ESPN Preview: USF vs. Rutgers

[Griggsy]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=272910164&confId=10

Includes a video where Schiano gives some high praise and references USF looking like the Miami of old.

[BullMedic]

This is the scout preview for the game. You have to be an insider to read it...........

South Florida Offense vs. Rutgers Defense

The key to slowing the Bulls' ground game is clearly limiting the production of QB Matt Grothe, who is coming off consecutive 100-yard rushing games. The problem is Rutgers' run defense is vulnerable to mobile quarterbacks. For starters, the Scarlet Knights sacrifice size for speed as well as quickness and the front four try to shoot gaps rather than anchor at the point of attack. Not surprisingly players get caught out of position on occasion as a result. Grothe keeps his head up, reads defenses and changes directions well so he will take advantage when defenders get caught out of their gaps or too far upfield. Secondly, Rutgers tries to mask its inability to anchor by running line stunts. The Bulls are admittedly more vulnerable to line stunts right now because a knee injury OC Nick Capogna sustained in the season-opener has limited the second-year starter. Capogna, who played but didn't start against Florida Atlantic last week, is a leader on the field and he does a great job of keeping the line on the same page. However, his replacement Jake Griffin has filled in well and the front five have played like a cohesive unit. They should be able to adjust to the Scarlet Knights' games up front and create seams for Grothe who is patient runner that will give them time to get into position.

South Florida at Rutgers

South Florida vs. Rutgers

When: Oct. 18 (ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Where: Piscataway, N.J.

Preview: South Florida faces road test

Rutgers excels at getting to opposing quarterbacks. DE Jammal Westerman shows good burst coming off the edge and SS Joe Lefeged's two sacks last week is testament to the Scarlet Knights' willingness to blitz. But again, the aggressive approach plays right into the hands of Grothe. Grothe isn't the most accurate or consistent passer in the nation but he excels at making plays on the run and under pressure. He uses his quick feet to buy time and he throws well on the run so the best way to stop him is to keep him contained in the pocket. If Westerman and George Johnson, who starts opposite him, let Grothe break contain, it will allow him to either run for critical yards or force the coverage to hold up while he buys time. In addition, blitzing creates single-coverage on the outside and Rutgers will struggle to match up in these situations. WR Amarri Jackson is aggressive when the ball is in the air and his size will cause problems for brothers DCs Jason McCourty and Devin McCourty. He should be able to come down with any jump balls as a result. In addition, there isn't great depth in the Rutgers defensive backfield and WR Taurus Johnson, who caught six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns last week, appears to be emerging as a dangerous No. 3. If nothing is available downfield, Grothe can look for Williams in the flat.

Rutgers Offense vs. South Florida Defense

QB Mike Teel has made great strides as a passer but he's still inconsistent and he doesn't always take care off the football. In fact, he threw three interceptions against Cincinnati just two weeks ago and his ability to make sound decisions under pressure will be tested in this game. While Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt give Rutgers a quality one-two punch at receiver, Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams form the top corner tandem in the nation. Nickel back Jerome Murphy is also capable of limiting the production of No. 3 Tim Brown who has admittedly turned in impressive performances in two of his last three games. The ability of the corners to hold their own on islands will force Teel to hold onto the ball longer in an effort to give his receivers time to get open and that's not good news for LOT Pedro Sosa. Sosa will work against RDE George Selvie on most snaps and Selvie is a relentless pass rusher who leads the nation with 11½ sacks. The ability to line up in single coverage also gives defensive coordinator Wally Burnham the freedom to blitz when he sees fit so he can throw a number of different looks at Teel as well as his protection. Rutgers isn't good enough to overcome turnovers in this game to its imperative that Teel throws the ball away or covers it up rather than throwing into coverage when the pressure closes in on him.

