The BULLS will actually be BETTER this year: an analysis

[windbane]

I agree that we could be a better team than last year.  It's just impossible to predict how good we will be, though.  We have so many unknowns at WR, RB, CB, and S. 

I don't agree with '84 that Bogan would have been our #4 WR, though.  I think his spring game performance showed he was the clear #2.  Remember, we had no injuries to WRs until the end of that game.  We did lose our #1 WR, but he was mainly a deep threat.  Love and Bogan had just as many TDs last year as Mitchell.  Also, I think Griffin will definitely be back for the Big East season and likely before, so we have our #2 and #3 or 4 WRs from last year.  They have another year of experience, too.  However, after that...complete unknowns.  Even Bowens, if he makes it in, is an unknown.  That is concerning, but we do only need a few guys to step up.  Lamar/Hornes/Hopkins for speed and making people miss and Bowens/Knowles/Landi/Marc/Love (if recovered) for a good possession WR.  We don't need a lot of those guys to step up, but it's impossible to say for sure that any of them will.

I would say the OL experience would help, except we lost our most experience guy, Hermann.  That could be our biggest loss this season after JPP.  There is reason to be optimistic that our OL will have better coaching this year, and we do return everyone else.  We'll see if they can improve from last year without Hermann.

We really don't know if any RB will be good, but like WR, there are several options that might emerge.  CB and S need to be better, which I think is possible with new coaches.

[BullMedic]

Holy Shizzle LOGIC WAS USED!

But in all seriousness, great posts in this thread so far.

[bulldozier1]

I think that Bogans is a more complete WR then Mitchell. He runs better routes and has better hands. Now our keys to the offense is BJ and the WR's. Because I feel that our run game will be successful. Key is when it works, stick with it. BJ will need to have confidents in when he drops back and plant that right foot down and deliever on those short routes. The offense could be good this year.

[ForestBull]

The only thing  I remember about Mitchell is that ball he dropped against Cincy....

[Grateful Dad]

The only thing  I remember about Mitchell is that ball he dropped against Cincy....

You forgot the smiley icon.  Please tell us that you forgot the smiley icon.

Even if you have to lie. 

[LunchTimeBully]

Good analysis... I like this thread. However, I think we may underestimate the loss of Carlton Mitchell (a true deep threat), JPP (first round talent), and Nate Allen (one of the smartest players to ever play for USF).  WR will  be our biggest question mark heading into this season.........

[cophbulls]

.....along with virgin who has been said to be very athletic and needs to be utilized..............

I love athletic virgins who need to be used.

[BDYZR]

Does the name Erict Rhett ring a bell? #4 RB for the Bucs? Acouple guys get hurt and he's running for 1200 yds? Sometimes great talent gets lost in the numbers.

[smazza]

we will be around .500

tough year

new system with wrong players