USF LB Wilson takes shot at Rutgers o-line

Despite losing three straight games to Rutgers, USF's players are speaking with confidence going into Thursday's game against the Scarlet Knights.

On Monday, when asked about potential advantages in the game, Bulls senior linebacker Kion Wilson mentioned Rutgers' offensive line, which was thought to be a team strength entering the season as it returned five starters from last year.

"Their offensive line had extremely a lot of hype going into the game, but they're second in the Big East in giving up sacks,"  Wilson said. "They don't handle stunts and pressure very well, so hopefully Coach (defensive coordinator Joe) Tresey will be aggressive with the play-calling, and have our defensive line do a lot of stunting and a lot of blitzing and hopefully we'll be able to get pressure on the quarterback."

Rutgers has allowed 22 sacks in eight games -- four more than USF has allowed -- though the Knights have played the last six games without sophomore Caleb Ruch, who started 10 games last year at left guard. Ruch has been out with an ankle injury but could return this week. USF has totaled just three sacks in the last two games against Rutgers, while giving up 11 in those games.

Wilson said the Bulls are motivated by last year's 49-16 loss, saying that USF coach Jim Leavitt has used that game over the past year to remind the Bulls what can happen when they don't play well.

"It's motivating a lot, because Coach Leavitt, he does a great job of not letting us forget about that game," Wilson said. "He lets us know that we basically were embarrassed that game. We have a lot to play for, self-pride, self-respect, position rank within the Big East. We're going out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm for this game."

Asked if Leavitt has been talking about last year's Rutgers game for the two weeks since USF's last game, Wilson said it was long before that.

"Since (preseason) camp," he said. "He's always mentioned the Rutgers game, how bad we lost, how we were embarrassed and how we have to come out and play."

Some of USF's players last year took exception to Rutgers throwing the ball with a 33-point lead in the fourth quarter, and Wilson said that aspect of getting revenge is also a motivation.

"It is, hands down," Wilson said. "Hopefully, we can get our offense to stay on the field the majority of the night, and defense, hopefully we can go out and make big plays, cause turnovers, get the offense the ball and allow them the chance to score and run out the clock."

Wilson has only been at USF two seasons, but he said he'll be playing for the Bulls' seniors who have gone 0-3 against Rutgers.

"It's a big game for (defensive end) George (Selvie)," Wilson said. "It's pretty much the same scenario as Cincinnati, how he said he had never won. That's a lot of momentum for guys wanting to play for George."

Comments

[Steve O'Neal]

Wow, three good posts by the Turd! I hope for your sake and all Bulls fans that this Thursday the Bulls can erase a couple more curses. Beating RU on a Thursaday game would certainly do it! GO BULLS!

[Bulliever]

My very favorite one:

Beat Rucking Futgers!

LOL :)

[Bulliever]

Beat Yutgers!

[KC]

We need this win badly. If we can run the table in conference it improves our bowl possibilities dramatically.

I have seen two predictionso f USF playing int he St. Pete bowl again agaisnt UCF. As much fun as it has been to beat them, I have no interest in that match up again.

Please break the Thursday night curse!!!

[bob]

I went to the Rutgers game two years ago (the one where we imploded and then Leavitt and a player got in an altercation in the locker room afterwards), Rutgers fans are the worst smack talkers ever! Not even one good insult the whole time I was there.

One guy said 'did you just buy those shirts today?' Like Rutgers has been selling out since 1889. They used to get 5 people at their games. And those five left early.

[Turd Ferguson]

Yep...I've paid a lot of money and spent many hours in cold weather road games watching the Bulls get pummeled.

I'm really hoping Thursday is different. I can't take another one of those.

[Bill B.]

With the weather in the 40's it should be a good warm up for UConn game. Beating RU in the cold would warn the hearts of many USF attendees at the game.

[Mr. Snrub]

Rabble Rabble!

[David Weber]

RU- I disagree with the Davis/Selvie battle. Both will probably have their moments. No one will fault Davis for letting Selvie get past him a few times, and no one will fault Selvie for getting shut down on occasion. I really don't see one guy dominating the other. It will be fun to watch, though- quickness and agility versus size and strength.

