Strong lauds McCants’ key blocking

TAMPA — Each week, Bulls coach compiles an “effort tape” from a game or even a practice to highlight what he calls an “unbelievable effort to make a play.” The star of this week's tape: USF's brawny junior receiver continued receiving praise from his coach for the two blocks he made during

50-yard touchdown run in Saturday's 42-22 romp at San Jose State.

“It was just two unbelievable blocks by him,” Strong said Monday.

After finding the middle bottled up, Johnson bounced outside to his left and caught McCants’ first block — of LB

around the Spartans’ 45-yard line. Then near the 20, McCants flattened CB just as Chachere appeared ready to grab Johnson from behind.

“When he scored, I said, ‘Listen, you go over and thank Tyre. He’s the one that really sprung you and got you going,’” Strong said.

Strong said ball placement and a flubbed blocking assignment accounted for the initial struggles on special teams Saturday. They began on the opening kickoff when booted the ball out of bounds and continued when

shanked his first punt for 18 yards. Hernandez’s fourth attempt was blocked, setting up San Jose State's second TD.

Hernandez redeemed himself, averaging 41.1 yards on a 11 tries.

Johnson’s Trevon Bierria — Jonathan Hernandez Charlie Strong Tyre McCants. D’Ernest Andre Chachere Emilio Nadelman