the starter soon so going into fall there is no doubt. Also, I think tue defense is going to be fantastic. Whitehurst is performing like you expect a senior to do. The one thing I think is happening is player development. We lacked that for some time. But that and the takent should make this an interesting season.

Seems like we are having a normal spring game for the first time since Coach Leavitt left. Well since 2010 but that technically was a Leavitt team, to me that is.

Long balls are a matter of timing. Looking forward to not really going to have that type of timing in the spring game. A bad thing would be if he was turning the ball over. As White continues to struggle with. Bench is just a solid backup. With flowers it seems as if he's really mobile and can run the ball. He's had a couple passes And is showing solid arm strength. He is where he should be. I think he will ne terrific in the fall.

Yeah... B.J. Did that a lot in the spring too. It's what spring ball is for. I don't mind missing long on passes in the soring game, I'm more worried about turnovers.

Seems like they are blowing the whistle a little quickly on sacks.

Well the one thing you know is between Tice, Mack, and Johnson (not sure if he'll play today I remember Taggart mentioning he was injured last week) Flowers seems to be getting better. I guess nobody questioning his arm strength.

White will end that

Mine is fine.. Sounds perfect

Actually yeah... He had surgery on it his senior year of high school. It gave him problems I guess.

I remember reading he played with an injured shoulder his freshman year and it affected his shooting. I acually think he had surgery on it.

Every school does that to some extent... although "fans" are usually called "boosters" I'm pretty sure the guy who started this thread is not a booster. It was also presumptuous which was my point. Fans fire from the hip when it comes to judging coaches. They think if a team isn't good in 2 years... really with some it's 1, that the coach needs to be fired. I've noticed here that quite a few people are calling for Taggart's firing which I find peculiar.

The basketball team is quietly assembling some talent. Smith our new JUCO signee is a former 4 star, Peters a 4 star, Santos also. He's bringing in a lot of athletic ability and shooting. Long guys. Next will be Outlaw who's another long guy at 6'5 210 pound SG/SF. Smith is a 6'4 combo guard. Peters 6'3 point guard who can shoot lights out. Guerrero is who I'm looking to to make a big jump. I mean Da Silva is another 6'5 uber athletic guy who can really shoot. You look at the offer lists for a lot of these guys and what we have... I like what Coach Antigua is building. Holston, Bo, Morrillo, etc... Stan's problem was he was never able to build a complete team top to bottom. It appears Antigua is trying to do that. Even without Perry next season (not sure what will become of his medical condition) we should be a really good team. I saw improvement towards the end of the season. I enjoyed watching the team and style of play....

This is why you don't allow fans to make coaching decisions.

Josh is a great guy but he is not a college QB. I dont think anyone that expects him to come in and compete for the starting job. Who said USF was giving him a scholarship? That's not the case with transfers like him in most cases.

And Oline