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07 September 2010
Ever since I became a Bull I have dreamt of a showdown with the Gators. The Gators have proven to be the top program in Florida over the last few years and they are not afraid to let you know. When I saw that USF was playing in the swamp this year I nearly had a heart attack from the excitement.
And then reality hit: is it even possible for USF to win? Could they play with a program that has been so dominant?
Before the season started I sure didn't think so. Even with the savior gone and almost a whole new team they still have Mr. Meyer on the sideline and a top recruiting class. The Bulls surely didn't have a chance.
Then the first weekend happened. The Gators barely churned out a hundred yards of offense against Miami. of OHIO. The Bull's looked sharp against a FCS opponent, one they should have blown out. The Bull's did what they had to, whereas Florida looked like the lights were a bit to bright with the little '4' next to their name. Hope is now building that it is very, very possible the Bulls can pull it off. Here are three points that I think will be the keys to a Bulls victory on Saturday:
1. BJ Daniels must run for 75+ yards and have no turnovers.
The Gators, as usual, have one of the best secondaries in the country. BJ will not be able to throw the ball all that effectively against it. The only chance of him getting in some kind of a rythym is if he is able to scramble effectively and use his speed to bring in the defense. Skip has said he doesn't want to run BJ that much this year because he can't afford to lose him, but there is no way BJ is going to pick apart this defense. He is not a pure passer to begin with and the DB's on UF's squad are just way to fast. He has got to run to show that he is a threat on the ground. Of course, he cannot turnover the football. In an environment like the swamp every possession is crucial.
2. The Bulls defense has to get into Brantley's head.
After such a brutal showing last week against a seemingly inferior opponent, Brantley is surely going to want to redeem himself against the Bulls. Unlike BJ, Brantley is a pure passer and loves to sit in the pocket and try to pick apart defenses. If Giddins and the rest of the Bull's defensive line can get to Brantley and put a few hard hits on him, it will go a long way for the Bulls. The best thing you can do to a QB who is struggling with confidence is to put pressure on him. If he starts to get into a rythym, USF is toast.
3. The Bulls need to win the special teams battle.
One area USF struggled with in the first game was special teams. They muffed punts, missed a makeable field goal, and looked sloppy. There is no way the Bull's are going to score every time they go into the red zone, so fields goals are going to play a big part in the game. Eric Schwartz needs to have the game of his life and hit all field goals within 40 yards. Punts need to be fielded cleanly and returned for positive yards. Kickoff coverage needs to be tight. If the Bull's start playing sloppy in this phase of the game, it can leak over into the other phases and lead to their demise.
All this being said, USF is still a major underdog. UF has earned the right to be called top dog in the state of Florida. But the Gators better recognize that the Bull's are not all that far away, and far greater upsets have happened. After the first week I am feeling much better about USF's chances. Can't wait for Saturday!
GO BULLS!
Comments (5)
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"No USF turnovers" is asking too much, I believe you just need to be +2 in this category.
Number 2 is right on the money. USF needs to get in Brantley's head and in it fast! The Gator's offensive line (despite Pouncy) looked suspect and the Bulls will need to bring the heat early. As a coach, I would take the gamble in the first 1-2 possessions with heavy blitz in man-to-man coverage. They either bust it and go 80 yards for a TD or get stuffed and scare Brantley into constantly being on his toes.
As to the Special Teams battle, if you're talking about no blunders, that's a given in any game under any circumstance. If you're talking about field position, I don't you could be more wrong. This game will be all about big plays on both sides of the ball (3-and-outs, or 4 play 80 yard drives).
But either way, Go BULLS!
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