When a reporter asked Tyrone McKenzie the question Tuesday at the South Florida Bulls' weekly news conference, he smiled.
"Last year at this time, USF had forced 17 turnovers, and this year, the defense has forced only three. What's going on?" the reporter asked.
USF's senior linebacker - the team's second-leading tackler with 17 - realized sooner or later he would be faced with the question.
"I think some of the quarterbacks we've played are smart with the ball," he said. "We've played some quarterbacks that aren't going to force passes, and I think we got to get the forced fumbles going."
The takeaways were a big reason why South Florida's defense was so formidable last season. After four games a year ago, the Bulls had 10 interceptions and seven forced fumbles.
That's not the case in 2008 as USF (4-0) has three picks and hasn't forced a fumble.
Granted, the Bulls have played a couple disciplined signal-callers in UCF's Michael Greco and Kansas' Todd Reesing.
Greco was careful with the football, going 17 of 32 and throwing two late touchdowns, and lost in overtime. When Greco didn't have a passing lane, he ran the ball, leading the Knights in rushing with 51 yards.
Then there was Reesing.
The junior quarterback completed 34 of 51 passes for nearly 400 yards and three touchdowns, but his late interception proved to be the difference in South Florida's victory.
Still, the Bulls' defense is ranked 12th in the nation, allowing 238.5 yards a game.
"They always say, 'Create turnovers to put your offense back on the field,' " USF All-American defensive end George Selvie said. "These teams are disciplined, and we are playing offenses that are trying to do everything right. Kansas did everything right until he made the big mistake at the end. We haven't gotten that many (turnovers) so far, but we are still winning."
No. 13 South Florida will attempt to continue its winning ways at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when the Bulls play at N.C. State (2-2). ESPNU will televise the game.
Last season, South Florida forced most of its turnovers with pressure from the defensive line disrupting the rhythm of the offense and forcing quarterbacks to make abrupt decisions. USF's pressure has all but disappeared with Selvie being double- and triple-teamed, coupled with the other defensive linemen not stepping up. South Florida has three sacks, and Selvie has two of those.
Bulls coach Jim Leavitt said he's not worried about Selvie's output; it's the other linemen he's trying to motivate.
"I mostly talk to the other guys," Leavitt said. "They are all blocking (Selvie), so who's blocking you? Somebody needs to get there. We need to get more production out of our other guys. They are all trying and working hard, giving it their best shot."
Yet, for South Florida, less seems to be more in 2008.
"I feel that we have a better defense than we did last year," McKenzie said. "We have a lot of playmakers, the only difference is that the quarterbacks we've played this year have been smarter."
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