USF Bulls coach Jim Leavitt threatens defensive shakeup after consecutive losses

PITTSBURGH — After giving up big plays in losses to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, the starting defense could see personnel changes before the Bulls face No. 20 West Virginia on Friday.

"We've been disappointed with a few guys. I'm not going to point them all out," coach Jim Leavitt said after Saturday's 41-14 loss. "The last few weeks, (they've) been playing poorly. We've got to find some people that can do what we coach them to do and live with it."

That could start with freshman Kayvon Webster taking over at cornerback for senior Jerome Murphy, who has been beaten on deep passes the past two games. Sophomore Jerrell Young, who had six tackles Saturday in his first significant action since breaking his arm in the season opener, could step back in as a starter for junior walk-on Mistral Raymond.

And freshman Sam Barrington, who had five tackles off the bench, could move into a larger role at outside linebacker.

FRUSTRATION: Offensive coordinator Mike Canales said the Bulls "can't buy a break" with missed opportunities and penalties negating big gains but the players must decide how they will respond to the recent adversity.

"We need to start leaning against each other. Our backs are against the wall a little bit," he said. "You say, 'Hey, who are we?' Are we going to lie down, or are we going to come back and fight. I think you're going to see fighters."

LB Kion Wilson said the problems on defense have been especially demoralizing. Pittsburgh's first nine drives all went for at least 40 yards.

"Adversity is going to arise. You expect it to arise one or two plays in a game," Wilson said. "Now it's actually taking a toll. Adversity has hit us big time two games in a row."

Record scoring: Pittsburgh's 24 points were the most USF has allowed in a second quarter. The record for any quarter is 31 by Cincinnati in the first on Nov. 3, 2007.

"That second quarter was a tough quarter on us," Leavitt said. "That was the whole game."

THIS AND THAT: USF ran only 46 offensive plays, five fewer than the record low set three times, most recently Sept. 29, 2006, against Rutgers. … Junior backup T Jamar Bass has changed numbers from 63 to 86 and lined up on one play — as a 6-foot-4, 290-pound tight end.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com and at (813) 226-3346. Check out his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/usf and follow him at Twitter.com/gregauman.