By USF vs. Temple: Five Things the Bulls Must Do to Stay Unbeaten
By Ken Filler | Tampa Bay Sports Journal
TAMPA — Being 4–0 feels good. Watching USF work to stay there has been a little harder on the nerves.
The Bulls have found ways to win. Their defense has answered the call, and D.J. Crowther has given the offense a running back it can trust when the game gets tight.
USF gets back into conference play when they host Temple on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium. ESPNU will carry the game.
The Bulls enter 4–0 overall and 1–0 in the American Conference. Temple is 1–3 and 0–1 in league play.
Despite the record, Brian Hartline is not overlooking this one-win Temple team.
Good. Because the Owls can run the football, and USF has some work to do on offense.
Here are five things the Bulls must do to earn their fifth victory.
1. Give the offense an earlier wake-up call
USF went three quarters without scoring at Bowling Green before pulling out a 14–6 win, finishing with just 214 total yards.
Despite the offense’s lethargic performance, the victory still counts. However, the slow start should still bother some folks.
An offense cannot spend most of the night waiting for the defense to save it. Sooner or later, that leaves too little room for a bad bounce, a missed tackle, or one costly penalty.
Against Temple, I want to see USF move the ball early.
That does not mean forcing a deep throw on the first possession. It means gaining yards on first down, completing the easy passes and giving a drive a chance to grow.
A first-quarter touchdown would be welcome. So would an opening series that shows some rhythm.
The first few possessions should tell us plenty. Are the Bulls moving forward? Are receivers catching the ball? Does the quarterback have time?
2. Keep D.J. Crowther at the center of the plan
Crowther rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown at Bowling Green. It was his second straight game with more than 100 rushing yards.
When the Bulls needed someone to carry the offense, he delivered.
That should earn him more than a few early touches Saturday.
USF should give Crowther a chance to settle into the game. Let the offensive line establish itself. Make Temple prove it can stop the run before asking the passing game to carry the night.
There is a difference, though, between trusting a running back and becoming easy to predict.
If Temple crowds the line to stop Crowther, USF should take advantage of the space that opens for its receivers. A steady run game should help create easier throws.
And the blocking has to hold up. Crowther should not have to dodge a defender before he reaches the line.
What to watch: Can USF gain four or five yards often enough to avoid needing a big play on every drive?
That would make life easier for everyone.
3. Make Temple earn its rushing yards
The Owls average 220.3 rushing yards per game. They have gained at least 176 yards on the ground in each of their first four games, including 217 against Army.
USF needs to take this Temple rushing attack seriously.
Temple’s record does not make its running game harmless. If the Owls keep gaining yards, they can hold the ball, shorten the game, and keep USF’s offense on the sideline.
The Bulls need to tackle well from the start. Get to the runner, wrap up and bring help.
The Bulls cannot allow a short gain to turn into a first down because the first defender misses.
USF’s defense enters allowing 14 points per game and has gone six straight quarters without giving up a touchdown.
It has earned our trust. Saturday is another chance to show why.
What to watch: Are Temple’s runners getting stopped near the line, or are they reaching the linebackers with room to run?
That difference could tell the story of the entire night.
4. Stop the plays that change a game in seconds
Temple showed against Army how quickly it can score. Sam Brown turned a reception into a 78-yard touchdown. Colin Chase added a 67-yard touchdown catch.
The Bulls cannot spend a possession making good stops and then give everything back on one play.
That starts with keeping receivers covered. It also means tackling after the catch and staying alert when a running back slips out for a pass.
Temple quarterback Ajani Sheppard’s mobility adds another concern. He rushed for 48 yards against Army.
USF needs to pressure him without giving him an easy path to run.
A defender racing past the quarterback does little good if the quarterback escapes for a first down.
USF needs patience along with pressure.
What to watch: When a play breaks down, do the Bulls stay with their assignments?
That is often when a defense gives up its most costly yards.
5. Finish drives and keep the pressure on
USF needs touchdowns when it gets close to the goal line. A sack, penalty, or dropped pass can turn a promising drive into a missed chance.
The Bulls also need to protect the football. Giving Temple a short field would make the Owls’ job much easier.
“The standard has to increase,” receiver Mudia Reuben said this week.
That should be the message Saturday.
Bulls fans have plenty of reasons to enjoy this start.
An unbeaten team gives us something to cheer for and something to build around.
I want to see Complimentary football. I want to see the offense help the defense. I want to see Crowther running with room. I want to see Temple forced to work for every point.
The Bulls have shown they can win a tight game.
Now they need to show they can take control of one.
