Tampa Bucs GM Mark Dominik and head coach Raheem Morris talk about how happy they are about last week’s NFL draft.
What else are they going to say?
It’s on them and if it turns out the draft doesn’t supply the team with a significant number of quality players who can help sooner rather than later Dominik and Morris will be out of job sooner than most of us thought.
The biggest question mark was raised when Dominik chose Syracuse receiver Mike Williams, who is arguably the most troubled player among the 255 selected last week.
The 6-2, 221 pounder has an enormous amount of talent. No one would argue that. But he comes with a ton of personal baggage and doesn’t seem to have learned from his mistakes. Read my column in today’s Bradenton Herald and come to your own judgment.
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Many bowl options for USF
The agreement announced this week between the Big East Conference and its bowl affiliations gives the USF football team a lot of incentives and has to be pleasing to its fans.
The Big East has tie-ins with six bowls, which is quite a bit considering there are only eight teams in the conference. The league renewed its agreement with the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg and the Papjohns.com in Birmingham Alabama, which will played January 8th next year.
The conference’s latest affiliation is with the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl in Memphis where the Big East could send a representative to play the champion of Conference USA or a team from the SEC.
Other new bowls for the Big East Conference includes Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando where it will face an opponent from the ACC and the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium where a Big East team will face an opponent from the Big 12.
The Big East also has an affiliation with the Meinke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina where it faces and ACC team. In 2005, USF made its inaugural bowl appearance there.
USF is 3-2 in bowl games, with appearances in the Car Care Bowl, Sun Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl and now defunct International Bowl last season. The Big East had six teams bowl eligible last season.
The Bulls bowl victories have come against non-BCS teams while its losses have come to North Carolina State in the Car Care Bowl and Oregon in the Sun Bowl.
The Big East has tie-ins with six bowls, which is quite a bit considering there are only eight teams in the conference. The league renewed its agreement with the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg and the Papjohns.com in Birmingham Alabama, which will played January 8th next year.
The conference’s latest affiliation is with the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl in Memphis where the Big East could send a representative to play the champion of Conference USA or a team from the SEC.
Other new bowls for the Big East Conference includes Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando where it will face an opponent from the ACC and the inaugural New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium where a Big East team will face an opponent from the Big 12.
The Big East also has an affiliation with the Meinke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina where it faces and ACC team. In 2005, USF made its inaugural bowl appearance there.
USF is 3-2 in bowl games, with appearances in the Car Care Bowl, Sun Bowl, Papajohns.com Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl and now defunct International Bowl last season. The Big East had six teams bowl eligible last season.
The Bulls bowl victories have come against non-BCS teams while its losses have come to North Carolina State in the Car Care Bowl and Oregon in the Sun Bowl.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Grothe's recovery encourages Love
As expected A.J. Love was not on the USF depth chart that was released this week. The receiver tore his ACL in the spring game and has a long road to recovery after surgery.
But the Southeast High graduate could return in late October or early November, which would enable him to play about half the season. Everything would have to go smoothly in his rehabilitation and he would have to get rid of any rust that might accumulate while he is out.
If Love is unable to play he could still be healthy and available to work out for NFL teams before next spring’s draft.
The 6-2, 205 pound receiver should be encouraged by former USF quarterback Matt Grothe, who tore his ACL in the third game of last year and was lost for the season.
Grothe went through his surgery and rehab and this weekend will attend the Tampa Bay Bucs rookie minicamp.
Grothe finished his USF days as the all time Big East Conference career total offensive leader. Just as he did coming out of high school, he is fighting a perception that he is not tall enough or quick enough to play in the NFL and doesn’t have the arm strength.
When Love gets himself back to health, he won’t have to worry about any perceptions, real or imagined. He has the size, good speed and has shown a good knack for getting open, catching passes and gaining yardage after the catch.
But the Southeast High graduate could return in late October or early November, which would enable him to play about half the season. Everything would have to go smoothly in his rehabilitation and he would have to get rid of any rust that might accumulate while he is out.
If Love is unable to play he could still be healthy and available to work out for NFL teams before next spring’s draft.
The 6-2, 205 pound receiver should be encouraged by former USF quarterback Matt Grothe, who tore his ACL in the third game of last year and was lost for the season.
Grothe went through his surgery and rehab and this weekend will attend the Tampa Bay Bucs rookie minicamp.
Grothe finished his USF days as the all time Big East Conference career total offensive leader. Just as he did coming out of high school, he is fighting a perception that he is not tall enough or quick enough to play in the NFL and doesn’t have the arm strength.
When Love gets himself back to health, he won’t have to worry about any perceptions, real or imagined. He has the size, good speed and has shown a good knack for getting open, catching passes and gaining yardage after the catch.
Raymond listed as starter
USF unveiled its latest depth chart this week and it turned out to be good news for defensive back Mistral Raymond.
