Liam Coen Wants Offense to Calm Down and Execute

Vicky Graff Photo

Having a Kentucky football fan base unhappy with a 3-0 start is a bit different especially after the Cats had team highs in points (35), passing yards (315) and yards per play (9.2) in last week’s win over Akron.

Kentucky has relied more on home runs — big plays — than consistent production on offense and some worry that the UK offense will not be able to make those big plays as often with Southeastern Conference play starting this Saturday at Vanderbilt.

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen knows his unit has made some costly mistakes and has been out of sync at times because of poor communication. However, he knows the problems can be fixed.

“We have to just settle in, and calm down, and execute. The interception we had the other day (against Akron) that should have been routes on air,” Coen said after Tuesday’s practice. “It’s a 15-yard comeback, routes on air, one hitch timing, 15-yard route, turn your head around, catch the ball.

“But it wasn’t. Those have to become routine for us to take the next step.”

Quarterback Devin Leary has had two interceptions when it looked like receivers ran different routes than he was expecting.

The Cats have given up just three quarterback sacks. The protection has been better than it has been perceived to be at times and Leary is also more patient in the pocket compared to how Will Levis preferred to try and run out of trouble last season.

“We’re taking steps. From a pass pro perspective, we’re throwing the ball more times than I’d probably like to because of some of our inefficiencies on first down,” Coen said Tuesday.

“Right now, we’re at like 50 percent efficiency on first down. That’s not where we want to be. So that’s putting us behind the chains and behind the sticks.”

Coen got a good look at what the offense was doing last week as he went to the press box for his first time at UK after his health scare six days before the game. He had been on the sideline when UK had to rally to beat Eastern Kentucky a week earlier.

“I thought the communication was good from the sideline on up,” the UK offensive coordinator said. “I’ve done that before but obviously last week was, ‘Hey, get away from it a little bit.’ Just go call it, get away from some of the emotion and stress of it a little bit.”

Coen might be back in the press box Saturday at Vanderbilt, too, after his communication with Leary went so well last week.

“There’s no question that calling plays is easier up top,” Coen said.