The Bulls' defense needs revamping and a New Years Six game is Strong possibility: University of South Florida 2017 Season Preview

Charlie Strong inherited a Cadillac at the University of South Florida.

The Bulls' head coach gets a senior quarterback, who's a Heisman candidate, that amassed 4,342 total yards last season.

By himself.

He has a utility running back capable of  breaking one big either running or catching the football.

He gets a speedster at wide receiver who averaged nearly 19 yards a catch.

USF scored 73 offensive touchdowns in 2016, averaging 511 yards a game.

Strong's offense is strong, but he also inherited a lemon.

While the Bulls' offense is loaded with talent and playmakers across the board, its defense was a turnstile in 2016. Strong inherits a defense ranked 120th - allowing 482 yards per game and nearly 32 points.

If USF wants to be considered a good program and if they want to compete with the likes of its in-state rivals, it needs to change the culture of its porous defense.

And that's Strong's specialty.

During the 2009 season, Louisville ranked 65th in total defense - allowing 26 points per game. Strong took over in 2010 and completely overhauled the Cardinals' defense - allowing 19 points per game and jumping up to 18th nationally.

In Strong's final year at Louisville, the Cardinals defeated the Florida Gators 33-23 in the Sugar Bowl with a stifling defense ranked first in the nation.

And he did it all with lesser talent than the so-called "big dogs." This should excite USF fan.

If Strong can do in his first year at USF what he did at Louisville there's no doubt this team can go undefeated considering it's strength of schedule.

Sorry, USF fan, but it's the truth. The Bulls play nobody and it's the reason a New Years Six Bowl looks promising, but not the Playoffs. The committee would never take USF over, say, a two-loss ACC Champion in Clemson or two-loss SEC Champion in Alabama. Not until stronger opponents are scheduled. Don't believe me? See the 2015 Houston Cougars.

But like the 2015 Cougar team that defeated Florida State in the Peach Bowl, the Bulls, too, can reach a New Years Six Bowl and beat a notable opponent gaining notoriety for its program.

Or, like that Cougar team, the Bulls will lose its head coach for a shinier garage.

Observations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason Victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars

These observations are based on the projected starters

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense displayed balance and precision throughout its first few drives during Thursday night's victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jameis Winston was locked in early, finishing the night 21-of-29 for 196 yards. The ground game got going in the second exhibition game and the defensive front seven impressed, but the secondary was below average - struggling against the likes of an undrafted rookie. Winston has got to cut down on stupid mistakes and the kicking game is a disaster.

The Good

Winston has been a notoriously slow starter, sometimes allowing his emotions to get the better of him then taking a quarter or two to settle down. In both preseason games, Winston has been poised - going 5-of-6 in the opening drive while hitting four different receivers not named Mike Evans. Doug Martin would eventually punch it in for a two-yard touchdown run.

The check-down pass has eluded Winston in his first couple of seasons, but he utilized his fourth and fifth reads thanks to stellar pass protection. On the second offensive drive, Winston threaded a laser to Evans for a 21-yard gain, eventually leading the offense to a field goal. The superstar wide out caught five passes for 57 yards in the first half.

The offensive line struggled to run block against the Bengals, but had plenty of wide holes and cutback lanes for Martin, who finished with five carries for 30 yards and the score. In the first quarter, Martin found a huge hole behind the right side of the line for an 11-yard gain. Martin may have scored if not for Jags' safety Barry Church.

The defensive front seven came out more aggressive than it did against Cincinnati. Strong side rookie linebacker Kendall Beckwith dragged Jags' running back Chris Ivory down for a one-yard loss and weak side linebacker Lavonte David continues to show why he's one of the best in the game, stopping Jags' running back T.J. Yeldon behind the line then sacking quarterback Blake Bortles later on in the second.

The linebackers can't do their job unless the defensive line has a push, and the front four was in the Jags' backfield all throughout the first half.

The Bad

Roberto Aguayo is gone. Kicker Nick Folk has this kicking job in the bag, right?

Folk struggled, getting an extra point blocked then missing a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter. A kick that long isn't a gimme, but the coaching staff is frustrated nonetheless considering they cut Aguayo for doing the same things. The difference is Folk isn't a second round pick. Aguayo was.