The Palmetto High graduate was listed as the starter at free safety following a spring where he demonstrated his toughness and ability to play a position that demands a lot of versatility.
Raymond is the only starter on the depth chart (non-kicker) who does not have an athletic scholarship so maybe new coach Skip Holtz will find it in his heart to grant him one.
The 6-1, 185 pounder transferred to USF last season under the impression he had only one year of eligibility left after playing in junior college. He was granted another year during mid-season and his rise up the depth charts has been nothing short of sensational.
Raymond could’ve gone to other schools on a scholarship, but decided to walk on at USF because his home where his mother, sister and other relatives lived was shot up during a bizarre incident of mistaken identity.
Mistral is the leading tackler with 40 (19 solos) among the returning defensive backs from last year’s USF team. Most importantly, he showed last season that he was quick learner and could be effective on one on one pass coverage as well as coming up to help with the run.
*****
Faron Hornes, the Southeast High graduate who joined USF last year, was not listed on the depth chart, which only included the first and second team.
Hornes did have a nice 48-yard reception and his hoping to get some playing time at the receiver spot this season. He was the Bulls punt returner last year, averaging five yards per attempt on 16 catches. He did not return punts in the spring game so his status at that position is questionable.
The Palmetto High graduate was listed as the starter at free safety following a spring where he demonstrated his toughness and ability to play a position that demands a lot of versatility.
Raymond is the only starter on the depth chart (non-kicker) who does not have an athletic scholarship so maybe new coach Skip Holtz will find it in his heart to grant him one.
The 6-1, 185 pounder transferred to USF last season under the impression he had only one year of eligibility left after playing in junior college. He was granted another year during mid-season and his rise up the depth charts has been nothing short of sensational.
Raymond could’ve gone to other schools on a scholarship, but decided to walk on at USF because his home where his mother, sister and other relatives lived was shot up during a bizarre incident of mistaken identity.
Mistral is the leading tackler with 40 (19 solos) among the returning defensive backs from last year’s USF team. Most importantly, he showed last season that he was quick learner and could be effective on one on one pass coverage as well as coming up to help with the run.
*****
Faron Hornes, the Southeast High graduate who joined USF last year, was not listed on the depth chart, which only included the first and second team.
Hornes did have a nice 48-yard reception and his hoping to get some playing time at the receiver spot this season. He was the Bulls punt returner last year, averaging five yards per attempt on 16 catches. He did not return punts in the spring game so his status at that position is questionable.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
NFL Draft raises questions about USF
The NFL draft furthered fueled ammunition by critics of former USF head football coach Jim Leavitt, who questioned his ability to get the most of out of his team.
The Bulls led the Big East Conference with five picks in the NFL draft, including first rounder Jason Pierre-Paul, the defensive end selected 15th overall.
Rutgers and Cincinnati with three picks apiece were tied for second, but three of the first five Big East players in the draft belonged to the Bulls with safety Nate Allen (2nd round) and cornerback Jerome Murphy (3d round).
Rutgers had two first rounders in offensive lineman Anthony Davis and cornerback Devin McCourty while Big East champion Cincinnati’s first pick didn’t come until the fourth round when receiver Mardy Gilyard was chosen. The Bearcats other picks were quarterback Tony Pike in the 6th round and defensive end Ricardo Matthews in the seventh and final round.
Four of the USF players chosen played defense with defensive end George Selvie (7th round) joining the other three. The only offensive player selected was wide receiver Carlton Mitchell.
Six of the 18 Big East players selected were chosen in the final round and nine were selected in the final two rounds. Pittsburgh, which finished second in the Big East, had two picks, one in each of the last two rounds.
It makes you wonder! ___In Big East games only, USF was a less than a mediocre fifth in total defense and fifth in total offense in the eight team league.
It’s a reason the Bulls finished with an unimpressive 3-4 league record with two of their wins coming off lowly Syracuse and Louisville, the Big East cellar dwellers. More disturbing is that they lost to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Rutgers by a combined 106-31.
The Bulls led the Big East Conference with five picks in the NFL draft, including first rounder Jason Pierre-Paul, the defensive end selected 15th overall.
Rutgers and Cincinnati with three picks apiece were tied for second, but three of the first five Big East players in the draft belonged to the Bulls with safety Nate Allen (2nd round) and cornerback Jerome Murphy (3d round).
Rutgers had two first rounders in offensive lineman Anthony Davis and cornerback Devin McCourty while Big East champion Cincinnati’s first pick didn’t come until the fourth round when receiver Mardy Gilyard was chosen. The Bearcats other picks were quarterback Tony Pike in the 6th round and defensive end Ricardo Matthews in the seventh and final round.
Four of the USF players chosen played defense with defensive end George Selvie (7th round) joining the other three. The only offensive player selected was wide receiver Carlton Mitchell.
