Runners Join Grothe in Bulls' Offense

[TyBull]

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070806&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=708060413&SectionCat=&Template=printart

Published Monday, August 6, 2007

Monday, August 6, 2007

Runners Join Grothe in Bulls' Offense

By Patrick Zier

Ledger Correspondent

TAMPA - The addition of a bevy of backs who should bring marked improvement to South Florida's running game does not mean Bulls' quarterback Matt Grothe will be used any differently this year, Bulls Coach Jim Leavitt said here as his team got ready for its first fall practice session today.

Grothe, the Lake Gibson grad who sparked the Bulls' offense last year as a freshman, became the team's primary running threat as suspensions and injuries depleted the backfield. He gained 607 yards on 171 carries to lead the Bulls, but he took a beating along the way, suffering a foot injury in South Florida's sixth game against Connecticut, re-injuring it in the ninth game against Pitt, and then sustaining a hairline fracture of his lower right leg in the Bulls' bowl game against East Carolina.

Grothe is now fully recovered from his injuries, according to Leavitt. "He has no physical problems," the Bulls' coach commented. And Leavitt said just because South Florida appears to have much better backs behind him doesn't mean Grothe won't still be a major threat to run. "Not necessarily," Leavitt said. "It may change things a little bit, but that's what we do." Traditionally, the Bulls have favored option quartebacks, with Marquel Blackwell, the 10th leading rusher in school history, a primary example.

As practice begins, Lake Wales' Ben Williams, a gritty gamer, is the No. 1 running back. Williams played well at times last year and was the MVP in South Florida's bowl win, but he will have difficulty holding his job. Mike Ford, regarded as one of the nation's top prep backs in 2005, appears to have an edge among the top contenders which also includes Lakeland's Jamar Taylor, a late addition after being released from his scholarship by Alabama. Taylor completed the enrollment process at South Florida last week, and Leavitt said he will be thrown in the mix. Like Ford, he was regarded as one of the nation's top prep prospects last year.

"I think to be a strong team, you've got to be able to run the ball," Leavitt said. Although it is not expected to become an issue, there is a bit of uncertainty about Ford. He was arrested recently in Sarasota for failing to appear in court after being cited twice for driving without a license and once for driving with a suspended license.

"It's a serious matter, but I don't think he'll miss any games," Leavitt commented.

Other than that, two other virtual unknowns could become vital to the Bulls success. One is quarterback Grant Gregory and the other is linebacker Tyrone McKenzie.

While Grothe remains the heart and soul of the Bulls' offense, Leavitt is determined to have someone ready to step in and keep the ship on course in the event Grothe can't play, and that's Gregory. Gregory, a junior, transferred from Indiana and sat out in 2005. He appeared briefly in two games, McNeese State and UConn, last year but received a lot of work in the spring.

"I feel good about Grant Gregory," Leavitt said. "He moves the offense. He's capable of playing at a high level." While Gregory may not have Grothe's running ability or poise under pressure, Leavitt said both are interchangeable in the Bulls' offense. "They both can run and they both can throw," Leavitt said.

McKenzie, a transfer from Iowa State, could help revitalize a linebacker corps that lost two standouts from last year, Stephen Nickolas and Patrick St. Louis. At Iowa State, McKenzie was second-team all-Big 12 and had 129 tackles, eighth in the nation. "We will be counting on him a lot," Leavitt said. "He has great character and he wants to be good; that's the biggest thing."

Overall, South Florida has an experienced team that could contend for the Big East championship if it stays healthy, a problem for the Bulls last year. In particular, Grothe must avoid injury.

Patrick Zier is a sports correspondent for The Ledger. He can be reached at sports@theledger.com.

[E.T.]

The Ledger has been giving Polk BULLS lots of ink.

Really hope Leavitt let's Gregory throw ... assuming we have that big lead.

Go BULLS !!!

[Guest]

The Ledger has been giving Polk BULLS lots of ink.

Really hope Leavitt let's Gregory throw ... assuming we have that big lead.

Go BULLS !!!

If we're far enough ahead for Gregory to be in, he won't be throwing - except, maybe, on 3rd downs.

[smazza]

the second most important position on team is back up qb

he better be ready