2007 Statistics

QUARTERBACK
For the past two years, offense in Tampa means Matt Grothe. No one more defines the loosely used term “gamer” than the Lakeland product. He makes decisions on the fly as well as anyone and has led the team in rushing as well as passing for two straight years. Grothe’s guts and determination – these qualities alone won the Auburn game yet lost the crazy battle with Cincy – make him feared by defensive coordinators. His ground speed is deceptive, for his first three or four steps are sly and allow him to make moves as he accelerates, and then he’s at the back line of a defense very quickly. Grothe’s arm is steady and tempered. But he needs to make better downfield reads since he has thrown 14 INTs in each of the last two years…no improvements this way will again mean too many unacceptable losses. Straight up – in three of USF’s four losses, the junior threw more than one INT (which he did only four total times all year…see the connection?) Simply put, wins come when he throws one pick or less in a game. Besides that one area needing attention, his leadership skills – mostly by gritty example – get 11 guys to play together like a well-oiled machine. Statistical rankings be damned; this kid can get his guys to move the ball as well as any team in the country when they are “on”. Backup Grant Gregory (also the coordinator’s son) is a senior who is just as dangerous as Grothe, but less developed.

RUNNING BACK
Behind the QB, five-star true soph tough guy Mike Ford might just emerge as the feature back to save Grothe the undue wear-and-tear. He set the state record in prep (2,836 in 2004 as a junior at Sarasota H.S.), and he really shaped up in the off-season (jokes about how he “lost his gut”), which in turn has improved his speed even more. Ben Williams, the incumbent who still got over100 carries, weighs 25 lbs. less than Ford, but at 200, he still can put a lick on anyone between the tackles (team best in squat max at 620 lbs. and T-4th in bench max). All of that talent will distract foes for when Aston Samuels finally does his thing. Samuels is smaller, but his 2.2% body fat and 38” vertical leap are why he averaged eight per carry in his few tries.

RECEIVER / TIGHT END
The WRs return four of the five guys who had over 20 catches. Carlton Mitchell led the team in catches as a true frosh, so his 6’4 frame with a year under the belt means a starting designation and a breakout year. Jessie Hester, Jr. also soared as an underclassman, while Edwards and Johnson are the “old men”, seniors who stay home underneath the coverage more often. In the spread that opens up running lanes, multiple receivers are employed and all need to be well covered, or else. Quick TE Cedric Hill is essentially a large receiver who also has the strength to block, when needed. It all works under the guidance of the elder (Greg) Gregory, an Army guy who has his troops ready for battle against the toughest of opponents.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The line sees four of five starters back, but the Bulls might just shuffle things a bit to fill in the blank (at right tackle). The possibility of moving Ryan Schmidt to tackle would not make sophomore Jacob Sims happy after Sims played his way into position to take the spot over. But if the move of Schmidt would allow Matt Huners to get his due as a senior (at LG), complimenting the emerging Zach Hermann and senior center Jake Griffin nicely inside. Miami’s Marc Dile is solid at left tackle, so this line is composed of three (possibly four) seniors and the rest look to be underclassmen…ample rotations are due to get the newbies ready for the mass exodus that will leave 2009’s OL depleted. If this team can keep using Grothe to freeze LBs, this year should be one where we see the other ball-handling Bulls getting more production This will allow the fewer times Grothe runs with the rock to be even bigger gains.

This is an improvising offense, one that lost in 2007 every time (but one) when they failed to get more than 27 points…and their 36% third-down conversion rate caught up with them in those losses too. When this offense is consistent, it makes this team seem unbeatable, and so many returning starters mean an even better showing this year.

DEFENSIVE LINE
The defense only had a few aberrations, but one of them (Cincinnati) meant a loss. Points given up obviously lead to losses, but this defense was good enough to bail the offense out and didn’t need the same courtesy more than that one time. Ninth-year coordinator Wally Burnham knows how to get his guys motivated. His tactics seem to have been over-applied to senior All-American DE George Selvie, the nation’s leader in tackles-for-loss (32.5) and the second-best in sacks (14.5). This ex-OG was barely recruited by anyone else, so the wealth of his presence becomes a special piece of the USF puzzle. Classmate Jarriett Buie needs to have a better year with Selvie demanding double-teams constantly. Seldom-used Matt Aycox is a true end, but mobile Aaron Harris can move over to the five-gap (or higher) in case of injuries on the outside. Harris’ role could depend on whether incoming four-star prospect David Bedford can have any impact. Inside, Terrell McClain really impressed as a true freshman, just another example of Leavitt knowing his talent and capacitating/employing it right away. McClain (as well as backup Sampson Genus) is a wide body that can do a lot with his high-revving motor. This line rushes the passer responsibly, guarding the running lanes as they push forward.

LINEBACKER
Finding the replacement for Moffitt at MLB will be priority one. Alonzo McQueen, a physically gifted over-achiever, will do everything in his power to keep Tyrone McKenzie from having to move inside. But first, he will have to fend off JUCO-transfer Kion Wilson. A weight room giant, McKenzie (NC.net Preseason All-American) came in from Iowa State and led the team in tackles, an impressive fact knowing he comes out on pass plays for a nickel back. Senior Brouce Mompremier quietly holds his own at WILL, able to go out into coverage with great effect on opponent’s underneath passing. Sabbath Joseph and Chris Robinson are quality backups, but behind them, it is a limited ‘who’s who’ of unknown and undeveloped talent. Injuries to the LB corps could devastate the defensive effort.

DEFENSIVE BACK
The DBs lose both corners, both worthy of being a first round NFL draftee, a change that will hurt early. But Jerome Murphy is ready for more responsibility after impressing coaches with his off-season workouts and big-play prevention as the top Bull nickel back last season. Tyller Roberts’ jumping ability, and his 6’1 frame, make him a possible shutdown corner if he can handle the role. Douglas and Washington look like quality backups, but the search for a nickel will be an open competition with so much speed in the coffers. Luckily, both safeties return. Senior Carlton Williams will have to keep an eye on the newbies, a tough task when Kansas comes to town (Sept. 12th) but hopefully not needed by the WVU game. 6’4 Williams was the main difference in beating the Mountaineers both times (11 tackles in last year’s game), a rarity since the Mountaineers only lost four times during that span. Nate Allen is his junior partner in grime – the “golden child” ex-QB tied for second on the team in solo tackles (61). Allen was the Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after his forced fumble (and subsequent recovery) and interception sealed the Auburn win (similar numbers in WVU game, too). Well-worn safety reserves Louis Gachette and Danny Verpaele seem expandable if troubles on the outside (or at nickel) arise. The way they played WVU’s spread proves the Bull players can finish a play when alone in the open field and/or swarm with honing radar as a group, when needed.

In 2007, the run-stopping was good at bending, but knowing how not to break (only eight ground scores)…when you factor in how foes were only successful 31% of the time on third-down tries, you see what many have recently discovered about this team – they may be second to only to Florida for in-state rankings.