Jean-Mary Gives USF Defense a Promising Progress Report
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, AUG. 7, 2019 – Third-year USF coordinator
Brian Jean-Mary is encouraged by his determined defense for numerous reasons this fall.
Through six camp practices (two in full pads), it's been clear that the bigger, stronger and deeper group has the potential to be much improved from last season.
"I can honestly say I've been pleased so far with our defense," Jean-Mary said Wednesday. "I think we've addressed some of our major issues, going from last year. I think our run defense is sounder than it was last year. Guys understand where they need to be and they're straining to get there."
Once they get to the the ball carrier, the Bulls are making major progress in the stop department.
"I think our tackling has been probably the best thing that we've done so far in camp. I know we struggled with missed tackles last year," Jean-Mary said. "We haven't been in a scrimmage yet. We've been in controlled, situational practices, but I really believe we're going to tackle a lot better than we did last year."
Last year, USF's defense was just trying to find its footing with seven true or redshirt freshmen gaining starting experience and 10 Bulls overall earning their first-career starts. Jean-Mary also had to do some some lineup shuffling with disruptive edge rusher
Greg Reaves (Bradenton, Fla.) having to fill the void in place of injured starting middle linebacker
Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.).
"For any defensive coach, they'll tell you depth is a coach's best friend," Jean-Mary said. "When you have interchangeable parts, that's a luxury that a lot of people don't have."
Depth is a word both Jean-Mary and head coach
Charlie Strong are using in a different way this fall because of the options the Bulls have at numerous positions on defense.
With a healthy Sawtelle back at middle linebacker, Reaves has returned to his edge position at defensive end/outside linebacker. Equipped with 25 games of starting experience, senior
Kirk Livingstone (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) is bringing pressure at defensive end and even making interceptions, like his pretty pick on a screen pass attempt at the end of Wednesday's practice.
USF's pass rush could be even more potent with grad transfer
Darius Slade entering the mix.
Previously at Arizona State, the grad transfer who was a first team all-state selection out of Montclair, N.J., is showing off his athletic ability and intensity in camp.
"He's come in and kept his head down and just bought into our system and plays hard," Jean-Mary said. "That's been contagious. You can see other guys kind of gravitating to him and trying to play as hard as he does."
The interior of the line also is bringing it with bulked-up juniors
Kevin Kegler (Madison, Fla.) and
Kelvin Pinkney (Sarasota, Fla.) each making double-digit weight gains since last season. Both players bring a combined total of 15 starts into the season and have played in at least 22 games apiece as Bulls.
"We were a little young last year and probably inexperienced," Jean-Mary said. "But this year, we have some guys that are going into their third year in the program and third year as possible starters."
Sophomores
Rashawn Yates (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and
Tyrone Barber (Venice, Fla.) both gained starting experience at defensive tackle last fall and USF has more talent to utilize on the interior with
Blake Green. The junior from Bradenton, Fla., sat out last fall due to NCAA transfer rules upon arriving from Northwest Missouri State but has shown lots of promise since.
"He had a big, big spring and we're expecting really big things from him this upcoming season," Livingstone said.
Behind the line, Jean-Mary mentioned USF could possibly rotate seven or eight linebackers in some games due to added depth. Learn more about the linebacker options in
Tuesday's camp report.
"That's a really good number as far as linebackers go," he said.
USF isn't hurting for numbers in its secondary that also got deeper this offseason. Junior defensive back
KJ Sails (North Carolina transfer) and senior defensive back
Devin Studstill (grad student from Notre Dame) are two newcomers consistently making an impact in camp this fall.
"They've fit right in and adapted to our defense," Jean-Mary said. "The great part about is, they've come from universities where they've gotten quality reps against quality opponents. That's carried over since they've gotten here and that's really helped."
Livingstone the Leader
On top of improved depth and tackling, USF's defense also is benefiting from more Bulls stepping up in leadership roles this fall.
The list includes senior end
Kirk Livingstone, who prepared well for his opportunity to guide the group by attending the NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in April on the way to graduating with a degree in health sciences. Learn more
HERE.
"The one thing I got from (the Forum) was building a bond with the guys," Livingstone said. "If those guys don't have a bond with you, they'll never be close to you."
The Leadership Forum also helped Livingstone realize he needs to be more vocal. This fall, he's serving as a sociable leader Bulls want to follow.
"At breakfast, at lunch, or snack, I'll go with a new group of guys and just sit with them and talk to them about life and about family," the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native said. "I think once you do that type of stuff, it carries over to the football field."
Bulls Bits
'SO FAR, SO GOOD' FOR NICO: Senior linebacker Nico Sawtelle said he's "about 100 percent" in the fall camp opener after missing the last seven games of 2018 with a neck/shoulder injury. Defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary has put Sawtelle through a "bunch" of tackling situations and said he's held up well. "When he's out there, there's no limitations," Jean-Mary said. "So far, so good."- SCOUT WATCH: Wednesday marked the second time this fall the Bulls have practiced in front of a scout from the New England Patriots. The Washington Redskins also were in the house Wednesday and other NFL teams evaluating the Bulls this fall have included the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Scouts from the CFL's BC Lions and Ottawa Redblacks have made appearances at past practices.
- MEET THE BULLS: USF Fan Fest presented by Florida Blue is set to take place at the Yuengling Center this Saturday from 2-4 p.m. Another great opportunity to meet the USF football team is by attending the first-ever Bulls Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 15 at Tampa Marriott Water Street (700 S. Florida Ave.) in downtown Tampa. Get more info on the kickoff event and reserve your spot HERE.
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.
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