The Bulls' corners don't just make an impact in coverage. They also allow Burnham to strengthen the run defense by stacking the line of scrimmage without giving up too much so RB Ray Rice can expect to see plenty of eight-man fronts. Adding to Rice's problems, South Florida has the speed, athletes and discipline to render one his best plays ineffective. The play is a stretch play that features zone blocking up front and use the fullback as a lead blocker. It allows Rice to scrape down the line until he sees a seam open and then explode through it. Only problem is Selvie and LDE Jarriett Buie do an excellent job of making it difficult for backs to get outside by getting upfield. They should funnel Rice inside where ILB Ben Moffit will be waiting and he is a reliable open-field tackler who takes sound angles to the ball. However, Rice should have some success between the tackles. OGs Anthony Davis and Mike Fladell are massive drive blockers who play with a mean streak. They are capable of engulfing undersized DT Aaron Harris and they can combo block NT Richard Clebert with OC Ryan Blaszcyk up to the second level.

Special Teams

Key individual matchup

Rutgers LOT Pedro Sosa vs. South Florida RDE George Selvie

Sosa is a three-year starter who rarely makes mistakes and plays to the whistle on every snap but he just doesn't have the natural ability to match up with one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the nation. Selvie anticipates the snap well and he can use his explosive first step to shoot past Sosa who lacks ideal initial quickness. In addition, Sosa isn't big enough to engulf Selvie when the Scarlet Knights run behind him and he'll have a hard time sustaining his blocks because of Selvie's active feet. Making matters worse for Sosa, Selive poses an even bigger threat when Rutgers drops backs to pass. He is fast enough to run around Sosa who lacks the wide frame and long arms to ride him past the pocket when he isn't able to get into sound position. Sosa can't afford to mask this vulnerability with a wider alignment either because that will open an inside lane for Selvie who closes quickly when he gets a clear path to the quarterback.

South Florida's Justin Teachey is averaging 63.2 yards a kick and has recorded six touchbacks in 40 attempts. Delbert Alvarado handles the place kicking and punting duties for the Bulls. Alvarado has connected on just seven of his 12 field goal attempts and has a long of only 40 yards. There is also reason for concern about Alvarado's ability to handle pressure, as all five of his misses have come against the Bull's two toughest opponents this year. He missed four field goal attempts at Auburn and one against West Virginia. Alvarado's punting, on the other hand, has been strong. He is averaging an adequate 43.4 yards a punt and has placed seven of his 25 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. As far as the Rutgers' return game goes, Devin McCourty recorded the only punt return against Syracuse last week and he returned it 37 yards. That said, he has his work cut out of him this week because the Bull's punt coverage has been solid this year. Scarlet Knight KOR Tim Brown is in position to improve his 21.7 average against a South Florida kickoff cover unit that has been one of the worst in the nation statistically.

All of Rutgers' kicking duties belong to the reliable and battle-tested Jeremy Ito. As the place kicker, Ito has connected on nine of his 12 field goal attempts with a long of 47 yards. It should be noted though that all three of Ito's misses this year have come from 40 yards or beyond so he doesn't show elite range in this role. On kickoffs, Ito averages an adequate 64.9 yards per kickoff and Bulls KOR Tauras Johnson is averaging a mediocre 19.7 yards a return. However, Ito has not recorded a touchback in 43 attempts this season, the Scarlet Knight kickoff coverage has been just adequate and Johnson flashes big-play ability. As a punter, Ito is averaging only 35.3 yards a punt and he's placed five of his 21 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Fortunately for Ito, his punt coverage has been solid this year. Edwards handled the punt return duties for the Bulls last week against Central Florida and for the year is averaging 6.7 yards a return with a long of 29 yards.

Scouts' Edge

Both teams might be coming off blowout wins but South Florida clearly has the momentum coming into this game. The Bulls have shown they can win the big game on the road with a gutsy performance at Auburn and they've already knocked off Big East foe West Virginia this year. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Knights' four wins came against Buffalo, Navy, Norfolk State and Syracuse. And they dropped the two games before last week's win at Syracuse. They simply aren't playing at the same level as the Bulls. So will South Florida be too confident? No, because the Rutgers got the better of them just last year and they are well aware of what a loss means to their improbable BCS Championship run. Keeping all of that in mind, expect QB Grothe and the swarming South Florida defense to lead the Bulls to a decisive victory.

Prediction: Bulls 27, Scarlet Knights 17

[ChiTownBull]

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/preview?gameId=272910164