South Florida Bulls concerns

[Bogtrotter07]

SBN is fine.

If you have access to the ESPN Blue Ribbon previews, that could help you too.

As for all of you-you all are as classy a fan base as I've ever seen. Win or loss, ND looks like a nice number 2 team for me.

Too bad we can't play you guys every season instead of Miami-they have the worst fan base I've ever seen.

Amen, bro. I thought WV and Marshal were on that list with tOSU; what do you say OMM?

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

SBN is fine.

If you have access to the ESPN Blue Ribbon previews, that could help you too.

As for all of you-you all are as classy a fan base as I've ever seen. Win or loss, ND looks like a nice number 2 team for me.

Too bad we can't play you guys every season instead of Miami-they have the worst fan base I've ever seen.

hahaha... Thanks but you should have seen this "classy fan" base following the Tulsa loss last season. The following video is what that day with these "classy fans" resembled...

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SsIgzw1tV40" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[NDinL.A.]

Your first question is in regards to Scott himself. The problem he had in Colorado is that he likely came in with an inflated opinion of himself. He was going to have to mature fast if he was going to do well. According to our coaching staff, he's been one of the hardest workers on the team and has taken the initiative to be a good back.

I can't speak for your DL, but our interior is experienced. We will probably have to use extra protection with your line and Te'o.

As for the road-USF is no stranger to difficult road games. Most of this group has gone into a hostile road environment at some point in their careers, whether it was FSU two years ago or UF last year. I am not counting Miami because they had 27000 fans in the seats, which is frankly pitiful for a storied team like Miami. USF should be able to tune it out.

Welcome USF fans! This post did not show up immediately because you quoted someone who had a link in his post, and you must have a minimum of 10 posts (it might even be 25) posts before you can post a link. If you are new and post a link, a mod has to approve it, which I just did.

Great discussion so far from both ends. Hopefully the Irish fans on here can stay classy like they always are (ok, maybe not johnnykillz LOL), and the USF fans can stay classy, and we can continue these great discussions.

FWIW, I keep going back between ND winning handily in the 2nd half pull-away (our lines are simply better and will wear USF's down), and being worried about them (possibility of a trap-game for ND, all that FL speed, their entire off-season with intense workouts focused on taking down the giant, this is their Super Bowl and a game that could put them squarely on the map the entire season - never underestimate those things). Talent (stars-wise) and experience-wise, ND should win. But it doesn't always work out that way. We'll see though.

Go Irish!

 

[bullsfan426]

Amen, bro. I thought WV and Marshal were on that list with tOSU; what do you say OMM?

In terms of their fans?
I can't speak for Marshall-I've never been to a game against them so no comment.

WVU has decent fans, though they do like trash talking.

tOSU? I haven't met most of their fans, but my cousins are all fans (and my eldest cousin goes to OSU medical school!), and they come off pretty well.

OMM?

 

[bullsfan426]

Welcome USF fans! This post did not show up immediately because you quoted someone who had a link in his post, and you must have a minimum of 10 posts (it might even be 25) posts before you can post a link. If you are new and post a link, a mod has to approve it, which I just did.

Great discussion so far from both ends. Hopefully the Irish fans on here can stay classy like they always are (ok, maybe not johnnykillz LOL), and the USF fans can stay classy, and we can continue these great discussions.

FWIW, I keep going back between ND winning handily in the 2nd half pull-away (our lines are simply better and will wear USF's down), and being worried about them (possibility of a trap-game for ND, all that FL speed, their entire off-season with intense workouts focused on taking down the giant, this is their Super Bowl and a game that could put them squarely on the map the entire season - never underestimate those things). Talent (stars-wise) and experience-wise, ND should win. But it doesn't always work out that way. We'll see though.

Go Irish!

Should is always such a lovely word.

That said-Notre Dame is by its very nature an elite team. We've faced plenty of big name teams, but they were always missing something. Miami always had the athletes, but coaching wasn't great last season. FSU the season before was coming off a blowout win, but evidently came in overconfident and was introduced to a big helping of elite defensive line play (and they couldn't cover at all for some reason that day).

Notre Dame has both the athletes AND the coaching. I know expectations are high, but rightfully so and if your team has improved from last season, this will be an excellent measure of where USF is as a program.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogtrotter07
Amen, bro. I thought WV and Marshal were on that list with tOSU; what do you say OMM?

