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Kerwin Bell details planned changes to USF offense

Kerwin Bell addressed the media for the first time Wednesday as USF's new offensive coordinator. Bell gave a basic synopsis of what the offense could look like next season. SPECIAL TO THE ORACLE/GOUSFBULLS

Following the Bulls’ loss to UCF on Black Friday, USF fans draped a sign over a section of padded wall around Raymond James Stadium calling for a change of staff.

“Fire Gilbert” was accompanied by cartoonish flames.

Now, the Bulls have a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach — Kerwin Bell. In his introductory press conference Wednesday, Bell wasted no time telling people what he wanted to bring to the football program.

“We’re going to do our best to be exciting and to utilize our players to the best of their abilities and try to find the athletes that can fit our system,” Bell said.

Former offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert ran a veer-and-shoot offense with USF last season, an offensive scheme which is designed so passes can lead to power runs.

Bell said he plans to run his offense a bit differently — a pro-style passing game with a lot of spread concepts, which involves, as the name implies, spreading the defense from sideline to sideline, expanding play options.

“When we want to drop back and throw the football, we do it on a professional level,” Bell said. “To me, that is where we separate ourselves from everyone else because I don’t think a lot of spread teams can drop back and throw the football on an NFL level. That is what we bring to the table.”

Bell will inherit an offense filled with experienced players at almost every position. Quarterback Blake Barnett, running backs Jordan Cronkrite and Johnny Ford, tight end Mitchell Wilcox and wide receiver Randall St. Felix are all returning to USF next season.

“Barnett is a smart kid and has all the physical attributes you are looking for in a QB. I think he moves, I don’t think people give him enough credit for that,” Bell said. “Wilcox is a special player, just his size and ability to get open and separate from defenders. You can see he is a very especially talented kid and any time you can keep guys like that here is really really good.”

Bell’s career as a player and a coach has compiled into three decades of football experience and cited the influence of Lindy Infante and Steve Spurrier on how he came to be a coach.

“Steve Spurrier hired me as a graduate assistant, and when I went there I saw almost perfection on the field during his first year at the University of Florida,” Bell said. “That's what I try to obtain every day at practice, I think we will show that in the game.”

In Bell’s last season as head coach at Valdosta State with a perfect 14-0 record and a Division-II championship tacked on, Bell’s offense ran 66 plays per game. USF averaged 75 plays per game last season.

“If you look at us, I think the one thing you’re gonna see is, we’re gonna go fast, but we’re also gonna try to execute at a very, very high level,” Bell said. “What I try to do is obtain perfection on the field.”

 

Additional reporting by Jeremy Johnson