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[Buller64]

INSIDE SLANT

With the South Florida returning nearly its entire offense from last season's record-breaking unit, the Bulls have their sights set on even bigger goals this fall.

Last year, USF began 6-0 and reached No. 2 in the BCS rankings before a three-game losing streak dropped the Bulls out of the national championship picture and eliminated USF from the Big East race.

With USF returning 10 starters from the offense, including all-everything Matt Grothe, the attention during the spring was on defense. It's on that side of the ball the Bulls must replace four-starters in cornerbacks Mike Jenkins (first-round pick by Dallas) and Trae Williams (fifth-round pick by Jacksonville) and LB Ben Moffitt.

Also, unheralded but steady defensive lineman Richard Clebert has graduated. The defense held its own this spring. Jerome Murphy and Tyller Roberts entered spring as the replacements for Jenkins and Williams and established themselves as the clear-cut starters.

Filling Moffitt's linebacker spot wasn't as easy. It was targeted for junior college transfer Kion Wilson, but he was injured in the spring and didn't get many reps. Chris Robinson, a former defensive end, emerged as a starter at linebacker, joining returning starters Brouce Mompremier and Tyrone McKenzie, a second-team All-Big East selection last season.

The key for the Bulls in 2008 is how they fare early in the season. A nationally televised home game against Kansas in week three could propel the Bulls back into the national spotlight, just like last season when they won at Auburn.

The question is: Can the Bulls maintain that momentum during the Big East season where anything short of a Big East championship would be a disappointment in Tampa?

NOTES, QUOTES

â€â€With four-year starter Ben Moffitt graduated, Tyrone McKenzie has moved to middle linebacker in 2008. Even though All-American DE George Selvie gets all the headlines, McKenzie, who previously played at Michigan State and Iowa State before transferring to USF for his junior season, quietly has emerged as the leader of the defense.

â€â€QB Matt Grothe had a pretty uneventful spring. Grothe was probably bored at times since there was a strict no-touch rule in place on the Bulls' franchise player. In the spring game, Grothe was "down by touch" so he couldn't utilize his running ability. Unfortunately for USF opponents, he'll be back to his usual scrambling, spinning self when the regular season begins.

SPRING MOVERS:

NT Sampson Genus  He started spring drills on the offensive line, but the sophomore moved over to the defensive line. By the time spring drills had ended, the 6-foot-1, 308-pounder had emerged as the starter at nose tackle. Genus' development was easily USF's biggest story of the spring.

LB Chris Robinson  Once a promising defensive end, Robinson saw minimal playing time last season because of an ankle injury. In the spring, though, Robinson took advantage of an injury to LB Kion Wilson and enters fall drills as the starter at strongside linebacker.

CB Jerome Murphy  The athletic junior entered spring drills with the pressure of having to try to replace first-round NFL draft pick Mike Jenkins and did not disappoint. While no one is expecting Murphy to display the same talents as Jenkins this fall, the potential is there. If Murphy can continue his emergence he showed in spring, it will allow USF to utilize its patented man-to-man defense with its corners and blitz everyone else on the field.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "You don't want to be at this point and say, 'Boy, we're really struggling.' And we're not."  USF coach Jim Leavitt told The Tampa Tribune after spring drills concluded.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

