Woodie Wants Bulls to 'Swarm and Punish'
August 31, 2016 | Football
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 31, 2016 – USF's 4-2-5 defense is ready to pick up where it left off last season with a new coach calling the shots.
Entering his fourth year with the program, Raymond Woodie takes over for Tom Allen as coordinator of USF's defense that wants to be the aggressor in year two of the scheme that keeps five defensive backs on the field.
“I want them to swarm and punish,” Woodie said. “We want 11 hats around the football.”
The mission of becoming one of the top defenses in the nation begins Saturday night with a test against Towson at Raymond James Stadium. Woodie's cast of ball-hawking defenders includes seven of the top nine tacklers from last season's group that forced 25 turnovers and ranked 14th nationally with 17 interceptions.
“Our guys should play faster,” Woodie said. “Year two in similar schemes, you want them to play fast. We're going to run to the ball.”
Players have responded well since Woodie took over as coordinator in January after coaching the Bulls' linebackers the past three seasons. Woodie has a history of getting the most out of players like middle linebacker and team captain Auggie Sanchez, whose 117 tackles in 2015 were the second-highest season total in school history.
“You see us all buying in. We're believing in what he's preaching,” Sanchez said.
Another big believer is Taggart, who has had Woodie on his staff for the past six years, dating back to the Bay Area natives' time at Western Kentucky.
Woodie coached the Hilltoppers' defensive ends in 2010-11 and linebackers in 2012 before taking over the same role at USF. Since becoming a Bull, Woodie has worked his way up to assistant head coach status and worked wonders leading USF's special teams units last season. USF ranked sixth nationally in kickoff returns with a new program record average of 26.66 yards and 36th in punt returns (10.9 ypr).
Now it's time for Woodie, a former CFL linebacker, to lead USF's defense and Taggart can't wait to watch.
“I'm so jacked up to really see him go to work. I know he's excited about it, he's been working hard and waiting on this moment,” Taggart said. “… He's done a great job with it and I know the guys are ready to go for him.”
Gulf Coast Offense Ready to Go Fast
USF shattered school records in the debut of the Gulf Coast Offense and the Bulls are off to a fast start in year two of the up-tempo attack.
“We've done a good job of just learning the offense, playing fast, coming together and executing the plays,” co-offensive coordinator T.J. Weist said Wednesday.
Things are moving even faster this fall for the Gulf Coast Offense, which started to hit on all cylinders in the final four games last season. USF averaged 542 yards per outing during the time span and Weist said the Bulls have set themselves up for more success.
“You put in the offense for the season, then this week you pare it down for this team,” Weist said. “Our guys have done a good job off the field studying the film, understanding the offense, understanding the scheme and going out and executing it this week.”
Learn about the key players in USF's explosive offense Thursday on GoUSFBulls.com.
Bulls Bits
- Fans will finally get to see a USF star in the making Saturday, when Marquez Valdes-Scantling lines up as a starting receiver. The junior from St. Petersburg had to sit out last year after playing the prior two seasons at NC State. “I want him to be fired up, I want him to be competitive,” Weist said. “I want everything flowing for him, so he can go out and play his game.”
- Another receiver ready to make his long-awaited debut is Stanley Clerveaux. The sophomore from Miami missed the past two seasons with injuries and really shined in camp last fall before being sidelined. “It's been tough for him these last two years going what he went through, but I think he's really been preparing well and I think there's a chance you could see him (Saturday),” Weist said.
Coming off the program's first bowl appearance in five years, USF returns school season record holders at quarterback, running back and wide receiver and four all-conference selections. The Bulls return 93 percent of their offensive yards from a record smashing offense that posted school marks of 5,741 yards and 54 offensive touchdowns in 2015. While the Bulls averaged 33.6 points and 441 yards of offense per game, the defense ranked in the top 25 in the nation in interceptions (14th), turnovers gained (24th), and tackles for loss (13th), and in the top 35 of seven statistical categories. The Bulls return seven of their top nine tacklers and players that accounted for 12 of their 17 interceptions and 16 of 25 turnovers gained.
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