Folk will continue to get his chances, but another game like that and Head Coach Dirk Koetter along with General Manager Jason Licht might be looking elsewhere.

The Ugly

Tampa Bay's secondary isn't very good and wrinkles must be ironed out before next week's dress rehearsal. Vernon Hargreaves III was abused by Jags' wide receiver Allen Robinson throughout the first half. Hargreaves earned a pass interference penalty against Robinson in the second quarter then followed it up allowing Robinson a 12-yard gain.

Late in the first half, Robinson deked Hargreaves for what would have been a 22-yard touchdown pass, but Robinson dropped the ball. Hargreaves was also abused by undrafted rookie free agent Keenan Cole out of Kentucky Weslyan when the rookie sped past Hargreaves and dropped what would have been a wide open touchdown.

Jags' tight end Mercedes Lewis had a drop in the second quarter and Bucs' nickel cornerback Javien Elliot allowed Robinson to run right past him for a potentially huge gain, but Bortles vastly under threw the wide out.

This game changes drastically if not for so many drops by Jags' wide receivers, but the offense isn't without its faults.

With less than eight minutes remaining in the first half, Winston threw an ill-advised interception in the end zone. Lucky for the Bucs he was called down before he threw the ball.

On third-and-goal, Winston went back to pass, but was met by Jags' defensive end Dante Fowler. With Fowler wrapped around his legs and another Jags' defender grabbing at Winston's helmet, the third-year QB threw up a prayer and was intercepted by Church. It was a stupid play that could've cost the Bucs the game.

A few plays before Winston's mistake, Evans dropped what would've been a 43-yard touchdown. It hit him right in the hands.

Backed up close to its end zone on second-and-long, Winston forced a ball to wide receiver Chris Godwin, who was double covered. The ball was nearly intercepted by Jags' safety Jarrod Wilson. Those plays are aggravating and can't happen with an offense this talented.

The Bucs play the Cleveland Browns this Saturday at Raymond James.

Florida State safety Derwin James isn't going to win the Heisman, so just stop

Derwin James is a physical specimen.

The highly touted 5-star safety made an immediate impact on Florida State's defense as a true freshman during the 2015 campaign, racking up 91 total tackles and forcing two fumbles. Opposing offensive coordinators quickly noticed James' controlled, smart and violent style of football, having to game plan around his athleticism and versatility.

He has been compared to a Miami Hurricanes great, the late Sean Taylor, on many occasions for their similar size and presence.

James' 2016 season started off well, tallying 11 tackles and an interception before hurting his left knee in the week two contest against Charleston Southern, which sidelined him the rest of the year.

With the 2017 season weeks away, James has been mentioned as a Heisman candidate and potential top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. James is certainly gifted enough to garner such accolades as an NFL prospect, but a Heisman candidate he is not.

As a matter of fact, a defensive player hasn't won the Heisman since Charles Woodson did so for Michigan back in 1997, and some will argue he earned the prestigious NCAA award because he played on the offensive side of the ball as a wide receiver and punt returner. Woodson was the quintessential definition of an athlete.

James just plays safety.

Fourteen of the last seventeen winners have been quarterbacks. The other three have been running backs. Notre Dame's Manti Te'o was the closest true defensive player to come close to sniffing the Heisman - finishing second to Johnny Manziel in 2012. Michigan linebacker/safety Jabrill Peppers finished fifth last season.

Other than Woodson, the last time the winner played a position other than quarterback or running back was 1991 when Michigan wide receiver Desmond Howard took the award.

Vegas has given James a 50-1 long shot,  so with the odds stacked against James why even mention him in the Heisman race?

Easy. Labor Day weekend. The biggest match-up to start the college football season in years.

Alabama versus Florida State. Primetime television. The brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

And both teams will be highly ranked with a star-studded lineup.

The Crimson Tide will march out starting quarterback, and Heisman hopeful, Jalen Hurts as well as starting running back, and Heisman hopeful, Bo Scarbrough.

If only the Seminoles had a recognizable athlete on the defensive side of the ball to clash against the Tides' unstoppable force...

