RU Vs. USF Stray Thoughts ... To Start (Long)

[jellyman]

****, you BULLS boys are crabby this week!!!

Don't take it personally, jellyman & RU mba 01, USF fans are still licking our wounds after last week's loss at Kansas. I am hardly qualified to give you good facts about the team/talent, but hopefully someone will show up soon to engage in some real discussion.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by, and good luck tearing up the BE, after we beat you this week!    

Never offernded ... how can one be offended on the internet by so-called personalcomments, when people do not actually know you.  If they don't know you, it cannot be personal.

I just like to talk about the game ... it sends me, what can I say?

To the others who are starting to talk football ... THANKS.

The more I think about it, the more I would add the following comments:

1)  I am nervous about USF's team speed.  College scores are NOT transitive, and never have been.  Just because RU crunched someone, or evene a common opponent, and USF did NOT crunch someone, does not mean anything.  And the speed thing is huge.  RU has been siginificantly speedier than each of its last 3 opponents.  Speed is a real killer, as RU fans have learned over the years.  Speed differentials AMPLIFY errors by the opposition, and can make easier games turn into blowouts, and closer games turn into easier games.  When a team like RU faces a team that is as fast, or even faster as RU is ... then things become much closer ... maybe even too close for comfort.

2)  RU's special teams have been very, very good ... real difference makers.  But 1 weakness has been punt retun defense (though only 6 of 16 punts have been returned, 1 was for 60 yards).  USF has a VERY good punt returner.  That worries me.  But ... USF has been terrible punting the ball, and RU has blocked 2 punts and tackled another punter before they could even block the punt.  That could really help RU win the field position battle ... and with RU's excellent OL and strong running game, field position can be a difference maker.

3)  USF's OL will be really important here.  RU's d-line and front 7 have thrived in the last 3 games against OL' that are weak (either big but slow, like Illinois; or not so quick like Ohio and Howard).  But the game was much closer when RU faced a large and relatively athletic OL on the road against UNC.  What ids USF's OL like?  Are they athletic and strong?  If so, that could seriously negate RU's very quick DL.  On the other hand, UNC had a fast and powerful running back who could punish RU's lighter DL ... my understanding is that USF does not have such a running back.  Which means RU will have to stop USF's QB ... and if RU can limit him, then USF should have trouble scoring unless RU turns the ball over.

4)  RU's running backs are much better than any running backs USF has faced this season ... and USF's defense is much quicker and faster than any defense RU has faced this season.  Can ERU's blockers keep the holes open long enough for Ray Rice to use his quick burst to get into the LB's and DB's?  Can USF plug those holes?  Will USF's aggressive and fast pursuit open up the reverse (with RU's very fast WR's), the counter or trap, or the screen pass (to Leonard, who is very, very dangerous in the open fiedl or with the screen)?

[beastiebull]

Just wanted to start some preliminary discussion on the big game on Friday night.  I know RU fans are veru excited:  Road game, against a conference opponent, againsta  team thast beat us last season, and RU is ranked in the tiop 25 for the 1st time in 30 years.  I am sure USF fans are excited to be playing a nationally televised game, at home, against a conference foe that USF figures to have to beat if they want to rank ahead of this foe (both middle of the pack Big East teams).

As to the game, here are some stray thoughts:

1)  I never make predictiopns about RU (or other) games.  I have hopes, of course, but try not to have expectations (RU fans are like Charlie Brown kicking the ball while Lucy is holding it).  So I make no predictions about who I think will win.  I HOPE RU will win, and I thionk RU is CAPABLE of winning, but I truthfully have no idea what will happen.  I will talk up RU, however (I am an RU fan, after all).

2)  I think this game will be VERY different than last year's game, for several reasons.  First, I do not think RU will commit 6 turnovers again.  If RU had committed 3 turnovers, they probaly win last year's game pretty easily.  But RU did not take care of the ball, and USF took it to RU, earning a good win.  Second, each team's offensive philosphies and tendecies are very different versus last season.  USF had a star RB upon whom it relied on very heavily ... though USF's QB lit up RU's defense as well.  That RB graduated, and now USF relies almost entirely on its QB (passing and running).  RU?  Well, RU had arunning attack last season (had a 1000-yard rusher and a 750 yard rusher), but was FIRST a passing team, especially at the time RU played USF.  This season, RU is primarily a rushing team (more on that later).

