Tampa, FL – The excitement surrounding the USF football program for the 2017 season is so thick you can cut it with a knife. So many Bulls fans are interested in how the Bulls will respond to their 2016 11-2 record setting season. Bulls finished the 2016 season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press poll with a school-record 11 wins following the program’s fifth-ever bowl victory in the Birmingham Bowl. The Bulls’ 11-2 record marked the fifth-best winning percentage in FBS football in 2016 and one of just 11 teams to reach 11 wins. USF set nearly 40 team and individual records in 2016, including team records for total yards (6,650), rushing yards (3,714), touchdowns (77) and scoring (569).
The USF Bulls have been selected as the favorite to win the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship and were the unanimous choice to win The American’s East Division title in the conference’s preseason media poll. The Bulls received 26 of a possible 30 votes to win the league title, while the Bulls were listed first on all 30 ballots in the East Division.
But could they stumble? We take a look at IFFFFF the Bulls don’t win every game on the their 2017 regular season schedule, this is how…
Charlie Strong brings his experience and style to Tampa with a new staff on both sides of the ball. The new offense is built on big play ability. An offense a pure passing quarterback would thrive in, The perfect system for a pocket passing signal caller. One problem, record setting USF QB is not your standard pure pocket passer. What makes him so dangerous is his ability to improvise and create with his legs.
Last season former Bulls head coach Willie Taggart took a step back and tailored his offense to fit his quarterback creating several quick read plays, making Flowers a running threat and building in plenty of screens to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands as fast as possible.
FAR FETCHED but this is what we are afraid of: What if Flowers doesn’t take to the new offense? Or what if the offensive staff attempts to make Flowers into Tom Brady instead of Cam Newton? Lacking rhythm in play calling and positioning the record seating QB into sitting in the pocket and pinpointing passing to his talented receivers. Point is, if Flowers ability as a runner is suppressed and is asked to become a pocket passer his 2016 success might not be replicated. Now, does the following happen?
Back up quarterback Brett Kean and Chris Oladokun are waiting in the wings and both fit the offense Sterlin Gilbert (Offensive Coordinator – Quarterbacks) is implementing. If Flowers struggles, either Kean or Oladokun are in and Q moves position to either receiver or running back. Providing the Bulls with even more play making ability on the perimeter. Not having Flowers at QB, without the experience and leadership might see the bulls dropping a handful of conference games.
Let us wake up, pinch ourselves and STOP TRIPPIN’. Senior quarterback Quinton Flowers (Miami) has added a fifth national award watch list to his growing resume as he has been named to the Manning Award Watch List. Remember Flowers is the first Bull ever named to five preseason national award watch lists, having also been named to watch lists for the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien, and Johnny Unitas awards. So, we are just tripping. Don’t really see how the Bulls could trip up this season.