Grothe the fuel that propels USF

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/other/sfl-flspbricker1007nboct07,0,5762916.story

FORT LAUDERDALE - At first blush it looks like the University of Florida offense with quarterback Matt Grothe of South Florida playing Tim Tebow, running directly, tucking the ball into the hands of an escort running back or flying upfield after a play-action fake.

It's not. Where Tebow is a power runner whose high pumping knees make a painful impression on linebackers, Grothe is a snake, and Saturday afternoon he slithered through the thinnest of cracks in the Florida Atlantic line and slipped by second waves of defenders for 121 rushing yards in a deceptively tight 35-23 victory that nevertheless will assure USF of another week in the top 10.

Running quarterbacks taking most of their snaps in the shotgun, is this where college football is headed?

South Florida offensive coordinator Greg Gregory made a small correction. It's already there, he said as he stood outside the spartan dressing room facilities at decaying Lockhart Stadium, a sharp comedown from the ambiance the Bulls enjoyed a week earlier after Grothe and his swift defense defeated West Virginia in front of 65,000 witnesses at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

If it was, statistically, a great day for Grothe, it was even better for Ben Williams, who ran for 189 yards and scored four touchdowns. But it's Grothe who stirs this NCAA surprise team of the year. It all starts in his hands.

He's not a great drop-back passer, which is why the majority of his snaps come from the shotgun. He doesn't have nearly the pace on his throws exhibited by his counterpart in this game, FAU's Rusty Smith.

But the difference is in his leadership and his running. It's simply astonishing to watch him handle the ball. His faking to Williams and other backs is pure salesmanship, and it's confounding to see the ease with which he runs by, not through, tacklers.

He isn't a stop-and-start, quick-twitch runner like Barry Sanders. He makes his cuts at full speed and with the anticipation of a running back who "feels" the flow of the defense.

Late in the third quarter, the game tied at 14, Grothe sprinted left, found his gap, veered past two linebackers and sped 32 yards to a touchdown.

Watching this run unfold, one had the expectation that any one of four or five defenders would pull him down. Yet I'm not sure he was touched until his teammates mugged him in the end zone.

Running plays out of the shotgun are slow developing. There is no back moving at top speed toward the line of scrimmage. The ball comes to Grothe and there is a hesitation as he places the ball into the hands of his runner or snatches it back and runs himself.

But that hesitation and the fact that Grothe is facing forward also allows him to watch the defense commit. This USF offense works not just because of Grothe's exceptional running ability but because of his vision, his instincts and the superior blocking of his line.

Gregory is not happy with everything Grothe did in this game. "He missed a TD early in the game and a crossing route that should have been a big play," said the USF coordinator.

With USF holding only a 28-23 lead and just under three minutes to play, Grothe wasn't using the full 25 seconds allotted to get the next play off, which drew criticism later from coach Jim Leavitt, who pointed out that, "We did a poor job of running the clock toward the end."

But, as Gregory pointed out, if he's not throwing brilliantly or weaning the clock, "He can still compete because he can run."

It's an offense that requires great patience. There are no quick hitters running out of the shotgun and it's not unusual for Grothe to stand a second or two with the ball in his hands as he watches the defense commit one way or another.

And then he's off.

Not with the power of Tim Tebow, but with the sort of finesse that leaves defenders with emotional, not physical pain.

Charles Bricker can be reached at cbricker@sun-sentinel.com

[DouBULL]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/other/sfl-flspbricker1007nboct07,0,5762916.story

FORT LAUDERDALE - At first blush it looks like the University of Florida offense with quarterback Matt Grothe of South Florida playing Tim Tebow, running directly, tucking the ball into the hands of an escort running back or flying upfield after a play-action fake.

It's not. Where Tebow is a power runner whose high pumping knees make a painful impression on linebackers, Grothe is a snake, and Saturday afternoon he slithered through the thinnest of cracks in the Florida Atlantic line and slipped by second waves of defenders for 121 rushing yards in a deceptively tight 35-23 victory that nevertheless will assure USF of another week in the top 10.

Two thought:  1)  Grothe can stay a lot healthier than Tebow since people don't hit him as often and 2) If we do lose him we are toast.  Who would come in if Grothe goes down?

Running quarterbacks taking most of their snaps in the shotgun, is this where college football is headed?

South Florida offensive coordinator Greg Gregory made a small correction. It's already there, he said as he stood outside the spartan dressing room facilities at decaying Lockhart Stadium, a sharp comedown from the ambiance the Bulls enjoyed a week earlier after Grothe and his swift defense defeated West Virginia in front of 65,000 witnesses at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

If it was, statistically, a great day for Grothe, it was even better for Ben Williams, who ran for 189 yards and scored four touchdowns. But it's Grothe who stirs this NCAA surprise team of the year. It all starts in his hands.

He's not a great drop-back passer, which is why the majority of his snaps come from the shotgun. He doesn't have nearly the pace on his throws exhibited by his counterpart in this game, FAU's Rusty Smith.

But the difference is in his leadership and his running. It's simply astonishing to watch him handle the ball. His faking to Williams and other backs is pure salesmanship, and it's confounding to see the ease with which he runs by, not through, tacklers.

He isn't a stop-and-start, quick-twitch runner like Barry Sanders. He makes his cuts at full speed and with the anticipation of a running back who "feels" the flow of the defense.

Late in the third quarter, the game tied at 14, Grothe sprinted left, found his gap, veered past two linebackers and sped 32 yards to a touchdown.

Watching this run unfold, one had the expectation that any one of four or five defenders would pull him down. Yet I'm not sure he was touched until his teammates mugged him in the end zone.

Running plays out of the shotgun are slow developing. There is no back moving at top speed toward the line of scrimmage. The ball comes to Grothe and there is a hesitation as he places the ball into the hands of his runner or snatches it back and runs himself.

But that hesitation and the fact that Grothe is facing forward also allows him to watch the defense commit. This USF offense works not just because of Grothe's exceptional running ability but because of his vision, his instincts and the superior blocking of his line.

Gregory is not happy with everything Grothe did in this game. "He missed a TD early in the game and a crossing route that should have been a big play," said the USF coordinator.

With USF holding only a 28-23 lead and just under three minutes to play, Grothe wasn't using the full 25 seconds allotted to get the next play off, which drew criticism later from coach Jim Leavitt, who pointed out that, "We did a poor job of running the clock toward the end."

But, as Gregory pointed out, if he's not throwing brilliantly or weaning the clock, "He can still compete because he can run."

It's an offense that requires great patience. There are no quick hitters running out of the shotgun and it's not unusual for Grothe to stand a second or two with the ball in his hands as he watches the defense commit one way or another.

And then he's off.

Not with the power of Tim Tebow, but with the sort of finesse that leaves defenders with emotional, not physical pain.

Charles Bricker can be reached at cbricker@sun-sentinel.com

[Orlando Bull]

I think execution has been a huge problem on our offense so far, and I think the comments about Matt are warranted (assuming they have watched film and the receivers are where they are supposed to be).

However, where is the line between coach and dad at the college level. Again Gregory's comments, no matter how warranted, are still coming from the back-up's dad.

It is probably a non-issue, but every decent parent want's to believe that their kid is the best at everything. It's natural. Will it come into play later in the season?

I do think it is warranted, and I am not saying that in this particular case the comments were based on that situation, but would he be making the same comments to the media if his son were the starter?

Just a thought. I think it is hard to have a parent for a coach at the college level.

[___ Eats It]

I've been at a few practices, and rest assured Grant Gregory get his ass chewed at least 50% worse by his dad than any other player on that offense does.

Greg Gregory plays no favorites, trust me on that.