Focused Bulls Following Strong's Lead
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, SEPT. 26, 2017 – Four games into the highly anticipated 2017 season, Bulls fans are watching a talented football team that is focused on all the right things.
USF (4-0, 1-0 The American) is producing big plays in all three phases of the game under the veteran leadership of head coach
Charlie Strong heading into Saturday's conference battle at East Carolina (1-3, 1-0).
"It's going to be a steady improvement from each game and that's what you want to see," said Strong at Tuesday's weekly press conference.
It all starts on the line of scrimmage, where the Bulls are pushing around opponents at an elite level. Aside from Alabama, USF is the only other team in the nation to rank in the top 10 in rushing yards (9
th, 289 yards per game) and rushing defense (3
rd, 66 yards allowed per game).
"You have to play with a chip on your shoulder," Strong said. "Especially on defense, you have to have an edge to you and we have that edge."
That swagger and constant pressure up front has allowed the USF defense to seize the national lead with 12 interceptions and 14 total takeaways. Combine that with an offense that's averaging 40.8 points and you have a USF squad that's one of only two teams in the nation ranking in the top 25 of six key NCAA stat categories.
"It's special and it's a good time to be out there playing with your brothers and doing what you like to do," said senior linebacker
Auggie Sanchez (St. Petersburg).
Success across the board has also helped USF in the area Bulls fans are paying the most attention to – national polls. Following the 43-7 rout of Temple, USF stayed at No. 17 in the Amway Coaches Poll and jumped up three spots to No. 18 in the AP Top 25 Poll.
Strong said Tuesday he never talks to the team about the polls. Since the season started, the Bulls have done a solid job listening to everything their head coach does have to say and for good reasons. Strong won two national titles as a defensive coordinator at Florida before leading Louisville to consecutive conference championships as a head coach.
"The only thing I talk to them about, I say, 'Hey, guys, it's really hard to get to the top, but it's very easy to fall. It's really hard to get there. You've got to work and it's about your focus and preparation,'" Strong said. "We don't talk about the polls, or where we are. It's East Carolina this week. Let's go play a good football game and let's make sure in each phase we get better."
Tice and Johnson Have a Good Thing Going
Heading into Saturday, seniors
Darius Tice and
D'Ernest Johnson both rank in the top 55 among the nation's top 200 rushers.
Tice (Miami) leads all USF rushers with 373 yards (23
rd nationally) while Johnson (Immokalee, Fla.) is close behind with 321 yards. Both players have combined for eight of USF's 12 rushing touchdowns this season with a team-first approach in mind.
"The thing about those two guys, they have such a great relationship with one another," Strong said. "It's not like when one guy comes in, it's one of those, 'Stay out.' We try to rotate them by series."
Supporting each other also brings out a friendly competition between Tice and Johnson. Instead of bragging about yards, the backs let their play do the talking and everyone ends up winning.
"If you watch one get a big run, it's like the next time the next guy comes in, he wants to get a big run," Strong said. "They're running through defenders, they're punishing defenders, which is what you want to see from the running back."
Powering past opponents has allowed both backs to reach a new milestone in the process. Tice and Johnson are both coming off consecutive 100-yard rushing performances, a career first for each player.
Sands Making Waves on Special Teams
Charlie Strong makes no bones about what it takes to earn playing time if you're an up-and-coming Bull.
"I talk to them all the time. I'm like, 'Look, guys, you won't play on offense or defense until you become a good special teams player," Strong said.
Many Bulls have bought into the approach, especially sophomore running back
Trevon Sands. The Miami native earned his coach's praise by making three huge tackles on special teams against Temple and pinning the Owls at their own 4-yard line while diving for a punt.
"I just take pride in everything I do," he said. "I feel like being on the field, period, is a big opportunity for me."
Shining on special teams opened the door for Sands to rush six times for 32 yards against the Owls. Patiently waiting for his chance as a featured back, Sands said he wants to be just like go-to guy
D'Ernest Johnson.
"D'Ernest is a great special teams player and I've learned a lot watching him," Sands said. "He earned his opportunity at running back. I'm waiting on my time and my opportunity."
Wearing No. 28, Sands also is modeling his game after a great NFL back. Sands has followed
Adrian Peterson from his Oklahoma days to rushing for nearly 12,000 yards as a pro.
"That's who I try to run like and that's who I compare myself to," Sands said. "I'm not as big as him, but I feel like I run the ball pretty hard."
Despite not being as tall as 6-feet-2 Peterson, Sands (5-11) is transforming himself into a bruising back like AP. After suiting up at around 180 last season, Sands is carrying himself well at 205.
Bulls Bits
- INJURY UPDATE: Receivers Deangelo Antoine (Orlando), Tyre McCants (Niceville, Fla.) and kicker Emilio Nadelman (Miami) all practiced Tuesday and Strong expects them to be "fine" for Saturday. "D-Lo ran around a little. He was able to do some things. We've just got to make sure he can put his foot in the ground and plant, where he can change direction. That's his biggest thing right now," said Strong on Antoine, who missed the Temple game with an injury.
- YOUNG BULLS SEEING ACTION: A total of 13 freshmen (six true, seven redshirt) have seen action this season, including defensive linemen Kevin Kegler (Madison, Fla.) and Kelvin Pinkney (Sarasota). "If you can get the rotation that you need up front and you keep those guys fresh, then you have a chance to apply the pressure," Strong said.
- TICKET DEAL FOR ALUMNI: USF graduates are able to purchase discounted tickets for the Bulls' homecoming game against Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 14. To get the $15 deal, call 1-800-Go-Bulls or follow the link HERE.
About USF Football
USF 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). Junior quarterback Quinton Flowers was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and led a school-record 10 players named to the all-conference team, six of which, including Flowers, returned in 2017.
Purchase tickets for the upcoming season by following the USFBullsTix.com link HERE.
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