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Kentucky’s offense is averaging just over 19 points per game and ranks 111th out of 134 teams in the nation and the Cats are last nationally in second half scoring.
That’s not what UK fans expected after the Cats scored 29 points per game last year with quarterback Devin Leary but Georgia transfer quarterback Brock Vandagriff and new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan have struggled to find ways to get the Cats into the end zone.
The task will not be any easier Saturday against Tennessee, the nation’s No. 2 defensive team that has been very hard to score on. Kentucky has only 81 points in six SEC games and 40 of those points came in two games — a 20-17 win at Ole Miss and 48-20 loss at Florida.
Hamdan talked about various parts of the UK offense and playing at Tennessee earlier this week:
On how to get other receivers involved beyond Dane Key and Barion Brown…
Hamdan: “It’s never one thing or another as you guys know. I think for us, just our evaluations as an offense as a whole, from a protection standpoint, it’s been there. We’re constantly thinking about how we can do a better job of one, getting the ball out of Brock’s hands faster. I think when I look back at it that’s something that’s just on my mind, of how we can get the ball out of his hands quicker, and then certainly shoring those things up. When you have a guy who has been as consistent as Dane, when you do have an explosive player like Barion, as you know it gets harder and harder, who is the third guy, who is the fourth guy, to get those touches, especially in this kind of conference. We feel good about those guys in that room and what we’re building there, getting those guys touches is important, but we’ve got to make sure we’re getting the ball in those other guys’ hands as well.”
On if Brock Vandagriff is locking on to receivers or if he doesn’t have enough time in the pocket…
Hamdan: “I think that is the experience part. In a lot of ways, especially in third down situations when the defense knows you’re in a throwing situation and the ability for them to disguise coverage, and like you said, getting through certain progressions, and that will get better over time. I think he is in a situation where he is a mature guy. When you guys meet with him, you know he’s a mature guy, you’re not dealing with a freshman, but experience is experience and he is going to continue to get better. But I would agree. I think that is something that we have talked about in back-to-back weeks, certainly in third-down situations and fourth-down situations. They’re playing man or they’re playing zone and the direction it goes based off what they play, your progression changes and the recognition of that is going to be critical to take the next step.
On how running backs Jason Patterson and Jamarion Wilcox played against Auburn…
Hamdan”: You know, it’s all relative. I think they did a good job. I don’t think the moment was too big for them. You’ve got to take into account the fact that these guys are freshmen who are really getting some of their first live action. So, certainly a lot of things to be improved on, not necessarily with how they ran the football, but with also the protections and handling those things. There is just a lot more on the running back than maybe what meets the eye in the run game. We’re trying to simplify it for those guys, trying to make sure they know what plays they’re in for so they know exactly what they need to get done. We’re excited about their growth.”
On if teams are adjusting their defensive looks for quarterback Gavin Wimsatt since his running seems less effective than it was earlier in the season…
Hamdan: “I think for the most part he’s done enough (passing). Whether it be for the Ohio game or recent games that people respect his throwing ability. So, it’s certainly not a situation when he is in there where it’s obvious throw situations for us. Defenses are still playing guys on the back end, taking away explosives there, but, again, I think the biggest thing is we know exactly where we’re at right now and we’re not going to just sit there and do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. That’s the offensive line movement and the different guys we’ve played there, the running back situation, finding out who can create explosives. It always is going to fall on me and I understand that in every way and we’re working to actively see who the best rotations are and what we can get done to create more consistency, to create more explosive plays and that’s what it is going to come down to.”
On what problems the Tennessee stadium presents…
Hamdan: “I think we all know. You know what I mean. It’s a loud environment. This will be my, I think my third or fourth time being there on the road, but an awesome challenge in a lot of ways for us, especially offensively. It’s critical, the messages, we’re all we need, the guys in that room. This is why you come to Kentucky, this is why you play in the SEC. Maybe not to be exactly where we’re at right now, but this is the test of all tests, and I’m excited to get back in there with those guys and that’s what it’s about. Eliminate the outside noise. Get on the road in a hostile environment and go play one play at a time.”
5 Responses
I don’t know Hamdan and don’t want to be too critical and I don’t want to sound like I’m picking on certain players, but Hamdan isn’t watching the same games we are watching. Since when has Wimsatt shown he’s a capable passer? Just throwing ball, as Hamdan stated, doesn’t count as completed passes and it certainly doesn’t get the attention of a defense. As a defense, I would never worry about Wimsatt passing the ball.
For BVG, yes, one of his biggest problems is holding on to the ball too long. He isn’t making quick decisions. He locks on one player, and waits on them instead of scanning the field and hitting the one that gets open first. You can see that in game after game.
On UK improving, I would like to know where that is happening because it is not showing up in the games.
I agree. When Brock does have time he holds onto the ball to long then takes off running and is lucky to get back to the line of scrimmage. Wimsatt cannot hit the broad side of a barn. I thought he was actually a better runner than he is. He’s just a little better than Brock at running the ball. Brock is clearly the better passer. Neither of these 2 guys would start on any other SEC team. He needs to have more receivers go out for passes. 2 receivers is not enough. I’ve even seen just Key run out for passes are they crazy? You need at least 3 or 4 receivers running routes I’ve even seen stream have 5 people running routes. The defense can double team pur wide outs because we don’t have enough in the game. They say the line is bad is why we can’t do that they need 1 or 2 tight ends in to help block. If that’s the case stop passing the football and go to a ground game. When you put 4 and 5 receivers in you don’t run 15-20 yard routes. You run 5-8 yard routes take 2 steps back and throw the football. This shit there doing shows that Bush doesn’t know his butt from a hole in the ground. Terrible at calling plays. Why doesn’t Wilcox get more carries? Because he can’t tie his shoes. That’s the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard. Stoops neglect is starting to show in every way. He seems absent minded now.
Coach speak………
Sounds like a politician running for something.
UK is the “OC proving ground”…
Either…
•• The HC proves he can stop any OC from being productive
OR
•• The OC proves he is not qualified to be an OC in college FB
Sometimes it’s a combination of A & B
Remember Neal Brown, the 1st OC with a magnificent background & the OC from Cincinnati who had a major offense with successful passing and a ground game to complement it. And of course Liam Coen. Why can’t Stoops keep a decent OC ???
Saying a whole lot of absolutely NOTHING—-COACH-SPEAK, COACH-SPEAK, COACH-SPEAK—thats all we are going to get until after the last game on NOV 30TH—and u know what? It cant come soon enough for me! Honestly, thats the only game that I care anything about now—if I had it my way, we would just play LOU right now and then end this pain and fiasco–and forfeit the remaining games–just put two L’s in the column for the two remaining SEC games and put a W in for Murray St–at this point, i cant even feel confident they will play well enough or even CARE ENOUGH to beat Murray. If they lose to Murray, Stoops should be fired on the spot and let Vince coach the LOU game. Even if we were 3-8 going into that LOU game, I will still care Abt that game just because of what it is and what it means–aside from that, the other games won’t even be worth watching. They aren’t going to beat Murray by any 30 or 40 pts, if they win at all–this team wouldn’t be able to beat some high school teams. And after absolute demolitions at TN and TX, are we even going to have any players healthy enough left to play against LOU? Or anybody who still cares. I can guarantee u LOU is gonna come in there and care, even if they have lost every game they play up to that point. We have no culture, no identity, no pulse, no LIFE. Stoops has completely lost this team, and this program, and I hope to GOD he steps down after this year–I want him gone. Bring in Jon Sumrall or Neal Brown. Bring in ANYBODY!!! anybody who has any kind of offensive imagination or identity…….
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