Bulls Bringing Increased Confidence on Both Sides of Ball Back to Ray Jay
NEXT GAME: BYU (2-3, independent) at USF (2-3, 1-1 in AAC)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/3:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
TV/RADIO: CBS Sports Network/USF Radio Network:
Over the Air: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM &
Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: First meeting. Next meeting Sept. 25, 2021 in Provo, Utah
GAME NOTES: USF |
BYU
TICKETS: USFBullsTix.com
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 9, 2019 – In order for an offense to really get rolling, it all starts with the big guys up front doing big things in the trenches.
Solid play from all five linemen paid dividends last week for USF, which set season highs with 503 total yards of offense and 313 rushing yards in a decisive
48-22 victory at UConn.
"We did a lot better job of controlling the line of scrimmage," coordinator
Kerwin Bell said Wednesday. "We sort of dominated that area of the field on the offensive side of the ball and that opened up everything for us, especially our ground game."
USF seeks another balanced performance in Saturday's homecoming game against BYU and the line is preparing for a large task. Across their starting defensive front, the Cougars carry an average of 282 pounds with an enormous anchor in 321-pound Khyiris Tonga.
"They got big guys, especially at the nose position," Bell said. "I told (center) Brad (Cecil), this is his Super Bowl. He's gotta play well for us in there. He's got a big assignment."
No matter their position in Bell's #PlayFastScoreFaster system, USF's starting O-linemen are bringing increased confidence back to Raymond James Stadium after a very positive performance in East Hartford, Conn.
Bell said right tackle
Marcus Norman (Sebastian, Fla.) graded out at 89-90 percent while fellow senior
William Atterbury (Clearwater, Fla.) stepped up in his third straight start back at right guard. On the other side of Cecil (Jacksonville, Fla.), sophomore left guard
Demetris Harris (Jacksonville, Fla.) was steady and Bell said sophomore left tackle
Donovan Jennings (Tampa) is "unbelievable right now."
"They're not just leaning on people," said Bell of the line as a whole. "They're getting their feet driving and staying in it throughout the whole play."
Another notable push up front would certainly help the Bulls in their pursuit of a fifth straight homecoming victory. Senior tight end
Mitchell Wilcox (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) also is ready to provide more crushing blocks for ball carriers and his coordinator is encouraged by the way USF's receivers are playing faster and running routes more precisely.
"We're starting to see improvements and I'm getting excited," Bell said. "I'm really excited about what our capabilities are."
'
Calculated' Pressure Pays Off for Progressing Defense
USF's defense has made a habit of wreaking havoc in an opponent's backfield, ranking fourth nationally with 9.8 tackles for loss per game.
Finishing plays and executing better across the board against UConn allowed the Bulls to accomplish another important goal of getting to the quarterback. USF set a season high with five sacks by five different players even though coordinator
Brian Jean-Mary didn't dial up blitzes as often as usual this season.
"I think we pressured maybe in some of the earlier games too much because we weren't getting the results that we wanted to," Jean-Mary said. "It was a little bit more calculated last game and that's why I said I think the kids executed a lot better this game. We didn't pressure as much as we usually do, so they were effective when we did."
We'll have to see how much pressure the progressing USF defense applies game plan-wise Saturday but similar production in the sack department would be impressive. Although BYU ranks 85
th nationally in sacks allowed (2.4 per game), redshirt freshman quarterback Jaren Hall is considered
more mobile than usual starter Zach Wilson, who is recovering from surgery on his throwing hand, and thus may provide a more difficult target.
Hall, who also has extensive range as a center fielder for the BYU baseball team, used his arm to move BYU downfield late in its previous game against Toledo. While Wilson had shoulder surgery in the offseason, Hall benefited from increased reps in spring ball and brings plenty of potential to the QB position after earning Maple Mountain High School's offensive player of the year honors in 2015.
"Obviously, they're down to their second quarterback, but we haven't looked at it that way," Jean-Mary said. "… I think he's very ready and capable. I don't think the offense is gonna change much."
BYU has a variety of passing targets for Hall to choose from with six players already posting double-digit reception totals through five games.
"I think they have some talented guys," Jean-Mary said. "I think their receivers are as good of a group as we would have seen."
Bulls Bits
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GO-TO GUY?: Through five games, USF has had four different players lead the team in receiving yards, which is no shock to coordinator Kerwin Bell. "This offense, you gotta be unselfish because no one is gonna get highlighted. One week, it's gonna be this guy. Next week, it's gonna be these two guys," Bell said. "We game plan by what we see, the coverages that are gonna give us the opportunity to attack."- BARNETT STILL ON THE MEND: The timetable for senior quarterback Blake Barnett's return to action is still up in the air after he suffered a nagging injury against SMU on Sept. 28. "Blake is struggling right now with his high-ankle sprain," coordinator Kerwin Bell said. "I know he's still getting some doctors looking at it and determining what they need to do with that, so he can go." If the Corona, Calif., native can't go against BYU, sophomore Kirk Rygol (Fort Mill, S.C.) will serve as USF's backup after throwing a 33-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter at UConn.
HORNS UP RALLY SET FOR FRIDAY ON CAMPUS: Following Thursday's USF Football Radio Show, fans can get geared up for game day by attending the Horns Up Rally presented by AAA. The free USF fan gathering is set to take place Friday from 5-8 p.m. on campus in front of the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center (11810 USF Alumni Drive). Learn more HERE. The Running of the Bulls Homecoming Parade will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the USF campus and will run past the site of the Horns Up Rally.
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed just its 22nd season of football, and 19th at the FBS level, the USF football program has earned 10 bowl appearances, including a current run of four straight, and owns a record of 6-3 in bowl games. The Bulls have appeared in the national top 25 rankings in each of the past three seasons, including a program record run of 20 straight weeks in the top 25, and in 2018 reached the program's 150th win faster than any FBS program in state of Florida history. USF has posted a pair of 10-plus win seasons in the last three years, including a program-record 11 wins (11-2) in 2016, and logged 15 winning seasons overall. Since first taking the field in 1997, the USF program has reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings (2007), seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 29 earn first-team all-conference selection.
Follow @USFFootball on twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.
– #GoBulls –
