Training camp has finished for the USF football program. Now it's adjusting, fine-tuning, making some final calls on the depth chart and preparing for the Sept. 2 opener at Western Kentucky.
"It's really cool to actually see some different pictures (film) on the offense and defense and start getting ready for somebody else,'' Head Coach Alex Golesh said Tuesday.
Golesh said he looked at the Hilltoppers for a couple of days in June, while consulting with defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and defensive line coach Kevin Patrick, who faced WKU last season while they were on the Florida Atlantic staff.
"In Year One, when you look at it in June, you kind of get an idea, but you really don't know what you have,'' Golesh said. "So, from a matchup standpoint, you really have no clue. I feel like we weren't ready to look at somebody else until (last) Sunday. It was kind of cool to sit down, shut the door and watch some football.
"I think they (WKU) are a lot like us in the sense that they've got a lot of new bodies everywhere. So, it's a little bit of a guessing game, probably similar to what they are with us as well.''
Speaking of a guessing game, Golesh said he and his staff have decided internally on a starting quarterback, but likely have no plans to unveil that until game day.
But whoever emerges, Golesh said he expects that player to have favorable traits to his record-setting quarterback from last season, Tennessee's Hendon Hooker.
"Honestly, we've got some guys in the (quarterback) room that are very similar skill-set wise to Hendon,'' Golesh said. "Hendon was a sixth-year senior that was mature beyond his years, highly intelligent on the football side of it, in terms of what he was able to do on the field. What made Hendon really special was that he didn't turn the football over. You ended each possession with a kick of some sort.
"Gerry (Bohanon) reminds me a lot of Hendon in terms of how he's made up mentally and he has played in some big-time ballgames. Very similar in terms of how they throw, how they run. Byrum (Brown) is a young version of that. He's here every day, pouring into his craft, mature beyond his years. If you would've told me he's a redshirt freshman, the way he acts, the way he carries himself, the way he's looked at on this team, man.
"Bryce Archie has grown maybe more than anybody within our program since he got here. And Izzy Carter is a freshman who has a tremendous future. He's going to be really special. So, I am really encouraged by our quarterback room.''
Golesh said he's similarly encouraged by the offensive line, where he "feels good about'' eight players, along with a ninth and 10th player who are closing fast in progression.
"I don't know the last time I was in the (offensive line) room where you felt like you had 10 (players who could play effectively in a game). I feel pretty fortunate.
"When we got here, there was one guy (Donovan Jennings) who had played any significant snaps and he was in a walking boot. Hoodie (offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick) has done an incredible job recruiting and rebuilding that room. We had seven scholarship offensive linemen when we got here and I was like, 'Hey Hoodie, the first-year offensive-line coach, you've got to go sign 10.' God bless him.''
Golesh said he also feels comfortable with the depth at running back, where he mentioned Nay'Quan Wright, Kelley Joiner, Michel Dukes, Dominic Gonnella and K'Wan Powell. There is also some quality depth to be sorted at receiver, a position that has battled injuries, so roles are uncertain. Media will talk with some of standouts in that room on Friday.
Meanwhile on defense, where multiple mix-and-match possibilities exist, returning defensive tackle Rashad Cheney said there's a clear priority.
Get after the quarterback.
"You always want the quarterback to be uncomfortable,'' Cheney said. "You've got to get him off his (spot) and throw off his game. That's definitely important.''
And it will be vital against WKU, which has returning quarterback Austin Reed (4,746 passing yards last season). He's on the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell, Wuerffel, Davey O'Brien, Walter Camp and Manning awards.
"They have a great quarterback and guys who can make some plays,'' Cheney said. "It's up to all of us. And it's up to (the leaders) to hold everyone accountable. We don't care how many plays you play or if you're traveling or not. We all hold each other accountable and we all work hard.''
USF's offense must contend with a WKU defense that features multiple looks.
"They're a good team,'' center Mike Lofton said. "They play in a lot of different formations, a lot of different schemes and coverages. They disguise their blitz as well.
"We've got to find some holes in that defense and take advantage of it. I feel like the guys are ready.''
Training camp has finished. As Golesh said, it's finally time to look at some different pictures. The countdown is on and the season-opening trip to WKU is coming fast.
"We've put in the work,'' Cheney said. "Now it's time to get some things done.''
–#GoBulls–
