Popek at guard???

[theman123]

I remember Darrell Williams was not only holding his own, but was really pushing around guys like Ryne Giddens and JuJu Forte during 1-1's at times last spring. I think this is more of how good he is playing right now. I'm not surprised he's starting, he is going to be very good here at USF.

Edited August 18, 2012 by theman123

[DELdaBull]

On a different note Ralph, if a DE is only running a 4.9 at the FBS level, he's honestly coming off the bench. Most DE's are in the 4.6 - 4.7 range if memory serves me right (although I could be wrong). You do raise a great point though...

JPP was one of the fastest when he came out and ran a 4.65 if memory serves. So maybe a 4.9 college de is not too out of hand.

[The Sheriff]

I remember Shurron Pierson running in the high 4.4 range if I recall correctly... which is freak speed.

[ralph kramden]

Not questioniing mr williams' ability at all. Just the timing of it. Popeks all big east nods in anthlon sports,lindys,phil steeles and the outland trophy watch list should have meant something but not to these coaches i guess. Mr williams could be a guard then a tackle next year. Will know more after talking with theseguys at fanfest.You can tell alot in the tone of a persons voice even if they dont really say a whole lot.GO BULLS

[Apis Bull]

Maybe, just maybe, the coaches are putting together the best overall o-line that they can

[Southshore26]

Maybe, just maybe, the coaches are putting together the best overall o-line that they can

Not sure common sense and logic are allowed in this thread Apis...

Edited August 19, 2012 by Southshore26

[Who'sYourData?]

Not questioniing mr williams' ability at all. Just the timing of it.

It means a lot less now than it will before the Rutgers game.

[windbane]

Not questioniing mr williams' ability at all. Just the timing of it. Popeks all big east nods in anthlon sports,lindys,phil steeles and the outland trophy watch list should have meant something but not to these coaches i guess. Mr williams could be a guard then a tackle next year. Will know more after talking with theseguys at fanfest.You can tell alot in the tone of a persons voice even if they dont really say a whole lot.GO BULLS

You're really going to go to fan fest, where there are lines of people waiting to get autographs and pictures, and grill the players on their positions? Come on, man.

[windbane]

VERO BEACH—The University of South Florida Bulls will hold their final training-camp scrimmage today at the Vero Beach Sports Village (noon, open to the public). Bulls coach Skip Holtz said it will be more of a “game-like’’ scrimmage, unlike last Monday’s scrimmage, which was mostly utilized to evaluate personnel and set an initial depth chart.

And speaking of that depth chart ...

“Very few things are set in stone,’’ Holtz said. “There are a lot of position battles still going on. We have a lot of guys on the depth chart with a ‘slash’ (meaning a position is shared with another player, 13 of those, in fact). It’s all ever-changing. Between the last scrimmage, this scrimmage and the next scrimmage (Friday in Tampa), things could keep changing.’‘

Holtz said he believed there were two areas that may have been the most thought-provoking on the initial depth chart:

*

Offensive line:

Sophomore Darrell Williams, who played 10 games in a reserve role last season, was listed as the first-team left tackle. Meanwhile, senior Mark Popek, who started all 12 games last season at left tackle and has 21 career starts at tackle, was listed as the first-team left guard. The moves also shifted senior Damien Edwards, the spring starter at left guard, to the reserve role at left tackle.

*

Linebacker:

Redshirt sophomore Reshard Cliett was listed as the first-team strong-side linebacker. Senior Sam Barrington was shifted from the outside to first-team middle linebacker. Senior Michael Lanaris, who started 11 games last season at middle linebacker, was listed as second team at that position.

“Those areas are probably the two most glaring changes on the depth chart and the reasons are two-fold,’’ Holtz said. “Darrell Williams and Reshard Cliett are playing really, really well. We think highly about both of them. But the other part is we need to see if they are ready to be starters.

“How are they going to handle being (on the first team)? It’s a little different when you’re always a two, you’re always going against the second team. Now all of a sudden, if you’re Darrell Williams, you’re going against (Ryne) Giddins and (Tevin) Mims every day. All of a sudden, a very different mindset. Yes, they are talented, but are they ready to handle a starting role on our football team? These are things you need to find out as you develop depth.’‘

Holtz said the initial depth chart listings were not a knock against Edwards or Lanaris, who were shifted to the second team, nor a reflection of Popek’s play at left tackle.

Whether or not the moves remain permanent, Holtz said it’s a way to explore options, an element that USF lacked in previous seasons when depth was depleted.

“If we get into the middle of the season and we want to move Sam Barrington to the inside or outside—or we want to move Mark Popek from guard to tackle—they will have already played those positions,’’ Holtz said. “It’s a way to develop depth on the offensive line and linebacker, which is something I think we need. You can work on these things now and not at halftime of the Rutgers game, when we may be facing an injury or some adversity.

“Mike Lanaris has been playing his best football, but we need depth at middle linebacker. Damien Edwards has been playing great, but if he goes down, who is the next guard? We’re going to watch how Sam Barrington and Mike Lanaris will handle being in the middle together. We can see how Damien Edwards handles going from a starting guard to a backup tackle. Their attitudes have been really great. There are people on our depth chart who are identifying themselves as standouts, obvious key-role guys. But in the bigger picture, as far as what’s fair for this football team and giving us the best chance to keep improving, we’ve got to explore creating more depth.

“Some things might change. Some things might stay the same. We’ll see how the scimmages play out. We may move things around again next week and it will create even more of a stir (with fans). But I will say our depth has never been better and that’s a very, very healthy thing for this football program.’‘

http://www.tboblogs....hp/sports/C127/

Edited August 19, 2012 by windbane

[Reliable Source]

Not questioniing mr williams' ability at all. Just the timing of it. Popeks all big east nods in anthlon sports,lindys,phil steeles and the outland trophy watch list should have meant something but not to these coaches i guess. Mr williams could be a guard then a tackle next year. Will know more after talking with theseguys at fanfest.You can tell alot in the tone of a persons voice even if they dont really say a whole lot.GO BULLS

You're really going to go to fan fest, where there are lines of people waiting to get autographs and pictures, and grill the players on their positions? Come on, man.

Yeah, who would want to go and support their team, when we all know that they are just way too cool for that.