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Offense Just Can't Find Its Rhythm

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By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 3, 2008

TAMPA - The University of South Florida picked the most inopportune time to go into an offensive funk.

Heading into the Bulls' Big East opener against Pittsburgh at Raymond James Stadium on Thursday, USF was averaging 36.4 points and 464.4 yards per game.

But in the Bulls' 26-21 loss, the offense was ineffective for the majority of the game and was never able to find a consistent rhythm.

Through three quarters, USF had scored just 14 points (seven by the special-teams unit) and gained 137 yards - and that was a marked improvement on the first-half production.

In the second quarter, USF had the ball for just 1:50, running five plays for minus-1 yard.

The Bulls had three first downs in the first half and had 78 total yards as they went into intermission trailing 17-7. They failed to score an offensive touchdown in the first half for the first time since Oct. 27, 2007, at Connecticut.

USF's first drive of the third quarter nearly duplicated its offensive production of the first half when quarterback Matt Grothe capped an 11-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper to get the Bulls within 17-14.

The offense, however, failed to do anything after beginning its next two drives in Pittsburgh territory. After starting at the Panthers' 48, the Bulls lost 5 yards and were forced to punt.

Their next possession started at the Pitt 46, but after losing 10 yards, they again had to punt.

It looked like Grothe would again will the Bulls to victory, as he has so many times.

Grothe gave USF a 21-20 lead when he connected with Jessie Hester Jr. on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 5:57 remaining.

But after Pitt answered with a touchdown to go up 26-21, the Bulls' offense reverted to its first-half form and went three-and-out, allowing the Panthers to run out most of the clock.

USF, which finished with 236 total yards, failed to connect on a Hail Mary pass as time expired.

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