Monday Morning Offensive Playcalling Breakdown (BTI's Rants and Ramblings)

The Offensive Playcalling Breakdown is back at its regular time slot, Monday mornings, and we have a lot of good stuff to review from the game with Missouri. While it would have been nice to see the Cats keep Missouri at bay in the 2nd half, in retrospect, we might appreciate having UK in a tight game this early in the season. It wasn’t perfect but it still was more explosive than anything else we’ve seen under Mark Stoops.

This season is still up in the air in regards to what the final record will be but I think we’re going to have some fun either way. Here is today’s breakdown of the UK offensive performance broken down by down and distance.

1ST DOWN

Against Missouri
Rush: 29 rushes for 194 yards, 3 TD (1 fumble)
Pass: 3-6, 79 yards, 1 INT, 1 sack allowed

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 45 rushes for 292 yards, 3 TD (2 fumbles)
Pass: 14-23, 336 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT (1 sack allowed)

Analysis: This was not the game for a balanced attack from the Liam Coen offense. The run game was so effective for the Cats that you saw a 29 to 6 run-pass ratio on 1st down, where against La-Monroe you saw one more pass than run. Tough to say if that was going to be the script all along but if the Cats rushing attack is this effective in any game then feed the beast I would say. Sometimes it is hard to do a playcalling breakdown but not for this game. It was run, run, run until you can’t run anymore.

2ND DOWN

Against Missouri
Rush: 12 rushes for 133 yards, 1 TD
Pass: 3-6, 39 yards (1 sack allowed)

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 25 rushes for 200 yards, 2 TD
Pass: 7-14, 65 yards (2 sacks allowed)

Analysis: The ground game was dynamite on 2nd down as well, helping balance out a pedestrian pass game. This actually makes 2 games in a row the Cats have been unable to find much production through the air on 2nd down but Coen clearly knew what was happening and called twice the rushing plays to pass plays. For the season, UK is averaging 8 yards a carry on 2nd down.

3RD DOWN AND LONG (6 YARDS AND MORE)

Against Missouri
Rush: 1 rush for 7 yards (converted 1 of 1)
Pass: 3-5, 56 yards (converted 3 of 5)

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 1 rush for 7 yards (converted 1 of 1)
Pass: 9-12, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 sack allowed (converted 7 of 13)

Analysis: The playcalling breakdown has been brutal for many seasons typing out 3rd down stats. This year might be different. This kind of conversion rate is unsustainable throughout a 12-game season but it has been refreshing to see the Cats sustain drives so far this year and I think could be key in stealing a couple of games. Levis’ ability to turn a 3rd and long into a first down is probably his greatest weapon right now, including using his legs. The conversion where he trucked the linebacker is probably my favorite play of the game.

3RD DOWN AND SHORT (5 YARDS OR LESS)

Against Missouri
Rush: 5 rushes for 21 yards (converted 3 of 5)
Pass: 1-1, 5 yards, 1 TD (converted 1 of 1)

Combined Season Stats
Rush: 6 rushes for 25 yards, 1 TD (converted 4 of 6)
Pass: 2-2, 9 yards, 2 TD, 1 sack allowed (converted 2 of 3)

Analysis: Cats were actually 4 for 5 on conversions here as the Levis kneel down to finish the game actually counts as a non-conversion but nonetheless UK was dominant here again. Whereas the 3rd and long conversions are a great bonus for an offense, the 3rd and short as a must. And UK has not been great in the last few years in this scenario. So far they have shown high confidence in keeping the drives going.