Bulls’ scheme starting to take shape

TAMPA — If we know nothing else about new coordinator Sterlin Gilbert’s USF offense, it’s this: It has been a blur.

In nine days, when the Bulls kick off their most anticipated season ever at San Jose State, Gilbert will finally show the full picture. At that point, all the elements — the pace, the power, the pass trajectory — will be revealed.

Until then, we can only draw conclusions based on Gilbert’s history and what little we’ve seen to this point in practice.

Bulls fans are expected veer-and-shoot offense.

It's the spread variation Gilbert learned more than a decade ago at the foot of Art Briles and polished under the employment of current Syracuse coach Dino Babers (at Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green from 2012-14).

The veer-and-shoot differs from other spread schemes in that it's essentially an option offense with a vertical component. A power — but not necessarily ball-control — run game lulls defenses to the box, creating mismatches out wide.

And if linebackers get sucked into trying to stop the run, tight ends can find themselves isolated.

Moreover, Gilbert is a proponent of having his players execute without thinking, a process he has termed “mindmuscle memory.” Such a philosophy, of course, doesn’t lend itself to a thick playbook.

It explains why the Bulls have no playbook. Quarterbacks have said Gilbert diagrams a play, and they copy it down themselves. to

Joey Knight, Tampa Bay Times see solid likeness of the