Quarter by Quarter: A Comparative Look at the Kentucky Offense from 2021 to 2022

Liam Coen is back. The Kentucky play caller posted impressive numbers in his lone season in Lexington before assuming the same role with the LA Rams. Rich Scangarello from the San Francisco 49ers was selected as Coen’s replacement, which brought on high hopes from within the program and the Big Blue Nation. His one year was underwhelming at best. This led to Mark Stoops making the change in that role in order to re-energize a wobbly offense. That overview is a broad stroke analysis and is generalized in nature. We’ll get to the specifics in a moment. 

The 2022 Kentucky football team won seven games. That result was disappointing result given the fact that Scangarello had a Top 10 NFL Draft QB in Will Levis and the all-timer Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the backfield. Things didn’t go according to plan. They rarely do. Levis was banged up for the majority of the season. C-Rod missed the first four games of the season due to a ludicrous suspension. Regardless of the circumstances, UK’s offense ranked dead last in the SEC in far too many categories. 

This standing includes a scoring offense that resulted in a mere 20.4 points per game under Scangarello. The 2021 Coen season boasted 10 wins and 32.3 points per outing. So, let’s put some more specific numbers to the equation in order to paint an accurate comparison in UK’s offensive scoring totals by quarter under the two play callers. 

First Quarter

• 2022: 3.8 points
• 2021: 9.3 points
• Difference: -5.5 points 

All too often, the Cats got off to slow starts in 2022. This was a point of frustration for the BBN. The Wildcats ranked No. 112 out of 131 FBS program in first quarter scoring average. Kentucky nearly scored a touchdown more in the opening period under Liam Coen than it did under Rich Scangarello. 

The first quarter is often a time for the offense to run plays off a predetermined script and is a 15-minute period for the coordinator to execute calls based off the opponent’s scouting reports. Fast starts are important in the Mark Stoops era. This is where complimentary football comes into effect. Getting an early leads matter. 

Second Quarter

• 2022: 4 points
• 2021: 9.1 points
• Difference: -5.1 points

“Win the Middle Eight” is a time tested football philosophy. This phrase outlines the importance of scoring points in the last four minutes of the first half and the opening four minutes of the second. The numbers above accurately describe Coen’s prowess in the all-important first half. 2022 saw the Cats average a tad over a field goal in the second period and just 7.8 total in the first half. That number ranked 120th in the nation. Coen’s offense scored 18.4 per first half for comparison purposes.  Locker room leads are friendly happenings in the win/loss column, especially for a Mark Stoops coached team. Mark Stoops is 47-7 when leading at halftime.

Third Quarter

• 2022: 6.2 points
• 2021: 6.3 points
• Difference: -.1 points

Third quarters weren’t great for either play caller. The Cats managed roughly the same scoring result for both Scangarello and Coen. This is a specific area that UK needs improvement in 2023. Coming out of the locker room with points is a necessity going forward and will be an interesting statistical study for next season which is a year that features Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Louisville, and other high-flying offenses. Points in the third quarter will be at a premium. 

Fourth Quarter

• 2022: 5.5 points
• 2021: 8 points
• Difference: -2.5 points

Again, not a great deal of difference, but enough. Players are often seen holding up four fingers going into the final period. This is a sign of the final quarter’s significance in the game’s outcome. Numbers in this category can be somewhat misleading. 

Coen’s fourth quarters were often a time to sustain leads and when Stoops leaned on the run game in order to keep the clock moving. Having Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the backfield obviously helped in this cause. Additionally, Coen benefited from having three future professionals on the offensive line. 

Complementary football also surfaced in the final period as UK’s bend but don’t break defense often rose the occasion for stops which led to Stoops clawing out ten wins in 2021. Think back, the Cats rarely routed Power-5 opponents (Other than Louisville) and close games were frequent. The final period in 2021 was C-Rod and the Big Blue Wall’s time to take over the football game. 2022 saw the blue and white play from behind more frequently. That was not a friendly environment, especially in certain-passing situations. UK ranked No. 126 in the nation and last in the conference after giving up 46 QB sacks. 

The 2022 Kentucky football team averaged less than a touchdown in the final stanza which was an overriding factor that resulted in three fewer victories. The Big Blue Wall also took a noticeable step backwards in 2022. This greatly impacted Kentucky’s inability to snatch victories in the final minutes. 

What Does All This Mean? 

“Start fast and stay fast” was a method that was successfully executed by Liam Coen in 2021. Other than select skill players, there was very little that could be considered fast under Rich Scangarello. Kentucky averaged 18.4 points in the first half under Coen compared to just 7.8 with Scangarello. UK averaged 6.4 yards per play in 2021 compared to 5.2 in 2022. The Cats also averaged 99.7 more total yards under Coen than it did with Scangarello. Get the picture? 

2023 will be a fascinating season. I’m excited to see Liam Coen’s spin on the Cats’ offense that will consist of new faces at quarterback, running back, and along the offensive line. He will also have a lethal collection of pass catchers at his disposal that includes Barion Brown, Dane Key, Jordan Dingle, and more. Furthermore, there are plenty holdovers from the 2021 squad that will have a basic understanding of his terminology and standards. Familiarity will enhance timing and spring practice install. 

Mark Stoops’ tenure in Lexington has manufactured a 66-59 record. The vast majority of his wins include a halftime or third quarter lead. Fast starts are vitally important in how the Wildcats’ head coach earns victories. The numbers above also favor Liam Coen. 

Football season is 228 days away