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Five things to ponder as USF opens spring practice

 
South Florida Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers (9) in the third quarter at Raymond James in Tampa on Saturday, September 3, 2016.
South Florida Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers (9) in the third quarter at Raymond James in Tampa on Saturday, September 3, 2016.
Published March 4, 2017

TAMPA — The Charlie Strong USF era commences Monday morning amid a paradox of sorts: Myriad questions surround a team with unquestioned talent.

Because spring drills — including Monday's 9 a.m. opener — are closed to the public, there won't be any answers right away.

Here are five things to ponder this spring.

1. What's new? More to the point, what isn't new?

In essence, these 15 spring practices represent a precollege orientation in cleats. The Bulls will be familiarizing themselves with the new staff and learning new systems and signals. After unprecedented success in the Gulf Coast Offense, how will Quinton Flowers and Co. respond to new coordinator Sterlin Gilbert's equally souped-up scheme? Will a synergy or wall form between coaches and kids?

2. Are there enough linebackers to scrimmage?

Without question, linebacker depth is the most glaring concern in Year 1 of the Strong era, especially with the Bulls transitioning from a 4-2-5 to 3-3-5 scheme. Moreover, neither of last season's two starters will be on the field. Weakside anchor Nigel Harris graduates in May, and senior Auggie Sanchez is recovering from labrum surgery. Additionally, sophomore Cecil Cherry — once projected as Sanchez's heir — transferred, and the Bulls signed only one linebacker (Jacksonville's Keirston Johnson) in February. Don't be shocked if new coordinator Brian Jean-Mary converts some defensive ends into more of a hybrid role to replenish depth.

3. Can the defense regain its mojo?

When former defensive coordinator Tom Allen left for Indiana in January 2016, he seemed to take his unit's passion and swagger with him. The '16 unit (120th nationally in total defense) struggled so mightily with tackling, many wondered if Allen's successor, Raymond Woodie, would last the season. Jean-Mary has seen the flaws on tape and believes they're correctable: "Tackling is something that has to be practiced, and it's just like riding a bike. You have to continually do it on a day-to-day basis to be good at it. The minute that you take it for granted, it shows up on video, so that's something we're gonna really, really focus on."

4. Can the offensive line be effectively refurbished?

Seems we ask this every spring, for good reason. The Bulls are on their fifth — fifth — offensive line coach (Matt Mattox) in as many seasons. Mattox must find replacements for left tackle Kofi Amichia and right guard Dominique Threatt, and try to establish some depth. Complicating the latter objective is the fact senior left guard Jeremi Hall is questionable for the spring with a minor leg injury. On the positive side, right tackle Billy Atterbury returns from an ankle fracture.

5. Every-down D'Ernest?

Strong, who has employed a bell-cow back or two in his day (see D'Onta Foreman at Texas), lost the AAC's best one when Marlon Mack opted to turn pro. Physically, 208-pound senior D'Ernest Johnson is sturdy enough for the role, but we see the team's most versatile player getting 20 touches — not necessarily 20 handoffs — per game. With senior Darius Tice awarded another year and sophomore Trevon Sands and redshirt freshman Elijah Mack poised to possibly break out, it will be interesting to see how the backfield rotation pans out.

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Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.