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Bulls to key on Pitt RB Lewis

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A Tribune staff report

Published: October 23, 2009

Updated: 10/23/2009 12:23 am

TAMPA - The key for the University of South Florida when it plays at No. 20 Pittsburgh on Saturday is to contain RB Dion Lewis.

After midseason slumps in each of the past two years - and after last week's loss against Cincinnati - if the Bulls want to avoid the "here we go again" mind-set, they must force the Panthers to become one-dimensional.

Slowing Lewis, however, won't be easy. USF's rushing defense (119 yards per game) is second-to-last in the Big East, while the 5-foot-8, 195-pound freshman leads the conference in rushing and is third in the nation with a 131-yard average.

"His feet are always within his body; they never get outside his framework, and they're always moving. He does a great job with balance, does a great job with vision seeing the field," defensive coordinator Joe Tresey said. "You just don't know where he's going to appear sometimes. He just gets behind people and, boom, he's outside on the perimeter outrunning people. ... He's the best back we've seen so far this year without a doubt."

WELCOME BACK: Senior WR Jessie Hester, who has been limited by ankle and hamstring injuries, recorded his first catch of the season last week when he turned a short slant pass into a 28-yard touchdown.

"It was a big confidence boost for him as well as our offense," QB B.J. Daniels said. "He has been working at getting healthy again for a long time so for him to get a touchdown on the first drive was really big."

Hester, whose school-record 22-game streak with at least one catch ended in Week 1, finished with three receptions for 41 yards.

Gregg Becnel
Meyer agrees with decision on refs
GAINESVILLE - Florida coach Urban Meyer said Thursday he approved of the Southeastern Conference's decision to suspend the officiating crew that worked the Gators' game against Arkansas last week.

The crew will not call their next scheduled game Oct. 31 and will not be assigned to call another game until Nov. 14.

"I think that's fair," Meyer said.

Officials called a personal foul on Arkansas DL Malcolm Sheppard in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game that the league said could not be supported by video evidence.

The same group of officials also called a late unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the LSU-Georgia game earlier this month that the league said shouldn't have been called.

REED WORKING AT TIGHT END: Meyer said freshman QB Jordan Reed has been spending time practicing at tight end recently.

"He's a very good athlete," Meyer said. "We've got to find a way to get him on the field someday."

Reed hasn't seen the field this season and when Tim Tebow was questionable against LSU because of a concussion it was P Chas Henry, not Reed, who was named the team's third option at quarterback.

Meyer said Reed is just experimenting at the position and that, at least for now, he will remain a quarterback.

THIN AT DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Lawrence Marsh (ankle) and Jaye Howard (knee) are doubtful for Saturday's game against Mississippi State and DE Justin Trattou, who plays inside in the Gators' Joker package, is out with a shoulder injury.

That means UF will again rely on a rotation of Omar Hunter, Troy Epps and Terron Sanders in the middle.

Duke Lemmens will play inside instead of Trattou in the Joker package.

INJURIES: Meyer said there is a 50-50 chance LB Brandon Spikes - a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy - will be ready to play Saturday after suffering a groin injury against Arkansas.

WR T.J. Lawrence had his knee scoped Thursday to repair an injured meniscus. Meyer said he should be back in a couple weeks.

Mike DiFerdinando

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