In terms of their fans?
I can't speak for Marshall-I've never been to a game against them so no comment.

WVU has decent fans, though they do like trash talking.

tOSU? I haven't met most of their fans, but my cousins are all fans (and my eldest cousin goes to OSU medical school!), and they come off pretty well.

OMM?

See? I told you guys! The background, Bullsfan, is that we have had some really raucous discussions over which fans are the worst around this neck of the woods. I am a believer that the U of M fans, with their incredible arrogance are the most insufferable, and I have never had a problem with Buckeye fans. However other really point to the base nature of the Buckeye fan . . . So thanks for supporting me with that anecdotal testimonial!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Regarding NON-classy fan bases as brought up by Trotter: the two West Virginia schools are infamous. They are the "Philadelphia" fans of college sports. I don't know what Marshall's problem is, but WVU sells beer in the stadium and is not overly discouraging of drunks. This seems to result in a large number of immature goons and jerks who employ any linguistic slinging behaviors that their microscopic minds can muster, as well as being more likely to throw anything moveable at the opposing players.

When my brother played for VT [back when WVU & VT played every year], he was a personal recipient of all that. He also mentioned for everyone's edification, that Syracuse [object hurling coming onto the field], FSU [loaded up food slop from the concession stands], and UNC [actually pouring mixed drinks etc on their heads when they emerged from the locker-room area underneath a boosters suite], were no paragons of sportsmanship either. Apparently neanderthals inhabited both the executive suites and the truckstops.

The WVU fan behavior seems finally to becoming embarrassing to the WVU faculty and administration and somethings may be done to suppress the goons.

As to USF: Skip Holtz is easy to root for. Just not this game. He's not yet convinced that even his dad is rooting for him in this one, as he said a couple of days ago in an interview. He has talked Lou into coming down as main guest in his kick-off dinner in about a week, though. Lou says that Skip's mom has final say on all that.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Marshal used to throw nuts and bolts. Some were heated. Now how do you think they did that in the stands?

 

[Rhode Irish]

USF has had really impressive fan representation on this board. My grandparents live in the Tampa area (Clearwater), so I wouldn't have any problem pulling for them for the rest of the way after the opener. I do think ND is the better team, and I think most neutral observers agree, but I do think the Bulls will present a challenge and ND will have to play well to win.

I have a simple question for the Bulls fans here: how do you guys regard BJ as a thrower of the football?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Hey, I had a question. Years ago I lived in Sarasota, and I took some courses at a school called New College. Did that become, or become part of USF?

 

[bullwark]

I have a simple question for the Bulls fans here: how do you guys regard BJ as a thrower of the football?

BJ is a great thrower, just not a great passer. BJ has a very strong arm, not always the most accurate and he sometimes has trouble with touch passes and veiwing the entire field. He is a junior this season, and Bull Fans hope he has matured as a QB. As BJ goes so do the Bulls.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Almost felt like I was listening to an open-minded ND fan talk about Dayne Crist then.

 

[USFgamesept3rd]

USF has acheived more in a short amount of years than any other university in the country.

 

[USFgamesept3rd]

Expect the unexpected.

 

[IrishLax]

Expect the unexpected.

Cool story bro.

 

[BullyPulpit]

BullyPit-

One question on your DL. I know they are incredibly athletic and good rushing the passer, but it is my understanding that they aren't the biggest guys out there. Do you see this being an issue in stopping ND's running game? The main reason why I think ND wins this is that we ran the ball really well to end the season against USC and Miami and see that continuing with our big OL. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a low scoring and close game that could go either way.

We have some size on the interior DL. Elkino Watson, a 4 star true freshman, impressed at our first scrimmage. He is 6'2'' 291 lbs. Keith McCaskill is a Senior, 6'0'' 290 lbs., Cory Grissom is a Junior and projected starter. He comes in at 6'2'' 335 lbs. And another 4 star talent looking to work into the rotation is Todd Chandler, 6'0'' 318 lbs.

I'm not too concerned about our size on the interior as much as the game experience.

 

[BullyPulpit]

Welcome, Bullypulpit. We always appreciate balanced and intelligence discussion with opposing fans around here. That said, I'd like to get your take on a few stats.

