Where is the Run Game for USF?

The offense looked ugly last game out against Rutgers and part of it was the ineffectiveness for the offense to run the game.  With the backs failing to get going for USF and the offensive line struggling, it has made the offense tough to watch.

The Bulls are struggling to get anything going on the ground and part of the issue is the offensive line.  With 3 new starters up front, Popek moving to guard, Reiter taking over at center and Darrell Williams getting the job at left tackle, it is a new group up front.  They have the talent, but they aren't getting off blocks, opening lanes, or protecting Daniels long enough.  Coach Holtz believes a lot of the mistakes up front are correctable, but until they do, the rushing attack will be grounded.  However, not all the blame can be put on the front 5.

The USF backs are not getting a lot done when they do get the carries and it was evident in the first game of the season against the Mocs.  Demetris Murray, getting the starting job and bulk of the carries has carried the ball 38 times for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns so far this season.  In his first season as the full time starter in the backfield, he is averaging just 3.7 yards per rush, 47.3 yards per game, and has a long of 14 yards on the year.  For his entire career, Murray has always been the back-up to another back, first Mo Plancher and last year to Darrell Scott, so this is the first time he is being relied on to get it all done and it could be he is not ready for the workload or it could be the offensive line not helping him get the huge gains they saw last year.  

The other leading back is actually B.J. Daniels for the Bulls.  He has carried the ball 32 times for 124 yards (3.4 per carry) and has 1 touchdown.  He has a long run of 20 yards and is averaging 41.3 per game on the ground.  We all know Daniels is a running QB, but teams know that too and are cutting off his running lanes to the outside.  This is forcing Daniels to stay in the pocket where he is not comfortable and it's killing the offense.  However, it's not all on the shoulders of Daniels and Murray to get it done, other  backs have to help carry the workload.

The other running backs are not getting anything done for the Bulls so far. Lindsey Lamar, after nearly getting the redshirt this season, has 12 carries for 86 yards for the Bulls and 1 touchdown.  He has only played in two games, but he was bottled up last game against Rutgers and just hasn't gotten free.  Marcus Shaw, the explosive runner, has been out two games with a bum ankle and has just 4 carries for 22 yards.  Willie Davis and Victor Marc have had carries as well, but neither are expected to carry the load and eat up the yards. The other backs, when healthy and when they get their chances, have to produce.

So what is going on in the backfield for the Bulls?  Is it the skill set in the backfield?  It could be.  The Bulls lost Scott early to the draft, taking out a strong power runner off the roster.  Shaw has been banged up this year and Michael Pierre, the JUCO transfer, is redshirting, so it leaves the depth chart slimmed down and so far the backs that are there are not getting the breaks from the line and not getting the yards needed to help move the offense.  No matter the excuses, the line issues, or just the playcalling, the backs and the run game have to get going for USF.  The Bulls cannot win a ton of games if Daniels is forced to do it all himself and the run game can help shoulder some of the burden, if they can just get it going.