Unstray Thoughts:

Reasons an RU Fan Hopes for a WIN:

1)  RU's Defense.  While it is true that USF will likely be the best offensive team RU faces (believe it or not, I think it may be true), still, RU's defense has been a revelation this seaso, so far.  While USF's QB worries me (as RU has hstorically had troubles with mobile and running QB's), all 4 teams that RU has faced this season have boasted mobile and running QB's.  RU fared worst against UNC's QB, showing very poor tackling, poor discipline (missed assignemnts and not keeping "contain" on the QB), and allowing some big gains.  But in the next 3 games, RU has just smothered its opponents.  And I do not mean that RU did well ... I mean the RU defense has been completely dominating.  Okay, the opposition has not been the most intimidating, but even so ... RU held Illinois and Ohio each to less than 125 yards in TOTAL offense (and Illinois never crossed the 50-yard line) ... Howard did have 170 yards in offense, but 72 of those yards came on the last drive of the game against RU's 3rd string defense ... RU has allowed a total of maybe 3 3rd down conversions in the last 3 ames (out of 35-40 attempts).   RU's front 7 is small, and that remains a worry.  But the front 7 has proved to be very, very quick ... and when it has played disciplined assigment defense, has completely obliterated the opposing offenses.

2)  RU's offense is efficient.  Last year, RU could put a lot of points on the board, and had a number of big plays.  This season, RU has very few big plays.  I think RU has only 3 plays from scrimmage of over 30 yards all year, and maybe only 10 plays of over 20 yards.  The offense is designed to provide the QB several options for each play, depending on his read of the defense.  Despite the inexperience of the QB (100 pasees thown in his career coming into this season, and still a sophomore), few teams have actually stacked the box with 8 or 9 players, so RU has been able to run quite effectively.  It is treu that until Howard, RU's All American quality FB (and Leonard is the consensus best FB in the country) has not been a major impact, but because teams have focused so much of their defense on Leonard, the "other" RB has gone wild (Ray Rice has averaged 151 yards per game, on 5.7 yards per carry, and has scored 11 TD's so far this year ... on pace for 1800 yards rushing and 30+ TD's).  Also, the offense has worked very well to take advantage of the new clock rules ... by running so well, RU has won the possession time battle in each game, and kept the defense off the field, and shortened the game.    In addition to shortening the game, it has helped RU's field position greatly.  As 1 peice of evidence of efficiency, RU has converted 48% of its 3rd down conversions.  Yet, though RU has not shown it, the RU offense also has some terrific playmakers, and potentially BIG play players.  Leonard and Harris (one of the best 3-4 TE's in the country) are veterans who could break a long play on any snap.  Rice does not have the speed to make huge plays, but has just about the fastest burst through the hole you will ever see, and routinely breaks off 12-20 yard runs.  And RU's WR's are very, very fast ... much faster than last season.  The question is:  Can Teel, the QB, get the playmakers the ball effectively?

3)  Special teams:  Significant parts of RU's special teams have been spectacular this season.  RU's punt coverage has been weak, and RU's terrific FG kicker missed 1 short FG, and an extra point.  Also, RU has not yet broken an decent kick-off runs, nor shown any consistency in punt returns (but that in part has been due to some of the worst punting from opponents you have ever seen, cutting down on rrturn chances).  Still, RU's special teams have been spectacular.  The FG kicker is very good, with a strong leg.  RU's kick-off specialust (also the FG kicker) has been excellent this saeason (50%of his kicks have been touchbacks).  But, while those are very good, it is the other areas that have been just great.  RU's punter, who has been maddeningly inconsistent in his career (he is a senior), has been absolutely terrific this season.  He has averaged 47.5 yards perpunt this season, with 6 of his 16 punts inside the 20 yard line.  His net is just 37 yards per punt (which is actually pretty good) ... but that is distorted by just 1 single 60-yard return (4 broken tackles) ... without that return, his net would be 41 yards per punt.  RU's kickoff return coerage has been excellent also.  But RU's kick and punt BLOCKING has been great.  RU has blocked a FG, and has blocked 2 punts, and got in on 1 punt attempt so fast the punter wass tackled before he could punt.  RU's punt block efforts have been so intimidating that 2 of RU's opponents have been completely rattled (3 teams changed its punter mid-game, one using a WR to rugby kick to punt), and has drawn 5 illegal procedure penalties on punt attempts.   The special teams has created 4 or 5 turnovers this season.  In addition to the turnovers, the special teams have created an ENORMOUS field position advantage for RU.

4)  Turnovers:  RU has been a much better turnover team thsi season so far.  RU has created 13 turnovers so far (6 fumble recoveries and 7 intercpetions), and in fact already has more interceptions after 4 games than they did all last season, in 12 games.  RU has committed 9 turnovers, but is winning the turnover battle.

5)  Mental Attitude:  RU, while still losing points due to untimely turnovers, has displayed a MUCH superior mental toughness and killer instinct that in prior years (last season in particular).  RU is very physical, both offensively and dfeensively, and also very business-like.

