Focused receiving corps gets a handle ...(Times)

[E.T.]

Focused receiving corps gets a handle on things

The Bulls receivers are showing a unified front - sticking together through the catches and the drops.

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

Published October 4, 2006

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TAMPA - For all the catches they have made, for the touchdowns they savor, USF's wide receivers are still driven the most by the balls that frustratingly slip through their hands.

"We put ourselves to a high standard," junior receiver Amarri Jackson said Tuesday. "If one guy drops the ball, we consider it the whole unit. It's not on that one guy; it's what we need to do as a group to make those catches."

So it was Monday night that USF's receivers worked late, trying as a group to put behind them the missed opportunities of two close losses in the past two weeks. On the road at Kansas, it was a ball off the tips of Ean Randolph's fingers in the final seconds; in a 22-20 loss to Rutgers on Friday, it was a game-tying two-point conversion dropped by Amp Hill with 15 seconds to play.

"I think they've been better this year. They're getting more balls thrown to them," coach Jim Leavitt said. "We put the ball in (running back) Andre Hall's hands so much last year."

The receivers have worked to make up for Hall's absence as the unsung end of quarterback Matt Grothe's passing success. They're averaging seven more catches as a group per game than a year ago, with more than twice as many receiving yards.

"Ever since summer, the coaches were saying we had to be the leaders on the offense. They wanted us to explode this season," said sophomore Taurus Johnson, who ranks second on the team with 225 yards. "We busted our butts all summer to get to where we are now."

Where they are is in the spotlight, with big plays like Randolph's back-of-the-end-zone catches late in the fourth quarter against Central Florida and Rutgers, like Johnson's one-handed catch Friday. It's a far cry from last year, when the receivers totaled one touchdown reception in USF's final seven games.

"We don't consider ourselves the strength, but last year we were considered the weakest link on the team," said Jackson, who had a career-best 83 yards Friday. "We wanted to establish ourselves, to prove that we can make plays as a group.

"You want the coaches to have faith in you, to call on the receivers to get things done."

They've proved themselves without Johnny Peyton, who was dismissed from the team last winter after leading the group with three touchdowns, and without Jackie Chambers, who led all Bulls receivers last season with 290 yards and will sit out Saturday's game as the last part of a six-game suspension for violating team rules.

A year ago, Bulls receivers totaled five touchdown receptions; in five games this season, that number is already at six.

"When a chance presents itself to you, you have to make the most of it," said sophomore Marcus Edwards, who already has 15 catches, three times as many as he finished with last year. "You always think about the drops, what you could have done better, what you should have done."

Johnson, too, had just three catches last season; he already has 13, and his 17.3 yards per catch is tops among the starting receivers.

What's more impressive than the stats are the context in which the receivers are catching the touchdowns: with games on the line.

Of the seven touchdowns Grothe has thrown, three came with the score tied, and all came with a lead or deficit of fewer than eight points.

"We're more focused, more mature," Jackson said. "We expect to catch them. We spent a lot of time in the offseason working on catching, routes, getting open."

They've bonded as a group, meeting for breakfast and early workouts all summer. Precise routes and sure hands are important, but some of their best work came at Denny's, just talking to each other: Why not be the position that steps up to lead this team?

"We knew we were going to have to step up this year," Edwards said. "I know we can do better."

Everything means picking up a fallen teammate, like Hill, a transfer from LSU who has returned from major knee surgery, catching seven passes for 89 yards. His two dropped passes were costly in Friday's loss, but five Bulls have led the team in receiving yards through five games, and teammates say Hill could be next.

"He's a big-time player. He can make that play, and we know he's going to make plays in the future," Edwards said. "Everybody drops one every now and then. It's how you bounce back."

It's something the receivers have learned well in the past year.

[Rabbi Bull]

i like our recievers more and more with each game.  they are going to be good, and will only get better. and with grothe out there to give them the ball, who knows how good they could actually be.

[dabull80]

If we get any kind of running game going(Ponton back soon) it will make our passing game even better.  Could still be a very sweet year.

[GetAHobby]

Our WR's are making a lot of great catches that they simply weren't last year. A lot of what made PJ look bad last year was our WR's. They have been making catches this year that are highlight reel material, really helping Grothe out.

[flsportsfan83]

we need the win against UCONN and then with a running game who knows how good we will be. The WR's have been a pleasant surpise.

[E.T.]

Our WR's are making a lot of great catches that they simply weren't last year. A lot of what made PJ look bad last year was our WR's. They have been making catches this year that are highlight reel material, really helping Grothe out.

Worth repeating !

[smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Ricky the Bull]

One thing that wasn't mentioned that probably has been a factor in our WR corps' work ethic is MG's penchant for spreading the ball around and not having a 'favorite' receiver that he fixates on.

Knowing that if they are open they have a very good chance of having the ball thrown their way.

As an aside, it's also nice to see our TE's actually catching balls, which gives LBs and secondaries another headache to deal with, which can only help our WRs.

[Guest R_to_the_izzo]

Maybe this RB situation was a good thing for the future? If Rod Smith had Ponton/Plancher to fall on, we would probably see the plain jane offense where its dive left, qb draw, dive right, punt.

We have proven we can pass the ball around, and let's hope Rod continues to use that weapon.

[bulls96go]

the jury is still out on rod smith IMO

the wr's are better and the team is playing better, improving with each week.

the penalties are down, hope that cont.

[E.T.]

Bleakley  4 catches

Hill           3 catches

Gordon    3 catches

But RB's have not been getting them . . .

Erskin      2 catches

Smith       1

Williams   1

Go BULLS !!!