Slantinel ranks USF 47

[RSBull01]

The Orlando Sentinel is ranking all Div I-A teams and has USF at 47.

http://blogs.orlando...-no-47-usf.html

The Orlando Sentinel has ranked all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. We’ll take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 120 to our projected No. 1 team. We will not be including the four teams the NCAA lists as still reclassifying to the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

Today at No. 47: USF

Coach: Skip Holtz (13-12, entering third season at USF; 51-39 at FBS level, entering eighth season)

2011 record: 5-7 (1-6 in Big East, tied for seventh place in Big East)

Look back: USF got off to a hot start in the 2011 season, earning a historic 23-20 win at Notre Dame. The Bulls then earned a 37-7 win over Ball State, a 70-17 win over Florida A&M and a 52-24 win over UTEP. After opening with a 4-0 record, the Bulls would go 1-7 the remainder of the season. The team lost 44-17 at Pitt, 16-10 at UConn, 37-34 against Cincinnati, 20-17 in overtime at Rutgers, 6-3 against Miami, 34-24 against Louisville and 30-27 against West Virginia. The Bulls’ sole Big East win was a 37-17 road victory over Syracuse. A mix of penalties, turnovers and defensive errors at the worst time cost the Bulls a string of close games.

Offensive starters lost/returning: 3/8

Defensive starters lost/returning: 3/8

Key losses: OL Jeremiah Warren, S Jerrell Young, RB Darrell Scott

Top returnees: QB B.J. Daniels, WR Sterling Griffin, OL Mark Popek, DE Ryne Giddins, LB DeDe Lattimore, K Maikon Bonani, RB Demetris Murray, LB Mike Lanaris, CB Kayvon Webster

Strengths: USF returns the Big East’s most experienced quarterback in athletic leader B.J. Daniels. While Daniels has suffered injuries and turned in some erratic performances, he remains a dynamic playmaker. He enters the 2012 season ranked seventh in Big East history in total offense (7,992 yards). Daniels needs 2,883 yards to tie former teammate Matt Grothe as the conference’s all-time leader in total offense (10,875 yards).

Daniels is one of many returning USF starters. The team will bring eight offensive starters and eight defensive starters, ranking the team No. 8 nationally on Phil Steele’s list of most experienced teams. The returning athletes include the team’s three starting linebackers and top three receivers from last season.

Weaknesses: The Bulls return the core of a lineup that was projected to perform relatively well in the Big East in 2011, but the group underachieved. It’s unclear whether the sore core group of players will be able to get to improve execution in crunch time and get over the mental toll of losing so many close games last year. The other big challenge USF faces is keeping Daniels healthy. Injuries have hounded him throughout his career. The Bulls’ offensive line must step up to protect Daniels and he has to make better decisions under pressure if the team is going to be successful in 2012.

Outlook: Even if it hits some bumps in the road, USF returns a veteran lineup of talented athletes who should help the Bulls compete for a Big East title and earn a bowl invitation.

2012 Schedule

Sept. 1 UT-Chattanooga

Sept. 8 At Nevada

Sept. 13 Rutgers

Sept. 22 At Ball State

Sept. 29 Florida State

Oct. 6 At Temple

Oct. 20 At Louisville

Oct. 27 Syracuse

Nov. 3 UConn

Nov. 17 At Miami

Nov. 23 At Cincinnati

Dec. 1 Pittsburgh

[GaUSFBull]

LOL UCF is only 5 spots back.

[Gismo]

Very fair analysis in my opinion.

[Skingraft]

Meh; we played poorly last year