6)  Offensive Line:  RU's offenisve line is very big, and yet quite athletic.  And they have experience (2 seniors and 3 juniors ... 3 fulltime starters from last season and 1 part-time starter from last season).  The OL has only given up 4 sacks, and has generally done an exceptional job blocking for the rushing game.

Reasons an RU Fan Worrie About and Loss to USF:

1)  USF ... USF may be the best team RU has played so far.  In fact, USF is almost certainly the best team RU has faced this season.  So ... though RU has dominated most of its competition to date, USF is a level above those teams.  And in college football, though scores are not transitive, still, one fact is that speed kills, and compounds oppoennts' mistakes.  RU has been materially quicker and faster than any of its 1st 4 opponents.  USF is much faster across the board than any of RU's 1st 4 opponents.  Thsi worries me.

2)  RU's QB is turnover pronce, and has not been great.  While Teel has MANAGED the offense quite well, making many of the correct play choices, he has not completed a high enough percentage of his passes to win against really good teams.  He was just outstanding against UNC (70% completions, impeccable play calling and no interceptions).  He also had an excellent 1st half against Illinois, when RU went up 30-0.  But he had a poor 2nd half against Illinois, and by everyone's admission (including his own), he was simply awful against Ohio (he was 10-24 with 4 interceptions).  He did do better against Howard (osh, we should hope so, eh?) ... he was 9-16 for 133 yards (but he paassed better than he showed, as he had 3 dropped passes).  We RU fans do not yet know if Teel can actualy WIN a game for RU when it is on his shoulders.  We know he can manage a game and not LOSE a game.  But to WIN a game?  The jury is still out.

3)  Leaving points on the board.  RU's offense, despoute being generally more efficient than last season, is still leaving too many points on the board with untimely turnovers.  Of Teel's 5 interceptions, 2 have been in the endzone after good drives, and another was inside the opponents' 20 yard line.  Of RU's 4 loat fumbles, 1 was at the goal line on a careless reach holding the ball with 1 hand, and at least 1 other was at the opponents' 30-yard line (returned for a TD).

4)  RU lost to USF last season.  Need I say more?  Well, yes ... last year RU lost at home, while this season RU plays on the road.

Anyway, I hope you'all enjoy this post, and we look forward to the game on Friday night.

One need only to read this post to how much "better" the education system is in NJ.  Please use the spellcheck.  

[beastiebull]

Bobcat 99 - how many returning starters on D?  Also what is the current analysis of your secondary and D-line?  Anyone in particular standing out or do you have a shut down corner, etc.  

Both corners are supposed to be shut down however they are in 1 on 1 coverage 90% of the time.  I believe our corners can shut down RU's limited passing attack allowing our safeties to key on the run.  Even then, I don't believe we can shut down their run.  I also don't believe we will be able to run the ball on RU.  They will key in on the pass and force Grothe into some Freshman mistakes.  We are extremely tough at home however and win this game 24-21.

[windbane]

Wow, the intelligence and insight on these boards amazes me.  These posts are something I expect from a 2nd grader.  

I like the quotes especially the ones with the sophisticated analysis like "turnovers will happen like tampa afternoon thundershowers", "Rutgers drinks pee", and "Our Defense is Pissed from KU".  Forget about matchups, speed, game plans, coaching, overall talent, and the ability to execute.  It all comes down to "we are home, we beat them last year, our defense is pissed, and Rutgers drinks pee".  My 8 year old nephew has more football and overall intelligence.  For those serious USF fans, all I want to know along with the other RU fans is objectively:

How many starters are back from last year?

How is the DL and Secondary playing?

Special teams?

Who is your standout players in those positions?  We all know about the LBs and Grothe, but not much more.  This would help us know what to look for when we all watch the game on Friday night.  Bottom line, no one this board or the RU board will have an impact on the game.

geez.  lighten up.  why dont you read some of the other 100 threads where we debate the qualities of our team.  we've been doing it for 3 weeks now, it gets old saying the same things over and over.

we have awesome new QB, we cant run, our defense is worrying us lately.  your 8 year old nephew might appreciate the humor some of us have

[windbane]

oh, and I heard that Rutgers drinks pee.  can someone from rutgers comfirm that?

[BullsFanInTX]

 HOWEVER, of the garbage opponents, i think RU's offense looks to run a lot of smoothly and a lot more efficiently as of late.  

That's not really true.  Our offense has not been the problem.  (RBs have been weak but the slack has been picked up by Grothe).  Our problem has been: 1) Penalties  2) Turnovers at inopportune time 3) Miscues - called back TDs due to stupid penalties, etc.  The offens has moved the ball, and Grothe has been just outstanding.  Notice we are averaging 50 more yards a game than RU.  Again, offense has moved ball.  We have shot ourselves in the foot with miscues, otherwise we might be 4-0 too.

