The University of Memphis football team will return to action Saturday after a bye week when they face South Florida at 7:05 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers manhandled UT-Chattanooga 43-10 on Sept. 8 for the team’s first win under new head coach Tommy West. This week, though, the 1-1 Tigers will probably face more of a challenge than they did against the Division I-AA Mocs two weeks ago.
Like Memphis, South Florida (1-1) is coming off a big win after beating a solid Pittsburgh team 35-26 two weeks ago. West said he was impressed with the Bulls’ performance against Pitt.
“South Florida was not what I wanted to see when I saw them on the field,” West said. “They’re a good football team. Them beating Pittsburgh was not a fluke. From start to finish, they dominated Pittsburgh that game.”
The Bulls proved they could score against Pitt, putting 35 points on the board. West credited their passing game, and specifically junior quarterback Marquel Blackwell, who led USF to 283 total passing yards against the Panthers.
The 6-1, 205-pound Blackwell is the school’s all-time leader in total offense after just two seasons with 4,328 total yards, including 3,636 yards passing.
“They have an outstanding quarterback and outstanding receivers,” West said. “Their quarterback is tall and rangy, and has a tremendous arm.”
The South Florida offense may be capable, but one thing it won’t be to the Tigers is new. The offense USF runs is much like The U of M’s newly-implemented spread offense.
West, who recognizes that, said he plans to hold the Bulls’ passing game to a minimum.
“They’re a spread team like us,” he said. “A key will be how much we can pressure their quarterback and receivers.”
More specifically, West mentioned shutting down wide receivers Hugo Smith, a 5-10, 175-pound senior, and DeAndrew Rubin, a 6-0, 185-pound junior. West said he thinks cutting out USF’s short passing game will be the first step.
To do so, he said he plans to have strong defensive games from guys like senior defensive back Marcus Smith. Though Smith is relatively small at 5-10, 183 pounds, West said he likes Smith matching up against taller receivers.
“Smith gives up height every week, and he plays pretty dang good every week,” he said.
West stressed the importance of stopping the short passing game in USF’s spread offense, forcing the Bulls to try and go long.
On the offensive side of the ball, West said he wants his Memphis team to concentrate on moving the ball through short routes and controlling the clock.
“We’re trying to get first downs. We don’t have four wideouts that can go by anybody in the country, and we don’t want to put our defense in a bind.”
Dante Brown should also see plenty of touches at running back for the Tigers after his breakout game two weeks ago when he ran for 158 yards and one touchdown — including a 62-yard run — on 18 carries. He also had two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown.
West could also use another big performance from junior quarterback Travis Anglin, Conference USA’s most efficient passer with a 164.8 rating.
Against UT-Chattanooga, Anglin completed 15-of-22 passes for 145 yards and accounted for four Tiger touchdowns — two throwing and two rushing.
Anglin, who also rushed for 78 yards on 17 carries against the Mocs, has connected on 21-of-29 pass attempts for the season.
