USF Athletics

Bulls Making Adjustments Ahead of Clash With UConn

October 02, 2019

NEXT GAME: USF (1-3, 0-1) at UConn (1-3, 0-1)
DAY/TIME: Saturday/noon
LOCATION: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn.
TV/RADIO: CBS Sports Network (live stream at noon, TV air time 7 p.m.)/USF Radio Network: Over the Air: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM & Digital: Bulls Unlimited
SERIES: USF leads, 11-5 (Bulls won last meeting, 38-30, in 2018)
GAME NOTES: USF (PDF) | UConn (PDF)
 
 
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, OCT. 2, 2019 – Whether it's scheme adjustments, lineup tweaks, or switching the practice style, coaches are willing to do whatever it takes to get the Bulls rolling in Saturday's conference test at UConn.

Both coordinators used Wednesday's media session to describe what changes are being made to get USF back on even ground in the league standings.

"I don't believe in staying the same. I'm as frustrated as everybody out there, fans and everybody," offensive coordinator Kerwin Bell said. "We gotta figure out what direction we can go in and just make this thing happen this year with the personnel we have. If it's more spread and more uptempo, we gotta look at that. If it's more pro style, we gotta look at that. That's the great thing about the system, it's got a lot of variations."

Bell noted modifications to the attack on offense also will include personnel changes at various positions. Sophomore Bryce Miller (St. Petersburg, Fla.) is set to start at slot receiver after providing a spark against SMU with a touchdown catch and 50 receiving yards in the fourth quarter last Saturday. Learn more about the walk-on's path to a starting role HERE.

"He's not the biggest, not the fastest. But man, he gets open. He plays hard," Bell said. "He's gonna start at Y for us. We're changing some people around."

Bell was encouraged by USF's 21-point second half against the newly ranked No. 24 Mustangs, but the adjustments on offense this week are geared toward trying to put the Bulls ahead of the game.

"We gotta start fast and help our defense by getting points on the board early," Bell said.

Coordinator Brian Jean-Mary also wants to see his defense roar out of the gates and detailed some of the adjustments the Bulls have made with a goal of improving across the board.

"We've switched some things up in practice and made it a little bit more competitive, and actually have cut a couple periods," Jean-Mary said. "We feel like the kids should be a little fresher and there have been positive results so far."

Increasing the competitive level in practice has included more of a game-like feel. Starting groups on both sides of the ball have been going against each other much more. Receivers and defensive backs have been battling in one-on-one drills, just like the Bulls up front, and tackling work has taken on the same format.

"You see that you're close, it's just the finish part of it," Jean-Mary said. "That's why we feel going good-on-good is gonna make us even better for the game."

Quarterback Update: Part II
During Monday's press conference, head coach Charlie Strong said quarterback Jordan McCloud (Tampa) should be good to go for Saturday.

Two days later, Kerwin Bell dished out more encouraging details on the redshirt freshman, who suffered a wrist injury against SMU and missed the second half of his second straight start.

"He's been out there practicing," Bell said.

In McCloud's place, Blake Barnett (Corona, Calif.) provided solid relief against SMU, matching his career high with three touchdown passes on three straight drives covering 75, 82 and 83 yards. The senior was tackled awkwardly in the fourth quarter and suffered a high-ankle sprain.

Barnett hasn't practiced so far this week for precautionary reasons following his 10^th career 200-yard passing game.

"We're taking it slow with him, making sure that he can get as healthy as possible on Saturday," Bell said. "He's getting all the mental work and all that. We're hoping to have him available also on Saturday."

If Barnett can't suit up, the Bulls have reinforcements ready at quarterback. Bell mentioned sophomore Kirk Rygol (Fort Mill, S.C.) as a backup quarterback the Bulls "have a lot of confidence in."

"The kid can really throw it, he can spin it. He's got a great feel for the game," Bell said. "He's back off his injury. He's able to move around now, so we feel comfortable about him going in also as a guy available for us."

Targeting Tight Ends Leads to Production
One of the bright spots from the Bulls' loss to undefeated SMU was the way tight ends stepped up, especially in the second half.

Three-time Mackey Award candidate Mitchell Wilcox had a team-high 77 receiving yards on four catches, including a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The senior from Tarpon Springs, Fla., leads the Bulls in receiving yards (178) and touchdown receptions (3) while the NFL prospect is averaging 17.8 yards per catch this season.

"Mitch is playing hard," Bell said. "He gives us a weapon across the middle of the field."

Tight ends accounted for 131 of USF's 288 receiving yards against the Mustangs, thanks in part to a breakout performance from Jacob Mathis. The junior from Tampa had a highlight-reel catch for a score from 24 yards out in the third quarter and added a career-long reception of 30 yards in the fourth.
 

A moment to remember. First career TD for Jacob Mathis! pic.twitter.com/MCHrNniXUu

— USF Football (@USFFootball) October 1, 2019

"Man, we're happy to see Jacob coming on," Bell said.

Another personnel adjustment Bell talked about Wednesday was the possibility of a third tight end getting involved moving forward. Sophomore Frederick Lloyd (Tifton, Ga.) made plays in fall camp and brings plenty of potential to the position at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds.

"We're gonna play him some," Bell said. "He can flat-out get open."
 
ABOUT USF FOOTBALL
Having completed just its 22^nd season of football, and 19^th at the FBS level, the USF football program has earned 10 bowl appearances, including a current run of four straight, and owns a record of 6-3 in bowl games. The Bulls have appeared in the national top 25 rankings in each of the past three seasons, including a program record run of 20 straight weeks in the top 25, and in 2018 reached the program's 150^th win faster than any FBS program in state of Florida history. USF has posted a pair of 10-plus win seasons in the last three years, including a program-record 11 wins (11-2) in 2016, and logged 15 winning seasons overall. Since first taking the field in 1997, the USF program has reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings (2007), seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft, 14 named All-American and 29 earn first-team all-conference selection.
 
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