TOTAL OFFENSE         G  Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G

-------------------------------------------------------------

Louisville..........  4   998 1094   282  2092   7.4 22 523.0

West Virginia.......  4  1199  629   266  1828   6.9 21 457.0

Pittsburgh..........  4   423 1188   236  1611   6.8 16 402.8

Connecticut.........  3   802  373   210  1175   5.6 10 391.7

USF.................  4   622  912   258  1534   5.9 12 383.5

Rutgers.............  4   815  515   250  1330   5.3 15 332.5 Cincinnati..........  4   281  878   245  1159   4.7  8 289.8

Syracuse............  4   515  585   247  1100   4.5  8 275.0

[BullsFanInTX]

Talk about team speed, we also have a very good and deep talented stable of WR.  The hero of last year's UL blowout win, can't hardly get off the bench this year - Amarri Jackson.  I hope you have good DBs ready to go.  We finally have a QB that can get them the ball.  Ean Randolph has returned 4 punts for TDs - unfortunately only one of them counted (3 were called back by penalties).  We have a RS Freshman QB that plays like an upperclassman.  Has not made many "Freshman mistakes", and has a lot of poise, and talent.  Is among the BE leaders in BOTH passing and rushing.  

[BigShoop]

How many starters are back from last year?

How is the DL and Secondary playing?

Special teams?

Who is your standout players in those positions?  

We all know about the LBs and Grothe, but not much more.  This would help us know what to look for when we all watch the game on Friday night.

Since no one else will, I'll answer these.

Starters? Hell, it's game 4, I forgot abuot last year. Bottom line is that this is a very young offense, all learning and growing together. The "back 7" of the defense are the same as last year I believe, all veteran. The DL has been a revolving door.

The DL has been pretty much putrid, to be honest. No push, no pressure on the QB, and RBs that shouldnt be running up and down the field on us have been....running up and down the field on us.

The secondary has created turnovers with Trae Williams (#21 in your program, #1 in your hearts), picking off I believe 3 balls this year. The other corner is Mike Jenkins. He'll be #4 in your program, and also the guy that Rutgers wants to put their best WR on....because he'll burn him. Mr Jenkins is fast as hell.......and he needs it when he's trying to catch up with the opposing WR. The safeties havent really done anything spectacular and the secondary as a whole has been pretty soft so far this year, considering the talent they were up against.

Special teams has been hot and cold. Hot: Ean Randolph. It would be in RUs best interest not to punt to him. Cold: 2 freshman punters and a kicker who started the season 0-5. Coverage wise, my memory tells me that we've been pretty good in punt and kickoff coverage. Nothing jumps out at me, good or bad.

I like posts like this, dont let the **** talkers(except sheriff and smazza, those were hilarious) get to ya. Stick around and lets talk football.

[BullsFanInTX]

 HOWEVER, of the garbage opponents, i think RU's offense looks to run a lot of smoothly and a lot more efficiently as of late.  

That's not really true.  Our offense has not been the problem.  (RBs have been weak but the slack has been picked up by Grothe).  Our problem has been: 1) Penalties  2) Turnovers at inopportune time 3) Miscues - called back TDs due to stupid penalties, etc.  The offens has moved the ball, and Grothe has been just outstanding.  Notice we are averaging 50 more yards a game than RU.  Again, offense has moved ball.  We have shot ourselves in the foot with miscues, otherwise we might be 4-0 too.

TOTAL OFFENSE         G  Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G

-------------------------------------------------------------

Louisville..........  4   998 1094   282  2092   7.4 22 523.0

West Virginia.......  4  1199  629   266  1828   6.9 21 457.0

Pittsburgh..........  4   423 1188   236  1611   6.8 16 402.8

Connecticut.........  3   802  373   210  1175   5.6 10 391.7

USF.................  4   622  912   258  1534   5.9 12 383.5

Rutgers.............  4   815  515   250  1330   5.3 15 332.5 Cincinnati..........  4   281  878   245  1159   4.7  8 289.8

Syracuse............  4   515  585   247  1100   4.5  8 275.0

Also notice that USF has averaged 5.9 yards per play to 5.3 for RU, so RU's offense has not moved ball better than USF.  We have just been killed by inefficiency, penalties, and miscues.  A problem it does not seem RU has had so far.  If we can correct these, I expect Grothe and O to put points on board.  If not, it might be a long day.

[BullsFanInTX]

If I were RU, I would not kick off to Mr. Ean Randolph at any time, he is explosive.