USF Football: Put Up or Shut Up

[SoFlo All Day]

Just a “few” words now that fall practices are right around the corner. Saw a lot of encouraging things during spring practice, but there are a couple of things that I’m not completely sold on either. Anyway, there’s no denying that this offseason feels a lot different than the last few and I think expectations will only continue to grow in the remaining 50 or so days until we kickoff against Towson. With that, I leave you with my three big points for the upcoming season.

We need to take 2016 one game at a time or we are going to blow it   . We went 3-4 in conference, and lost 5 out of our last 8 that year. Believe it or not, FSU is kind of on the back burner in my mind (don’t get me wrong, I have fantasized about storming the field a time or two and think that we will need to get after it in that game) but I don’t think it defines our season if we win or lose. Refer to 2009 to see if winning that game really mattered in the grand schemeThese games will define our season.Outside of Towson, we really can’t sleep on anybody this year – I see NIU and Syracuse as trap games, Cincy and Temple as tough road games that we probably split, games against UConn and Navy that look trickier than originally perceived…and an away game against Memphis down the stretch (luckily that will come after a much needed bye week).   All the publicity is great, but you don’t play the games on paper. Sure, the number of players on preseason award lists and all-conferences teams is a testament to the staff’s recruiting and the talent on the roster, but it really wont matter if we don’t win the games we’re supposed to win. A deceptively tough schedule, a relatively new coaching staff, and a mountain of expectations has all the makings of a letdown, but if USF, as a program, wants to get to an elite level it has to live up to the hype.  .^st– The USF hype train is in full gear and has been since the final whistle blew in Miami on December 21

D-Line and Defensive Coaching Staff – I’m starting to become bullish on the former and bearish on the latter. Even with all of the doubt about our DE’s, I think the D-Line will be very good this year. I really like Hector, Senat, and Awoleke…if one of those guys played DE I would like our situation a whole lot more, but you cant always get what you want. Regardless, I think the athletes we already have (Mayes and Jackson) and the athletes we’re bringing in through JUCO’s will be able get up to speed and surprise people this year. Couple that with a very deep secondary, and a few studs at LB and you got yourself a scary lineup. Maybe it’s just me, but I think we might be making mountains out of molehills about this D-line thing. I guess we’ll just have to see the tale of the tape in fall practices.

Talent-wise the defense is solid, it’s the coaching that I’m not sold on. I think we could drop a game or two at the beginning of the season because of our defensive coaching changes. Replacing the shoes of Tom Allen will be tough and I think Coach Woodie (as good of a recruiter as I’ve heard he is) will stumble with in-game adjustments for the first 4-5 games. Things like knowing when to bid up the Husky to help with the run or keeping him back in pass coverage, having the two LB’s roam to protect against the short pass or having them blitz to help the D-line. I’m not sold that Woodie knows when to make those type of calls and really, one or two of those small things can have a big impact on a game. It also doesn’t help that 3 out of our first 4 opponents all have different style offenses.

 

Fan Support -  Please (for the love of USF Football) can we have a good turnout this year? And not just for FSU. Every game. I’ve been buying into what Harlan, Taggert, and everyone at USF Athletics has been dishing out over the last 2 years (Season Tickets, Parking Passes, Bulls Club…etc), I just hope everyone else has. Let’s face it; we need people in those seats (and not just for a jump to the Big 12). It’s to create that sense of tradition, prestige, and camaraderie that will create future support for the program over generations. Think about it this way: even when their teams went through 3-4 season stretches of mediocrity, why do you think UF and FSU alums were willing to drop **** loads of cash on season tickets and donor packages?  Loyalty is the name of the game here. Even if you look at teams with similar profiles to ours, like UCLA or Pitt, being located in a city and having an off campus stadium, they have relatively strong fan bases and have had their fair share of mediocrity in the past. (I get it, they have been around longer, but the point is that we cant really use the "we're in a city and have to share a stadium" excuse.) We did a fairly decent job between 1997 and 2010, but apparently it wasn’t good enough to withstand the crapstorm from 2011-2014. In all honesty, if majority of a fan base can’t survive three or four down years, especially after all of the excitement and optimism of the previous 8-9 years, then it probably wasn’t that loyal to begin with. This year is a start for USF Football to recapture and build an even better foundation.

 

*I was going to write about the Offense and O-Line, but that subject has been beaten into the ground and I really don’t have a fresh perspective to add. Exciting skill players, questions on the O-Line blah, blah, blah. The fact that Quentin can scramble will help mitigate some pass block issues, and Mack ran for a 1,000+ yds behind a shaky O-line as a freshman. Not too worried about how many points we score this season.

My cautiously optimistic prediction: 9-3 

Losses to FSU, Temple, and someone stupid that we should have beaten - eek out wins against Cincy and Syracuse on the road.

Enough talk. Let’s ball.

See you in September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Calibull]

39 minutes ago, SoFlo All Day said:

Just a “few” words now that fall practices are right around the corner. Saw a lot of encouraging things during spring practice, but there are a couple of things that I’m not completely sold on either. Anyway, there’s no denying that this offseason feels a lot different than the last few and I think expectations will only continue to grow in the remaining 50 or so days until we kickoff against Towson. With that, I leave you with my three big points for the upcoming season.

