TampaBayTimes USF begins spring football drills after winter of reckoning

[Triple B]

Coach Charlie Strong says fans will see a bigger, faster, stronger team in 2019.

 

New offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell takes in his first USF spring practice.(OCTAVIO JONES | Times)

By Joey Knight

Published Yesterday

TAMPA ― In the immediate wake of last season’s dreadful finish, marked by offensive stagnation, shoddy tackling and inner strife, USF coach Charlie Strong knew he had to make significant changes.

Starting with Charlie Strong.

“I start with myself, then go with the assistant coaches, and the players are always last,” said Strong, whose team dropped its last six games of 2018 after a 7-0 start.

“And I had to get better because you know what happens is, you go along there and you’re winning and you let the little things slip. ... That’s what I allowed to (occur), and I can’t allow that to happen.”

A winter overhaul ― in terms of staff, scheme and strength-and-conditioning approach ― ensued. Fresh off those pivotal three months, the 2019 Bulls convened Tuesday for their first of 15 spring workouts. Some players were noticeably bigger; all presumably were bent on proving the second half of 2018 was an aberration.

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[Triple B]

USF spring football: takeaways from Day 1

Charlie Strong seems high on this year’s senior class

 

 

 

USF coach Charlie Strong said sophomore linebacker Dwayne Boyles (center) has bulked up from 210 pounds to roughly 235. [JOEY KNIGHT | Times]

By Joey Knight

Published 3 hours ago

 

 

Spring practice for USF formally commenced Tuesday with a pre-practice news conference, followed by an afternoon workout under gray skies (the first 20 or so minutes were open to reporters). Here are a few takeaways from what we heard and observed on Day 1.

* Though the spring roster features only 12 seniors (four fewer than what appeared on the Gasparilla Bowl roster), Charlie Strong indicated this year’s team could feature a much stronger corps of veteran leaders. Unlike last year’s group, this senior class includes many who have played considerably: offensive linemen Billy Atterbury and Marcus Norman, defensive end Kirk Livingstone and tight end Mitch Wilcox, to name some. “You take a Livingstone,” Strong said. “He doesn’t say much, but just works, and guys just respect him by the way he works.”

* New offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell could have a variety of options at the slot-receiver position vacated by burly veteran Tyre McCants. In addition to converted running back Johnny Ford, East Lake High alumnus Bryce Miller took reps Tuesday. We’ve heard coaches are high on the Southeastern University transfer.

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[El_Toro_86]

So when should we see an updated roster with current weights?

Really interested to see the weight increases on the DL.

[CousinRicky]

Couple of good articles from JK.  

[Gatorbull325]

50 minutes ago, El_Toro_86 said:

So when should we see an updated roster with current weights?

Really interested to see the weight increases on the DL.

I am impatiently waiting for that report. 

[E.T.]

Need a strong Back Up to emerge after Cronk and Ford.

Need incredible improvement at LB.

Coaches need to have these guys prepared for Opening Day.

Go BULLS !!!

[DELdaBull]

Hope renewed season 

[Gatorbull325]

50 minutes ago, E.T. said:

Need a strong Back Up to emerge after Cronk and Ford.

Need incredible improvement at LB.

Coaches need to have these guys prepared for Opening Day.

Go BULLS !!!

I think Cherry will be that guy

[BrassBulls12]

7 minutes ago, Gatorbull325 said:

I think Cherry will be that guy

i thought Cherry was going to RB and Norris was going to LB?

[NewEnglandBull]

36 minutes ago, BrassBulls12 said:

i thought Cherry was going to RB and Norris was going to LB?

That is correct