This'll be the narrative for the next few weeks, all so the 4-Letter and talking heads around the U.S. have something to debate until Labor Day weekend. James will either be Florida State's redeemer as the leader of a defense who stopped Alabama or he'll be the disappointment who couldn't live up to his lofty expectations if his team loses.

It's a win-win for the networks.

Make no mistake, James is an elite collegiate athlete. He's just not a Heisman candidate.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht to Blame for Roberto Aguayo Fiasco

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had pressing needs. A pass rusher, a safety, a wide receiver, and offensive line help. The organization was desperate for all of those positions, but, instead, Bucs' General Manager Jason Licht took a gamble - trading back into the second round by giving up a third and a fourth round pick.

It was a desperation move.

Roberto Aguayo should've never been a second-round draft pick.

It's not that he isn't talented. Far from it. He was Florida State's 2nd three-time All-American. The first? Some guy named Deion Sanders.

As a freshman, he set NCAA records scoring 157 points in 2013.

He won the Lou Groza award in 2013, given to the NCAA's best kicker.

He never missed an extra point in college. He missed one field goal his freshman year, three as a sophomore and was automatic from 39 yards in.

Aguayo had the leg and the accolades. Still, he should have never gone that high in the 2016 NFL Draft. It's not his fault. Licht is to blame.

Kyle Brindza was the kicker to start the 2015-2016 season for the Bucs. He had the leg, nailing a 58-yard field goal against Houston that season, but was successful on only 50% of his field goals for Tampa. Brindza was criticized for some of Tampa Bay's early-season losses. Losses that came back to haunt them to end the year.

The Bucs brought Conner Barth back for a second stint and he was consistent the rest of the 2015-2016 season. But Licht was still haunted by Brindza, and Licht saw an opportunity.

When Bucs' fans stared at the TV that Friday night, the scroll read "Trade" with the Buccaneer logo next to "Pick Is In." Most fans thought it was going to be Ohio State safety Vonn Bell, who would've satisfied one of the positions Tampa desperately needed.

"Roberto Aguayo, kicker, Florida State."

Silence fell on Bucs' fans everywhere. Twitter was instantly filled with questions and venom.

This was a stupid pick. It wasn't Aguayo's fault.

A kicker was not going to change the fate of a 6-10 Buccaneer team. He was not going to win them 10 games. He wasn't worth a lofty pick, especially with so many other needs.

Aguayo struggled during the NFL's 2016-2017 preseason and grumblings could be heard across the Bay Area, but Aguayo never lost the Bucs a game like Brindza did. Other than a blowout loss against the Cardinals, Aguayo was...average.

He nailed a game winner against the Panthers on Monday Night in October. He was 92-of-94 on extra points during the regular season. What hurt Aguayo was he was never consistent - hitting only 71% of his field goal attemtps. He should've been an impact player as a second-round draft pick, but he crumbled under pressure.

A kicker should never be the savior of a franchise. It's not like the Bucs had all of the pieces in place and the final key was a kicker. They had needs all over.

Aguayo may never be the same again and his NFL career could potentially be over. He'll most likely earn a shot elsewhere. Who knows if he'll be successful, but the bust stigma is currently hanging over his head.

Licht gave up picks for a kicker.

That's not on Aguayo.

Observations: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preseason Loss to the Cincinnati Bengals

These observations are based on the projected starters 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell in its preseason opener Friday night to the Cincinnati Bengals 23-12. While the contest did feature a few positive moments, it was overshadowed by poor tackling, lack of explosion in the trenches, and a frustrating kicker. But, altogether now, it's only preseason and these are easily correctable miscues.

The Good

Quarterback Jameis Winston and the passing game looked sharp in the opening series. Winston connected with wide receiver Mike Evans on three separate occasions - one of which a 29-yard lob to the Bengals 48-yard line, and hooked up with tight end Cameron Brate twice. Winston finished the game 9-for-13 for 99 yards.

The pass protection gave Winston plenty of time to throw with a wide pocket, and the third-year signal caller was fluid in his mobility when the pocket did give way. On 3rd-and-8 from the Bengals 16-yard line, Winston was able to step and scramble to his right finding a wide open Evans for a 12-yard gain. Evans caught four passes for 58 yards.

