Focused Bulls Ramp Up Preparations for Sept. 12 Season Opener
Gallery: (9-2-2020) FB Practice 0902
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 3, 2020 – It's starting to feel a lot like college football season and the game day atmosphere is very apparent on the USF practice fields at the Morsani Complex this week.
Wednesday marked the third day of the Bulls' preparations for their first opponent of the 2020 season that will bring a unique style of offense to Raymond James Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12 (7Â p.m. kickoff). Described as a "well-oiled machine" by head coach
Jeff Scott, The Citadel's triple-option attack returns many Bulldogs from their 2019 offense that ranked sixth nationally with 268.2 rushing yards per game.
"You better go attack it. You can't run away from it. You better figure it out," Scott said. "I like that. I like having a challenge in a lot of respects in the first game."
In the process of gearing up for a season played during a pandemic that could have unexpected turns, Scott is getting numerous Bulls down the depth chart on both sides of the ball as prepared as possible to execute in game situations by going to an NFL-style practice format.
Instead of using scout teams during usual game prep, USF's first-team offense is now getting The Citadel-like looks from the Bulls' second- and third-team defensive units. The Bulls' first-team defense is getting ready for game day in a similar way during significant portions of practice that feature more "good-on-good."
"I think this year more than ever requires us as coaches, along with the players, to be flexible, to monitor, to adjust," Scott said. "Today was the first day that we changed the way we practiced against each other."
This new process for the Bulls will enable everyone on the roster to be primed for action if called upon during a unique season of navigating through COVID-19 obstacles nationwide. Extra attention is even being paid to special teams, especially during meetings that involve everyone but the quarterbacks receiving info, just in case they need to get snaps on a particular unit.
"You have to be ready. Literally, this is a year unlike any other where your freshman walk-on needs to know the game plan just as much as your starter does," Scott said. "I don't say that as an extreme example. I say that very honestly."
Starting next week, USF's COVID testing will be increased to three times each week throughout the season. Fortunately for the Bulls, they've only had one positive COVID test in a 40-day span that goes all the way back to before fall camp kicked off and, through close work with USF Health, testing has become much faster and efficient.
"From the very beginning, we've said our No. 1 goal is to keep our young men, players, staff and everybody around safe and healthy," Scott said. "... Then, the No. 2 goal is to be able to play football. So, in order to play football safely, you have to follow the protocols that are in place. We'll continue to do that."
Strict health safety measures for the entire program have involved USF holding full-team meetings on the floor of the nearby Yuengling Center to allow for proper physical distancing. The defense remains there for position meetings while the offense conducts their own at the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center.
Safety protocols also are very apparent at practice, where Bulls not involved in the action stand on dots that separate players 6 feet apart, much like chairs set up for breaks. Players in huddles and individual drills also are encouraged to take the spread-out approach by a proactive program embracing precautions.
"I've said for a while, the teams that monitor and adjust what they're doing now for those protocols are gonna have an opportunity to have more of their guys available as the season goes," Scott said. "That's kind of the mindset that we have right now."
QB Competition Update
Asked about a depth chart, Scott said, "Come see me next week," because competition for position spots continues to heat up.
"We're still battling it out, which is good. That's what you want as a coach – keeping the guys competing every day," he said. "Every practice, every rep counts."
That's the way it's been throughout the preseason while sophomores
Jordan McCloud (Tampa),
Cade Fortin (Suwanee, Ga.) and senior
Noah Johnson (Tampa) compete for the starting quarterback role.
"The goal is to know who we feel the starting quarterback is for the team moving forward by Cincinnati," said Scott of the Bulls' conference opener on Oct. 3. "That's the big-picture goal, and it kind of works with the timeline that I'm used to and that I've seen through the quarterback competitions in the past."
Scott has previously talked about his experience with QB competitions at Clemson that were eventually won by current NFL star Deshaun Watson and Heisman Trophy contender Trevor Lawrence. Scott said he's "really not losing a lot of sleep over who may go first" for the Bulls and that fans may see all three QBs in the competition get opportunities to secure the job during games early in the season.
"It may happen in the first game. It may happen in the second game. That's fine. Just kind of let it happen," Scott said. "Like I've said before, I want my wife and daughter to be able to come home and say, 'Well, it looks like we've found our quarterback.' That's how evident it should look and usually it does if you have really good players competing like we do."
Scott also is keeping freshman quarterbacks
Jordan Smith (Lake City, Fla.) and
Katravis Marsh (Hialeah, Fla.) prepared for whatever opportunities the season could present, saying to them, "Be ready to go. Know the game plan."
"They've done a really good job and are continuing to get better," Scott said.
Bulls Bits
BRINKMAN BRINGING IT AT TE: Grad transfer Mitchell Brinkman (Council Bluffs, Iowa) is bringing lots to the table as a playmaking tight end for the Bulls who just happens to wear record-breaking Mitchell Wilcox's old No. 89. "He reached out to me when I committed. I'm just excited to be here," Brinkman said. "It's just a coincidence; same name, same number." Last season, USF's new No. 89 ranked second on the Northern Illinois squad with 445 receiving yards (13.09 ypc) and three touchdowns. "As far as my (USF) role, I'll do whatever it takes to help the team and win," he said. "Hopefully that's with the ball in my hands a couple times, for sure."- GRIER LEADING AT LB: Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer has continued to praise the proven linebacker duo of Antonio Grier (Atlanta) and Dwayne Boyles (Miami). Now a junior with 24 games of experience (six starts), Grier is doing much more than just producing at the MIKE spot. "(Experience) helps me coach and teach up younger guys," he said. "… I try to teach those guys to not make the same mistakes that I made. With the young guys coming in, they pretty much look up to us. That feels good to at least know that you have a bigger reason of playing."
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About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23rd season (20th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft.Â
USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
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