Six of the 18 Big East players selected were chosen in the final round and nine were selected in the final two rounds. Pittsburgh, which finished second in the Big East, had two picks, one in each of the last two rounds.
It makes you wonder! ___In Big East games only, USF was a less than a mediocre fifth in total defense and fifth in total offense in the eight team league.
It’s a reason the Bulls finished with an unimpressive 3-4 league record with two of their wins coming off lowly Syracuse and Louisville, the Big East cellar dwellers. More disturbing is that they lost to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Rutgers by a combined 106-31.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Jackson might also have stayed too long
Defensive end George Selvie is not the only USF athlete who might have erred in not coming out for the professional draft at his first opportunity.
There is also Altron Jackson, the Sarasota Riverview High superstar who finished his basketball career at USF in 2002 as the Bulls second leading career scorer. He had an opportunity come out for the NBA draft after his junior year and decided against it.
The 6-7 wingman was coming off a banner season. He was a first team Conference USA selection and was being lauded for his offensive and defensive skills.
Jackson was thinking about declaring for the draft, but decided to stay for his final season, partly because of advice he received from people close to him.
The move didn’t turn out so good. Quite a few new players came into C-USA. Jackson wound up being a second team selection and his stock dropped.
Jackson finished his career with 2017 points and the C-USA all-time career scoring leader. However, he couldn’t land with an NBA team and wound up playing in Europe where he had some standout seasons.
Jackson has since returned home and retired as a player. He is completing his degree work at USF and worked a volunteer assistant this past season. He recently said he had no regrets about his decision.
There is also Altron Jackson, the Sarasota Riverview High superstar who finished his basketball career at USF in 2002 as the Bulls second leading career scorer. He had an opportunity come out for the NBA draft after his junior year and decided against it.
The 6-7 wingman was coming off a banner season. He was a first team Conference USA selection and was being lauded for his offensive and defensive skills.
Jackson was thinking about declaring for the draft, but decided to stay for his final season, partly because of advice he received from people close to him.
The move didn’t turn out so good. Quite a few new players came into C-USA. Jackson wound up being a second team selection and his stock dropped.
Jackson finished his career with 2017 points and the C-USA all-time career scoring leader. However, he couldn’t land with an NBA team and wound up playing in Europe where he had some standout seasons.
Jackson has since returned home and retired as a player. He is completing his degree work at USF and worked a volunteer assistant this past season. He recently said he had no regrets about his decision.
Did Selvie make a mistake
George Selvie looks like another example of someone who should not have waited until his final season to enter the NFL draft.
The 6-5, 252 pound USF defensive end was selected in the seventh and final round of this week’s draft by the St. Louis Rams and was the 226th overall pick.
After his junior season in 2009, Selvie was projected as a first round pick by many rating services, including ESPN. He also had his degree.
He chose to come back for his senior year saying he wanted to win a Big East championship. Turns out, he didn’t come close to winning the conference title and he might have lost a lot of money in the process.
As a sophomore in 2007, Selvie was voted the Big East Defensive Player of The Year after leading the nation in tackles for losses with 31.5 and finishing second with 14.5 sacks. He was a consensus first team All-American and became a household name around the country.
He was actually eligible to come out for the draft in 2008 because it was his third year in college (he took a redshirt his first season), but decided against it.
In the 2008 season, he was the first USF two time first team All-American though his numbers were down with 5.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for losses. He struggled with a high ankle sprain and defenses were gearing up to stop him, which likely accounted for the drop off in numbers.
Quite a few people urged him to come out for the 2009 draft because he looked like a solid first round draft choice. He chose to stay and USF newcomer Jason Pierre-Paul comes in at the other defensive end spot and gets chosen in the first round.
The 6-5, 252 pound USF defensive end was selected in the seventh and final round of this week’s draft by the St. Louis Rams and was the 226th overall pick.
After his junior season in 2009, Selvie was projected as a first round pick by many rating services, including ESPN. He also had his degree.
He chose to come back for his senior year saying he wanted to win a Big East championship. Turns out, he didn’t come close to winning the conference title and he might have lost a lot of money in the process.
As a sophomore in 2007, Selvie was voted the Big East Defensive Player of The Year after leading the nation in tackles for losses with 31.5 and finishing second with 14.5 sacks. He was a consensus first team All-American and became a household name around the country.
He was actually eligible to come out for the draft in 2008 because it was his third year in college (he took a redshirt his first season), but decided against it.
In the 2008 season, he was the first USF two time first team All-American though his numbers were down with 5.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for losses. He struggled with a high ankle sprain and defenses were gearing up to stop him, which likely accounted for the drop off in numbers.
Quite a few people urged him to come out for the 2009 draft because he looked like a solid first round draft choice. He chose to stay and USF newcomer Jason Pierre-Paul comes in at the other defensive end spot and gets chosen in the first round.
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