Springing Forward into Spring Practice

Mark Stoops opened spring practice with a press conference on Monday. The UK head coach has plenty to be excited about going into the Wildcat’s fifteen practice sessions. Here are some of the highlights from the Joe Craft Football Training Center: 

New RB’s Coach John Settle will also Coach Special Teams

Mark Stoops officially announced the addition of running backs coach John Settle. Settle will also act as the Wildcat’s co-special team’s coordinator alongside safeties coach Frank Buffano. 

Settle’s background speaks for itself. “Just look at his resume,” Stoops said. “Kinda a no-brainer for me. (Settle) comes from a great program (Wisconsin). Also a big picture guy, quite a bit of experience. Guy that can help with special teams.” 

Kentucky is fortunate to have hired a RB coach with the experience of a John Settle. John Settle is also blessed to have found a new home with All-American Christopher Rodriguez Jr. in the RB room. Settle’s proven ability to teach will only enhance the learning environment surrounding first-year offensive coordinator Liam Coen. 

Flying under the radar was the announcement that Kentucky now has co-coordinators for its special teams. Safeties coach Frank Buffano and John Settle will combine with Quality Control coach Louie Matsakis to form the third phase’s brain trust. However, the process will remain an all hands on deck operation which includes most, if not all the coaching staff. 

Depth and Wan’Dale

Key Wildcats returned for an additional year of eligibility. This list includes the following starters: TE Justin Rigg, G Luke Fortner, S Davonte Robinson, and WR Josh Ali. Factor in the return of All-Americans Darian Kinnard and Christopher Rodriguez Jr. and the Wildcats are a much deeper team than previously expected. The old adage rings true, “Can’t teach experience.” 

In addition to the returners, UK will have the services of eleven newcomers for spring practice. Most notably, WR Wan’Dale Robinson and OLB/DE Justice Dingle will be counted on to be instant starters and team leaders. Mark Stoops was extremely high on Robinson:

“I’m very excited about it. Don’t need to watch Wan’Dale very long to see how talented he is. He’s a guy that’s extremely dedicated also. He works very hard. He’s committed to it. You want to bring guys into the program that are going to affect guys in a positive way. I like what I’ve seen, just his movements in the way he explodes, you can see how fluid he is and you can feel his presence, the way he accelerates and puts pressure on a defense. That’s not hard to see.”  

Going into spring practice, the Wildcats will be fielding the deepest roster it’s had during the Stoops era. Depth brings on competition. Competition negates complacency and elevates effort. All roads point to a heated spring practice in which the depth chart could fluctuate on a daily basis. This is going to be fun. 

Liam Coen’s New Offense

The Big Blue Nation is extremely excited for the Liam Coen led offense. But, let’s all take a small step back and remember that it will take time for his system to be fully installed and operational. Fifteen sessions are a great start. Practices are invaluable. But so are the meetings and walk-throughs that take place in-between. Those slow-paced learning opportunities are where the most essential teaching takes place. 

Everything is going to be new. From huddling to calling cadence, the offense will be tasked to undergo a major transition and hopeful upgrade.“Five weeks is a long time,” Stoops said. “We’ll take our time and have quality meetings between our practices.”

The crawl-walk-run theory will be put into place. Coen’s NFL experience could quicken the learning curve. Free agent signings, roster moves, rookie camps, and trades call for players to become familiar with an offensive system in a quick manner. Coen will need that rapid process to carry over to the collegiate level. 

What Does All This Mean? 

Mark Stoops isn’t going to make outlandish predictions while behind the press conference podium. That’s not his style. Expectation management has been a strategic process utilized by Stoops during his tenure at Kentucky. Stoops has a deep and talented team but he also must fill personnel holes a key positions in all three phases of the game. One such spot is at quarterback. The head coach and offensive coordinator will field daily questions regarding the status of Beau Allen and Joey Gatewood. That’s part of the job. Spring practice QB competitions make for great click-bait articles and social media speculation. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that race could run deep into fall camp before a starter is named. 

Stoops couldn’t help but to appear excited about his new slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. From all accounts, the Nebraska transfer has displayed a high level of work ethic and leadership to go along with his explosive playmaking abilities. Robinson possesses the necessary traits to be special. The true slot receiver is a difference maker at a position that has lacked a punch for many seasons. 

Kentucky is a blue-collar football program. The term “Work” is often used and remains to be the program’s go-to mantra. For players, spring practice is a time for hope, development and confirmation. This year’s focus will be on offensive install. Install is short for installation. In other words, the process of learning and operating a new system as well as becoming familiar with its countless variations that accompany a pro-style offense. In other words, there is a great deal to learn in a short amount of time. Practice is valuable. So are film sessions and walk-throughs. The offense will take time to develop. The good news is that I fully expect noticeable fundamental gains at the quarterback position.  

Brad White’s defense is faced with a different challenge. White’s focus will be on identifying potential starters at six vacated spots on the depth chart. The most glaring personnel issues lies within the pass rush. Kentucky managed just 15 QB sacks in 2020. That number must improve. The defensive line Signing Class of 2020 was heralded. Four-stars littered the Cat’s DL haul. But there’s an enormous difference between projection and production. It’s now time for that group to live up to the rankings and prove its worth on the football field. UK has the right teacher for the job in Anwar Stewart. Keep an eye on defensive line movement on the depth chart. 

Newcomers at two line-of-scrimmage positions (OLB/DE and DT) will battle for starting roles. Stoops raved about nose tackle Marquan McCall and the strides he’s made both on and off the field. McCall is a fan-favorite and could star in the starting role vacated by Quinton Bohanna. The Cats also lost star linebacker Jamin Davis and both starting cornerbacks. Six is a high number of starters to replace. But, Stoops and White have proven to develop talent during their stay at Kentucky. Spring practice will see heated competition at all levels. Defense normally wins in early scrimmages. That could be the case this year as the offense continues to mature. 

Spring practice starts tomorrow. I’ve waited a long time to type those words.