Julmiste Finally Fitting The Bill

[Guest HowieP1]

Julmiste Finally Fitting The Bill

By GREGG BECNEL Tribune correspondent

Published: Nov 14, 2004

TAMPA - When quarterback Marquel Blackwell graduated as the best player in South Florida history, the Bulls realized it would be difficult to replace him. They just didn't think it would take almost two seasons to do it.

But in USF's 41-17 win over East Carolina, sophomore Pat Julmiste, who has battled inconsistencies, stepped up and became a steady force for USF.

Julmiste finished 12 of 16 for 233 yards and had 12 carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns. More important, however, was what wasn't on Julmiste's stat sheet - turnovers.

It was the type of performance quarterbacks coach Rod Smith envisioned when Julmiste was named the starter in preseason.

``He's getting better,'' Smith said. ``He's made progress each week, and that's what we want to see. He's a lot more consistent and had no turnovers for the second week in a row. We have to keep it like that.''

Julmiste made several big plays to keep alive USF scoring drives.

In the first quarter, facing a third-and-9 from the Bulls' 42, Julmiste hit tight end Mike Ruegger with a 15-yard pass. Seven plays later, Julmiste went in from the 1 for the game's first score.

On the Bulls' second scoring drive, capped by a Santiago Gramatica field goal, Julmiste scrambled for 7 yards on a third-and-7 from the East Carolina 48.

During the Bulls' first possession of the second half, Julmiste again hit Ruegger to convert a fourth down. Andre Hall scored on an 18-yard run on the next snap.

Julmiste gave the Bulls a 31-10 lead early in the fourth quarter when he scored from 8 yards on a quarterback draw.

Julmiste, whose 302 total yards was a career high, says the win is more important than his performance.

``I'd say I was average,'' he said. ``I made a couple of mistakes; missed a couple of reads. But overall, I think I did good because we got a win.

``It was a big win for us. We had the momentum our way so we had to come out, play sound football and get a win. Now we have to focus on Cincinnati.''

Julmiste, who went into Saturday's game completing 43.7 percent of his passes, completed 75 percent against the Pirates.

``I feel I'm coming into my own,'' he said.

Although Julmiste hasn't made anyone forget Blackwell, his recent performances make the future a little brighter.

``He's got so much in front of him,'' USF coach Jim Leavitt said.

http://bulls.tbo.com/bulls/MGBMAE0QI1E.html

[USFMikeB]

He's obviously stepped up in the past 2 games.  However, I seem to recall that both UAB and ECU were recently listed in the bottom 10 pass defenses in I-A.

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just pointing out that he's playing well against weaker defenses.

[USFPDiddy]

To brighten up that comment, i'd like to point out that he's been under center and working off PA and expected runs and that has given him an advantage too.  His success may well continue.

[GarySJ]

Julmiste is playing a lot better, because the offense is now suited around his skills and not Marquel Blackwell's.

Also, we seem to be "designing" pass plays more rather than relying on the QB to freelance or make multiple reads. Marquel was great at that, but Julmiste seems to do better when the plays are designed to set up the throw. They had him doing nice basic throws off play-action, a few quick routes, and some called QB runs. He even looked good on the deep balls he threw. Take the decisions out of the QB's hands, and let him play pitch and catch.

It's amazing how good someone can look when you simply give them the tools they need to do their job.

[smazza]

no mistakes

if a team doesn't turnover the ball they will win more than not

[E.T.]

PJ has looked good and hopefully it will continue ... I see good things the rest of the season ... the offense and Hall's success also has a lot to do with it.

A very balanced offense.

Go BULLS !!!

[Guest wildrover]

the fact the receivers are starting to catch the ball doesn't hurt either.  I'm still not on the PJ bandwagon but I do have to be fair.  A lot of the dropped balls come from balls placed right on the numbers or in the hands of the receivers.  If they can keep catching the ones that are right to them and Hall keep playing like he is, then it forcers the D to spread out, exposing holes in their defense, that bodes well for an offense like ours.  We need to stay two or three dimensional on O, if Hall is our only weapon than that will get figured out.

[GarySJ]

We're multi-dimensional enough. ECU's defense did a good job of containing Hall in the second half, but because they had to focus on him, that set up the play-action and deep balls PJ got most of his passing yardage on.

[Jake_Ryan]

Julmiste is playing a lot better, because the offense is now suited around his skills and not Marquel Blackwell's.

Also, we seem to be "designing" pass plays more rather than relying on the QB to freelance or make multiple reads. Marquel was great at that, but Julmiste seems to do better when the plays are designed to set up the throw. They had him doing nice basic throws off play-action, a few quick routes, and some called QB runs. He even looked good on the deep balls he threw. Take the decisions out of the QB's hands, and let him play pitch and catch.

