Bulls Look to Shift Run Game Into High Gear
By Joey Johnston, Special to USF Athletics
When the Bulls were last on the field, their running game was in high gear. Kelley Joiner Jr. and Brian Battie each surpassed 100 yards rushing against UCF.
Can they keep that going?
"We played with really good tempo that day,'' said offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., on Thursday, following USF's fifth spring practice. "We challenged our players. We told them we could play like that every single game if we come out with the right mindset and the right mentality.
"We can't just do it one game a year. We have to have the same mindset that we had against UCF.''
Joiner had 14 carries for 116 yards against the Knights, while Battie ran 15 times for 102 yards. Together with Darrian Felix, an Oregon transfer who battled injuries last season, and Leonard Parker, who will miss the remainder of spring drills with an injury, the Bulls have a stable of backs that have a variety of skills and experience.
"With Joiner and Battie, those are both two very explosive backs,'' offensive tackle Donovan Jennings said. "If we give them the holes they need, they can do that (UCF-like performances) the whole season. I'm excited to see what they can do.
"That UCF game gave us a lot of hope. We're expecting to do things like that every game. That last game opened our eyes to what this offense can do.''
New assistant in place
Joiner, Battie and the other backs have a new position coach in Cam Aiken, the running backs coach/run game coordinator who worked on Clemson University's staff for nine seasons while contributing to a pair of national championships.
"He has been great,'' Joiner said. "He obviously coached a great back in Travis Etienne (at Clemson). He has preached to us about effort, ball security, the little things. We've got to get those right before the fall.
"He has been hard on us. But we need that in order to take the next step.''
Comfort level is better
Last season, the Bulls got in just one spring practice before the coronavirus pandemic caused everything to halt.
With a full spring practice under way — and a normal run-up to the fall in place before the Sept. 2 opener at N.C. State — the preparation should be drastically different for Coach Jeff Scott and his staff.
"When you're installing something for the first time during spring practice, you know there are going to be mistakes,'' Weis said. "Those mistakes need to happen so you can correct it and get it right.
"The problem (last season) with installing for the first time in fall camp is those mistakes are happening, but you've got to make personnel decisions and there's not enough time to get it exactly right and groove it out. It's all very real and you've got 14 practices, then game one against The Citadel.''
Now it's back to normal preparation. Joiner said that will make a big difference.
"As a team, we'll be more comfortable,'' Joiner said. "Not having the spring last year, we couldn't get the plays down (like we needed) for the fall. Having spring practices will help us take the next step.''
Weis on the QBs
Weis said his current quarterback room — holdover sophomore Cade Fortin, Miami transfer Jarren Williams, holdover freshman Katravis Marsh and true freshman Timmy McClain — has more players who fit the traditional drop-back passer roles. It also features daily doses of boundless enthusiasm.
"Cade is having an unbelievable spring and he is really processing everything so well,'' Weis said. "Him having a year in the system has made him so much better. He's seeing pressures, checking things, getting the ball out on time, getting it exactly where it needs to go — just doing graduate-level stuff.
"Jarren is extremely hungry. He's banging on the door, trying to see me as much as possible to learn and go over things. That really fires me up to have a kid who is that hungry to learn. He's seeing things (in the offense) for the first time, but he's getting better each and every day. If he continues to do that all spring and into the fall, we'll have a really good player on our hands.''
First scrimmage on Saturday
Scott said the Bulls will hold their first spring scrimmage on Saturday. Players will work in full pads and all action will be live (except for the quarterbacks, who are off-limits).
"We've had a good first five days of spring,'' Scott said. "Now we've got to put it all together and translate it to the field. I'm really pleased with how it has gone so far.''
