Zach Arnett reveals why he was drawn to Kevin Barbay as his offensive coordinator

A new era begins in Starkville this upcoming football season, as Mississippi State head coach Zach Arnett enters his first season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. Along his side will be newly hired offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, and at SEC Media Days, Arnett spoke about why Barbay was his play caller of choice.

“Yeah, obviously we talked to a lot of different candidates in this offensive coordinator search, and the first question at every single one was, all right, tell me what your offense looks like,” Arnett said. “What’s it going it look like? What is the identity out there? Obviously you get a lot of different answers, and I think the most refreshing thing, talking to Coach Barbay, Kevin, was when I asked that question the response was, I can’t tell you that until we figure out who the best 11 players are.”

Barbay’s offensive philosophy aligned with Arnett’s defensive philosophy and the rest was history, as both coaches are more focused on their personnel and setting up their best players for success versus staying strict to a specific scheme.

“That was refreshing to hear that level of humility because that’s how I was brought up in this business. The guys I learned from on the other side of the ball was, right, you don’t determine what your scheme is on defense, who you line up there, until you figure out who your best players are. Ultimately that’s the job of a coach, get your best 11 players on the field. Then you got to have a two-deep, so you got to figure out who your top 22 are,” Arnett explained.

Thankfully for Arnett, Mississippi State’s defensive players are already familiar with his scheme and how he operates, spending the last three seasons as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator. Barbay on the other hand is tasked with implementing a new offense to a new group of players, something he’s fortunately already proven he can do in the past in short order.

“So to hear that from him, again, that was refreshing, that level of humility. Kevin has done a really good job everywhere he has been. Very efficient on the opposite side of the ball and yet very good at creating explosive plays,” Arnett said. “Everywhere he’s been it’s looked a little bit different because the players are different. Your job on offense is to get the ball in your most explosive players’ hands, hopefully in as much space as possible so they can do what they do.”

In Barbay’s one and only season as Central Michigan‘s offensive coordinator, the Chippewas averaged 420.5 yards and 31.3 points per game. And in his lone season as Appalachian State‘s offense coordinator last season, his offense averaged 455.3 yards and 34.9 points per game, ranking top 30 in the country. Achieving success in each of his stops by getting the ball in the hands of his best players in advantageous situations for his offenses.

“He recognizes that. He’s been really good at doing it everywhere he’s been,” Arnett said. “Obviously we got started on that job in spring practice and we’re continuing that process, but we’re going to figure out who the best 11 guys to have out there on the field to give us the best chance to move the ball and score points. If that’s 10 personnel, we’ll be in 10 personnel; if that’s an 11 or 12, we’ll be in that.”

Mississippi State’s days of running a pass-heavy, air raid attack are likely over, unless the strength of their personnel remains at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. Regardless, the offense will likely feature more of a run game, more misdirection, and of course attacking the weaknesses of a defense with the strength of their offense.

“But simply put, right, players and coaches do not influence — coaches and the scheme do not influence and affect the players. The players influence the scheme that you run. So we’re going to figure out who our best players are and get them out there and in position to be the most successful so we can move the ball and score points,” Arnett concluded.