Learning new ‘O’ is same old thing
QB Barnett is used to change: He’s on 6th coordinator
TAMPA — One would think USF quarterback Blake Barnett would be accustomed to change by now.
The journeyman has played for three different schools and a host of offensive coordinators during his career. This spring, it’s back to the drawing board for the Bulls senior after USF hired new coordinator Kerwin Bell to revamp the team’s offense.
“This is my fifth offense,” Barnett said of the change. “To be technical, maybe consider it the sixth because we kind of installed a little bit of a new offense in the bowl game.
“But this will be my sixth offensive coordinator.”
Barnett said the new system features concepts similar to what he has experienced and, while the verbiage and how the plays are called may be different, he’s not worried about it.
“I am looking forward to being able to take it on the field in spring [practices] because I’d say I have the offense down about as good as I can right now as far as on the chalkboard [and] writing it up,” Barnett said. “But to be able to go on the field and apply it is going to be refreshing and exciting.”
For Barnett, it’s another transition in his life.
He arrived at USF last summer as a graduate transfer from Arizona State. The Bulls were his third team in three seasons — Barnett initially signed to play at Alabama before deciding to transfer to Arizona State.
USF opened the 2018 campaign by winning its first seven games with Barnett directing the offense, but a shoulder injury limited him to four starts in the final six games.
During the stretch, the Bulls suffered through a sixgame losing streak, the program’s longest skid since 2013.
Barnett finished the season with more than 3,000 yards total offense with 20 touchdowns, but he also tossed 11 interceptions and lost three fumbles.
USF coach Charlie Strong wants to see more out of his quarterback this season.
“You need those guys to step up when things are getting tough,” Strong said. “You can’t back away because if you want to be that guy, you need to be that guy all the time and you’ve got to have guys that are looking to follow you.”
Barnett admits he needs to do a better job being the leader of this team, especially after struggling last season.
“I felt like, at times, for me to step in and be that leader when I’ve only known some of these guys for a couple of months was tough,” Barnett explained. “Having a lot more familiarity with the guys on the team, with the coaching staff, the head guys, I feel a lot more comfortable around here in that aspect.”
While much of the focus this offseason — especially outside of the program — will rest on how the Bulls finished last season, it’s a much different story inside the program, where the players and coaching staff are turning the page on 2018.
“It’s a big thing, but it’s also not something that we’re carrying around,” Barnett said of last season’s bumpy finish. “It’s in the past, so we’re trying to move on from that.
“But we’re also trying to learn from what happened. I think it’s accepted and everyone realized what happened, but like I said, we’re trying to move on from that and prepare for [this] year.”
Much of the focus this offseason will be learning an offense system that Bell used while at Valdosta State. It is an explosive scheme that helped the Blazers average more than 50 points per game on their way to winning the 2018 NCAA Division II championship.
The Bulls return nine starters on offense, including the team’s top two rushers, top three receivers and top passer in Barnett.
Senior defensive end Greg Reaves said he’s excited to face off against his team’s new offensive system on the practice field.
“It’s a challenge,” Reaves said. “From what I’ve heard, they put up 52 points a game, which is something I look forward to. If they can do that, I love it.
“Do I want them to put up 52 points on us in practice? No. Our job is to stop it. I think it’s only going to make us better.”
Barnett is focusing on more than just the USF offense.
He is also paying attention to his overall health. Barnett gained 10 to 15 pounds this winter after hiring a personal nutritionist to help with his diet.
“I want to improve my game as far as how I play, how to take care of the ball and just obviously improve,” he said. “And as I’m going into my senior year, I want to get better obviously.”
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