2008 OUTLOOK: USF is loaded. Its entire offense returns nearly intact. The defense? That will determine if USF can emerge as a legitimate threat for the Big East title and finish in the middle of the pack for a fourth consecutive season. USF has had opportunities to win the Big East in past seasons, but late road upsets have knocked the Bulls out of contention. Can this team learn from past team's mistakes and finally take advantage of the early season momentum? If so, the Bulls could make a serious Big East title run.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: QB Matt Grothe and bruising RB Mike Ford will carry the offense. Grothe, who was started every game but one during his two years at USF, will continue to be the focal point of the Bulls' offense. His passing numbers must improve from last season, but Grothe's running ability is what makes him so difficult to defend. He's like having an additional running back. At wide receiver, Taurus Johnson and Jessie Hester Jr. stand out among a half-dozen options.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Stop if you've heard this before: The key in 2008 will be how the Bulls replace defensive standouts in CBs Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams and LB Ben Moffitt. The Bulls will be inexperienced at cornerback with first-time starters Jerome Murphy and Tyller Roberts. At linebacker, junior college transfer Kion Wilson was supposed to take Moffitt's place, but was injured and missed most of spring. The Bulls' defense has proven in the past it can run sideline-to-sideline with anyone. The Bulls' Achilles heel has been their run defense. They've struggled against teams that overpower them up front. With that in mind, the Bulls moved offensive lineman Sampson Genus over from offense and coaches were impressed by his showing in the spring. All-American DE George Selvie will probably be double-teamed on every down, so opposite DE Jarriett Buie could have a big year for the Bulls.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Delbert Alvarado is back to handle the kicking duties. That could be good or bad news depending on how you look at it. Alvarado missed four field goals against Auburn, but then ended the season by making 10 of his final 11 field goals. In the spring, the inconsistent Alvarado returned as he made less than 50 percent of his attempts. Alvarado, who averaged 41.6 yards a punt last season, returns as the Bulls' punter. Jerome Murphy (24.3-yard average) and Taurus Johnson (18.2 average) return as USF's top two kickoff returners as does Marcus Edwards, who averaged 7.5 yards a punt return last season.

ROSTER REPORT:

â€â€WR Colby Erskin, who earned a starting position before last season only to suffer a season-ending torn ACL in August, tore the same ACL during spring practice. However, Erskin and USF coaches are optimistic he will be ready by this August.

â€â€Senior S Danny Verpaele, who has 13 career starts and was a third-team freshman All-American, aggravated a foot injury, which originally sidelined him in 2006. Verpaele, who missed last season because of a suspension for a violation of team rules, missed most of spring practice as a precautionary measure. He will be ready in the fall and could start at either safety position.

â€â€OG Danny Tolley suffered a torn ACL on the final day of spring practice. Tolley, who was expected to provide depth for the Bulls, might be able to recover in time to play this fall, USF coach Jim Leavitt said.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigeast/sflorida.htm?loc=interstitialskip

[Bull Martin]

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Delbert Alvarado is back to handle the kicking duties. That could be good or bad news depending on how you look at it. Alvarado missed four field goals against Auburn, but then ended the season by making 10 of his final 11 field goals. In the spring, the inconsistent Alvarado returned as he made less than 50 percent of his attempts.

The statistic that can't be written down is how many times did leavitt choose to punt or go for it on fourth downs in the questionable 40-50 yard field goal range.  We all know Delbert's got the leg (He walloped a 50+ yarder last year), but he's so innacurate.  It really changes the scope of our offense with the big question mark here. 

This could still be USF achilles heal.  Hopefully the new kid takes over FGs and is good at it.

[TheBullies]

He seems to be more accurate on longer ones than the gimmies.

[Paul Wall]

alverado can only kick straight distance doesnt matter for him

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

He seems to be more accurate on longer ones than the gimmies.

he sucks from the right and left hash.

[TheBullies]

He seems to be more accurate on longer ones than the gimmies.

he sucks from the right and left hash.

he sucks all-around... I'm just say'n he's better at the longer ones.

At least, that's when I have more confidence in him...

[Costa]

Let Alvarado handle the punting duties...thats the only thing hes good at.

[Bull Martin]

Let Alvarado handle the punting duties...thats the only thing hes good at.

And what? Let Grothe start kicking FGs?

[Costa]

Let Alvarado handle the punting duties...thats the only thing hes good at.

And what? Let Grothe start kicking FGs?

No, let the new kid have a go at it. We all know he cant be worse than Alvarado. IF he sucks, then put Alvarado back in there, funny guy.