USF Athletics

High-Powered USF Offense Getting Ready for 'Aggressive' Pirates

September 19, 2018

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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, SEPT. 19, 2018 – USF is poised to become the fastest Florida FBS team to reach 150 program wins and its up-tempo offense wants to produce more big results at Raymond James Stadium in the Bulls' conference opener against East Carolina.

On Saturday night, USF will chase after its second straight 4-0 start to a season (seventh in program history) after rallying to victory with consecutive double-digit fourth quarter comebacks against Power Five foes the past two weeks. In the process, USF's high-powered offense extended its nation-leading streak of 20-plus point games to 33.

"We just continue development, growth," offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said Wednesday. "One of our biggest deals all year has been about (being) in the get better business. It's just continuing to get better positionally, individually and as an offense schematically in how we go produce and how we're effective on Saturdays."

Continuous growth has allowed USF to generate 400-plus yards in 13 straight games, including 626-yard effort against Illinois last week. Gilbert knows extending that streak won't be easy against an ECU defense that's been preparing for the Bulls since last week. Due to Hurricane Florence, the Pirates (1-1) packed up their ship and headed for Orlando last Wednesday after their Sept. 15 test at No. 13/10 Virginia Tech was postponed.

Prior to Hurricane Florence, ECU's defense pitched a second-half shutout in a 41-19 rout of North Carolina on Sept. 8, which marked the Pirates' third straight victory over the Tar Heels. ECU currently ranks third in The American in total defense (332.0 ypg) and isn't shy about attacking opponents.

"The No. 1 word I think of with those guys right now is just aggressive," Gilbert said. "They're aggressive on the edges with their back-end guys. They're athletic, they move around and they're coming off a big win."

ECU's athleticism will be put to the test against USF's plethora of pass-catchers. Quarterback Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.) has thrown seven touchdown passes to five different receivers, including one to breakout Bull Randall St. Felix. The Miami native already has two 100-yard receiving games this season and ranks second nationally among freshmen with a team-leading 286 receiving yards.

"When you've got some guys that are that talented and that capable of executing with those kind of numbers consistently, that's huge," Gilbert said. "At the end of the day, consistency wins and that's something we've got to be able to continue to do."

Pressure-Packed USF Defense Faces Potent ECU Offense
USF's young defense showed its ability to successfully make in-game adjustments last week while keeping Illinois out of the end zone for the final 55 minutes.

"It's a testament to the team," defensive coordinator Brian Jean-Mary said. "We're a work in progress, but the kids really ramped up their intensity and their effort after that first quarter, and we were able to get a couple of stops."

Another part of the Bulls' defensive blueprint this season has involved applying steady pressure that produced three sacks on Illinois' final drive of the Bulls' 25-19 win at Soldier Field.

USF currently ranks eighth nationally in tackles for loss (9.7 per game) and 14^th in sacks (3.33 per game) with two linebackers feeding off the constant pressure provided by the D-line.

Junior Nico Sawtelle (Jensen Beach, Fla.) leads the Bulls with 4.5 tackles for loss and has 2.0 sacks. Senior Khalid McGee (Miami) has pushed opponents back 15 yards with 1.5 tackles for loss and leads The American with 11.3 total tackles per game (13^th nationally) in his first season as a starting linebacker.

"They're kind of the barometer for what we do on defense because they're going to blitz, be able to affect the quarterback that way, and drop into coverage," Jean-Mary said. "It's good to see that because we pride ourselves on pressuring, trying to get after the quarterback and making plays in the backfield."

Through two games, ECU has surrendered just two sacks and 11 total tackles for loss in 177 plays. The Pirates' multiple offense is averaging 32.0 points and 446.0 yards while throwing the ball nearly 50 times per game.

"I think it's going to be a big-time challenge, every week we see something different. That's been a great part about these first four opponents," Jean-Mary said. "Everyone brings a little something different to the table in what their strengths are. These guys, they can really put the ball in the air and really challenge you in the passing game."

Wilcox a Top Tight End Target
Mitchell Wilcox's monster performance against Illinois helped move the Mackey Award candidate to the forefront of national stat categories.

The playmaking junior currently ranks first among tight ends across the country in receiving yards (182) and second in receptions (14).  Heading into Saturday, Wilcox needs just three more receptions and 3 receiving yards to match his totals from the entire 2017 season.

"Mitch brings a lot of things to the table when he's on the field," offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said. "He's a physical guy. He's a highly competitive guy, obviously with his ball skills, and he's a guy who knows the spots and spaces to be in. Those are things he's taking advantage of."

Wilcox jumped to the top of the national stat sheet thanks to his eight-catch outing against Illinois, a USF tight end record, that generated a career-high 109 yards for the Tarpon Springs, Fla., native.

"It was awesome to get those targets, and be able to get them in my hands and get some yards," Wilcox said. "It felt really good. Those are the type of games I've always felt I could have in my wheelhouse."
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
USF posted its second straight 10-win season in 2017 (10-2) by winning its second straight Birmingham Bowl with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech. USF is one of just 15 teams nationally to win 20-plus games in the last two seasons (21-4) and posted a program-record 20 straight weeks ranked in the top 25, reaching as high as No. 13 in Week 8 of the 2017 season. The Bulls have won five of their last six bowl appearances and made nine (6-3) total bowl appearances in 21 seasons, including a current run of three straight bowls. USF won a program-record 11 games in 2016 (11-2) and has posted 14 winning seasons. The USF program, which first took the field in 1997, reached No. 2 in the rankings in 2007 and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and had 28 first-team all-conference selections.
 
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