[Jupiter Bull]

Great retort, Turd. Rep us well in NJ. I do think Selvie will play his best, and others will step up, too. This is a HUGE game for us.

BTW, RU fans, our 2 & 3rd stringers were in most of the 2nd half, and we lost Grothe in the 2nd quarter. It was a tune up game. Look what you guys did to a grossly overmatched Howard. It happens...cupcakes are practice games.

And nice of you not to beat up FIU too badly...RU escaped that one. Still, RU played Pitt close, and will likely give us all we can handle. But I believe USF is the better team, and will prevail. But that's why we play the games! GO BULLS!

[Turd Ferguson]

Turd,

RUinChiTown is probably not the brightest light on the Rutgers tree either.

GO BULLS !!!

Posted by: Sandro | November 10, 2009 at 11:31 AM

------

No, Sandro...I would postulate that this Rutgers fan in Chi-town is probably one of the more sharp members of the Rutgers fan base, if that tells you anything.

[Sandro]

Turd,

RUinChiTown is probably not the brightest light on the Rutgers tree either.

GO BULLS !!!

[Turd Ferguson]

Don't know where you're getting your weather reports, Rutgers fans.

Everything I've looked at calls for temps in the mid to high 40s and no precipitation.

And I'll be there to enjoy both the weather and a Bulls victory.

[RUinChiTown]

Obviously Kion is not the brightest light on the USF tree. We appreciate him adding to our emotion (we do know we really do need to win ths game!) with his mouth. Perhaps he'll try and tackle Jersey Joe with his jaw as Martinek runs through him?

The motivation for at least two players is already there...Selvi has to re-earn his rep and Davis has a chance to justify all the hype and talk of being "NFL ready now.". Only one can come out the winner.

Should be a great game -- 35 degrees with some rain and wind. Welcome to the northeast in Novemeber!

RU 31 UsF 24

[RutgersAgain]

I hope USF has this game circled on their calendar.....again. We know that has worked out well in the past few years.

Oh...and dropping 59 on Charleston Southern is ok for the Bulls? hypocrite.

[Jim]

At least we know now that UCF, UoF fans show up her and waste there time with Valencia CC posts and I-AA posts.

Bulls beat Rutgers bad, they deserve it.

[Tim]

Same "bulletin board" stuff for us, different year. I really think that stuff is overrated now. Wilson better not wet his bed.

[Bulliever]

Okay pretty crass, I know, but just could not resist...I hate this team with such a passion...

[Bulliever]

Just beat those )@&^ &%#$)@* Mother Rutgers!

[Sandro]

I don't care if players talk before the game as long as they can back it up during the game. Just like that WR from Cincy Gillyard when they played us. I just hate Rutgers and we need this win so hopefully our team will come with their top game.

GO BULLS !!!

[sh]

hey usf should be 1-aa

go back to ucf/valencia community college

[Jupiter Bull]

Like I said...pressure's on Kion to back it up. Not sure I dislike that. RU is already UP for us...they don't need BB stuff.

Kion, you better strap it on, or the RU fans will be inserting "Kion" into rhymes that are not flattering to you.

Selvie, you are awesome. I hope you unlease it all for the next 4 games, and leave a strong impression for the NFL scouts. Nate, you, too. Time to leave that legacy by running the table and leaving on the tails of our best year ever.

And USF Should be I-AA...what is your favorite college you never attended. If you bash a team, you should at least cite your team. Or don't you have the grapes?

[David Weber]

This is the most outrageous statement ever in the history of the world. Joey Porter just lost his title as the baddest linebacker in football...

"Their offensive line had extremely a lot of hype going into the game." I guess Kion doesn't frequent this board. He should have known his grammar would be critiqued.

I don't like when athletes are covered like they were tabloid items. A guy comments on a situation, and really, Kion is just pointing out a fact, and somehow, it's all over the internet as being some sort of outlandish statement. Even the Larry Johnson thing was blown way out of proportion. If he hadn't used a slur, he'd still be on the team. In fact, he was correctly pointing out a fact, just like Kion.

