SPT: USF facing powerful passing duo

[Brad]

USF facing powerful passing duo

"I think we're (No.) 1 in the nation. Nobody's doing what we're doing," WR Roddy White said of he and UAB quarterback Darrell Hackney.

By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer

Published November 3, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - One of the few things South Florida's injury-riddled defense has done with consistency this season is allow opposing players to enjoy career nights.

First, it was South Carolina receiver Troy Williamson, who beat the Bulls for three long touchdown receptions and finished with 210 yards. When USF beat Texas Christian in double overtime, the win came despite a season-high four touchdowns from the Frogs' Lonta Hobbs. Army's Carlton Jones rushed for 225 yards and five scores, and Louisville's Stefan LeFors completed 13 consecutive passes to open the Cardinals' win against the Bulls.

Tonight, if the Bulls want to avoid their first four-game losing streak, their defense will have to find a way to keep Alabama-Birmingham receiver Roddy White from taking the spotlight in a game televised on ESPN2.

"He's a tremendous talent, great speed, good skills. He's the real deal," coach Jim Leavitt said. "I don't think anybody's ever going to stop Roddy White. He's too good. We're certainly aware of his abilities."

White, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, comes into tonight's game as college football's leading receiver at 126.6 yards per game. The Bulls knew about White before this season. He caught a 56-yard touchdown in UAB's 22-19 win in Tampa last year. When the Bulls rallied for two late touchdowns to erase a 16-point, fourth-quarter deficit, it was White who caught passes of 26 and 13 yards to set up the winning field goal for UAB with nine seconds left.

"We couldn't cover (White) worth a lick," Leavitt said after that game. "He owned us."

The same could be said for Tulane last week, which beat the Blazers 59-55 despite White catching 10 passes for 253 yards, the second-highest total in college football this season. He has been a major part of why UAB is 5-2 and likely headed for the first bowl in the program's 14-year history.

"There's really nothing Roddy can't do," Blazers coach Watson Brown said this week. "He's gotten better every year he's been here. He can catch the quick passes, can be a good possession receiver, and you certainly can go deep to him."

Memphis coach Tommy West saw White catch three touchdown passes in UAB's 35-28 win against the Tigers in their Conference USA opener. West compared White to Redskins receiver Rod Gardner, who played for him at Clemson.

"He looks like Rod, but he's faster," West said. "He's an outstanding player. He caught us pretty good, but he's caught about everybody this season."

So how do the Bulls (2-4, 1-3 in C-USA) contain White, who has scored touchdowns in five straight games? Teams have put two defensive back on him. But the Blazers' next three receivers have combined for seven touchdowns.

"Roddy White isn't the only receiver they've got," Leavitt said. "They've got a lot of weapons. They went over 700 yards on Tulane."

For what it's worth, UAB (5-2, 4-1) had just 649 yards against Tulane, but Leavitt has portrayed his defense as an underdog. Blazers quarterback Darrell Hackney, the fifth-most efficient passer in Division I, has 18 touchdowns with four interceptions this season. He'll go against a Bulls unit that needs to be aggressive and opportunistic.

USF has intercepted one pass in six games and none in the last five, and the Bulls' eight sacks rank 10th out of 12 C-USA teams. The Bulls, who have rotated as many as nine defensive backs, are turning to youth on defense and could have as many as five freshmen in the starting lineup, including two in the defensive secondary.

Stopping the passing game is crucial, but hardly the only priority for the Bulls.

"It's one of many areas," Leavitt said. "Army ran the ball on us, so what do you do? Louisville did both. They threw the deep ball and they ran the ball. We've got to shore up our defense, that's for sure. If we don't play real good defense, we'll never have it."

The Bulls can find inspiration in last year's game, where USF's J.R. Reed intercepted a pass intended for White in the final two minutes. Or in the fact that Tulane, the only school below USF in the conference standings, scored 59 points in beating the UAB 11 days ago.

Either way, without a stronger defensive showing, the Bulls could have a fourth loss in a row and another step back in the program's history.

"Most people had us picked as underdogs in most all these games, except for Army," Leavitt said. "We knew we were fairly young, but our young guys have got to get older. . . . I always know there's a promised land, but I know there's a minefield. We always worry about stepping on those mines while we get there. We hadn't stepped on many, but we are a little bit right now. But we'll get there."

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[The_Reaper]

Best solution to this so called duo...KNOCK HIM ON HIS ASS A COUPLE OF TIMES AND ROCK HIS CAGE A LITTLE. THAT STOPS A POTENT PASSING ATTACK. JUST ASK BRET FAVRE!!!

[Markeymark]

USF needs an "enforcer" like they have in hockey.  

[Ricky the Bull]

Where are the Hanson Brothers when you need them?

[TripleB]

Where are the Hanson Brothers when you need them?

They're busy ................