It's amazing how good someone can look when you simply give them the tools they need to do their job.

Amen, brother.

[Guest S.  Bien]

Julmiste is playing a lot better, because the offense is now suited around his skills and not Marquel Blackwell's.

Also, we seem to be "designing" pass plays more rather than relying on the QB to freelance or make multiple reads. Marquel was great at that, but Julmiste seems to do better when the plays are designed to set up the throw. They had him doing nice basic throws off play-action, a few quick routes, and some called QB runs. He even looked good on the deep balls he threw. Take the decisions out of the QB's hands, and let him play pitch and catch.

It's amazing how good someone can look when you simply give them the tools they need to do their job.

I don't think anyone has got it as right on until I read this post.  PJ's still not ready to be dropping into the shotgun and making multiple reads, and checking down for the right receiver.  Maybe in a year, maybe never, but the fact is we've seen the staff realize this and instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole we've slowly developed an entirely new offense around this thought process.  Work off play-action, go max protect to allow Hall to get his yards, once he gets his yards the defensive middle either softens (because teams must sellout to stop him) or it stiffens and thus opening up the outside and deep routes.  We've got tons of speed on the outside, and all of these recent deep touchdowns further amplify the problem for opposing coordinators.  They can't cheat safeties too far up because we're usually in max protect, therefore its tough to get to PJ, and if therefore cheating too far up makes an opponents susceptible to the big play deep throw with our speedy WR's.

For the first time since early in our 1-AA years teams are forced to play us straight up.  The best thing about this game was our ability to sneak the TE's out of max protect.  That's going to make it more difficult on teams because now their LB's are going to have to stay home and play honest.  Not cheat to the line to stop Hall.  This will help against a team like Memphis that has outstanding LB's like Carlton Baker who love to cheat the line.

Team's are starting to learn that Hall is a phenom, not just a good back.  But with PJ stepping up, the deep route, using TE's more liberally, and our misdirection play calling teams can't just put 9 in the box and hope to contain.

I really believe we match up well against Cinci.  If we can sustain a pass rush, their rushing game hasn't been that great where we need to excessively cheat to stop it.  Our DB's must play spot on against Hannibal Thomas, their big play WR, but we should be able to slow it down.  They use a lot of RB's, no one is particularly effective.  Basically Cinci is a team that's a lot like UAB- big play WR, solid backs but nothing frightening, a very good QB that goes hot and cold.  UAB beat them earlier in the year.   The only fear I have is playing on the road with them having two weeks to prepare.

Memphis is a much tougher opponent because they've got a big play RB like Hall that can burn you big on one miscue.  They've got an enormous WR'ing crew with 4 WR's that play a ton who measure 6-3 or taller- Avery, White, Giddeon, and Pratcher.  They can score in bunches, however the ace in the hole is Danny Wimperine is still susceptible to making mistakes- he's throw 16 TD's and 13 INT's.  Their defense is also susceptible to giving up big plays, and outside of Carlton Baker they aren't particularly gifted at any one defensive position.  

Remember this UAB beat both of these teams- Cinci, and Memphis.  Last night UAB soundly beat Houston to the tune of 8 sacks.  Houston's nothing special but one thing they can do with Kolb, and that inventive coaching staff, is pass.  UAB shut down their passing game.  Houston was on a mini-run and UAB closed the book on their season.  Beating UAB was no small task, they're tied for second in C-USA right now.  If they beat Army, and USM they could be looking at a respectible 9-3 season!  Also, Only UL, and USM was able to hold ECU's offense to under 250 yards, and 10pts all season.  ECU's defense has been porous but their offense has been able to rack up yards and points.   We're also one of only three teams to score more than 34pts on them- USM, and UL the others.

Consider those stats when I hear people say- yeah but it was against UAB, and ECU.  They were not world beaters, but still formidable teams.   The best part is like Gary stated, we did it using a new offensive formula.  We didn't come out trying to spread the field and got lucky on a few big pass play connections by PJ like we did against TCU.  That says this new offensive scheme has some substance, it has the ability to guide us to some more wins by the end of the season.  Guys are starting to step up on defense as well.  We're still giving up some big runs here and there, but we're doing much better at containment, and at getting pressure- it's taken longer than expected but the defense is slowly starting to mature into a Leavitt/Kravitz/Burnham defense.

The next three weeks will be interesting, but by no means are any of these opponents unbeatable for USF.   If UAB can beat Memphis, and Cinci well we should be capable of it as well.