The offense should be even more explosive this season with the additions of free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson and rookie first round tight end OJ Howard, and both players should alleviate the rolling pressure on Evans.

The Bad

The trenches on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball were lackluster and nonexplosive.

The offensive line excelled in pass protection, but was nonexistent in the run game. The push wasn't there and it showed with running back Doug Martin finishing the game with four carries for 11 yards. The play-action pass is an important part of Head Coach Dirk Koetter's offense, and if the run game isn't there to keep opposing linebackers and safeties in check then defenses will play man coverage with two safeties deep and allow for its pass rushers to tee off on Winston.

The Bucs' defensive line is soft and unnoticeable. Bengals' running backs Jeremy Hill and Joe Mixon were able to find big holes and cutback lanes all throughout the first half. Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton had a clean jersey, sitting back and picking the Bucs' secondary apart. If it wasn't for a spectacular interception in the end zone by Bucs' second-year cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, Dalton would've finished the game unblemished.

Poor tackling was also a major issue and didn't help the defensive line look any better. Mixon caught a ball out of the backfield in the second quarter making three Buccaneer defenders miss before being brought down after an 11-yard gain.

The Ugly

Roberto Aguayo, the former second round draft pick and now former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, continues to make fans scratch their heads and bellow in disgust. Aguayo nailed a chip shot field goal from 20 yards out in the first quarter, but missed a 33-yard extra point that bounced off of the right upright in the second.

Was the pressure of being a kicker taken in the second round weighing on him? Bucs' General Manager Jason Licht needs to take some heat for this transaction considering he gave up a third and fourth round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to move up for Aguayo.

The Bucs have since released the place kicker.

Tampa Bay plays Jacksonville this Thursday night at 8pm.

Jeff Long and the Rest of the Committee are Clueless Establishing Equitable College Football Playoff Criteria

College Football Playoff committee chair Jeff Long is openly appointing teams to the inaugural playoff by justifiably making the rules up as he, and the rest of the committee, proceed.

Long, who is also University of Arkansas's Athletic Director, made headlines by discussing the controversially subjective, puzzling, and ESPN-created "Game Control" criteria, which Long assures has always been part of the discussion amongst committee members and the selection process, and denies the claim the 4-Letter Network has any influence over the conversations.

During last night's broadcast, Long rationalized why Mississippi State is still considered in the playoff race by ranking the Bulldogs no. 4 in the nation even after losing to Alabama 25-20 November 15th.

Long stated, "(Mississippi State) do have wins over teams who were previously in the Top-25. The committee takes that into account. They view those teams as when they were played and when those games were played.”

In other words, Mississippi State defeated teams while they were in the Top-25, but those same schools are no longer in the Top-25. The Bulldogs defeated LSU while the Tigers were ranked no. 8, Texas A&M while the Aggies were no. 6, and Auburn while the Tigers were no. 2. Out of the three, only Auburn remains in the Top-15.

There is nothing wrong with this bit of logic. Inflated preseason rankings and the ambiguity of which team(s) will preform early in the season isn't the committee's fault. After the Aggies lambasted the then no. 9 South Carolina Gamecocks 52-28, pundits were ready to crown Texas A&M National Champs.

Since then, both the Aggies and Gamecocks have been a major disappointment. 

One would suppose the committee would be more consistent with it's explanation as to the barometer set in choosing which schools make the Top-4, but conflicting explanations have irritated most fan bases.

On November 11th, Long clarified why undefeated Florida State dropped in the rankings by seeding the Seminoles no. 3, allowing one-loss Oregon to leap FSU and causing a ruckus amid the Seminole faithful.

“Oregon has three (current) Top-25 victories. Florida State only has two,” proclaimed Long during the November 11th ESPN broadcast.

Fair explanation, except it contradicts Long's present thoughts.

The committee didn't take into account Louisville, who was ranked 25th when Florida State defeated the Cardinals 42-31 in Louisville on Thursday night. Since then, Louisville has worked its way back into the Top-25.

Oregon lost 31-24 at home to a then unranked Arizona team. According to Long's logic, the loss should go against the Ducks.