For Total Offense, your Bulls were ranked an abysmal 105th in the nation last year. Football Outsiders provides a more accurate, but still not encouraging, picture of your 2010 offense by ranking it 74th. You've lost 7/11 offensive starters from 2010, including your starting C and both OTs. Assuming ND's defense carries forward the level of defensive play they showed at the end of last season, how do the Bulls hope to hang enough points on the Irish to win (1) in their first game of the season, (2) on the road, and (3) with seven new starters?

Defensively, your Bulls ranked an impressive 27th last year, but you still lost 5/11 starters on that side of the ball, including both DEs and a DT. Is it reasonable to expect the same high level of defensive performance (1) in the first game of the season, (2) on the road, and (3) with five new starters?

Regarding Darrell Scott, the kid has struggled with injuries and consistency throughout his entire college career. I'm certain Bulls fans are excited by his 5 ranking as a high school prospect and whatever positive buzz is coming out of fall camp right now, but given his last two years at Colorado, what are the chances that (1) he has a big game, (2) in the first game of the season, (3) on the road, (4) against ND's dominant DL, and (5) behind an OL that just lost 3 starters?

Given how bad the Bulls were offensively last season, I have a hard time seeing how they hang enough points on the Irish to win. Your defense will likely keep things close for a bit while our offense works out the kinks, but I think we'll pull away late in the 2nd or early 3rd quarter.

For your question on scoring: Our top 3 WR on the depth chart this year (Love, Griffin, and Welch) did not play last year. BJ Daniels played hurt and was contained due to having NO other scholarship QBs. We were in the first year of a new offensive system and a transition from a true spread to more of a hybrid spread. When your offense isn't very good losing 7/11 starters isn't necessarily a bad thing! The new OLinemen all have some level of playing time and are probably the biggest question mark on offense (besides BJ Daniels penchant for erratic performances)

Defensively the guys that we have replacing the departed are equally as good on paper, if not better. They all (with the exception of Chandler and Watson) had significant game experience last year. Ryne Giddens is a 4 star that picked USF over UF and is about to break out this year. Expect to see him in your backfield all day long. Our LBs may be one of the best all around units in the nation. We have so much depth that they are moving bigger LBs to DE so they don't get lost in the mix. 5 new starters is a bit of a misnomer.

Scott has worked his tail off and has been in this system since its inception. The redshirt year helped to humble him and reignite his fire. From all accounts he was the stud standout in Spring and has carried that over to the fall. I expect that if our OL play if ok he will have a good game.

You guys could easily pull away in the 3rd quarter, but there is a completely vibe surrounding this USF team. Last year our expectations were tempered knowing that there was a new coach and a new system. In a lot of ways our programs had very similar seasons last year. Both did well considering the changes in the coaching staff and both look to be much improved this year. We were 8-5 last season and, while we didn't have any OUTSTANDING wins, we were solid down the stretch. I would put the over under on USF wins this season at 9. If we can beat ND in South Bend on 9/3 I would definitely take the over!

 

[BullyPulpit]

To Bullypulpit: thanks for the viewpoint; spoken like a good loyal fan of a beloved team.

Some of your evaluations don't match things that I have been reading from Florida area writers [having nothing to do with Notre Dame]. Example: the Orlando Sentinel ranks USF #45 in the country. That would place the Bulls as a nice solid team, and a threat in almost any game. Why do they not place them higher though, in better concert with your own evaluations?? The Sentinel cites problems along both lines; not just the O-Line but the D-Line as well. Three of the four starters on a very fine D-Line have moved on; this includes both defensive ends. Whereas the young players have athletic talent, the writer for SBN-TampaBay cites defensive end as a major area of concern, and not "Three-Deep solid".

At wide receiver, there are indeed two old WRs coming back off serious injuries from last year, but I have read that Love was still re-habbing his ACL a bit [did not even participate in spring ball], and Griffin was struggling and not even on the two-deep coming out of Spring. The youngster [first name Deonte---apologize for forgetting last] IS supposed to be a good one, but even he is still untried.

The DBs have been given a pretty good grade at doing what they were asked to do last year, which was to guard against home-run balls [they were excellent at this], but not effective at all at stopping the intermediate passing game, nor making interceptions. Most USF opponents played into their hands by not passing in the 8-12 yard zone enough, but Cincinnati did. That game was an "Ouch!". Admittedly your DB coaches must be good, as USF often has a good D-backfield --- still, I don't know if Holtz retained the guys who have produced so many NFLers in the past.

