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Grothe Carrying Load For Offense

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By BRETT McMURPHY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 2, 2007

Updated: 11/02/2007 12:12 am

TAMPA - University of South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe celebrated his 21st birthday earlier this season. In the past few weeks, however, his body has felt a lot older.

In USF's last four games, the Bulls' offense has become much more dependent on Grothe's running. In USF's first four games, Grothe carried 51 times for 126 yards (2.5 average), compared to 73 carries for 424 yards (5.8 average) in the past four games.

Included in that was 25 carries and 146 yards, both career highs, in last week's 22-15 loss at Connecticut.

"I don't care if I have to run a hundred times a game as long as we win," Grothe said. "Sometimes I feel like an old man because I get beat up so much but I don't care as long as we just win football games."

Before the season, first-year offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said he wanted Grothe to be "a complementary ball carrier instead of the primary one."

That hasn't been the case recently.

"Last week, how they were playing us, we felt like we needed to run Matt and I think we were right," Gregory said. "We were moving up and down the field, we just couldn't finish off our drives."

Gregory estimated the Bulls wasted between 20 and 32 points in the seven-point loss.

In the past three games against UCF, Rutgers and UConn, Grothe carried 59 times for 304 yards, while USF's top four running backs (Ben Williams, Mike Ford, Jamar Taylor and Moise Plancher) combined for 55 carries for 204 yards.

"The running backs have done a good job this year," Grothe said. "It's just a matter of what goes on. I don't know how to answer that question. I'm not a coach. I change plays every once in a while, but what's called is what's called.

"There are a lot of times certain runs are called for me. A lot of times I see some stuff where they're dropping a lot of guys and getting some pressure, and I take off and make plays."

USF senior cornerback Mike Jenkins said Grothe isn't a typical quarterback.

"I've never seen a quarterback run like that," Jenkins said. "He has a little running back in him. I'm not surprised they're calling his number more because of our injuries at wide receiver."

Gregory said the Bulls enter each game trying to find the best way to move the ball. USF has been more successful recently because of the passing game.

"When you spread out more to throw the ball, a lot of the times, the quarterback has to become more of a runner," Gregory said. "One thing we haven't done is take advantage of field position given to us from our defense. That's the thing we really have to improve on."

Even with the added reliance on Grothe, the offense overall has been more productive under Gregory. USF is averaging 31.6 points a game, compared to 23 points a game in each of the past two seasons.

Grothe said he'll do whatever he's asked to win. "They could give it to me every play if they wanted," he said.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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