Backup plan: Holtz to play subs early vs. FAMU

Posted Sep 16, 2011 by Adam Adkins

Updated Sep 16, 2011 at 07:24 PM

The University of South Florida has had little trouble in recent years with FCS opponents and the matchups have typically offered Bulls backups an opportunity for plenty of playing time, especially late in the game.

While that scenario could very well play out again tonight when No. 20 USF hosts Florida A&M at Raymond James Stadium, Bulls coach Skip Holtz won’t wait until the game is no longer in doubt before inserting his second-teamers. He’s planning on throwing them into the fire early.

With depth still a primary concern and Holtz recognizing the second-team units aren’t where he wants them to be with less than two weeks before the Big East Conference slate begins, the Bulls head coach said USF’s backups will play at some point during the first half against the visiting Rattlers.

“We’re looking at getting them in one of the early series to turn and let them know that they’re not just out here practicing for an emergency backup role or if they were going to get an opportunity to play late in the game,” Holtz said.

“We want them to understand, and we’ve been talking about it as a staff … how do we get them to understand we need them to keep coming because as you go through the course of the season, one of these guys somewhere on our twos is going to have to step in and play for us and play a significant role somewhere down the line.”

It won’t just be sprinkling in a few second-teamers with most of the first-stringers still on the field, either. Holtz is planning a wholesale substitution, much the same way he did in the second half last week against Ball State. The move didn’t translate into much success against the Cardinals, particularly on the offensive end, but that seems to be reason for giving it another go.

After watching his second-team offense manage just 20 total yards, three first downs and commit one turnover in five possessions during last week’s 37-7 win, Holtz thought it illustrated just how much of a drop-off still exists between his backups and starters. USF’s first-team offense racked up 499 total yards and put the offense in position to score points on nine of its 10 drives.

By keeping the entire backup unit together and pitting it against the Rattlers’ first-team defense, which USF coaches said this week blitzes about 70 percent of the time, Holtz believes he will get a solid gauge of where the second unit stands in its development.

“I think you get a much better evaluation of where they are, how far away they are from being able to turn and step in and being able to play a starting role for us, which is what we keep talking about,” Holtz said.

Holtz, who talked after Wednesday’s practice about the decision to play his second-team units early, seemed to give the backups a wake-up call during Tuesday’s practice when he pushed them through a more rigorous workout than normal.

“I think that was kind of just a hint that we need to get better,” backup quarterback Bobby Eveld said. “I don’t think that it was anything that should have been taken personally. I think he just wanted to show that if you’re not going to get better on your own, he’s going to make you.”

Eveld, who finished 3-for-11 for 13 yards and an interception against Ball State, acknowledged that the second-team offense didn’t play as well as it could have, but he thinks the group will be much more settled down for its next opportunity.

“I think overall as a second-string offense, I think we’re coming together,” Eveld said. “I was nervous (last week), so I can imagine that a lot of them were nervous, too, because most of them that was their first time on the field. I think now that they have their feet wet they’re going to calm down a little bit and we’re going to be OK.”