After Navy stung USF for a touchdown four plays into last Saturday’s game, the Bulls marched right back down the field and had first down on the Midshipmen’s 20-yard line.
Quarterback Bryce Archie completed a couple of passes in the drive and dropped back to attempt another one when disaster struck. Archie threw the ball right into the arms of Navy linebacker Kyle Jacob. By the time USF got the ball back nearly seven minutes later, the Middies had another touchdown and led 14-0.
USF had done what head coach Alex Golesh stressed beforehand that it couldn’t afford to do – namely, spot Navy a multi-score lead. Facing a punishing ground attack that chewed up yards and clock time with equal precision, USF had dug itself a hole from which it would not emerge as Navy went on to win 28-7.
But what if instead of an interception, Archie had kept the first drive alive and evened the game? The whole complexion of the contest could have changed.
This is not to blame Archie for the loss; it’s still a team sport, and he was making only the fourth start of his collegiate career since taking over the injured Byrum Brown. But the interception was a gut punch and it came because he got impatient.
“It's simply waiting one more (passing) window. There's a mike linebacker (middle linebacker) sitting there, got a dig coming across the middle. Just wait one more window. He just didn't see it,” Golesh said.
“Where Bryce's maturity showed when he said Coach, ‘I never saw (the linebacker). I gotta get my eyes continue to move to be able to see it’ Gotcha. There's awareness. He understands. He knows there's no panic.”
Maybe there’s no panic, but there certainly needs to be a sense of heightened urgency as the Bulls head to Charlotte on Saturday. A victory would even their record at 5-5 and pull them to within one game of bowl eligibility for the second straight year.
That would be a significant step as USF tries to put the wretched past that preceded Golesh’s arrival last year in the dust bin of history.
Can they do this with Archie? He has had good moments, like when he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another against Florida Atlantic. He just needs to cut out the mistakes.
Assuming Brown will miss a fifth straight game, the only options are Archie or untested sophomore Izzy Carter. Given Archie’s inconsistency, there has been some clamor among Bulls’ fans to see what Carter can do, and Golesh has insisted he is ready to play if needed.
However, giving Carter his first start on the road against team also believing it can earn a bowl bid is a bit too risky. If Brown can’t play and Archie struggles again, then yes – a change of pace would be in order.
But at this point, Archie gives USF its best chance to win.
“When you coach him, or when you communicate, he understands what you're saying. He can reciprocate it back,” Golesh said. “He'll also tell you exactly where he screwed something up. He's going to continue to grow.”