No. 21 USF may catch a break
Injury could keep Houston star DT Oliver out of game
TAMPA — For those who scoff at any team-ofdestiny talk surrounding the No. 21 Bulls, USF might catch Houston this weekend without its top defensive player.
The Houston Chronicle reported Monday that AllAmerican defensive tackle Ed Oliver is questionable for Saturday’s game with a right knee bruise. Oliver, who had seven tackles, a sack and pass breakup in his team’s 28-24 win against USF last season, will continue to be monitored all week.
The injury occurred on a controversial chop block late in the Cougars’ 49-36 win Saturday at Navy. The reigning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Oliver sprained his left MCL against Temple last year and was limited the ensuing four games. This injury doesn’t appear to be as serious.
Still, even an Oliver limitation would represent a huge break for USF, which is starting three freshman offensive linemen including center Brad Cecil.
“I don’t know if you can neutralize [Oliver] ’cause he’s such a good football player,” Bulls coach Charlie Strong said Monday. “You just have to know where he’s aligned at all the time.”
Preaching perspective
Though he’s not terribly active on social media, Strong likely has caught wind of the sky-is-falling sentiment among his fan base following consecutive onepossession victories against onewin teams.
Which is perhaps why he went heavy with a perspective theme at his weekly press conference Monday, two days after the Bulls’ lackluster 38-30 win against UConn.
“It’s not that we’re looking for excuses because we have some good talent,” said Strong, whose 21st-ranked team (7-0) managed seven first-half points against a UConn defense that came in allowing 53.7 points a game. “But it’s not like we’re walking out there with a seasoned team.”
Without prompting, Strong essentially went through each offensive and defensive position, noting the Bulls have transfers starting at quarterback (Blake Barnett) and tailback (Jordan Cronkrite), a freshman backup tailback (Johnny Ford) and three freshmen — including two true freshmen — starting on the offensive line.
Defensively, two redshirt freshmen (Nick Roberts, Mekhi LaPointe) started Saturday, and DE Greg Reaves played out of position (at middle linebacker) due to injury. What went unmentioned is the fact USF also has a new punter, kicker, holder and long snapper this season.
“It’s a different dynamic from the team a year ago because the team a year ago was already built,” Strong said.
“You take Auggie [Sanchez], you take Quinton [Flowers], those guys were three- and four-year starters. So this group this season, they’ve just never gotten a chance to play, and they for sure didn’t get a chance to talk. So now you’re trying to get those guys to become your leaders when they’ve never said anything.”
Still, Strong indicated the Bulls have more than enough weapons to perform better than it did Saturday, when three of their first five offensive possessions were thwarted by interceptions or penalties.
“You’d like to get started fast, you’d like a sense of urgency, but also…you’ve got to be consistent, and that’s what we haven’t been,” Strong said. “The consistency is what we’ve got to get. We’ve got to put it all together.”
A Quinton clone?
Strong had high praise — arguably the highest praise conceivable from a USF coach — when discussing Houston quarterback D’Eriq King, whom the Bulls face Saturday at TDECU Stadium. King ranks second in the American Athletic Conference in total offense (323.4 ypg) behind UCF’s McKenzie Milton (333.5).
“It’s almost playing against Quinton [Flowers],” Strong said.
“He’s good enough where he can outrun you, and he’s quick enough to get out of the pocket. And then if you turn loose a receiver, he’s gonna be able to find him. He’s made some very impressive throws, and they’ve been deep balls, so it’s gonna be tough. We’re gonna have to contain him.”
Odds and ends
USF’s Nov. 3 home game against Tulane will kick off at 3:30 p.m., the AAC announced Monday. It will be broadcast live on the CBS Sports Network. … Ford (seven carries, 164 yards, three TDs vs. UConn) and Roberts (10 tackles, 61-yard INT return) made the AAC’s weekly honor roll Monday. So did UConn QB David Pindell, who ran for 197 yards against the Bulls.