Spring Practice Questions: South Florida

Last Year: 9-4, 4-3 Big East. Drilled East Carolina 24-7 in the inaugural (and delicious) PapaJohns.com Bowl.

Fans Are: If the picture to the right is any indication, unkempt, unwashed, and keeping Natural Light in business. It is also a reasonable assumption to believe that the Bulls fanbase is not saddled with the consequences of intelligence.

Expectations: In 2006, South Florida managed to win nine games with Matt Grothe serving as the team's only viable offensive weapon. Accumulating 622 rushing yards and a respectable 2,576 through the air, Grothe put together an incredible freshman campaign last year.

In this context, it is not surprising to believe that Bulls Nation is anticipating a solid effort in 2007. Another bowl trip and mid-Big East finish is expected. Anything short would shock most South Florida supporters as the Bulls have eyes on becoming a national power within the next ten years.

Also, more ridiculous bicep tattoos are expected. An epidemic of body ink, if you will.

Questions

1. Matt Grothe is obviously a terrific collegiate offensive talent. Having a season to watch his development, however, Grothe is not going to sneak up on any Big East defensive coordinators this year. Consequently, can South Florida develop any other offensive weapons for 2007?

Many are looking forward to the enrollment of Mike Ford, a rusher that is expected to quickly contribute in 2007. The young Floridian led the state in rushing in 2004 and, after a couple of years of preparatory and junior college maturation, has the mental disposition necessary to carry the load as a freshman.

However, Ford is a freshman and has yet to play a down of Division 1-A football. While he has to potential to have a Ray Rice-like impact as a young back, Ford must prove his worth on the gridiron. Great copy and scout analysis only goes so far; actual, tangible production will ultimately determine how much Ford effects South Florida's fortunes.

The other area of intrigue is at the starting wideout positions. Senior Amarri Jackson and Junior Taurus Johnson are expected to start out wide in 2007, but neither had particularly exemplary seasons in 2006. The tandem hauled in around 900 yards receiving a year ago, but only 360 of those receiving yards came against opponents with winning records.

As South Florida is going to have a target on its back all season, these receivers need to develop "go-to" qualities if the Bulls are going to repeat its 2006 success.

2. How will the departures of Stephen Nicholas and Pat St. Louis impact Ben Moffit and the rest of the South Florida linebacking corps?

Moffit is obviously a headline-type player, but his ability to pursue and work sideline-to-sideline was greatly assisted by Nicholas' All-Big East efforts in 2006. With opposing offensive coordinators having the opportunity to isolate Moffit this season with fullbacks and line audibles, can he have the same impact in 2007 as in 2006?

The other area of concern with the departures of St. Louis and Nicholas is that Moffit is going to be asked to play behind a defensive line featuring, for all intents and purposes, new defensive ends. With such turnover in the front seven, Moffit is going to be asked to carry a lot of the load and succeed in somewhat difficult circumstances.

Kelvin Smith -- a recent Syracuse graduate and invitee to the NFL Combine -- had a difficult time destroying opponents in 2006 under similar circumstances. Moffit, unfortunately, may be looking at a similar effort next year.

3. Is Matt Grothe really Eric Crouch with a throwing arm?

The superlatives in 2006 were staggering:

1. Big East Rookie of the Year;
   
2. Amongst freshman, Grothe was second in the nation in total offense;
   
3. Honorable mention Freshman All-America by The Sporting News;
   
4. WWE Tag-Team Champion.
   

In a conference that has built a solid reputation of pass-run option quarterbacks (Donovan McNabb, Pat White, Rod Rutherford, etc.), Grothe has emerged as a one-man show, singlehandedly willing South Florida to victory with his legs and right arm. The question is, though, can his body hold up.

Grothe is only listed at 6'0', 200 pounds. What is not in the listing is the number of pops the rising freshman takes on a play-by-play basis. He is more athletically gifted than other slightly undersized quarterbacks that have played in the Big East -- such as the "magician" that was Troy Nunes -- but Grothe is also the primary cog in the South Florida offense. If his body can hold up, Grothe can help the Bulls take a major step forward.

If he breaks down or is forced to carry the load too much, South Florida is likely to falter.