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Out with the old offense,in with the old offense

South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt says the scheme is nothing new, even if you think it is.

By PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 7, 2001

TAMPA -- Across the offensive gamut, from the linemen to the receivers to the quarterback, everybody at South Florida likes the new offense.

Coach Jim Leavitt does, too. But he said there's nothing really new about it.

Last week against Northern Illinois, the Bulls opened in a shotgun, no-huddle, spread formation. They stuck with the progressive, accelerated mode of attack for virtually the entire game.

While many observers are crediting USF with pushing new frontiers, Leavitt said the Bulls have been heading in this direction for years, frequently using three- and four-receiver sets and the shotgun.

Regularly using the no-huddle is the final step. With an experienced, third-year starter at quarterback in junior Marquel Blackwell, the time is ripe for putting it all together.

"We're always going to throw the ball, we're always going to try to stretch it to every part of the field," Leavitt said. "The difference is we're going no-huddle more often. Otherwise, people are lining up in similar places.

"We've no-huddled before. We're just doing it a little more extensively this year."

Leavitt's nonchalance belies the complexity of operating a no-huddle offense, which puts an extra dose of pressure on the defense by allowing less time to regroup and substitute between plays.

After a play ends, Blackwell and the offense look to the sideline for hand signals from offensive coordinator Mike Hobbie or another offensive coach, and then

Well, here's how Leavitt explains what happens from there.

"We use signals for formations, for audibles, for plays, for (play direction), for different backfield sets, for pass routes and for different types of running plays," Leavitt said. "And just because we signal a certain type of play doesn't mean (Blackwell is) going to do it. He has a choice of different plays on different signals."

Blackwell can choose from seemingly endless permutations, depending on what he sees from the defense.

"He has different options out of different formations and receiver groupings, backs, tight ends, receivers, so forth," Leavitt said. "Every formation and combination has various plays.

"That's why it takes two, three years to get down."

With the shotgun, there is no snap count or signal from Blackwell to center Alex Herron indicating when to hike the ball. Herron snaps whenever he's ready, and that can take a little while.

"The center looks to (offensive line coach) Greg Frey, gets the signal to decide what fronts he's going to block, what protection he's going to use on pass plays, whether we're going to slide, man-up," Leavitt said. "Different (audibles) Marquel calls mean different protections and (the center) might have to look at Greg again.

"Then he looks up at the defense, looks around and sees things, and snaps whenever he wants to snap."

Whew.

In its debut as the primary offense, the no-huddle was inconsistent. The Bulls had 17 points and gained 274 yards on 62 plays. One-hundred and thirty-one yards, however, came on three plays, touchdown passes of 52 and 57 yards to DeAndrew Rubin, and a 22-yard run by Vince Brewer.

USF had one sustained drive, a balanced march to open the third quarter that also revealed a weakness.

The Bulls went 71 yards on 11 plays -- six runs, five passes -- shredding the NIU defense and getting to the 3-yard line. Blackwell bootlegged to the 1, then he went under center for the next snap.

Perhaps due to the sudden change, the exchange was fumbled. USF settled for a field goal.

Also, the running game struggled. Brewer had 53 yards on 11 carries, but USF netted just 51 total rushing yards.

The final verdict on the new offense was positive, however.

"I like it," senior offensive lineman Jimmy Fitts said. "We've got a chance to strike real quick. It surprises a lot of defenses and throughout the game it wears them down."

"It's about trying to catch the defense offguard, getting mismatches," Rubin said. "We looked at the film and we could have put up at least 40 points (against NIU)."

USF AT PITTSBURGH: 1:30 Saturday. TV/RADIO: FSN; WQYK-AM 1010.

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