Burnham: Williams' role hasn't changed

There seems to be some confusion out there about USF's defensive lineup for Sunday's Connecticut game, so just to clarify, defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said Thursday that senior Carlton Williams' role against the Huskies will not be any different than it was against Rutgers: as USF's nickel defensive back.

USF will likely open against the Huskies in a nickel defense -- with five defensive backs and two linebackers -- as they have in each of the past two games and in three games earlier this season. Even when USF is in a standard 4-3 defense with three linebackers, Williams will not be the strongside linebacker -- he'll be at strong safety, with Sabbath Joseph or Chris Robinson at strongside. At practice Wednesday, Williams was practicing with the defensive backs, as he has all season, not with the linebackers.

The nickel defense has essentially been USF's base defense -- against a top running back like Connecticut's Donald Brown, a team might be more likely to play a conventional 4-3 defense, but the nickel plays to USF's strengths, preferring an experienced third safety like Louis Gachette to a comparably inexperienced third linebacker such as Joseph or Robinson. You might see Joseph listed as the starting strongside linebacker on the depth chart, but he's not on the field on the first play, and USF will spend only a fraction of the game with three linebackers in the game -- that's why Gachette, with one start this season, has 24 tackles, more than Joseph (18) or Robinson (14).

If the opposing offense doesn't line up with three or more receivers, which drops the nickel into pass coverage, there isn't that much difference between a nickel defensive back and an outside linebacker. Williams was used in blitzes against Rutgers, getting one of the team's two sacks. Against some formations, he'll be close to the line of scrimmage, as in covering a tight end, and given that Brown has more carries himself than Connecticut has pass attempts this season, Williams will be working to contain Brown. By USF's terminology, that would not make him a strongside linebacker, however.

"That's wrong," coach Jim Leavitt said Wednesday night. "He's playing nickel. We take the Sam (strongside linebacker) out, we put the nickel in."

Comments

[RR]

Donald Brown will roll up at least 150 yards on Sunday night.

[Rich]

nice follow up , Greg. doesn't make much sense to go nickel against UConn. I guess they really don't trust those LBs. Brouce's injury has really hurt us this year. I wish we had gone to a 3-4 more this year with Robinson as a roving LB that would bring pressure. Our pass rush has been lacking from the front 4.

[Hernando]

Greg, What's going on with new requirement today of comment registration by Typekey over on High School Sports blog. Is this going to be required on all tampabay.com blogs soon or is it just at that site because so many posters are getting wild and wooly? I don't want anyone knocking on my front door!

[G.A.]

Not sure on that. All the more reason to behave on here, I'd say ...

[Hernando]

Thank you. I promise to abide with SPT's comment policies. Greg, you do a great job with your reporting and insight on USF athletics!

[Don G]

With all of the stated need for position changes due to injuries and recent play by backups during the Rutgers game, it appears that USF has a serious lack of talent with their juniors & sophomores. This is not a very good sign of next year, especially when they're losing 14 possibly 16 starters after this season. I predict a max of 6-wins for the Bulls next year. So, everyone should just prepare for an off-season in 2009 and set your expectations accordingly.

[RR]

I predict a max of six wins OVER THE NEXT TWO SEASONS.

I don't know if I am the only one who has noticed, but we get eaten alive on the edges. Whomever plays the end has been unable to keep contain and our linebackers are consistently battling one or two blockers on the outside. Pitt/McCoy dominated USF in the second half with that plan and everyone has been doing it since. Maybe it is time to go to a 5th lineman.