 

We need to take 2016 one game at a time or we are going to blow it   . We went 3-4 in conference, and lost 5 out of our last 8 that year. Believe it or not, FSU is kind of on the back burner in my mind (don’t get me wrong, I have fantasized about storming the field a time or two and think that we will need to get after it in that game) but I don’t think it defines our season if we win or lose. Refer to 2009 to see if winning that game really mattered in the grand schemeThese games will define our season.Outside of Towson, we really can’t sleep on anybody this year – I see NIU and Syracuse as trap games, Cincy and Temple as tough road games that we probably split, games against UConn and Navy that look trickier than originally perceived…and an away game against Memphis down the stretch (luckily that will come after a much needed bye week).   All the publicity is great, but you don’t play the games on paper. Sure, the number of players on preseason award lists and all-conferences teams is a testament to the staff’s recruiting and the talent on the roster, but it really wont matter if we don’t win the games we’re supposed to win. A deceptively tough schedule, a relatively new coaching staff, and a mountain of expectations has all the makings of a letdown, but if USF, as a program, wants to get to an elite level it has to live up to the hype.  .^st– The USF hype train is in full gear and has been since the final whistle blew in Miami on December 21

 

 

I wouldn't call our coaching staff relatively new going into the 4th season.  We had a couple of changes DC (promoted from within) and OL.  I get what you're saying, but this doesn't feel at all like a letdown season.  These guys seem to know better, this team is as tight as any team we've ever had and it's more talented overall than any team we've ever had.  This is the season most of us were waiting on... the season most thought this team would be set to make a run.  I don't consider last season a run, they were just learning the system.  

Edited July 15, 2016 by Calibull

[BDYZR]

9 hours ago, Calibull said:

I wouldn't call our coaching staff relatively new going into the 4th season.  We had a couple of changes DC (promoted from within) and OL.  I get what you're saying, but this doesn't feel at all like a letdown season.  These guys seem to know better, this team is as tight as any team we've ever had and it's more talented overall than any team we've ever had.  This is the season most of us were waiting on... the season most thought this team would be set to make a run.  I don't consider last season a run, they were just learning the system.  

Agree. Add in the fact that this is the first season since maybe 2011 that we come back running the same schemes and the extra practices we got from the bowl game.

There will be something new every year, that's one of the beauties of college football.

[Ionbull]

5 hours ago, BDYZR said:

Agree. Add in the fact that this is the first season since maybe 2011 that we come back running the same schemes and the extra practices we got from the bowl game.

There will be something new every year, that's one of the beauties of college football.

And the massive improvement in S&C in the offseason and it shows they are putting in the work. Obviously we need to taper our enthusiasm a bit, we're USF fans, but CWT has the program motor running at a very high level. Woodie has been touted as a really good up and coming coach in conjuncture with his already stellar recruiting. Don't forget, we also have former Tennessee DC, John Jancek, that I'm sure is assisting in the transition. Let's ball and leave no doubt!

[Calibull]

5 hours ago, BDYZR said:

Agree. Add in the fact that this is the first season since maybe 2011 that we come back running the same schemes and the extra practices we got from the bowl game.

There will be something new every year, that's one of the beauties of college football.

Exactly! There are a lot of indicators that this team is going to be really good.  The fact that all they are talking about is the start of the season on social media.  Like a pack of wolves waiting to be let loose.  I think this team feels like they have something to prove.  I get the feeling they look at last season as a bunch of missed opportunities.  This team has a great attitude and a lot of skill and experience.  They all are in sync with a common goal of winning a conference championship.  Not beating FSU... but winning a championship.  That's the mindset you have to have.    

16 minutes ago, Ionbull said:

And the massive improvement in S&C in the offseason and it shows they are putting in the work. Obviously we need to taper our enthusiasm a bit, we're USF fans, but CWT has the program motor running at a very high level. Woodie has been touted as a really good up and coming coach in conjuncture with his already stellar recruiting. Don't forget, we also have former Tennessee DC, John Jancek, that I'm sure is assisting in the transition. Let's ball and leave no doubt!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!  This is what make good players better and great players elite.  It transforms a team physically and mentally. I haven't forgotten about coach Jancek.  He's the reason I think the secondary will be great.  He knows the 4-2-5 also.  I think he will be an asset to Coach Woodie as his first year as a DC.

Edited July 15, 2016 by Calibull

[dabull80]

No reason for this team not to have a great run this year.  Like someone said one game at a time.  I for one would like these guys to come out and play with an attitude......like the old Hurricanes....we are the best on the field and we will show you and then rub your face in it.  Conference title....Yup......beat FSU....like a drum....win on the road....own them.....The Bulls fear no one !  

 

My prediction:  Lots of great games......drink a lot of beer....eat some brats....enjoy another year of USF football.

[GaUSFBull]

15 hours ago, Calibull said:

I don't consider last season a run, they were just learning the system.  

It didn't start out as a run, but it looked like it towards the end because the light finally came on; who we are as a team finally clicked.  That bodes well for the Bulls in 2016.  

Totally agree that this is the year Bulls fans have pegged as being the year to make the run.  

This is when the Bulls run.