Why is it agreeable to forgive Mississippi State's "no-longer-in-the-Top-25" wins, but Florida State's vacant Top-25 wins, such as Notre Dame, go against them? Why did the narrative change from November 11th to today? What happened?

The Seminoles currently hold victories over two current Top-25 teams. Alabama and Mississippi State, the present and past no. 1 seeds, have two. Combined ('Bama's victory over Mississippi State and Mississippi State's victory over Auburn). Long hasn't mentioned inequalities between Power-5 conferences, so the "SEC is a superior conference" excuse has yet to be offered, and the defense cannot be used until differing weights are applied to each conference. 

So which criteria is the one being given? The originally accepted, "It must be a current Top-25 win to hold credence," or the SEC popular, "A Top-25 win is a Top-25 win no matter when it was played?" 

The rules and regulations constantly altering and changing gives off the impression the committee is being swayed and aren't deemed reliable.

Is TCU and Baylor nipping at the heels of the no. 4 seed the reason for the change of heart? Is Florida State, as polarizing as they are, who're forced to wear the black hat, the reason for the imbalance in the selection committee's methods?

For all the faults of the BCS, the process was objective and there were clear standards set in place. The obvious solution is to use the BCS formula and have the Top-4 battle it out. 

But there's no bias and leverage in that sort of sensible thinking.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum lacking evidence against Florida State's Jameis Winston

Paul Finebaum, ESPN's pompous and vacuous, Alabama-based radio show host concluded an interview with Keith Olbermann regarding Florida State quarterback, and reigning Heisman winner, Jameis Winston.

The focus of conversation is whether Winston will have a "sophomore slump" in 2014, which is an informal way of stating a decline in productivity as a second-year starter. Finebaum deliberately rants about everything except Winston's expectations for the 2014-2015 college football season.

As a high school English teacher, my students know the fundamentals of properly administering and organizing their thoughts when expressing a position, or "argument." They know to voice the opinion, or as we like to call it a "claim," by validating their thoughts with evidence to reinforce their opinion. A lack of evidence to support the claim is considered fallacious.

They must also explain their evidence, which is what teachers call "commentary." Commentary and evidence is severely lacking in Finebaum's claim.

Olbermann asks Finebaum, "Is there an expectation that he (Winston) won't be able to repeat anything like his Heisman season?"

Finebaum dodges the question by answering, and I paraphrase, he's not sure how anyone puts stealing crab legs from a grocery store behind them.

I recently went to Publix and accidentally forgot to pay for an item, and it didn't dawn on me until I got home. Embarrassingly, I turned around and admitted to my fault - paying for the item and apologizing. My life hasn't changed and I still enter the same Publix for my groceries.

Where is Finebaum's evidence proving Winston will be affected by his shoplifting incident, and what does it have to do with expectations?

Finebaum follows his opinion by stating, "I thought Johnny Manziel last year was a head case after his (2013) Heisman season. Winston has taken it to a different level."

Different level? How's so? Manziel was allegedly hungover at the Manning Camp last summer and was then purportedly told to leave. The former Texas A&M and current Cleveland Browns quarterback was consistently in the news for his random tweets and destructive behavior.

Winston has stayed out of the negative news since the theft. Worse than Manziel? Where's the evidence to support this claim (opinion)?

"(Winston's) still very brash. He's very arrogant," continues Finebaum. Once again, where? Other than talking his teammates up, the lofty expectations Winston has placed on himself and the preseason ranked No. 1 Seminoles, where is said arrogance?

"He has been talking a lot of trash." Prove it. The red herring logical fallacy can be seen painted across this entire interview. Finebaum has yet to answer Olbermann's question.

The interview concludes with Finebaum laughing while declaring, "Lying. Cheating." Although Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino was loosely mentioned due to Florida State traveling to Louisville this season, the attention was and is mainly on Winston.

Most "journalists" exercise sensationalism to exploit a story by making it seem bigger than it is through assuming the worst possible scenario. By Finebaum's claim and lack of evidence with no commentary, I'll assume he means Winston and the Seminole's cheated in defeating the Auburn Tigers during the 2013 BCS National Championship game.

If Finebaum can somehow prove deceit, it would make him credible - something the show host has been lacking his entire career.

The Seminoles play Oklahoma State August 30th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.