My only problem with Kion's statements is that he should have been more vague when discussing their preparation for the game.

Whatever happened to fun trash talking? Now Jim Rome and Skip Bayless just get on TV and yell at me about how players should shut up. It's beyond absurd. For the record, I'm just referencing all trash talk or near trash talk instances in the past few years, not necessarily Kion.

[USFshould be 1-AA]

typical banter from classless big headed USF players. Just work on winning your first conference title in school history. hahahahahahaahahahaahahahaha

That should a billboard!

[Jupiter Bull]

The line is out. Bulls giving a point to RU. Basically even. I don't know how much this type of talk helps or hurts...I suspect neither side needs motivation. Maybe it puts pressure on Kion to live up to his words.

Rutgers will be pumped to continue to own us, and get a win over a ranked team to shut up the doubters. Beating USF may get them in the Top 25...so they HAVE the motivation.

Let's play smart, aggressive ball, and have a plan to stop the blitz...dump passes, screens, quick hitters, etc. And let's pressure the frosh QB and force mistakes...HIT 'EM EARLY & OFTEN!!!

[Bill B.]

Didn't we talk about bulletin board material against WV. With Pitt we were flat and CJL did not prepare the team. Now if he is that motivated hopefully he prepares the team for the game. As for Kion, call them out and make them want to think about it. Then use their anger against them.
It is still our offense against their defense that is going to be the difference.

Turd, cheer loudly so I can hear you on the TV.

[Ken]

Is our middle linebacker crazy? What's he doing that for? That's just the proverbial bulletin board material--no reason to do that. It doesn't intimidate them; it hurts.

[USFShep]

Just make sure you "walk the talk" Kion!
Go Bulls!

[Mr. Snrub]

To Bill- Kion has had a great season so far, and there's nothing wrong with motivating the defense. Calling him a "stooge" is childish. Maybe you should following your own adivce.

[Turd Ferguson]

Ugh.

[Orlando Bull]

Umm, Pitt is ranked No. 12 right now. Every now and then, you're going to have an off game and run into a GOOD team. When that happens, it will be ugly.

Yes, the Pitt game was bad, but nothing like RU last year in my mind. I don't want to re-watch the game, but if Pitt knocks off WVU and Notre Dame, then looking back, it's not that embarrassing.

Kind of like letting Cincy's back-up QB have his way with us...apparently he's pretty good.

[BC]

Terry, I'm in full agreement. If I'm already winning big, I'm putting in the second and third stringers and having them play as if it's a 3 point game.

It's funny, fans and even some players were whining about Rutgers running it up on us, but I don't remember anybody having a problem with the way we hung 64 on UCF

[Terry Lucas]

I'm glad I'm not a coach. They way I would look at a college game if I was the head coach, win and win big. I would not have any mercy and would be expecting to get my two's and three's normal game reps in the fourth quarter until the final whistle (because you never know when a back up might be called upon to come in for an injured starter and you need to run the two minute drill to win a game). I hope Kion punishes Rutgers, but if I was Shiano, I would have done the same thing. Hell, they recruit our territory heavily... one way to get recruits is to demonstrate how inferior your opposition is (look at why UCF gets the left overs that don't get offered at the Big Four schools - they couldn't really hang with us in four straight games).

[Bill]

if leavitt had a clue, he would tell this stooge to keep his mouth shut.

[Bullshark]

The motivation is great, and we need this intensity for the rest of the season, we have a loss to UL (from ast year)the following week to remember as well. However, an opposing player telling a team what they are bad at can be more motivating than that team's coach could ever be. I think it's time to return to the "PR" responses..."They have an excellent offensive line, they are a great team, blah, blah, blah."

[G.A.]

Perhaps it's "don't be embarrassed by Rutgers," as opposed to simply "don't be embarrassed."

[BC]

So Leavitt's been using that embarrassment last year as motivation this year, yet they came out and embarrassed themselves the same way against Pitt?