USF’s speed on Taggart’s mind

Posted Sep 21, 2010 by Adam Adkins

Updated Sep 24, 2010 at 10:09 AM

Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggart has spent his fair share of time breaking down film of USF in preparation for Saturday’s game at Raymond James Stadium.

So what’s the first thing that stands out to Taggart about the Bulls?

“Speed, speed, speed,” the first-year Hilltoppers coach said. “Their big guys are fast. They’re big and they can run. This is probably going to be the most athletic team we play by far. They look the part and they can get after it, like any typical Florida team down there.”

Taggart knows plenty about Florida football, having prepped at Manatee High. He also knows plenty about growing up in the quarterback position on the collegiate level, much the way USF sophomore B.J. Daniels is doing.

Taggart, a four-year collegiate starter at Western Kentucky who was an All-American as a senior, talked in generalities about the challenges of being a young starting quarterback.

“When you’re a young quarterback, sometimes you’re just trying to do too much. Sometimes you go out and feel like you’ve got to make all the plays, and do everything and not allow your teammates to do as much,” he said. “That’s just part of being young at the spot at quarterback, which is such an important position. You think you have to do so much more, when you really don’t most of the time.”

He also spoke glowingly specifically regarding Daniels, whose skill set he compared to Michael Vick.

“I tell you what, that kid they have there is the real deal,” Taggart said of Daniels. “He is the real deal. I remember watching him in high school and saying he was going to be special, and he’s showing that to everyone now.”