Kentucky OC: Cats have a chance to be a "damn good" offense
A quick glance at the national offensive rankings do not reveal a pretty picture for Kentucky.
Two weeks into the season, the Wildcats rank 97th in total offense, 93rd in scoring offense, 120th in passing offense, and 121st in long plays from scrimmage.
Those numbers have overshadowed an improved rushing attack (44th nationally at 196 yards per game), but Kentucky offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan says film indicates that the Cats are a lot closer to being a better unit than fans and media might believe.
“It’s a lock-the-door mentality,” Hamdan said after Tuesday’s practice at the Joe Craft Football Training Center. “We come in, everyone is feeling bad, and we know exactly what it feels like. The positive is, this offense, this football team, can be a damn good team. We’ve got to take the next step. That’s what we’re focused on.”
Hamdan, in his second year as the UK OC, made it clear he does not have his head buried in the proverbial sand. He’s aware of criticism, and accepts his share of the blame.
But he does not think Big Blue Nation has seen what the Cats are capable of doing.
“As frustrated as everyone is with us, and there’s no sugar-coating it, we thought we could put up 30-plus points in that game,” Hamdan said of last week’s 30-23 loss to Ole Miss in the SEC opener. “There’s self-inflicted wounds. We made plays and thought we called aggressive at times, it’s just the reality of the matter is… it’s just the self-inflicted wounds.”
Hamdan pointed to several examples of the offense shooting itself in the foot, including an alignment penalty wiping out a 35- to 40-yard gain, numerous substitution issues, a communications disaster prior to halftime, and the UK quarterbacks missing several open targets, two of which could have produced touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Grad senior transfer quarterback Zach Calzada passed for only 85 yards in the season-opening win over Toledo. Last week produced slightly better results (15-of-30, 149 yards), but the UK offense missed several opportunities to extend drives and score more points against the Rebels.
Through two games, Kentucky has just 10 pass plays of 10 or more yards and only three of 20-plus yards.
That, and a shoulder injury sustained by Calzada late in the Ole Miss game, could lead to redshirt freshman Cutter Boley getting a big opportunity to seize control of the position.
Neither Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops nor Hamdan would commit to which quarterback would start this week’s game against Eastern Michigan, but both have indicated Boley will definitely play.
“He’s looked good,” Hamdan said of Boley’s performance on Monday and Tuesday. “Any time you start mixing in a newer quarterback, if you will, with the first team, there’s some nuance there with his cadence. But he did a great job.”
As for Calzada’s health status, Hamdan was a bit more cautious. “He’s out here. (Not sure) where he’s at with how healthy he is, but he’s a tough competitor.”
Boley was a four-star prospect coming out of Lexington Christian Academy. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound athlete opened eyes late in camp, pushing the veteran Calzada for the starting job.
“I’ve always prepared like I’m the starter,” Boley said.
According to Boley, film review of the frustrating first two games has actually given him more confidence in his unit.
“We’ve got the dudes all across the board,” he said. “… We have the dudes to play in this league, the dudes to win a lot of games in this league, to be one of the best teams in this league. We’ve just got to put it all together, be more sound, get into the flow. I think we’re going to be able to do that.”
Added senior receiver Ja’Mori Maclin: “We’re close. We’re so close to being one of the best offenses in the nation. I know we are. We just have to hone in on those small details.”