Listening to Coach Holtz talk, he is certainly not hyping up the ND game, but seems to consistently be saying that it is not that game which will make or break the season, but rather once the Bulls get into Big East play vs Pittsburgh. It is a natural thing for him to say, but one wonders if he doesn't mean it to the point that the team itself isn't really expecting to win.

While we might not be solidly 3 deep on the lines, I'm confident in the first 2 lines. Ryne Giddens is as fast as he is powerful and I fully expect him to be burning the edge all day. Our other DE's are solid, but not spectacular. The OL has performed well in the Fall.

I think the bend-but-don't-break defense was more a product of our coaches recognizing that our offense was just not going to be any good last year. You certainly don't want to get beat deep and put an inept offense right back on the field. The offense will be much improved and BJ's ability to make plays with his legs will be back. Imagine Denard Robinson wasn't allowed to run freely in Michigan's offense last year? That is what it was like with BJ.

 

[BullyPulpit]

In terms of their fans?
I can't speak for Marshall-I've never been to a game against them so no comment.

WVU has decent fans, though they do like trash talking.

tOSU? I haven't met most of their fans, but my cousins are all fans (and my eldest cousin goes to OSU medical school!), and they come off pretty well.

OMM?

WVU fans are drunken, redneck scum. They were hurling frozen batteries and ice balls at us from the upperdeck when I went to one of the USF-WVU games a few years ago. Our team had to wear their helmets on the sidelines for the entire game because they were getting hit by ice balls and the cheerleaders were being targeted as well. I'm not talking about a few bad apples, I'm talking dozens of toothless, couch burning fools.

 

[BullyPulpit]

USF has had really impressive fan representation on this board. My grandparents live in the Tampa area (Clearwater), so I wouldn't have any problem pulling for them for the rest of the way after the opener. I do think ND is the better team, and I think most neutral observers agree, but I do think the Bulls will present a challenge and ND will have to play well to win.

I have a simple question for the Bulls fans here: how do you guys regard BJ as a thrower of the football?

I know that you have us beat on pure talent alone, but so have a lot of the teams we have defeated over the past few years (U of L in '05, WVU many times, FSU, Auburn, Miami, Clemson). Recruiting rankings don't win ballgames.

As for coaching, I think it is a wash. Skip is a heck of a coach, as is Kelly. It will definitely be a chess match and the coach that makes the best adjustments is likely to prevail.

As for BJ Daniels as a pure passer....he is average at best. BJ Daniels biggest assets are his legs. His legs make his arm dangerous. I don't have faith that he will thread-the-needle past 3 defenders in the endzone, but I do trust that he will roll out of the pocket, make your defense respect his ability to run, and then throw a catchable ball to a guy that would otherwise be in double coverage. He has supposedly looked good so far this year and finally grasps the offense (again, the first time he has had the same OC and QB coach in consecutive seasons). We will know a lot about our season and BJ Daniels by 4 pm on Sept. 3.

 

[BullyPulpit]

Hey, I had a question. Years ago I lived in Sarasota, and I took some courses at a school called New College. Did that become, or become part of USF?

They were part of the USF system for a minute, but have since broken away and are their own indepedent entity.

 

[bullsfan426]

Regarding NON-classy fan bases as brought up by Trotter: the two West Virginia schools are infamous. They are the "Philadelphia" fans of college sports. I don't know what Marshall's problem is, but WVU sells beer in the stadium and is not overly discouraging of drunks. This seems to result in a large number of immature goons and jerks who employ any linguistic slinging behaviors that their microscopic minds can muster, as well as being more likely to throw anything moveable at the opposing players.

When my brother played for VT [back when WVU & VT played every year], he was a personal recipient of all that. He also mentioned for everyone's edification, that Syracuse [object hurling coming onto the field], FSU [loaded up food slop from the concession stands], and UNC [actually pouring mixed drinks etc on their heads when they emerged from the locker-room area underneath a boosters suite], were no paragons of sportsmanship either. Apparently neanderthals inhabited both the executive suites and the truckstops.

The WVU fan behavior seems finally to becoming embarrassing to the WVU faculty and administration and somethings may be done to suppress the goons.

As to USF: Skip Holtz is easy to root for. Just not this game. He's not yet convinced that even his dad is rooting for him in this one, as he said a couple of days ago in an interview. He has talked Lou into coming down as main guest in his kick-off dinner in about a week, though. Lou says that Skip's mom has final say on all that.

