Liam Coen (UK Athletics Photo)
Liam Coen can still remember being on an airplane when someone pulled out a stat sheet after a Los Angeles Rams game and how head coach Sean McVay reacted.
“He would say, ‘Put away the stats. Stats are for losers,'” said Coen, UK’s new offensive coordinator. “I have never been a big stats guy.”
Instead, Coen likes to measure offensive efficiency, explosive runs, and explosive pass plays.
“Stats are for losers, but we do keep stats for everything,” Coen laughed and said. “From an offensive standpoint, it is about that efficiency and creating explosion in the passing game.”
One player who could help with that explosion is receiver Isaiah Epps. He has 20 career catches in 32 games for 194 yards and has yet to catch a touchdown pass. He’s been hampered by injuries but has speed few UK receivers can match and Coen has noticed.
“He has just done a nice job (in spring practice),” Coen said. “He is a smart kid who has played some football. He can run down the field and create a vertical stretch.
“I think we can utilize him to make plays down the field. He did some nice things in the bowl game (last season) and that has carried over. He knows how to get lined up. He has played at this level.”
One player that might surprise you who has impressed Coen is senior receiver Clevan Thomas. He caught one pass in four games last year but has played in 28 games and has 14 career catches.
“Clevan has done a nice job stepping up big time,” Coen said. “He is working his tail off, running great routes. He is one of the only guys playing multiple positions and he can handle it.”
