Taggart: Bulls must work to improve

TAMPA — Two days after his team's 20-point loss to FSU, Bulls coach Willie Taggart said no significant changes are on the immediate horizon, but performance — by players and coaches — must improve.

“We've got to be better at what we do,” Taggart said Monday on the American Athletic Conference weekly coaches teleconference. “And we've got to make sure as coaches, we're putting our guys in the right position to be successful.”

As a result of the loss, coupled with Syracuse’s quick start against the Bulls (17 first-quarter points) two weeks ago, USF is ranked 100th among FBS teams in total defense (451.5 ypg) and tied for 118th in run defense (240.3).

No scheme adjustment — from a 4-2-5 to a standard 4-3 — seemed to work against FSU, which dominated the line of scrimmage and exploited USF's shoddy tackling. Offensively, USF totaled 450 yards but gained three or fewer yards on first down or turned the ball over 16 of a possible 27 times.

“All of it’s correctable; we’ve got to get it corrected,” said Taggart, whose team travels to 3-1 Cincinnati this weekend. “A lot of it is fundamentals, and then ... as coaches we've got to make sure we're putting our guys in the best position they can be in so they can make the plays they need to make.” ■ Taggart said Monday that backup middle linebacker

Danny Thomas, on crutches following Saturday's game, is nursing a sprained ankle. Running back Marlon Mack, who exited in the third quarter after getting poked in the eye, is fine.