I stand corrected by the ND and USF posters here.

I've never been up to WVU. Our team has done a good enough job of keeping them quiet down here in Tampa, especially in recent years.

Not saying that USF hasn't had it's own problems. We had a issue with fans getting arrested in the stadium a couple of years ago.

 

[bullsfan426]

See? I told you guys! The background, Bullsfan, is that we have had some really raucous discussions over which fans are the worst around this neck of the woods. I am a believer that the U of M fans, with their incredible arrogance are the most insufferable, and I have never had a problem with Buckeye fans. However other really point to the base nature of the Buckeye fan . . . So thanks for supporting me with that anecdotal testimonial!

Apparently UM is bad no matter which one you're talking about.

I think every team is going to have some bad fans.

As for my cousins-keep in mind that they aren't your average OSU fan. My uncle is an MD in Ohio and both of my older cousins are at very good colleges (the youngest is still in highschool). It's certainly not their only form of entertainment.

It might be different for someone who's day consists of a long week of work and only the OSU games on the weekends to distract him.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Kevin Arnold's USF Preview can be found here. I'd be interested to get some feedback from the Bulls fans on this.

 

[BeauBenken]

Kevin Arnold's USF Preview can be found here. I'd be interested to get some feedback from the Bulls fans on this.

I thought BJ Daniels wouldn't be able to play?

Sorry if this has been brought up somewhere in posts before now, but when I clicked "First Unread" it took me to your post. I see now there has been plenty of posting before that that I hadn't seen...

 

[ShakeDown]

I recently ran into a friend that is a USF alum. Because of a mutual love of football, and a certain commonality of schedule Sept. 3rd, we started talking shop.

When asked about how his team felt, my friend informed me that recently he had asked the same exact question to a few people in-the-know along the d-line. Word is, verbatim, that the USF Bulls are "quietly optimistic" for the upcoming game.

Take this for what it's worth (hearsay, and thus inadmissible in a court of law) but I heard what I heard and thought I would share. Honestly, I have to admit that I would have preferred cocky, overconfident swagger to a cold and calculating optimistic. This game would not be my choice if I were to schedule our opener.

Sidenote - if it was you I spoke to BullyPulpit, PM me hah

 

[arrowryan]

Im still not really worried about USF. They have to replace alot on an offense that was not good last year. They might have a good defense but they also have to replace most of their d-line. I dont care how good your cornerbacks are, if you dont have a pass rush then the cornerbacks will be left out there to dry.

How come no one has mentioned Michael Floyd lately. He is one of the best recievers in the country and he has a big chip on his shoulder. With the o-line being a strength this year, Dayne Crist should have all day to find Michael Floyd, Theo Riddick, T.J. Jones, and the 6,000,000 tight ends we have. Dont be worried, let Brian Kelly do his thing and we should all go to sleep with a smile on our face that saturday night.

 

[irish4ever]

What do you expect? USF is a team that has performed fairly well over the past few years, they're on the road against a team that is ranked in the top 20 that still needs to prove itself, and they figure most people expect them to lose. I could see them being "quietly optomistic" .... nothing to lose if they don't come to SB maing some brash statements on how they are going to kick the Irish butt.

ND just needs to be fully prepared (whihc I feel they will be) and they'll be ok.

 

[arrowryan]

Notre Dame will be more than prepared for this game. They have a whole 2 weeks to do so, that is more than enough time. Im interested to see how our defense plays B.J. Daniels.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

There is still some senior leadership on this team that remembers season openers like San Diego State. They are not going to take this Bulls team lightly.

USF is going to come out of the gates fired up. ND just needs to stay calm and let USF blow their wad early. Once that first burst of emotion and energy leave the Bulls, they will be gassed for a while and that is when ND will take charge.

I think the first quarter will be close, maybe in to the second quarter, but the Irish will roll. I don't mean any disrespect to USF or their fans, but I just don't see the Irish letting it stay close.

If Michael Floyd has improved as much as he has in past offseasons, he is going to be scary. I love our TE's against their linebackers and I have a huge man-crush on our defensive front against their inexperienced offensive line. If both our offensive and defensive lines play well and play to their potential and expectations, this game could prove to be very, very long for Skip and his team.