Liam Coen "first choice" for Kentucky, OC likely named this week

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim12/05/22

Kentucky could have its new offensive coordinator in place by the end of the week — sooner the better for those hoping for Liam Coen to return to Lexington.

KSR’s Matt Jones reported late Monday evening that Coen, current Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, is Kentucky’s “first choice” in its current OC search and “that’s who UK wants.”

The good news? “I think Liam wants to be here,” Jones added, speaking on a live Twitter Space.

The bad? The longer NFL season — the Rams have five more games on the schedule — has presented some logistical issues that still need to be worked out. With signing day quickly approaching and the program in need of a quarterback out of the transfer portal, Kentucky needs to hire a coordinator quickly. Would there be pushback about taking the job and coaching out the remainder of the season in Los Angeles? If that’s the case, are the parties involved comfortable with him leaving mid-year?

Sitting at 3-9 with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford shut down for the remainder of the season due to injury, do the Rams being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention change things? A loss on Thursday vs. the Raiders could do just that, but will that be quick enough?

One way or another, Kentucky is expected to make a move by the end of the week. Coen is the hope, but if not, head coach Mark Stoops would likely have to go to a backup option.

“I’d be very surprised if by the end of the week there’s not (a move),” Jones said. “I actually would be really surprised if by Wednesday there’s not one. If it’s Liam, it probably needs to happen tomorrow or Wednesday at the latest because I don’t feel like they can wait on him because they’ve got to get players.”

Who are some of the players in mind for the program?

“I think they’ll get the Vandy running back (Ray Davis),” Jones said. “I think they’re probably gonna get the Northern Illinois offensive lineman (Marques Cox).”

There’s two. As for the quarterback position, Jones singled out Wisconsin veteran Graham Mertz as an early betting favorite for the Wildcats, “but I don’t think it’s anywhere close to certain.” North Carolina State quarterback Devin Leary — a former Johnny Unitas Award finalist — could also be an option for the Wildcats. Like we saw with Will Levis last time around, it comes down to who Coen likes in the portal (or whoever Kentucky’s next offensive coordinator ends up being).

The dominoes cant start falling until an OC is hired. That’s expected to change in the coming days.

What is Stoops — who is “in the middle of talking to several people” and is “not going to limit (himself)” — looking for at the position?

“Running a play every 37, 38 seconds — I definitely want to look at that, yes. I’m not interested in going that slow,” Stoops said Monday afternoon. “… I want what everybody wants, to ultimately score points. I still believe, I don’t know about always, balance is important. Being physical is important. It’s important to me. I think it’s who we are. It’s an identity, and I think it’s important, but I also believe in getting the ball downfield and explosive plays.

“That’s something that I want to get better and I want to continue to improve and I want to be able to create explosive plays. Is that tempo? Is that run, pass, all that? You put it together, you look at things and analyze things and always try to adapt and ultimately hire the best coach that fits us, somebody that has that ability to adapt, not just be one thing or another.”

No matter the final choice, Stoops feels he’s got the weapons to get the job done in 2023.

“I think we have good pieces. I don’t think we’re as far off,” he added. “I think that we got caught short in a couple spots this year. We need to address that and get back to work because we’re not far off. As bad as it all felt to all of us at times, falling short of our goals, you’re still a few plays away from winning two more.”

Time to hire the offensive mind who will help win those football games.

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2024-03-28