Deficiencies Highlighted In USF Loss

[Jim Johnson]

From the Tampa Tribune:

Deficiencies Highlighted In USF Loss

By BRETT McMURPHY bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

Published: Sep 20, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. - As South Florida's players trudged off the field after Saturday's 34-3 loss at South Carolina, nearly each one said they didn't know what had happened.

This much the Bulls do know - they must improve their offense, shore up their defense and special teams or they could be in for a long season.

``We went up against a good football team and we didn't play particularly well and they did,'' USF coach Jim Leavitt said Sunday. ``That was the bottom line.''

After two games, the Bulls (1-1) remain unsettled at quarterback. Sophomore Pat Julmiste and senior Ronnie Banks have each started a game, but neither has clearly asserted himself.

``Our quarterbacks weren't very good at all [saturday],'' quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said. ``We're not playing smart and we're not accurate.''

Against Carolina, USF managed only 191 yards - or 19 fewer than Troy Williamson had receiving for the Gamecocks. Even Vanderbilt gained 306 yards against Carolina two weeks ago.

The[ b]Bulls' defense allowed South Carolina 530 yards, the third-most ever by USF, and the Bulls' offense had only eight first downs, the second- fewest in school history.

USF has the nation's third- worst offense and fourth-worst passing offense. Among Conference USA clubs, USF ranks last in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense and second-to-last in rushing offense.

The decision on who starts Saturday at TCU likely won't be made until later in the week, but Banks (21 of 39, two interceptions, 174 yards) and Julmiste (six of 16, 30 yards) should both see action.

``We also got beat pretty good by Arkansas [42-3 in 2002 and finished 9-2],'' Leavitt said. ``We had a rough game. We've got to move on.''

ODDS AND ENDS: USF has been outgained in seven of its last 10 games against Division I-A clubs. ... After three fumbles in the first two games, Bruce Gipson will be replaced as the kickoff and punt returner. Andre Hall likely will take over kickoff return duties with Travis Lipp returning punts. ... USF allowed South Carolina a school-record worst 22.3 yards per completion.

[ETKbull]

There's nothing like a little salt for the wound.

[The_Reaper]

Yeah, but we had MB at QB that season coach! Tired of the old rhetoric. Time to see something new!

And Duh C.S. They looked like crap! Seems to me somone better start working their asses off in practice. This was not a players loss this was a TEAM LOSS!!! Coaches, fess it up and get it right... NOW!!!

[bulldad]

This should be tacked up on every players locker!