Halftime. Miami 20, USF 0. The Louisville game did a lot for USF, but one thing it did that wasn't mentioned (or even noticed in, I'm sure) is obscure what is probably USF's weakest area: the quarterback position. Ever since Marquel Blackwell graduated, USF has had a very hard time finding someone to consistently lead the offense. The best plays I can remember from a USF QB in the last two years came from Brian Fisher, who was a wide receiver occasionally moonlighting as a passer. Even then, most of those good plays came with Fisher's feet. Yes, USF scored 45 last week. But Pat Julmiste's claim on that victory? 4/9, 95 yards, no touchdowns (WR Amarri Jackson had the lone pass TD), 1 interception.
Sure, the wide receivers have again shown their propensity to drop the ball, but Julmiste's passes haven't exactly been dead on many times today. Those interceptions did not have much to do with great plays by Miami. While Courtney Denson did provide some much-needed scrambling ability, he looked much the same as Julmiste when he threw the ball. Yes, you can certainly chalk up some of that poor QB play to the fierce Miami pass rush, but you can turn that right back around and chalk up the pass rush to the big hole USF dug for itself with the turnovers.
The bright side (hard to find at 20-0): the defense. There is no way you can fault the defense for allowing 20 to Miami when the Canes' average starting position has been well into USF territory. You cannot be too upset with 183 total yards against the #9 team in the nation; especially consider that 58 of those yards came on the Greg Olsen pass play that went from touchdown to Bulls touchback thanks to Mike Jenkins' fantastic hustle play. And that's the most frustrating part of this game: Miami is not playing all that well. But USF's turnovers have been in much worse field position, and Miami's turnovers have not been converted into much of anything.
The other thing I've enjoyed: finally realizing why I recognized the voice of the ESPNU announcer. Mike Adamle used to do the commentary on American Gladiators! Too bad Adamle and Charles Arbuckle are pretty lousy. It's as if their view of the game is coming from a television with poor reception.
Finally, a Miami turnover in their own territory. And the most the Bulls can get out of it is a missed 47-yard field goal. Four takeaways, no points. Where's Amarri Jackson? Where's the creative play-calling? Is American Gladiators on?
Posted by Joel at 10/01/2005 09:32:00 PM
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