LaRosa’s Kentucky Football Offensive Preview

A message from our sponsor:

From the park to the pool and getting back to school, your only necessities are LaRosa’s tasty family recipes! Whether you choose pick up, delivery, or dine in, there’s a delicious LaRosa’s meal waiting for you! Visit us at LAROSAS.com to order now.

Kentucky’s run game has been one of the best in the Southeastern Conference for many seasons. But, the passing attack rarely left the ground. Mark Stoops is seeking balance and made a coordinator change which he hopes can remedy the Wildcat’s aerial woes. There is quite the buzz surrounding new play caller Liam Coen. The former Rams assistant was an understudy to Sean McVay and brings an exciting pro-style system to Lexington.

Coen inherits an offense that averaged 21 points per game. He has a stout offensive line that’s led by All American tackle Darian Kinnard and a deep collection of running backs that includes All SEC performer Chris Rodriguez Jr. Kentucky should be able to sustain its tradition of being a physical run team. But, the offense will look different in 2021. The outside zone will be the unit’s bread and butter run play. Efficient play action and bootleg passes off the outside zone will be essentialin order to improve its explosive play capability and to keep opposing defenses off balance.

Run Game and Balance

Kentucky finished last in the conference after accumulating 318 total yards per game in 2020. The Cats averaged 40 rushing attempts for 197-yards per contest a year ago. Conversely, UK passed for just 122-yards off 22 attempts per game last season.What do those numbers tell us? With an extraordinarily high percentage of production coming from the ground game, opposing defenses frequently loaded the box and dared UK to throw the football.

Kentucky is built to run the football given its current roster construction. The best offensive position groups are offensive line and running backs. Arguably, the unit’s top two players are tackle Darian Kinnard and running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. Don’t expect the new play caller’s system to abandon the ground game. The old saying fits, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Coen’s scheme is not the Air Raid. The Cats will run early and often. However, he will also dial up play action and bootleg passes in order to keep opposing defenses honest and influence balance. A 60/40 run-to-pass ratio would be an improvement and a best case scenario for the 2021 season. The manner and timing in which Kentucky passes the football is more important than the number of attempts. Runs will set up the pass.

Increasing Explosive Plays

Kentucky ranked 13th in the SEC after executing 114 scrimmage plays that exceeded ten yards a year ago. Last year’s offensive intent was to grind or live in the S.L.O.P. (Sustained, Long, Offensive, Possessions) which was complimentary for the conference’s 4th ranked defense. Time of Possession is important. But, it’s losing its significance in modern day, up-tempo schemes. UK finished 2020 listed third in the SEC after controlling the football for 31:03 per game. The Cats registered explosive plays on the ground. It ranked 5th in the league after producing 61 run plays of ten-plus yards. The Cats also managed 23 carries for 20+.

To be specific, the passing game is where the Cats desperately require an expansion of explosive plays. UK registered just 53 pass plays for ten or more yards last season. In addition, Kentucky produced a lowly 15 pass plays that exceeded 20 yards. Chunk plays were inexistent. The goal is to significantly improve production in that category in 2021. Coen’s focus is to expand the Wildcat’s 5.5-yards per pass attempt which was good, or bad enough to finish 14th in the SEC. So, was it the system or personnel that produced the 122nd ranked passing game in college football in 2020? The answer is a mixture of both.

Schematic pass plays that isolate Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali against defenders in space will boost explosive output. Kentucky will also need to increase its ability to connect on downfield, vertical shots. Additional pass catchers will need to surface to compliment Robinson and Ali. Receiver turned tight end Izayah Cummings has earned positive reviews following the position change. Running backs have been seen on video catching wheel routes during fall camp. With a focus on growing its ability to get vertical, expect UK to take more chances for the homerun ball in 2021.

What to Expect in 2021

The Kentucky offense will be go through All SEC running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. The 5’11, 225-pound junior has rushed for 1361 career yards including six games over the century mark. A thousand-yard season is a likelihood. His influence in the run game will lead to opening up the play action pass. Coen has indicated that he intends to get his star player twenty-five touches per game.

The eventual winner of the quarterback competition does not have to be great. If the Cats can develop into an average passing team, eight-plus wins are certainly a possibility. There is a great deal of expectation for first year coordinator Liam Coen. The new offensive leader will have the luxury of leaning on one of the top lines in the Southeastern Conference. The Wildcats can capitalize on its strength of running the football while the passing game catches up. Mark Stoops is seeking balance. Expect the Cats to throw the football more frequently in order to keep opposing offenses honest.

Wan’Dale Robinson and Josh Ali combine for a formidable pass catching duo. Robinson and Ali are also proven entities that could flourish in 2021. Coen will count on both to lead his passing game. But, the coordinator badly needs additional receivers to develop into playmakers that can force the issue downfield. A large part of the equation is YAC or Yards after Catch. This is achieved via scheme by isolating playmakers in open spaces on the football field.

Kentucky’s vertical passing game was all but absent last season. Hitting the homerun ball remains a to be an emphasis during fall camp. Tight ends Justin Rigg and Brenden Bates are solid run blockers that can be utilized in intermediate routes. The addition of Izayah Cummings and Jordan Dingle gives the Wildcats two TE’s that can stretch the field.

It’s no secret that UK needs to become more explosive. The question going into the 2021 season surrounds existing personnel. Are there players in the two-deep that can push the football downfield? Can the Cats loosen the run-box by effectivevertical shots and through a calculated play action passing game? Those pressing questions will be answered on September 4th when Louisiana Monroe rolls into town.

The Quarterback Position

Terry Wilson won a bunch of football games by playing within Eddie Gran’s system and by extending plays with his legs. Wilson is now at New Mexico. The Wildcats are in the midst of a quarterback competition. Penn State transfer Will Levis has tremendous arm talent and possesses the athletic ability to run the football. Former Auburn Tiger Joey Gatewood impressed during spring practice and is in the thick of the competition. Beau Allen is the third candidate. Allen is a pure passer and appeared comfortable and effective in the system during Saturday’s open practice.

The starter to be named later will be in a much more advantageous system than Terry Wilson experienced during his stay in Lexington. Coen’s system seems to be quarterback friendly by simplifying progressions and providing more sure-completion scenarios. Most are projecting Levis as the starter. We’ll see. He certainly has the arm strength and the experience to become QB1. It is unclear when Mark Stoops will name his starter. There’s no hurry. The Cat’s week-two matchup vs. Missouri is a critical game that could have ramifications on the SEC East race. Giving the Tigers multiple quarterbacks to prepare for is the smart play.

What Does All This Mean?

Kentucky finished last in the SEC in passing yards, yards per attempt, long pass plays, and total offense in 2020. UK manufactured 21 points per game last season. Liam Coen’s unit has a great deal of room for improvement. Not having a spring game and a QB race have led to vast speculation about the Kentucky offense. A great deal hinges on the quarterback position. Again, the QB doesn’t have to be great. But, improving one of the worst passing offenses in the country can be accomplished by merely sporting a statistically average, SEC quarterback.

What will this new offense look like? Good question. Rams tape shows multiple tight end sets, motions, and personnel groupings that focus on the outside zone to set up the play action and bootleg passing game. UK certainly has the pieces in place to run the football. How it expands upon the aerial attack will define the 2021 offense.