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Tennessee DE Derek Barnett says he’s more confident heading into the 2015 season than he was at any point last year.
Isn’t that a scary thought?
If Barnett was lacking confidence during his freshman All-America season in 2014, during which he accumulated 20.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, I’m sure opposing offensive lines aren’t looking forward to seeing what Barnett looks like with a more comfortable approach to his sophomore season.
“Last year I kind of was just getting a feel for it by each game,” Barnett told Patrick Brown of The Chattanooga Times Free Press. “And this year I just feel like I’m more confident and I know what to do now.”
After bursting onto the scene last fall, Barnett was just a spectator at spring practice following offseason shoulder surgery.
But according to Brown, there is little concern around Volunteers camp about any impact that could have on the upcoming season. In fact, he indicated that Butch Jones is more concerned about managing Barnett’s workload during fall camp than he is about protecting a healing injury.
So given that we should see a 100-percent healthy version of Barnett, what can we expect from him in Year 2?
Well, we know that Barnett will benefit from another season rushing the passer alongside senior Curt Maggitt, who serves as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end in coordinator John Jancek’s defense.
Teams are unlikely to be able to focus too much of their game plan on stopping Barnett when Maggitt, who led the team with 11 sacks last season, poses at least an equal threat to the opposing quarterback.
“We have Curt on the other side,” Barnett told Brown. “We’ve got guys in the middle who are good. We’ve got some young guys who are going to help us. If they focus on me, my teammates are just going to open up and get sacks and make big plays.
“It gets me excited because I know we’re going to be good.”
But what we can also expect is a more refined and calculated approach from a guy that was getting by on pure ability last season.
Barnett explained to The Knoxville News-Sentinel’s Mike Strange how he was ready to up the level of his game in 2015:
“I learned more pass-rush moves,” Barnett said. “I just understand what (offensive) tackles are going to do now. I can read what they’re going to do before the play is called.”
If Barnett is able to anticipate what an offensive lineman is going to do to defend him pre-snap, and make the proper adjustments while utilizing new pass-rush techniques, there is a good chance he turns in an All-America type of season.
What is your prediction for Derek Barnett in 2015?
Will he continue to improve on a fast start to his career, or will he fall victim to the dreaded sophomore slump after offenses make a concerted effort to eliminate him from the play with blocking schemes specifically designed to take him out?
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
